Attorney Richard Bernstein Speaks of his Plight with Identity Theft

Prominent Michigan Attorney's Identity Stolen

November 29, 2010

By BILL GALLAGHER WJBK | myFOXDetroit.com

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. – A prominent Michigan lawyer has become the victim of identity theft.
Richard Bernstein says he is not getting any help from the FBI, and even after alerting stores and credit bureaus accounts are still being opened in his name.

"So for me ... this is a horrible inconvenience, but I think for most working class people who are just
trying to get through the day and have done everything the way they're supposed to do it, this will absolutely destroy their life," said Bernstein.

He is sorting through a financial mess after someone got and used his Social Security number and other personal information opening up credit accounts.

"They're going to go and apply for credit everywhere, and you could wind up basically tomorrow morning waking up, going to your bank not having any money in your bank account, and then having hundreds of thousands of dollars of debt that had been racked up," Bernstein told FOX 2's Bill Gallagher.

When he learned his identity was stolen, Bernstein froze bank accounts and alerted the FBI, local police, credit bureaus and everywhere else where he had credit cards. He said his banks are telling him they have some pretty good information that could lead to the identity of the identity thief.

"The banks feel that they have what they believe is a lot of information on this person. That this person made several mistakes in what they did, and that if the FBI took an interest in it that they would be able to apprehend this person," Bernstein said.

A local FBI spokesperson said the bureau rarely takes on individual identity thefts unless monetary thresholds are reached and the U.S. Attorney's Office gets involved.

Bernstein said even alerting some business did not work.

"Even having done all of those things, Best Buy still goes and extends a huge line of credit to the perpetrator when they were on notice," he said.

Macy's even extended credit to the identity thief after first notifying Bernstein about the problem.

The holiday season is the prime season for identity thieves. So, you have just learned that your identity was stolen. Now what?

First, get a copy of your credit report to see if any new accounts or credit inquires show up.

File identity theft complaints with the Federal Trade Commission and your local law enforcement agencies.

Keep copies of all the documents you collect as you work through the process of discovering and repairing the damage that has been done.

Change all passwords that you use online. Use new and different passwords for each account, and stop saving your passwords online or on your computer.

You will find other steps you should follow in recovering your identity at www.fightidentitytheft.com.