During the closing of my home, I was informed by the title company that a lien had been filed against the last four digits of my social security number, requiring me to pay a debt that I do not owe. I never received any communication regarding the debt, and there's no lien associated with my... View More

Barry W. Kaufman
answered on Jul 9, 2025

See an attorney about suing the company to which you paid the money.

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I have substantial evidence of a major RICO case involving racketeering, identity theft, property fraud, and actions spanning California, Oregon, and Washington. The situation connects with human trafficking crossing state lines. My family has experienced forced sterilization over five generations.... View More

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answered on Jul 10, 2025

What you're going through sounds deeply painful and frightening, and no one should feel alone in the face of such serious violations. You’ve already shown incredible strength by gathering evidence and speaking out. Allegations involving RICO, identity theft, medical abuse, and forced... View More

On June 18th, my phone's eSIM was fraudulently cloned, leading to significant financial and emotional damage. Spectrum failed to verify the identity of the person who cloned the eSIM, resulting in the unauthorized change of my bank account and credit card passwords. Although Spectrum's... View More

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answered on Jul 3, 2025

You’re dealing with a serious breach, and the emotional and financial toll is absolutely valid. When a telecom provider allows unauthorized access to something as sensitive as your eSIM, they can be held liable if their security protocols were insufficient or negligently implemented. Spectrum’s... View More

I have had child support checks stolen from my mail and cashed without my permission. I've contacted the child support agency and they are sending affidavits for me to notarize to issue new checks, but I am concerned I will not receive them either. Should I report the theft to the police, and... View More

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answered on Jul 4, 2025

You should report the theft of your child support checks to your local police department and obtain a copy of the police report for your records. That report will support your affidavits to the child support agency and help establish the theft as a criminal act rather than a paper loss.

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I have an in-person appointment with a lawyer next week to discuss setting up a Financial Power of Attorney (POA). Her office emailed me asking for the names, addresses, and IDs of the individuals involved in the POA to be sent via email. They did not provide any security guidelines about sending... View More

Gary Lane
answered on Jul 2, 2025

NO NO NO! Never send a POA by email. Much too dangerous!!!

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My ex and his current girlfriend accused me of stealing their cell phones and her social security checks. The police have visited my home two days in a row, expressing their desire to speak with me. I have had no conflicts with my ex or his girlfriend in the past. I haven't spoken to the cops... View More

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answered on Jul 2, 2025

If the police are repeatedly coming to your home and asking to speak with you, that typically means they are actively investigating a complaint. However, whether you will be arrested depends on whether they have gathered sufficient probable cause to believe you committed a crime. At this stage, you... View More

I allowed the police to access my phone, and they have kept it for a week now, despite initially stating it would only be for a day or two. They mentioned there was a tech problem and couldn't retrieve all the information they needed. I did not sign any consent form when handing over the... View More

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answered on Jul 4, 2025

You have a right to prompt return of your property when it’s no longer needed for a valid investigatory purpose.

You should demand in writing—either directly or through an attorney—that the department produce a warrant or court order justifying their continued possession and set a... View More

I pawned my cellphone with a contract, but missed the deadline for retrieval, and the pawn shop sold it. The phone contained sensitive personal information like photos, videos, contracts, banking information, and passwords. I have contacted the pawn shop to try retrieving my data, but they said the... View More

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answered on Jul 4, 2025

You entrusted the phone to the pawnbroker under contract, and its sale without notice has exposed your personal information.

Immediately send a written demand to the pawn shop demanding the device back or a data‐recovery solution, keep copies of that demand, and file a police report for... View More

I've discovered that someone opened a utilities account in my name, preventing me from obtaining services. I've filed an identity theft report with the FTC and disputed incorrect information with credit bureaus since there are addresses and phone numbers on my credit report that... View More

Timothy Denison
answered on Jul 6, 2025

Freeze your credit with the credit bureaus and report this to your local authorities to pursue charges.

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I recently received an email from someone claiming to be Alex Tyson, stating I owe a debt and demanding payment within seven hours. The email does not specify which company is suing me and threatens fraud charges and jail time if I do not comply. I have not received any official documentation... View More

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answered on Jul 5, 2025

This sounds like a scam, and you should not respond to it or send any money. Real debt collectors are legally required to identify themselves, name the creditor, and provide written verification of the debt. Threatening jail over unpaid debts is illegal in the United States—civil debts are not... View More

I want to understand the legality of downloading data from breaches posted online for free, such as on Breach Forums. The data includes non-sensitive and sensitive personal information. I'm curious if it's illegal to possess this data without sharing it, and about the legality of creating... View More

Leonard R. Boyer Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Jun 26, 2025

No it is not legal and if you can find your facing criminal charges. Do not do it or you could have major problems.

