How Can I Tell if my Identity Has Been Stolen?

It can be a nightmare to have you identity stolen, often by the time you realize substantial damage has already been done to your credit score. Your best protection of identity theft is knowing the signs that you may be a victim. Although these signs may not be obvious they are not hard to spot it you now where to look. As always  

Check your monthly statements.

Part of the responsibility of having a bank account or a credit card is keeping track of all the transactions that account. You should always double check the activity on your monthly statements. If you notice purchases on those bills that you have not made that should be an immediate red flag.  

Financial statements are not arriving by mail.

Your banking statements arrive monthly, always at the same time. If you are not receiving these statements you should immediately suspect that they are possibly being diverted to another address and into a criminal’s hands. Be sure to contact your financial institution with your concerns. 

You are receiving bills for accounts you have not opened.

If you receive any bills for credit cards, loans or utilities that you do not own this could be another sign of identity theft. Someone may be using a card that they have applied for in your name, these purchases unfortunately will be your responsibility to pay for. Be sure to address this issue before it can go any further. 

You are contacted by collection agencies for accounts you do not own

A collection agency is the last resort for a creditor looking for their money, this is a sign that the credit has been in arrears for some time. If you are not familiar with the account they are seeking payment for then this could be a sign that you are a victim of identity theft. The longer these accounts remain unpaid the greater the effect on your credit score.  

A Credit Report Shows Debts That You Do Not Recognize

Being financially responsible means knowing what debts you have, which institutions they are with and what the balance is. If a credit report shows outstanding loans or credit that you do not recognize your concern is valid and should be addressed immediately.  

Being aware of every aspect of your finances from the arrival date of your statements to your credit score will be assets to you if ever your information should fall into the wrong hands.

Be proactive in the handling of your account information and you will be taking a huge step in avoiding identity theft. Identity theft is called the fastest growing form of crime in America.

This is not a stretch as millions of people are being affected by it because they do not know the warning signs to look for. By being proactive and ready to find any discrepancies or trouble signs, you can keep yourself from becoming a victim of this terrible form of fraud.