Someone made fraudulent charges in my name. What can I do about this?

Question

Someone made fraudulent charges in my name. What can I do about this? I got a bill for almost $18,000, I don't know yet if this is a loan, a credit card, or some other kind of debt. All I know is I didn't do it. How can I prove this? I can barely pay my own bills, let alone pay for fradulent charges someone else made in my name! If I can't prove I didn't make these charges I'll have to fill for bankruptcy. What if they do something agaist the law, will I be held responsible? Can I get a new SSI number? Is there a lawer, or anyone else that know?

Answer 1

Frist thing to do is dispute the charge with your bank. If you are not responsible then they will have no proof you that you are i.e. signature on loan papers, etc.

Answer 2

First, file a police report. You can get the name and contact number for the creditor by calling the credit bureau. I don't have that number here but can email it to you later if you like. You can email me at Nlabonte@first horizon.com for that info. Send the police report and a letter disputing the charge to the creditor and to all three credit bureaus. You can get their address information on line. They are Equifax, Transunion, and Experien.

There are ways to combat identity theft, ask the police about it, they should be able to direct you.

If the credit company refuses to acknowledge that the debt isn't yours, you may have to see an attorney. Initial consultations are usually free.

This may be a one time case and just an error or transposition in an account number, don't panic yet.

You cannot be held responsible for debts you do not incur or activities in which you do not participate.

Answer 3

First thing you should do is report it as stolen/fraudulent to the creditor, most of them have an identity theft program in place to handle these things, they will tell you where to go from there. How did you find out? Do you know the name of the company that the money is owed to because that's who you need to get in touch with along with going to this link and seeing what they have to say, http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft/ it's a gov't link that specifically deals with this

Answer 4

Contact credit bureaus to put a 'fraud alert' on your credit report. this will prevent identity thief from opening any other acc'ts in your name.
http://www.experian.com 1-888-397-3742
http://www.equifax.com 1-800-525-6285
http://transunion.com 1-800-680-7289

Report to Federal Trade Commission
http://wwwconsumer.gov/idtheft
1-877-idtheft (1-877-438-4338)

Obtain a copy of your credit report for review...you will be entitled to a free copy after fraud alert is in place.

Contact all companies (acc'ts affected); your local police, the State Attorney General for consultation/advisory info.

Hope this helps get your life back.

Answer 5

Figure out as much as you can regarding this incident. Was it a credit card?or some other bank card? Find out what kind of fraud was it,then call your bank to stop any further fraud and to declare that you have been charged for that amount fraudulantly. Then call the police if you any have stolen cards, id, and such.

Answer 6

Find a lawyer, & call all your credit cards & cancel them...tell them what has happened.
Call the company that the bill is to & tell them...you have to start now & be agreesive before your credit gets ruined.

Answer 7

see an attorney. local yellow pages - they give out free consultations. made a few appts with different ones. have all papers ready and have all questions written down to maximize your time with them

Answer 8

If that is a credit card fraud, please contact them and make a complaint for disagreement of the charges. They will investigate and let you know.

Answer 9

file a fraud report with the poliece and with the credit reporting agencies they might be able to clear it up

Answer 10

call the police and the creditcard company immediately!