Need help fighting identity theft - lawyer?

[Anonymous]

Has anyone successfully fought identity theft? A student loan was taken out in my spouse's name/social security number to a college he has never attended or even been anywhere near. He was part of the OPM data leak so we assume that's how it happened. We have tried numerous times contacting the college itself and Mohela, the loan provider and they have been zero help whatsoever. We have told anyone who will listen that this loan was issued fraudulently. It has now officially hit is credit score as a negative reporting.

Does anyone know what our next steps should be? We supposedly have identity theft coverage through our homeowners but we are still waiting to hear back from them about what exactly that means. I assume we will need to sue to get anyone to listen to us. Of courses DOGE killed CFPB, because why would consumers need financial protection anyway, AMIRIGHT?

Any ideas?

[Anonymous]

Yikes. This happened to us many years ago. So sorry you’re going through this as it is gut wrenching. We didn’t get lawyer but our issues were not like yours.

Sorry to ask simple question but I assume you have frozen your credit as well as put up a fraud alert at all three credit companies?

[Anonymous]

There have been so many leaks over the years it’s a real stretch to say you know the source. Your credit should be frozen at all times.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There have been so many leaks over the years it’s a real stretch to say you know the source. Your credit should be frozen at all times.

Thanks for the lecture mom. Nevertheless it still happened and I still don't owe the money. I'm looking for posters who might be able to actually help me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yikes. This happened to us many years ago. So sorry you’re going through this as it is gut wrenching. We didn’t get lawyer but our issues were not like yours.

Sorry to ask simple question but I assume you have frozen your credit as well as put up a fraud alert at all three credit companies?

Yes, we've done that now. But the issue still exists obviously.

[Anonymous]

Have you filed a police report? If not, do so immediately. I would file both in your jurisdiction and wherever the college is. Glad you've now frozen your credit. When you say the college and loan provider are zero help--what have they said?

[Anonymous]

Try the AARP Fraud Watch network for some advice on what to do. https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/helpline/. Sorry you’re dealing with this. (If you want to join, it’s $20 a year and you don’t need to be 50 or older)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have you filed a police report? If not, do so immediately. I would file both in your jurisdiction and wherever the college is. Glad you've now frozen your credit. When you say the college and loan provider are zero help--what have they said?

“We’ll look into it.”

GHOST

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have you filed a police report? If not, do so immediately. I would file both in your jurisdiction and wherever the college is. Glad you've now frozen your credit. When you say the college and loan provider are zero help--what have they said?

It's been several years since I had to deal with identify theft (tons of credit cards, tons of fake checks), and having a police report was helpful. The police didn't actually do anything, but it was very helpful to have the police report number as a reference - the companies take you more seriously. Also, always ask to talk to the fraud department and not just general customer service

[Anonymous]

Hi OP, glad I found this thread. This is happening to us as well. Someone hacked into one of our old emails and stole/reopened two old credit cards and maxed it out. Since they changed all the contact info, we didn't know any of this was going on until we tried to open a new credit card and discovered the credit has tanked.

I found this link from the CFPB: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/what-do-i-do-if-i-think-i-have-been-a-victim-of-identity-theft-en-31/

The last part seems to suggest that once you file an FTC report, you can send it to the credit agencies and they have to block those fraudulent charges from your report, and then they will let the creditors know. We are still figuring out our full story and calling each bank to alert them of the fraud so they are on notice and can do their own investigation and send us certain info. Maybe we can keep each other updated on this horrible journey!

But from what I have read so far, it seems you are not liable for fraudulent charges and the police report/FTC report is the way to show it is now you. Others who have been through this, please let us know if this is not right!