{"id":23159,"date":"2020-08-10T12:23:53","date_gmt":"2020-08-10T20:23:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.spokeo.com\/compass\/?p=23159"},"modified":"2022-04-13T12:23:51","modified_gmt":"2022-04-13T20:23:51","slug":"7-signs-of-identity-theft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.spokeo.com\/compass\/7-signs-of-identity-theft\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Signs Scammers Have Your Personal Information"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Identity theft is a large and growing form of criminal activity, affecting millions of Americans<\/a> each year.  If you\u2019re one of them, recognizing the problem at the earliest possible stage is key to minimizing the disruption it can cause in your life.  Here are a handful of telltale signs you should be aware of. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Your Mail Stops Coming \u2026<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This one might not be immediately obvious, but it\u2019s definitely a red flag.  If your usual bills, statements and subscriptions aren\u2019t showing up in your physical mailbox or inbox, it\u2019s possibly because your identity has been stolen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scammers who\u2019ve taken control of your accounts often will change the address of record, so statements go to them instead.  That way, you won\u2019t notice if there are (large!) charges or withdrawals you haven\u2019t made.  Sometimes it goes the other direction, too: scammers fill out an unauthorized change of address<\/a> form with the USPS in your name, and have your bills and statements sent to them.  Those contain more than enough information for them to steal your identity and misuse your credit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. … or You Get Mail You Shouldn\u2019t<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The flip side of the no-mail scenario is that your mail will include things it shouldn\u2019t<\/em>.  These might include bills for services you haven\u2019t used, statements from accounts you haven\u2019t opened, or \u201cthank you for your recent purchase\u201d confirmations from vendors you haven\u2019t bought from. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Any of these, especially if several come at the same time, are a strong indication that your identity has been stolen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. You Get Surprise Collection Calls<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Life is busy and uncertain, and even the most organized of us have gotten occasional reminders of an overdue account.  However, if you\u2019re suddenly getting collection calls for accounts you\u2019ve never opened, that can be a warning that your identity has been stolen.  Using your name and credit rating to take out loans, credit cards or lines of credit is a common way scammers profit from your stolen identity.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This isn\u2019t the only possible explanation, of course: scam \u201cagencies<\/a>\u201d have sometimes tried to collect bogus debts, and there have been honest cases of mistaken identity.  Either way, if this happens you\u2019ll need to take immediate action. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Your Credit Score Varies Unexpectedly<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A solid credit score is the key to many things, from setting up a cell phone to getting a line of credit to fix up your house.  All of those things, and many more, become more challenging if your credit score fluctuates frequently.  If you\u2019re living life as usual but your credit score is changing, that\u2019s a sign your identity may have been stolen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019re entitled to a free credit report each year from each of the three big reporting agencies, so request one at the first sign of trouble.  If there are bogus charges, new accounts, or even a spate of applications that were not your doing, you\u2019re a victim of identity theft and need to move quickly to straighten things out.  Filing a report at USA.gov\u2019s Identity Theft page<\/a> is a good starting point.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Claims and Credit Applications Are Refused<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

On a related note, you may find that you\u2019re turned down when you shouldn\u2019t be.  Sometimes that comes when you\u2019re applying for a new credit card or loan, or going through a financial background check.  Perhaps you might be submitting a claim<\/a> to your insurer, only to be told that you\u2019ve already maxed out your benefit for the claims period.  Either way, that\u2019s a very large, very red flag. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Request a statement immediately from your bank or insurer, or pull your credit report if it was a random credit application that was refused.  Scrutinize them for bogus charges, and begin the dispute resolution process<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Your Taxes Are Messed Up<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One way scammers will often misuse your identity is to get between you and the IRS.  This can happen in a number of different ways<\/a>: you might discover after you\u2019ve filed that someone has already claimed your child as a dependent, or that someone has already filed in your name and claimed your<\/em> refund.  The IRS also may accuse you of unreported income, from a company you don\u2019t work for. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All of those are clear signs of identity theft, and should be reported immediately to the IRS. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. You\u2019re Shut Out of Your Online Accounts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of the most obvious and aggravating signs of identity theft occurs when the scammer assumes your online identity, changes the passwords, and locks you out of your own accounts.  This can happen not just with financially related accounts, like your banking or credit card sites, but with your email and social media accounts as well.

This doesn\u2019t just give scammers access to your information and credit, it also leaves your friends and family members vulnerable<\/a> to malicious attacks: it\u2019s your legitimate account, after all, so why would they be suspicious of a link you\u2019ve sent<\/a>? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fixing this type of attack can be complicated and take a long time, because the scammer is now \u2014 as far as these companies are concerned \u2014 the legitimate account holder, and persuading them otherwise can be an uphill battle.  Be persistent. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Protecting Yourself Isn\u2019t Easy (But it Can Be Done!)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are a surprising number of ways for identity theft to happen, and as old tricks lose their effectiveness you can be sure scammers will come up with new ones.  As with dieting, it\u2019s hard to be consistent about utilizing good digital security habits over the longer term. But just like with losing weight, there’s no better time to begin than today. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some well-established good habits to follow include using strong passwords<\/a> and usernames, never reusing those passwords or usernames, not clicking on random links or downloading dubious apps, and reviewing your accounts weekly instead of monthly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

References: <\/h3>\n\n\n\n