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How to Spot Signs of Identity Theft by Kasey Steinbrinck Identity theft is a crime that leaves its victims dealing with financial frustrations and emotional distress. You can catch criminals red-handed if you learn to recognize common clues of identity theft. The most important thing you can do if you suspect identity theft has happened to you is to report it right away. Waiting for more than just one clue is a big mistake. Start looking into suspicious activity immediately! Missing Personal Checks Keep an eye on those numbers in the top right corner of your personal checks. If there is a break in the check numbering sequence, you may have had some checks stolen. Notify your bank and have them stop payment on any missing checks. Another option is to close your checking account and open a different one. Remember to keep your personal checks in a safe location in the future. You can also have the phrase "Check Photo ID Before Accepting" printed in the upper left of corner of your personal checks. This will make it less likely that a forger will attempt to use any stolen checks. Most check printers on the internet offer several lines of personal information so there's plenty of room to add this security measure when you order checks. Check Your Bank Statement Look over your monthly bank statement and credit card statements for charges or payments you don't recognize. Are there any personal checks that you didn't write? Were any of your debit or credit cards used to buy items you can't remember buying? These are red flags that you can only catch if you review your bank and credit card statements regularly. Look at Your Credit Report Get a copy of your credit report at least once every year. Check for accuracy and look for unfamiliar accounts or loans both active and cancelled that may be having an effect on your credit score. One red flag that may come up in your credit report is inquiries about your credit score from companies you don't recognize. Any of the three major credit reporting agencies can give you a copy of your credit report for free: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. Report any inaccuracies you discover to these agencies. Examine Your Medical Records If you get hospital bills for treatments you never received, or your health care provider asks you about an illness or issue you don't have - someone may be using your identity to get medical assistance or even health insurance coverage. A sudden increase in health insurance premium can be another sign of identity fraud. Unexpected or Missing Bills If you are expecting to receive a bill and it never shows up, it may have been stolen right out of your mailbox. Thieves can use bills to get your personal information and open up new lines of credit under your name. When bills don't show up - never assume you can get away without paying. Contact the company and investigate right away. You could start getting calls from collection agencies for products and services you have no recollection of purchasing. Don't pay these bills. But don't ignore them either. Someone may be using your identity illegally. Another clue of identity theft through the mail is getting a notification of mail redirection, which you never requested. Contact the post office right away to correct the situation. Credit or Employment Denial If you are unexpectedly denied a job or an application for a loan or credit card, but you are confident your credit is good, it may be a sign that someone has stolen your identity. When a potential employer is first interested in you, but turns you down after running a pre-employment background check it could be a clue to identity theft problems. In addition to denial of credit you actually wanted, another sign is getting denied for loans and credit you did not apply for. Getting a credit card in the mail that you did not apply for is yet another clue. This is a sign that someone is attempting to use your identity to fraudulently open lines of credit. Social Security Statement Each year the Social Security Administrations sends you a statement showing your income and how much went to social security. If the income the agency claims you earned is thousands of dollars higher than you expected, someone may have used your identity to gain employment. Kasey Steinbrinck writes for several websites dedicated to protecting consumers from fraud. You can learn More About Checks and identity theft protection by visiting the Check Education section at Check Advantage.

 

 

 

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