Identity Theft in St. Louis, MO

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 St. Louis, Missouri if your identity gets stolen.

Federal Trade Commission data shows 13,372 identity theft reports from Missouri in 2021. Furthermore, the St. Louis metro area has one of the highest identity theft rates in the state. In fact, there were 472 cases per 100,000 residents. Although credit card theft and government benefit fraud are the most common types, identity theft can take many forms. For example, Fox 2 Now reports that a local woman has been fighting for her identity for almost a decade. The perpetrator conned the victim into giving up her personal information. Because they have the same first and last name, the thief was able to easily use the information to rack up debts and commit other crimes.

What Is Identity Theft?

Identity theft is one of the most common crimes in the modern world, and 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.

Thieves may have already used your identity to open new financial accounts without your knowledge. Other criminal actions can include fake tax returns, fraudulent purchases, and receiving medical care under your insurance. While dealing with customer service departments for a solution, an experienced St. Louis, MO attorney can fast-track the process. In some circumstances, taking this step is necessary to get the attention of companies and recover your losses.

How Does Identity Theft Happen in St. Louis, Missouri?

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 Breaches – Companies often store personal financial information for subscriptions, auto-pay, or express checkout. Hackers can break into these companies’ servers to 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. 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. It’s critical to keep your personal belongings secure and shred confidential information before throwing it out.
• 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 you normally get 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 St. Louis, Identity Theft Laws

Missouri law makes it illegal to use, possess, transfer, or attempt to obtain someone else’s identification information. The crime can be either a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on the amount of money or property involved. In fact, sentences can be as short as 6 months in jail or as long as 15 years in prison. In some cases, the crime can also violate federal laws. For example, the Department of Justice reports that a St. Louis man is facing 41 months in prison for identity theft. The man stole real estate by forging the signatures of the owners on 3 quit claim deeds. He also forged the signature and seal of a notary on each deed.

How Can I Detect Identity Theft?

Sometimes it can be hard to know 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 St. Louis, Missouri?

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

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

St. Louis residents can find identity theft resources through the Missouri Attorney General’s Office website. These resources include tips for prevention, as well as recommendations for victims. They even have a phone hotline for reporting identity theft. In addition, any victim should file a report with the City of St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. The police also provide a special form for tax-related identity theft. In addition, they suggest contacting the Federal Trade Commission.

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. A qualified St. Louis attorney can also help you right some of the wrongs you may encounter along the way.

Identity Theft Protections

Take proactive steps to protect yourself from identity theft. 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 St. Louis, Missouri

Are you facing financial or legal complications related to an identity theft issue in St. Louis, MO? 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 Missouri 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!