Identity Theft in Georgia

The repercussions of identity theft can range from embarrassment to serious legal and financial injury. Assess your risk, safeguard your identity, and hire an attorney in Georgia if your identity gets stolen.

According to the Georgia Secretary of State, business identity theft is becoming more and more common. Business identity theft occurs when someone illegally takes over or impersonates another’s business, generally by changing the business address or information officer. The scammer then uses the business to open a line of credit and make fraudulent charges. WMAZ13 declares that Georgia is the #1 state for identity theft in the entire U.S.

What Is Identity Theft?

Identity theft is one of the most common crimes in the modern world. Criminals are constantly finding new ways to steal your information. These crimes involve the fraudulent use of components of your identity, such as SSNs, driver’s licenses, or credit cards.

Even before you become aware of any theft, thieves may have already used your identity to open new financial accounts without your knowledge. Other criminal actions include faking tax returns, fraudulent purchases, and receiving or stealing medical care under your insurance. While dealing with customer service departments for a solution, a qualified Georgia attorney can fast-track the process. In some circumstances, taking the step of seeking legal help is necessary to get the attention of companies and recover your losses.

How Does Identity Theft Happen in Georgia?

Identity theft can happen in many ways. Hackers are constantly advancing their data-stealing techniques. However, there are some long-standing causes of identity theft that every consumer should be aware of:

  • Data BreachesCompanies often store personal financial information for subscriptions, auto-pay, or express checkout. Hackers can break into these companies’ servers and extract the personal information of thousands of people at a time.
  • ATM or Card Skimmers – Hackers can place devices called skimmers that read your card’s information when you use it. The most common places for skimmers to are in ATM devices or at gas pumps. Some have even found their way into convenience stores and pharmacies.
  • Digital Malware and Viruses – Hackers can access your information through phishing, fake websites, and file-sharing networks. You should always be vigilant when receiving emails from questionable accounts or when browsing online. Often, hackers will disguise their phishing attempts as recognizable brands or platforms.
  • Physical Theft – Thieves can access your personal information by stealing your mail, purse, or wallet.
  • Change Of Address – Another creative way hackers can steal your information is by changing your address with different services you use. Once the mail reroutes to the new address, they can access the information that would normally be sent to your real address.
  • Public WiFi – While public WiFi networks are convenient, they rarely encrypt the connection. Most competent hackers can break into public networks and remotely access devices connected to them. Only use public WiFi networks if absolutely necessary, and always with a VPN.

What Are Some Identity Theft Laws?

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation categorizes identity theft as a felony. Conviction for identity theft in the state can carry a penalty of 1 to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $100,000, or both. However, if you should be convicted of repeat offense identity theft, the penalty increases to up to 15 years in prison, and a maximum of $250,000, or both.

How Can I Detect Identity Theft?

Sometimes it can be difficult to tell if your identity has become compromised. However, if you are vigilant with your passwords and online presence, you can become aware of several signs that point to identity theft. Be on the lookout for the following:

  • Any questionable activity you don’t recognize regarding your existing accounts
  • Deposits, purchases, credit alerts, etc.
  • No longer receiving mail at your primary address
  • Calls or letters from debt collectors about debts you never personally incurred
  • Unfamiliar charges on your accounts or new accounts you never opened
  • Bills for services you never received, such as medical care
  • Letter from the IRS regarding duplicate tax returns in your name
  • News from a company you have done business about a data breach
  • A sudden and unexplained drop or increase in your credit score

How Do I Recover From Identity Fraud in Georgia?

The first thing you can do is immediately contact your financial institutions and suspend any compromised cards. Some companies also allow you to block any further usage directly from their app.

The next step would be to contact the institutions where you have discrepancies. If you see suspicious transactions, reach out to the places or services where they occurred. Additionally, close any accounts or cancel any subscriptions that may have become compromised.

The U.S. District Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia encourages all residents to report identity theft. In fact, you are encouraged to file a report even if you only have a suspicion of identity theft. You should report your suspicions to local law enforcement, as well as the Federal Trade Commission. You can also file a report with the Georgia Bureau of Consumer Affairs. In addition, you should notify both your creditors, and major credit bureaus such as Equifax.

You should also consider a credit monitoring account if you don’t already have one. These services provide oversight on your credit accounts and alert you when there is suspicious activity. You can either temporarily freeze the account or close it out entirely. An experienced Georgia attorney can also help you right some of the wrongs you encounter along the way.

Identity Theft Protections

Always take proactive steps to protect yourself from identity theft. To many, some of these steps may seem like common sense. However, it’s surprising how often people disclose personal information without a second thought. We recommend you take the following precautions to avoid someone stealing your identity:

  • Do not respond to any unsolicited requests asking for personal information.
  • Do not click any suspicious links in unsolicited emails.
  • Enable all security and two-step verification protocols on your electronic devices.
  • Use complex passwords and change them frequently.
  • Install any firewall and malware detection software on your electronic devices.
  • Properly shred or tear up any documents with personal or financial information before discarding them in the trash.

Work with an Experienced Local Lawyer in Georgia

Are you facing financial or legal complications related to an identity theft issue in Georgia? If that’s the case, we can help connect you with the right attorney to help you resolve these problems, before they spiral out of control. We can even help you connect with an attorney across Georgia state lines.

Submit a request online or call us today at (866) 345-6784 to get in touch with an experienced lawyer in your area!

How It All Works

Call us or answer the questions on this site. Your category, location, and additional information will help us connect you to a legal professional and we’ll send you the results instantly.

Which Areas of Law?

We have attorneys in over 20 legal categories to choose from.

How Much Does This Cost?

We don’t charge you to be connected. Some legal categories require upfront fees while others do not. The legal professional will determine this with you before you commit to anything.