ID Theft

Accused of ID Theft? Contact Our Albany Criminal Defense Lawyer

Perhaps nearly every student has, at some time or another, signed a parent’s name to a permission slip or detention notification. We may consider this type of mischief to be an error in judgment or a mistake that we expect a young person to grow out of. On a grander scale, however, falsely signing a facsimile of someone else’s signature or using someone else’s electronic sign-in information can lead to criminal charges.

Representing Albany Residents Charged With ID Theft

If you have been charged with ID theft in Albany, you should contact The Law Office of James E. Tyner, PLLC for legal advice and representation.

Allegations that you committed ID theft can arise in a number of different ways. You may be accused of any of the following illegal acts regarding someone else’s identification:

• Forgery
• Using a forged signature of someone else to obtain a credit card or business loan, sign for a package at the post office or open a bank account.
• Use of unauthorized ID information to generate fake gift cards
• “Phishing” for passwords and confidential account information via e-mail or other electronic solicitations
• Accepting and cashing checks (such as Social Security checks or Medicare refunds) for family members who have died — or who are still alive, but did not authorize you to take these actions.
• Credit card fraud involving another person’s account, signature or identification
• Applying for federal student aid using forged signatures
• Filing income tax returns using forged signatures

If you face criminal charges based on alleged actions such as any of these, contact us to speak with an experienced Albany criminal defense lawyer at The Law Office of James E. Tyner, PLLC.

What are the Most Common Identity Theft Scams in Albany?

Phishing – Scammers often pose as legitimate companies and send emails to people in Albany requesting financial information. A popular phishing scam warns that your bank account will be shut down unless you confirm your bank account number. Another phishing scam offers you an IRS refund. These kinds of scammers almost always use email spoofing to disguise the origin of the email and make it appear as though it originated from a valid source.

Smishing – Similar to phishing, but using SMS text messages sent to a cell phone. When the recipient clicks on a link in the text, malware is downloaded to the phone.

Doxing – A thief uses your information on social networking sites to figure out your more personal information and steal your identity.

Tax Refund Scam – Scammers gain access to your Social Security number and use it to file a phony tax return and divert your tax refund.

Foreign Lottery Scam – Scammers will mail you a check and inform you that you’ve won a foreign lottery. When you deposit the check, the scammers have access to your financial information.

Phony Telemarketing – If someone you don’t know calls you and offers you a “too good to be true” deal, it is probably a scam.

Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Scam – A person claiming to be with the Social Security Administration (SSA) asks you for your insurance policy information.

Child Identity Theft – Someone steals your child’s Social Security number and uses it to setup a credit card.

Retail Data Breach – The Fall 2013 data breach at Target is a good example of how hackers gain access to the credit card information of retail customers.

Dumpster Diving – Some identity thieves keep things low-tech by searching through trash bins for bank statements and discarded ATM receipts.

Stolen Wallet – A person who steals your purse or wallet will also have access to your credit cards and driver’s license.

Shoulder Surfing – An identity thief peers over someone’s shoulder at an ATM in NYC.

Re-routing Mail – An identity thief may place a change of address with the U.S. Postal Service to have your mail re-routed to a different address in Albany.

Mail Theft – An identity thief who has easy access to your mailbox in Albany or surrounding communities could steal mail that contains your personal information. Some identity thieves steal pre-approved credit card offers that you have discarded.

Computer Viruses and Spyware – A computer hacker may install a program on your computer that logs your keystrokes.

Public Wi-Fi – Anytime you use a public Internet connection, an identity thief can potentially gain access to your data. There are many locations throughout Albany that offer free Wi-Fi to patrons.

Contact an Albany Criminal Defense Lawyer

If you have been charged with any type of white-collar crime, such as ID theft and need to speak with an attorney, schedule a consultation at our Albany law office. Call us at 866-642-3807 or email him directly.