AARP data show that nearly 42 million Americans were victims of identity fraud in 2021, costing consumers $52 billion in total losses. At Lardiere McNair & Stonebrook Ltd., LPA, we stand ready to assist clients with the challenges to their families and businesses when identity theft strikes.
 
If you believe you were a victim of Identity Theft, the Federal Trade Commission and Credit Bureaus provide important steps to take to protect yourself. 

1. Quickly contact your financial institution and shut down any account that has been impacted;
2. Check your credit reports. Request copies of your credit report from all three nationwide credit bureaus – Equifax, Experian and TransUnion;
3. Report the Crime to the Federal Trade Commission at: https://www.identitytheft.gov/#;
4. File a Police Report with your local law enforcement agency. A police report provides you with a document saying you have been a victim, which can be helpful when requesting a 7-year extended fraud alert on your credit reports;
5. Report certain types of identity theft to specific agencies, such as your health insurance company’s fraud department, Internal Revenue Service, and State Attorney General, as they may provide additional protection;  
6. Consider placing an initial one-year fraud alert on your credit reports.  A fraud alert will make it harder for someone to open a new credit account in your name. A business must verify your identity before it issues new credit in your name;
7. Consider freezing your credit reports. A security freeze, also called a credit freeze, stops new creditors from accessing your credit file and others from opening accounts in your name, until you lift the freeze;
8. Consider signing up for Identity Monitoring Alerts. It is a service that regularly checks your credit reports, and alerts you of any changes or suspicious activities, such as: increase of credit limit or whether a credit card or loan application is submitted or opened in your name. 

If you are a victim of identity theft, give Lardiere McNair & Stonebrook Ltd., LPA a call to schedule a free consultation at (614) 534-1355, and we will help you navigate this process and limit your damages.
 
For more information go to: https://www.identitytheft.gov/#, https://www.equifax.com/, https://www.transunion.com/, https://www.experian.com/, www.annualcreditreport.com.

Aline Wright is a Legal Assistant at Lardiere McNair & Stonebrook, Ltd., LPA.  To read more about our firm, please visit lawyerscolumbusohio.com.

The information presented here has been prepared by Lardiere McNair for promotional and informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice.  This information is not intended to provide, and receipt of it does not constitute, legal advice.  Nor does the receipt of this material create an attorney/client relationship.  An attorney client relationship is not established until such time as Lardiere McNair enters in to a written engagement agreement with a specific client for a specific legal matter.