When you learn that your identity has been compromised, leaving you drained of funds and your credit score ruined, it can be devastating. However, it’s critical to understand that there are a number of federal identity theft laws in place to help grant protection to victims and deter criminals from committing this offense. The following blog explores what you should know about these matters, including the importance of working with a Michigan identity theft lawyer to help you explore your legal options during this process.
What Identity Theft Protection Laws Are Most Important?
There are a number of critical laws in place to help deter and prevent identity theft from occurring. Generally, the foundational law is the Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act (ITADA), which makes identity theft a federal offense. As such, any time anyone uses part of a person’s identity to commit fraud or criminal activity, they can be convicted of a federal offense. Typically, federal offenses carry intense penalties, meaning they will be charged as if they committed a felony offense.
In addition to the IDATA, the Identity Theft Penalty Enhancement Act (ITPEA) works in conjunction with the law to help those who have suffered. As suggested by the name, this law increases the penalties that those guilty of identity theft can face. This law is the result of the 9/11 terror attacks as six of the perpetrators were reported as having used stolen identities to gain access to the flights. As such, the idea that stolen identities could be used for much more heinous crimes than opening credit cards came to light, showcasing the devastation this can lead to. Under the ITPEA, anyone who knowingly uses the identity of another person will face a minimum of two years in prison for this offense.
How Can I Prevent Identity Theft?
Though there are laws in place to help deter this crime from occurring, thieves will find ways to circumvent detection so they can steal the identities of hardworking individuals. As such, it’s critical to understand the importance of securing your identity before it can be stolen.
Generally, one of the most important things you can do to secure your identity is to protect your social security number. This means you should leave your card in a secure location, like a lockbox, and avoid carrying it with you in case you lose it. Additionally, you should never give your social security number out over the phone unless you can confirm the identity of the person you’re speaking with and you have initiated the call. For example, if you receive a call from your insurer and they ask for your social security number, you should hang up and call the official number back to confirm the request. Generally, you’ll find that agencies will never ask for your social security number.
You can also set up two-factor authentication on your accounts. This requires a unique verification code to log in, even with a login. As such, if a hacker obtains the username and password associated with your bank account, for example, they will be unable to gain entry as they will not be able to access the code sent to your device.
Identity theft can flip your world upside-down. As such, it is critical to connect with an experienced identity theft defense attorney with Lyngklip & Associates if you believe your identity was compromised. We understand how devastating these matters can be, which is why we will do everything in our power to help guide you through these difficult times. When you need help, contact our firm today.
