5 Things to Check For if Your Identity is Stolen

Defending Yourself & Recovering From Identity Theft…

Most people who get their identity stolen don’t even know they’ve been the victim of identity theft until it is far too late. If someone has gotten a hold of your personal information and used it fraudulently to make purchases on your credit, you may not find out until a collection agency contacts you asking for payment, or worse, when you go to make a purchase of your own and are declined. If your identity is stolen you can either take matters into your own hands, or you can hire a credit repair company.

1. Credit Card Fraud – Thieves can obtain your credit card information in an array of ways, including skimming, the process of capturing a credit/debit card’s information and storing it to an electronic device, and phishing, the process of creating fake emails and websites pretending to be a financial organization.

Identity Theft Protection Companies Will Provide Fraud Resolution Services

2. Bank Fraud – This can include counterfeiting, opening accounts, making ATM withdrawals, or taking out a loan in your name. This is also accomplished through phishing, but more often than not, this form of identity theft happens when people don’t properly destroy personal information before throwing it away.

3. Phone Fraud – If a lowlife gets a hold of your social security number, that person can very easily apply for a home phone or mobile phone using your information. Often when this happens, the thief runs up the charges and doesn’t make payment. Eventually this will negatively affect your credit score.

4. Utilities Fraud – Similarly to phone fraud, if your personal information, mainly your social security number, falls into the hands of an identity thief, that person can very easily get approved for electricity, natural gas, or even a cable account. If you aren’t careful, you may not notice this type of fraud for months, as regular payments may be made, but final payments may not.

5. Government Fraud – This occurs when someone has used your identity to obtain a driver’s license, state issued identity card, government benefits, or to file a fraudulent tax return.

In order to help prevent your identity from being stolen, you should check your credit report regularly. Experts say you should check your credit report at least three to four times a year, but at the very least you should obtain your free annual credit report and make sure there aren’t any unauthorized accounts. In addition, regularly checking your bank and credit card statements can put a stop to fraudulent activity before your accounts get cleared out.

Related Information
About Identity Theft
Identity Theft and Fraud
10 Tips to Prevent Identity Theft
NCPC.org Tips to Prevent Identity Theft
Tips for Avoiding Credit Repair Scams

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Tags: FTC, Justice Department, LifeLock, Phishing, Skimming

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