This section of PALawHelp.org has information and resources about Identity Theft issues.
Click on a resource category listed below to see information related to that category.
Get an Identity Protection PIN from the IRS (Video)
The Internal Revenue Service has expanded the Identity Protection PIN Opt-In Program to all taxpayers who can verify their identities. The Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) is a six-digit code known only to the taxpayer and to the IRS. It helps prevent identity thieves from filing fraudulent tax returns using a taxpayers' personally identifiable information. Learn how to get one to protect your identity.
Helping Clients Explore Their Personal Finance Rights (Video)
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau offers this prerecorded webinar, in four short modules, to help consumers know their rights and call out potential violations. (2022) The modules include: Module 1: Consumer Rights [18:21]; Module 2: Credit and Housing Rights [16:14]; Module 3: Financial Products and Identify Theft Rights [15:59]; and Module 4: How to Submit a Complaint or Tell your Story [10:06]
How To Recognize and Avoid Phishing Scams
Scammers use email or text messages to trick you into giving them your personal and financial information. But there are several ways to protect yourself. The FTC provides some ways to recognize and avoid phishing scams.
Identity Theft: What Do I Do?
While there are no guarantees about avoiding identity theft, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk and minimize the damage if a problem occurs.
Protect Yourself From Identity Theft
This brochure includes tips on how to prevent identity theft, how to recognize the signs that your personal information may have been compromised, and the steps to take if you think your identity has been stolen.
Identity Theft Report
Filing a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission is one of several important steps that victims of identity theft should take. This can help you in recovering from identity theft and help law enforcers catch identity thieves.
What To Know About Identity Theft
The Federal Trade Commission provides information about Identity Theft and how you can identify clues that someone may have stolen your personal information. Learn what identity theft is, how to protect yourself against it, and how to know if someone stole your identity.
Federal Court Finder
Find a federal court location by location or court name, including appellate, district, bankruptcy, probation and pretrial office, or federal defender organization. Each District Court has its own local forms which are generally available on the Court website.
Identity Theft Report
Filing a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission is one of several important steps that victims of identity theft should take. This can help you in recovering from identity theft and help law enforcers catch identity thieves.
Libel and Slander
Information on the law of libel and slander from the Erie County Bar Association. Libel and slander are forms of defamation. A defamatory statement is one that tends to disparage reputation or holds a person open to public ridicule, hatred, and contempt or tends to lower him/her in the estimation of the community. Libel is a defamatory statement that is written or printed. Slander refers to spoken defamatory statements. (08/2018)
Recognizing and Preventing Identity Theft
Consumer Legal Information Pamphlet from the Pennsylvania Bar Association. August 2012.
Five Ways to Help Protect Your Identity (Video)
Identity theft affects millions of people each year. This video provides information you can use to learn how to make protecting yourself from identity thieves part of your daily routine.
Get an Identity Protection PIN from the IRS (Video)
The Internal Revenue Service has expanded the Identity Protection PIN Opt-In Program to all taxpayers who can verify their identities. The Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) is a six-digit code known only to the taxpayer and to the IRS. It helps prevent identity thieves from filing fraudulent tax returns using a taxpayers' personally identifiable information. Learn how to get one to protect your identity.
Helping Clients Explore Their Personal Finance Rights (Video)
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau offers this prerecorded webinar, in four short modules, to help consumers know their rights and call out potential violations. (2022) The modules include: Module 1: Consumer Rights [18:21]; Module 2: Credit and Housing Rights [16:14]; Module 3: Financial Products and Identify Theft Rights [15:59]; and Module 4: How to Submit a Complaint or Tell your Story [10:06]
How To Recognize and Avoid Phishing Scams
Scammers use email or text messages to trick you into giving them your personal and financial information. But there are several ways to protect yourself. The FTC provides some ways to recognize and avoid phishing scams.
Identity Theft and Online Security
The Federal Trade Commission offers these resources outlining steps you can take to help minimize the damage to your account and credit when Identity Theft occurs.
Identity Theft and Unemployment Benefits
Information on the signs that you may be the victim of identity theft through the filing of fraudulent unemployment claims and what to do to report it. (30-Oct-2025)
Identity Theft And Your Social Security Number
Information from the Social Security Administration on protecting your Social Security number and preventing identity theft. Learn how to prevent identity theft and what you can do if you fall victim to these criminals. [PDF] (October 2024)
Identity Theft Central - Internal Revenue Service
Tax-related identity theft happens when someone steals your personal information to commit tax fraud. This website from the Internal Revenue Service offers information and services for people who have been victims of tax-related identity theft.
IdentityTheft.gov - Federal Trade Commission Identity Theft Website
This website is a one-stop national resource to learn about the crime of identity theft. It provides detailed information to help you deter, detect, and defend against identity theft.
Identity Theft - Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General
The Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General has created a comprehensive web-based Identity Theft Toolkit to help the people of the Commonwealth protect themselves from predators and begin the recovery process.
Medical Identity Theft (Video)
Medical identity theft is when someone steals or uses your personal information (like your name, Social Security number, or Medicare number), to submit fraudulent claims to Medicare and other health insurers without your authorization. Medical identity theft can disrupt your medical care, and wastes taxpayer dollars. You should protect your personal information, check medical bills and statements, and report questionable charges or fraud.
Protect Yourself From Identity Theft
This brochure includes tips on how to prevent identity theft, how to recognize the signs that your personal information may have been compromised, and the steps to take if you think your identity has been stolen.
Report a Mail Crime
If you have witnessed or fallen victim to a mail-related crime, take action by filing a report of the incident. Find the right form, appropriate for your situation, to file in order to report the criminal conduct.
Report Unemployment Compensation (UC) Fraud
Unemployment Compensation fraud increases unemployment taxes for businesses, threatens the availability of funds for people with legitimate Unemployment Compensation claims, and strains the Commonwealth's unemployment trust fund. Unemployment Compensation fraud typically falls into one of three categories: 1. Identity Theft; 2. Claimant Fraud; and 3. Employer Fraud. Learn how to report it from the Department of Labor & Industry.
What To Know About Identity Theft
The Federal Trade Commission provides information about Identity Theft and how you can identify clues that someone may have stolen your personal information. Learn what identity theft is, how to protect yourself against it, and how to know if someone stole your identity.