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I am dealing with a credit reporting agency that is consistently failing to adhere to consumer protection laws. Despite calling them numerous times over several days, their representatives claim to not understand their legal obligations, resulting in unresolved issues. They also abruptly end calls,... View More

Timothy Denison
answered on Jun 25, 2025

You can file suit against the reporting agency for violation of the consumer protection laws.

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I have an issue with my immigrant wife who leaked sensitive documents, including my tax returns, social security information, naturalization papers, passports, medical records, car registration, and bank statements, through WhatsApp without my consent. I am looking to press charges against her for... View More

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answered on Jun 26, 2025

What your wife did—sharing private and sensitive personal documents like tax returns, medical records, and bank statements without consent—may violate both federal and Wisconsin state privacy and computer crimes laws. This includes potential criminal liability for unauthorized access,... View More

I am a victim of criminal identity theft involving my brother, who stole my wallet and used my identity for criminal activities in April 2023. He impersonated me during a traffic stop in Clarkson, NY (receiving 6 tickets) and was involved in an incident leading to a petit larceny charge in... View More

Zev Goldstein
answered on Jun 24, 2025

If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you. This is a rare issue, but it does happen from time to time.

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I am on an H4 visa and have been kept from visiting a doctor for 3 years by my husband. Recently, he is forcing me to go to a doctor, which makes me suspect he might have misused my identity related to a visa issue concerning his sister. During this time, he changed his phone and cellular... View More

H. Scott Aalsberg
answered on Jun 24, 2025

Several community service groups are available to help people like you in abusive relationships. One that comes to mind is https://womenaware.net/ The help is only a phone call away.

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I am in Texas and purchased a car with a Missouri title. Before I could transfer the title to my name, I was involved in an accident. The title was stolen, along with my social security card and some claim paperwork, possibly to attempt to steal the car or the insurance payout. I've filed a... View More

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answered on Jun 25, 2025

You’re in a tough situation, but you still have options to push this forward. Since Missouri requires the previous owner's involvement for a replacement title and that person is incarcerated, you can request assistance from the correctional facility where he’s being held. Some facilities... View More

I recently discovered through Facebook that my credit report was accidentally sent by a prospective employer to another job applicant in Massachusetts. I was not informed about this sharing by the employer. I am concerned about the potential impact on my credit. Is this action illegal, and what... View More

Matthew McKenna
answered on Jun 25, 2025

I would contact a consumer protection attorney familiar with the Fair Credit Reporting Act. There could be a claim for impermissible purpose under the FCRA. Additionally, I might recommend freezing your credit to ensure someone else can't use your information to take out any loans in your... View More

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I'm concerned because my mom plans to leave important documents, including my Social Security number and birth certificate, on our open front porch for me to pick up when she leaves for work tomorrow morning. I believe this location is not secure, and it makes me uncomfortable to have... View More

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answered on Jun 23, 2025

You're right to be concerned. Leaving documents like a Social Security card or birth certificate unattended on an open porch exposes you to a significant risk of identity theft. These records are prime targets for someone looking to steal your identity, apply for credit, access benefits, or... View More

I recently received an email from my previous employer, the City of Long Beach, informing me that my private information, including my social security number and name, was breached from their database. I received this notice on April 21, 2025. The city claims they have investigated the breach,... View More

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answered on Jun 21, 2025

Based on the timing of your breach notification and California law, you do have several potential avenues for recourse. The fact that the City of Long Beach took over a year to notify you about a breach that occurred in November 2023 raises significant concerns about their compliance with data... View More

I've been accused of harassment by an individual, but there is no evidence supporting this claim. The casino security removed me from the premises and reported me to the police. Although I received a police report, it lacks specific information, and the case has been closed due to lack of... View More

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answered on Jun 21, 2025

You may have grounds for a defamation lawsuit against this individual for making false statements that damaged your reputation. In California, defamation occurs when someone makes a false statement of fact about you to third parties, causing harm to your reputation or other damages. The statements... View More