Identity theft is an increasing problem in the United States. After an identity theft incident, there are several steps that victims should take to ensure that they obtain the justice they deserve. Often, this process involves a document called an identity theft affidavit. An identity theft affidavit is used by victims of identity theft to prove that their personal information was illegally used to open a fraudulent account. In this article, we discuss identity theft affidavits and their role in the identity theft reporting process.
Where to Get an Identity Theft Affidavit
If you believe that your identity has been stolen, you should consider contacting the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to file a complaint. After reporting the suspected theft, the FTC will provide you with an FTC Identity Theft Report, which should include an identity theft affidavit. As noted above, an identity theft affidavit will serve as official proof of the fraud when you dispute marks on your credit or new accounts.
Information Needed to File an Identity Theft Affidavit
To complete an identity theft affidavit, you will have to provide certain personal information, including your contact information, address, Social Security number, and identification card or driver’s license. After providing your information, you will be requested to provide certain details of the identity theft, including:
- Whether any new inquiries or accounts were included in your credit report due to the fraud.
- Details of any accounts that have been affected or any accounts that were fraudulently opened due to the identity theft.
- Whether any of your personal information that appears in your credit report is incorrect due to the identify theft.
- Whether you obtained any benefits from the fraud, whether you permitted anyone to use your information, and whether you will cooperate with law enforcement officials if charges are eventually filed against the perpetrator of the fraud.
Is an Identity Theft Affidavit Needed to Report Fraudulent Use of an Account?
In the majority of cases, an identity theft affidavit isn’t needed to report fraud on any of your existing accounts. Identity theft affidavits are instead usually used to dispute new accounts that were fraudulently opened in your name. However, it is possible that your lender may require you to complete an affidavit before initiating a fraud investigation. Each business or creditor that you work with will have its own fraud procedures and protocols, so you should contact each of them directly to determine what they require.
Contact a Boca Raton Identity Theft Lawyer
If you are an identity theft victim, you must act fast. Identity theft is often the result of the negligence of organizations that fail to protect people’s personal information. When an organization exposes your personal information, Lehrman Law believes that it should be held accountable for its actions, and you should be compensated for any resulting financial losses. Please contact credit identity theft lawyer Seth Lehrman today to arrange a free and confidential consultation.