Illinois Attorney General Receives Series of Identity Theft Complaints

An Unexpected Advantage

While it may not be apparent at first, Illinois residents are at an advantage because of this. Consumers are generally more aware of identity theft than ever before so when they feel they might be at risk, they call the Attorney General’s office. The consumers, in turn, receive advice about how to handle the situation. Dealing with such a large volume of identity theft complaints really helps to make the whole process better for everyone. Never before was identity theft the top complaint that the Illinois Attorney General’s office received.

Take Action

If you believe you are a victim of identity thief, then you need to take immediate action. You will need to notify the major credit bureaus. The three major credit bureaus are TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax. You can put a freeze on your credit file so that an individual who stole your social security number can’t attempt to open a new account in your name. A credit freeze prevents credit card companies and banks from being able to look at your credit file. The final step is report this to law enforcement. You should report this to your local police station and to the Federal Trade Commission. Although the Federal Trade Commission will not investigate the case, it will share this information with investigators. Many people are simply too embarrassed to report identity theft because they feel that they were “stupid” for becoming a victim. Don’t let this discourage you from reporting identity theft. Anyone can become a victim of identity theft regardless of age, nationality, or socioeconomic status.