How to recognize it

Identity theft and how to recognize it

These days, if you want to avoid becoming a victim of identity theft, you have to keep a constant vigil on all of your financial information. Identity theft or credit theft is a crime that is getting worse every year, and the authorities are having a great deal of trouble keeping up with it. A good place to start guarding your personal information is to monitor your mailbox, as the most common source of identity theft is mail. There are some clear signs that someone might be tampering with your personal or financial information; you need to figure out how to recognize them. The typical victim of identity theft rarely finds out out about it until nearly a year has gone by.

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identity theft victim

Here are a few things you should watch out for to prevent becoming a victim:
 
Credit card use - Simple charges from Wal-Mart may not seem unusual if you frequently shop there. Look over every charge on your charge card, as many thieves try small charges at common stores before using the card for bigger or more exotic purchases. A charge you do not recognize (hotel bill from Tahiti?) might be an indication that someone else is using your bank card. Peculiar purchases on your credit card statement might point out a problem.

Billing statements that haven't shown up. Missing mail is a common sign of trouble; you could quickly see a lot of debts in your name that you don't even know about. If you haven't received a bill from the cable TV company in a couple of months, it might indicate that a crook has appropriated it and changed the address.
 

Calls from debt collectors or "overdue" notifications in the mailbox - If you are receiving notices of late bills or phone calls from collectors for items you did not buy, that's a certain sign that a criminal may be employing your good name for bad deeds.

Passwords that do not work anymore - Crooks have software programs that can help guess passwords for online accounts. If you can't log in to a Website that you often use, it might be a signal that your account has been tampered with, especially if you bank online.

Your credit history is great but you're turned down for more - Have you done a credit report check lately? You may find all kinds of entries on your credit report that you are not aware of. Take advantage of the opportunity to examine your credit report from all three credit agencies and make sure that nothing is wrong. If you have good credit (or think you do) and you have recently been turned down for credit, it could be a warning signal.

The faster you take control of your financial or personal information, the faster you minimize your risk. It often takes several months to clear up these problems; why do it if you don't have to? Failing to remain diligent might lead to discovering that a criminal has wiped out your bank account, purchased a home, or amassed $5000 in bank card charges in your name. These days, it is not adequate to suppose that everything is all right; you have to take preemptive action and keep abreast of your personal information. As this crime becomes a lot more common, the potential of huge financial loss looms large.
 

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