Can a debt collector contact me if I’m a victim of identity theft?

If you are a victim of identity theft in Mississippi then debt collectors may not contact you about that debt. The FDCPA (Fair Debt Collection Practices Act) protects consumers from unlawful debt collection practices and applies to all potential debt collectors. This means debt collectors are not allowed to contact a person if they know or have reason to know that the debt in question is not the responsibility of the person they are attempting to collect from. Further, The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires debt collectors to verify the accuracy of the debt and report it to the credit bureaus. If a debt collector has attempted to collect a debt that a consumer believes to be a result of identity theft, the consumer has the right to dispute that debt. If the dispute is proven to be valid, then the debt collector is obligated to remove the report from the consumer’s credit report, as well as any associated collection accounts. It is important to note that if you are a victim of identity theft, it is important to make sure that all of your personal information is secure, including your Social Security number and bank account information. You should also contact the credit bureaus to report any suspicious activity and take steps to protect yourself from identity theft. Lastly, if a debt collector attempts to contact you about a debt that you believe is a result of identity theft, you can report the debt collector to the Federal Trade Commission.

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Can a debt collector contact me if I’m a victim of identity theft?

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