Identity Theft: Tips to Protect Yourself

Posted on April 14, 2008
Filed Under Criminal Law |

Identity theft is a scary reality that the entire country faces, and places like Los Angeles where people use credit and debit cards, the Internet and other electronic modes of communication quite often, it’s a serious issue.  This isn’t a crime that wealth can protect you from, as the wealthy and those with good credit are particularly great targets for this crime.

Major institutions have recently been heavily affected by hackers stealing the information either employees or students.  UCLA Medical Center recently had a major breach both in 1995 and recently, where hospital aides and nurses looked at the records of such individuals as Tom Cruise and Mariah Carey.  There are quite a few laws protecting people’s medical records, and for hospital workers to breach that law not only violates the trust of the patients, but the laws of both the United states and the state of California.

Here are some tips on how to handle dealing with identity theft, for both victims and those charged with the crime:

For victims:

  • If you feel you’ve had your identity stolen, immediately change all your credit card, debit card and checking account numbers. 
  • Get a copy of your credit report from one of the three major credit agencies, Equifax, Experion or Trans Union and verify all of your information.
  • Contact the local police and possibly the FBI, each may have agencies that handle identity theft.

For those charged with the crime of identity theft:

  • Immediately get an attorney with experience handling these sort of matters.
  • Get as much information as you can about the charges against you and investigate the situation.
  • Review your past record and find out positive aspects that can be highlighted, including the lack of prior charges and convictions for identity theft.
Written by Joe M

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