What should you do if your name matches someone involved in an FTC lawsuit during a Google search?

I’m throwing this out here because I’m really stressed about it. To be brief: my unique name happens to belong to a person in Canada who was sued in the U.S. by the FTC for a $5 million penalty related to a cross-border telemarketing scheme from the early 2000s—specifically around 2001 to 2005 or 2008? The thing is, I’ve never lived in Canada; in 2001, I was just a high school student.

I’m becoming increasingly paranoid that when I submit job applications, recruiters are coming across this other person with my name and their lawsuit, potentially thinking it’s me! Every time I Google myself, I see those FTC links climbing higher in the Search Results, right under my LinkedIn profile. My concern is that the systems companies use to screen candidates could be erroneously linking our identities, resulting in my automatic rejection.

When I talk about this with people in person, many agree it’s a significant issue. However, I’m at a loss as to how to address it, especially when I can’t get in touch with potential employers directly. I’ve drafted a cover letter to explain the situation, and I’d like to share it (with some personal information censored). Here goes:

Hello,

I’m writing this cover letter to address a matter that might come up when you search for my name. A brief overview of my qualifications can be found on my resume, but I think it’s crucial to clarify the following:

When my name, “—,” is entered into Google, a notable result that appears second, right below my LinkedIn profile, is an FTC lawsuit against a person who shares my exact name. I want to emphasize that this individual is not me. My name is quite uncommon, and I’ve never encountered anyone else with both my first and last name.

According to the information on Casetext, this lawsuit took place in Chicago in 2007, involving defendants from Canada. The alleged activities occurred from 2001 to September 2005, involving unsolicited phone calls to consumers in the U.S. I’m from [state in the U.S.], born and raised here. In 2001, I was in high school, with no ties to Canada or telemarketing.

This situation has become increasingly frustrating, especially since employers may rely on quick Google searches rather than comprehensive background checks, potentially leading to my unjust rejection. I’m proactively addressing this issue to clarify that I am not the individual associated with this lawsuit.

If you have any questions or concerns, I would be more than willing to discuss them, whether in a one-on-one conversation or a group setting. Thank you for your understanding.

I appreciate your time and support regarding this matter.