A good identity theft lawyer can help you get back on your feet after being a victim of fraud. They can also help you prevent future fraud from occurring.

They can contact creditors and companies who opened fraudulent accounts in your name to close those accounts. They can also freeze your credit report to prevent new accounts from being opened.

You Have a Suspicious Activity Notice

A report on suspicious or anomalous transactions is known as a suspicious activity report or SAR. All parties engaged in the incident must have their names, addresses, social security numbers, dates of birth, driver’s license or passport numbers, occupations, and other identifying details included in the report.

An indication of identity theft is unusual financial behavior, such as unexpected withdrawals or charges on your bank statement or credit card bills. A rapid decline in your credit score can signal that someone uses it to make money.

Receiving letters, emails or phone calls from debt collectors for accounts or debts you don’t recognize is another warning sign of identity theft. An identity theft lawyer can help you remove this false information from your reports so it doesn’t hurt your credit scores or make it harder to obtain loans.

You Have a Suspicious Activity Notice on Your Credit Report

One of the first signs that someone may be using your personal information is receiving a suspicious activity notice on your credit report. This notification alerts creditors that possible fraud is associated with an application for new credit and provides the victim’s name and a phone number for them to call.

Another sign of identity theft is receiving letters or calls from debt collectors about a debt you don’t know about. Criminals can use your information to rack up bills or even buy goods or services that aren’t yours.

It would help if you also were looking for changes to your mailing address. An identity thief may change your address to access your mail and steal more information.

You Have Suspicious Activity Notices on Your Bank Accounts

When a victim’s bank account shows unexplained withdrawals or charges, this is a red flag that someone may be using their information to steal money. It is important to check your bank accounts regularly and report any suspicious activity immediately.

Receiving bills for goods or services you never received, or bank or credit card statements you didn’t open is also a common sign of identity theft. These unauthorized accounts will usually be delinquent, significantly damaging your credit score.

Contacting an identity theft lawyer specializing in these cases can help you get the needed help. They can act as a liaison between you and the financial institutions and initiate fraud alerts or credit freezes on your behalf. This can alleviate some of the stress and anxiety of identity theft.

You Have Suspicious Activity Notices on Your Credit Cards

If you receive credit card statements or account notifications by email or in your bank’s app that you didn’t apply for, it could be a sign of identity theft. If you receive unauthorized charges on your credit cards, contact the company immediately and follow the steps they provide to report fraud. The more quickly you act, the less damage to your credit score will likely occur.

Receiving letters or phone calls from debt collection agencies demanding payments on accounts you never opened or used is another warning sign of identity theft. These unauthorized charges will appear as missed or late payments on your credit reports. They can significantly hurt your credit scores since payment history is the biggest factor in calculating FICO scores.

You Have Suspicious Activity Notices on Your Loans

Identity thieves often take out loans and credit cards in their victim’s name and fail to repay them. This can cause unpaid debts on the victim’s credit reports and hurt their credit scores. When a victim receives letters or phone calls from debt collectors asking for payment on loans they never took out, it’s a warning sign that their identity has been stolen.

A warrant for your arrest is another warning sign of identity theft. Fortunately, an attorney can help victims clear their names and provide law enforcement with proof of their innocence, such as fingerprints and an alibi. They can also file a police report, which is critical to getting banks and credit agencies to remove incorrect information from the victim’s credit reports.