Identity Theft and Data Breaches
- Identity theft can happen to anyone, at any time.
- The average victim suffers over $1K in fraud – and countless hours of stress.
- The effects on a victim’s credit score can be devastating – but the law provides robust protections.
Identity theft is among the fastest-growing crimes in the US. Although identity thieves can work quickly, the damage they cause can last for years. But you don’t have to go it alone – The Credit Brains can get your credit working for you again quickly and with minimum hassle
Some of the most powerful provisions within the Fair Credit Reporting Act protect victims of identity theft. Our process involves pressing the credit bureaus to honor those provisions.
Equifax Data Breach Search
An estimated 147-million Americans had their data exposed by the 2017 Equifax breach. You can use the link below to check whether your data was affected.
What is a Data Breach?
A data breach occurs when secure information is accessed by a malicious user. Today, hackers find their way through even the most secure firewalls to gain access. Targets range from small businesses through to multinationals, financial institutions, and even government departments.
In recent years, a whole series of data breaches have left millions of people at risk of identity theft and many are completely unaware.
Why Do Thieves Steal Your Identity?
One of the first questions victims of identity theft ask is, ‘why would someone want my identity?’
For an identity thief, opening credit cards in your name, making fraudulent purchases, or using your personal information when being questioned by the police are just a few possible uses for your stolen identity.
Your identity is made up of multiple layers of information that includes more than just your social security number.
Here’s what a thief may have already done with your personal information:
Fraudulent credit card purchases
Fraudulent auto loans
Missing tax refunds
Mortgage fraud
Fraudulent utilities
Fraudulent insurance
Don’t Let Fraud Destroy Your Financial Future
Let The Credit Brains get you back on track, so you can focus on what matters most. If you’ve noticed unauthorized accounts in your credit reports, our Restoration Specialists
have the knowledge, expertise, and finely honed processes to help.
Synthetic Identity Theft
This type of fraud occurs when a criminal uses a combination of real and fictitious information to create a new identity. Often, thieves will use a real social security number in combination with a fictitious name or address to create a false identity.
Once created, thieves can do things like run up credit card debts and enter into new auto loans. If the compromised social security number is that of a loved one, it could take years to recover completely.
When Identity Theft Happens, You May Not Even Know It
Unlike many crimes, identity theft isn’t always immediately apparent. Countless Americans simply don’t realize that ‘bad actors’ have damaged their credit. Even when fraud is noticed, it may never be clear how a victim’s details were first compromised.
Sharing personal details has become a routine part of day-to-day life, creating a wide range of opportunities for fraudsters, including:
New credit applications
Event registrations
Medical visits
College enrollment
Online shopping
However the theft occurred, our team of US-based Restoration Specialists stand ready to help.
The Credit Brain