How Should You Respond to the Theft of Your Identity?

Hannah Locklear | August 25, 2023

Identity theft is a growing concern in today's digital age. When someone unlawfully obtains and uses your personal information for fraudulent purposes, the emotional and financial fallout can be significant. If you ever find yourself in the unfortunate position of having your identity stolen, it's essential to take immediate, decisive action.

Below, we’ll cover 10 steps you can take to respond to the theft of your identity.

Sued for debt as a result of identity theft? Use SoloSuit to respond.

1. Contact financial institutions

Immediately get in touch with your bank, credit card companies, and other financial institutions. Inform them about the suspected identity theft. They can take measures such as freezing your accounts or issuing new cards to prevent further unauthorized transactions.

2. File a police report

Go to your local police station and report the identity theft. Make sure to get a copy of the report; you might need it for various steps in the recovery process, like disputing fraudulent transactions or communicating with creditors.

3. Freeze your credit

In the U.S., there are three major credit bureaus: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. Contact them and request a fraud alert on your credit reports. This alert will make it harder for thieves to open new accounts in your name. Freeze your credit with each credit bureau at the following links:

• Equifax
• Experian
• TransUnion

For more information on how to freeze your credit, click here.

4. Review your credit reports

After placing the fraud alert, request free copies of your credit reports and scrutinize them for unfamiliar accounts or charges. Document any suspicious activity, as this will help in disputes.

5. Create an identity theft report

In the U.S., you can create an Identity Theft Report by filing a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at IdentityTheft.gov. This report can help you in getting fraudulent information removed from your credit report, stopping a company from collecting debts caused by identity theft, and more.

6. Change your passwords and update security

Update the passwords for all your online accounts, starting with your financial and email accounts. Opt for strong, unique passwords and consider using a password manager. Also, enable two-factor authentication wherever possible.

7. Keep records of everything

Document every communication related to your identity theft—phone calls, emails, letters, etc. Include dates, times, names of the people you spoke to, and the content of the communication. These records might be essential in the future, especially if there are disputes or legal actions.

8. Monitor your financial statements

For the next few months, regularly review your bank and credit card statements for any irregularities. Immediately report any unauthorized transactions.

9. Consider a credit monitoring service

Some services will monitor your credit reports and notify you of changes. These services might be beneficial post-theft, as they can give you peace of mind and an extra layer of security.

10. Prevent future identity theft

Identity theft can happen to anyone, but knowledge is power. Familiarize yourself with common scams and tactics used by identity thieves. By staying informed, you can reduce the likelihood of becoming a victim again in the future.

Respond to a debt lawsuit

Fraudulent debt lawsuits are not uncommon, unfortunately. Luckily, SoloSuit makes it easy to defend yourself in a debt lawsuit and beat unscrupulous debt collectors.

If you’ve been sued as a result of identity theft, it’s important to respond to the lawsuit as soon as you are notified. You should respond to the case with a written Answer. Be sure to file your Answer before your state’s deadline, which could be anywhere from 14-35 days.

In your Answer, respond to each claim against you. Then, add a section for your affirmative defenses. If the debt is a result of identity theft, you should consider denying all the claims and listing this information as one of your defenses.

Make the right defense the right way with SoloSuit.

To learn more about how to respond to a debt lawsuit, check out this video:

The bottom line

Identity theft is a harrowing experience, but by taking swift, appropriate action, you can mitigate its impact and set yourself on the path to recovery. Remember, you are not alone—there are resources and professionals available to help guide you through this challenging time.

What is SoloSuit?

SoloSuit makes it easy to fight debt collectors.

You can use SoloSuit to respond to a debt lawsuit, to send letters to collectors, and even to settle a debt.

SoloSuit's Answer service is a step-by-step web-app that asks you all the necessary questions to complete your Answer. Upon completion, we'll have an attorney review your document and we'll file it for you.

>>Read the FastCompany article: Debt Lawsuits Are Complicated: This Website Makes Them Simpler To Navigate

>>Read the NPR story on SoloSuit. (We can help you in all 50 states.)

How to answer a summons for debt collection in your state

Here's a list of guides for other states.

All 50 states.

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Guides on how to beat every debt collector

Being sued by a different debt collector? Were making guides on how to beat each one.

• Absolute Resolutions Investments LLC
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• Sherman Financial Group
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• Tulsa Teachers Credit Union
• UCB Collection
• Velo Law Office
• Velocity Investments
• Waypoint Resource Group
• Weinberg and Associates
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Win against credit card companies

Is your credit card company suing you? Learn how you can beat each one.

• Bank of America
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• Chase
• Credit One Bank
• PayPal Synchrony Card
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