How to Prosecute an Identity Thief

As the modern world moves farther away from written communication and towards electronic communication, the possibility for identity theft becomes more imminent. The progression of credit cards and technology opens more people up to the possibility of identity theft. For people unfortunate enough to be victims of identity theft, seeking justice by prosecuting the thief can be difficult. Follow these steps to prosecute an identity thief.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Begin by contacting your credit bureaus, banks and any other entities who may have been involved. File a formal complaint with the credit bureau and your police department.
2. File a compliant with the Federal Trade Commission and with the Social Security Administration if you believe they may have stolen your social security number as well. Prepare to fill out affidavits to prove your innocence on the claims of identity theft and fraudulent activity.
3. Request copies of your credit report. Carefully comb through the contents of your credit reports for any other possible fraudulent activity or strange inquiries. Obtain a copy of the police report in order to prove to credit bureaus and other agencies that you have reported your loss of identity.
4. Locate an attorney or contact your District Attorney's office to help prosecute the individuals involved in the identity theft. Discuss bringing criminal charges against the individuals with proper support from credit bureaus, banks and local police departments.
5. Stay up to date on all aspects of the investigation to ensure it is properly dealt with.

Tips & Warnings

• Destroy all checks and receipts when you are finished with them.
• Limit the number of credit accounts you hold and keep track of their activity.
• Minimize the exposure of your social security number and any other sensitive information, especially on the Internet.
• Never write down any passwords.
• Never leave your personal information, wallet or credit cards unattended.