4 Serious Identity Theft Effects That Negatively Impact Victim
Being at the receiving end of a crime can deeply disturb the mental peace of an individual. The scars left by the seriousness of the crime and its after-effects sometimes take a long time to heal. Most humans feel that such disturbing actions will not occur in their lives. This myth is shattered when they are suddenly confronted by an unfortunate scenario. Here we are discussing the identity theft effects that can seriously impact the victim's wellbeing. These incidents come as a big surprise to people who are suddenly confronted by inflated credit card bills or a notice from the tax department for claiming wrongful refunds. A Cobb County resident had to hire an identity theft attorney in Georgia if he or she is accused of some serious identity theft crime.
What Is Identity Theft?
Identity theft occurs when someone accesses the personally identifiable information of an individual by wrongful means in order to perpetrate some kind of fraud. Thieves look to access vital details like the Social Security Number (SSN) or credit card information of a person. They then use the data to impersonate that individual and carry out financial transactions or other acts in his/ her name. Criminals are always looking for new ways to access other people’s identifiers like a driver’s license so that they can use it to make under-the-radar purchases. However, the most common example of such crimes is using credit card information to make high-value financial transactions. Most people are not even aware that there are unethical elements who are interested in their personal details. This is the reason they feel a great shock when they realize that they have been conned.
What Is The Impact Of Identity Theft On The Victims?
These crimes can have a serious impact on the mental and physical wellness of the victim. The sudden realization that you have been duped along with the associated legal trouble can cause severe distress to the affected person. Here are the ways in which identity theft can affect victims.
1. Long-lasting Financial Impact
The most common effect of such incidents is on the financial health of the affected person. In the majority of cases, the perpetrator uses personal identifiers to conduct fraudulent banking transactions or purchase goods online. This leaves the victim with a large bill to settle. On top of it, get some legal assistance to resolve the matter. The lawyer successfully helped the person get out of the legal mess. However, the victim lost a lot of money because of missed work and the extra burden of the lawyer’s fees. In extreme cases, criminals empty the bank accounts of victims and they are left with nothing. This kind of financial impact can be long-lasting and extremely damaging to the individual.
2. Deeply Disturbing Emotional Trauma
One of the most disturbing identity theft effects is the emotional trauma that accompanies such incidents. It can be emotionally distressing for a law-abiding citizen to be accused of a misdemeanor. Let’s say a criminal swiped the driver’s license of an innocent man and used it to purchase a gun. The weapon is then used in an armed robbery. The police during their investigation land up at that innocent man’s house who has no clue about anything. Imagine the kind of stress and tension the man would have undergone while trying to clear his name. It is common for people to feel that they are themselves to blame for losing such a valuable piece of personally identifiable information. Such incidents can easily cause psychological issues for the affected person.3. Possible Harm To Social Reputation
Another serious after effect of these crimes is the potential harm to an individual’s social reputation. Since the identifiers used are of another person, when the incident is discovered, it is the innocent victim who is under the spotlight. Let’s go back to the example we cited in the above point. The man had to hire a fraud defense attorney in Cobb County where he lived to clear his name. While close family and friends believed he was innocent, people in his locality and others were not so sure of his innocence. It was not until the court absolved him that he could walk with his head held high.
4. Severe Strain On Physical Wellness
It is not only the mind but the body that is put under severe strain after the discovery of the crime. The tension can cause people to lose their appetite and suffer sleepless nights. This can take a toll on their bodies. The intense stress can also cause medical issues related to the heart and stomach. Such cases can go on for a long time and by the time they end, the victims may be suffering from a permanent health-related issue.
Conclusion
These are the identity theft effects that can cause serious damage to the victim’s physical and emotional health. Anyone who suffers from the crime must immediately look for professional fraud defense attorney to cope with the crisis and come out of it strongly.