In the United States the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) gives those who are, or believe that they have been, the victim of identity theft specific legal rights. These rights are designed to help people recover from identity theft.
- One has the right to ask that the major credit reporting agencies place 'fraud alerts' in his or her file to let warn creditors and others know that he or she may be a victim of identity theft.
- One has the right to free copies of the information in his or her file (called their 'file disclosure'). - One has have the right to obtain documents relating to fraudulent transactions made or accounts opened using his or her personal information.
- One has the right to obtain information from a debt collector.
- If one believes information in his or her file results from identity theft, he or she has the right to ask that a consumer reporting agency block that information from his or her file.
- One may prevent businesses from reporting information about him or her to consumer reporting agencies if he or she believes the information is a result of identity theft.
- One has the right to ask that the major credit reporting agencies place 'fraud alerts' in his or her file to let warn creditors and others know that he or she may be a victim of identity theft.
- One has the right to free copies of the information in his or her file (called their 'file disclosure'). - One has have the right to obtain documents relating to fraudulent transactions made or accounts opened using his or her personal information.
- One has the right to obtain information from a debt collector.
- If one believes information in his or her file results from identity theft, he or she has the right to ask that a consumer reporting agency block that information from his or her file.
- One may prevent businesses from reporting information about him or her to consumer reporting agencies if he or she believes the information is a result of identity theft.