Contents
What Is Identity Theft?
How Your Identity Can Be Stolen
How Identity Thieves Can Use Your Personal Information
How to Stop Identity Theft at Home
How to Stop Identity Theft at Work
How to Stop Identity Theft in Public Places
How to Stop Identity Theft Online
How to Set Strong Passwords
How to Detect Identity Theft
What to Do If You’re the Victim of Identity Theft
How to Repair Your Credit After Identity Theft
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How to Detect Identity Theft
Even with your best efforts, it’s impossible to eliminate the threat of identity theft entirely. If you are victimized, it’s crucial to respond and take action immediately: acting fast to contain the damage can save you a great deal of time, money, and frustration. For that reason, it’s essential to be able to recognize the major signs of identity theft.
Lost Belongings
If your personal belongings are lost or stolen, you should assume that your identity is at risk and act accordingly. Your most vulnerable belongings include:
- Your purse
- Your wallet
- Your checkbook
- Your briefcase
- Your laptop
- The contents of your glove compartment
Missing Mail
Keep track of the monthly or yearly bills, statements, or other sensitive items that you expect to receive in the mail. Should any of that mail fail to arrive, contact the sender, as it may signal that your mail is being intercepted. Be especially sure to watch for missing:
- Bank statements
- Credit card bills
- New credit or debit cards
- Boxes of new checks
- Pay stubs
- Tax forms, such as W-2s and 1099s
- Tax refund checks
- Social Security Earnings and Benefits Statement
- Social Security checks or other income
Unauthorized Purchases and Accounts
Go over all of your bills, statements, and accounts carefully each month and check your credit report at least once a year. If you find that any unauthorized financial transactions have been made in your name, you’ve most likely become a victim of identity theft. Be sure to take the appropriate actions if you discover or experience any of the following:
- Unexpected charges: You receive a credit card bill that includes purchases you don’t recognize, or your credit card is unexpectedly declined when you try to make a purchase.
- Unauthorized transactions: You discover withdrawals you didn’t make or checks you didn’t write on your bank statement, or your attempt to withdraw cash or pay by check fails due to insufficient funds.
- Unfamiliar accounts: Your credit report contains accounts that you don’t recognize.
Other Signs of Identity Theft
If you don’t catch the early signs of identity theft, several signs are certain to arise eventually and will definitely get your attention. For example:
- Calls from collection agents: You receive calls from collection agents for unfamiliar outstanding debts.
- Attempts at repossession: A lender attempts to repossess something that you don’t own.
- The IRS contacts you: The IRS sends you a letter stating that you’ve filed duplicate returns or haven’t reported all of your earnings.
- Your loan or credit application is refused: You are unexpectedly turned down for credit or a loan due to a poor credit rating.
- You are arrested: You are arrested as a result of an outstanding warrant of which you were unaware and for which you are not responsible.
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