Identity theft is one of those crimes that can happen in a wide variety of ways, and, unfortunately, you may not realize that your information has been stolen until the damage has already begun. A person may obtain your information through a stolen wallet, a phishing message, a company data breach, discarded documents, or information purchased online. From there, he or she may open accounts, make purchases, obtain medical care, or otherwise use your identity for personal gain. Fortunately, though no precaution can guarantee that identity theft will never happen, there are several steps you can take to significantly reduce your chances of becoming a victim. Read on and reach out to a New Mexico identity theft lawyer from Feferman, Warren & Mattison to learn more about how to protect yourself from identity theft. Here are some of the questions you may have:

What Is Identity Theft, and How Can I Recognize It?

Simply put, identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal or financial information without your permission. This can include your name, address, Social Security number, credit card information, bank account numbers, health insurance information, and more.

Some of the most common warning signs of identity theft include withdrawals you cannot explain, bills for accounts you never opened, missing mail, denied credit applications, rejected tax returns, and unfamiliar information appearing on your credit reports. That being said, even a seemingly minor discrepancy should not be ignored, as identity thieves sometimes make small purchases or test stolen information before attempting more serious fraud.

What Steps Can I Take to Protect Myself from Identity Theft?

The less access others have to your sensitive information, the more difficult it will be for someone to steal and use your identity. Some of the most important steps you can take to protect yourself are as follows:

  • Use long, unique passwords for each of your important accounts, and consider storing those passwords in a reputable password manager.
  • Enable multifactor authentication on your email, banking, tax, health insurance, and social media accounts whenever this option is available.
  • Freeze your credit with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion when you are not applying for new credit. Credit freezes are free and may be temporarily lifted when necessary.
  • Regularly review your bank and credit card activity so you can identify and report unfamiliar transactions as soon as possible.
  • Check your credit reports for accounts, inquiries, names, balances, or addresses that you do not recognize.
  • Shred documents containing Social Security numbers, medical information, account details, and other sensitive information before throwing them away.
  • Never provide personal information in response to an unexpected call, email, or text message, even if the person contacting you claims the situation is urgent.
  • Keep your phone, computer, internet browser, applications, and security software updated so that known security vulnerabilities can be addressed.
  • Collect your mail promptly, protect incoming mail, and place outgoing payments in a secure mailbox.
  • Ask why a company needs your Social Security number, how it will be protected, and whether you can use another form of identification instead.

Finally, you should make a habit of monitoring your financial information rather than waiting until something appears to be wrong. The sooner you identify suspicious activity, the better chance you may have of limiting the damage and preventing further misuse.

How Can a New Mexico Consumer Attorney Help After Identity Theft?

If you have already become a victim of identity theft, you should report it through IdentityTheft.gov, notify the affected companies, change any compromised passwords, and freeze your credit. You should also gather and preserve all relevant documentation, including credit reports, letters, emails, screenshots, account statements, police reports, and notes regarding conversations with creditors or credit reporting agencies.

Unfortunately, resolving identity theft is not always as simple as informing a company that you did not open an account. In some cases, credit bureaus, creditors, debt collectors, or other businesses may continue reporting fraudulent information or attempting to collect debts that do not belong to you.

Our legal team can review your situation, prepare disputes, communicate with the companies involved, identify potentially responsible parties, and determine whether your rights under state or federal law have been violated.

Depending on the circumstances, you may be entitled to corrections, financial compensation, attorney’s fees, or other relief. Contact an experienced New Mexico consumer lawyer from Feferman, Warren & Mattison today to discuss your situation and learn more about how an attorney can help protect your credit, your finances, and your good name.