How Do I Know If My Identity Has Been Stolen?
The first step in stopping identity theft is detection. You should review your bank statements and bills to protect yourself from ID theft. Perhaps more important, you should obtain a copy of your credit reports. If someone has stolen your information it will most likely show up there soon.
Subscribing to a credit monitoring service such as www.freecreditreportsinstantly.com is another smart move. For a small fee, we will consistently check your credit file for unusual activity, and will alert you of any changes.
As you review your financial documents and credit reports, here are a number of signs to look for:
Accounts you didn't open: If you discover credit card or bank accounts opened in your name, without your knowledge, you may be a victim. Also, look for any charges you can't explain on legitimate accounts;
Unauthorized activity on your bank statements or bills: If you don't recognize an item, call the bank or creditor immediately to check the information and limit any damage;
Not recognizing the names of lenders with whom you (or someone pretending to be you) have applied for credit: This information appears in the "Inquiries" section of your credit report;
Fraudulent or inaccurate personal information on your credit report: Besides mysterious accounts, look for fraudulent or inaccurate personal information, such as name, initials, address, and social security number;
Failing to receive bills or other mail: If you consistently fail to receive important mail, check with the sender to determine if your mail has been diverted to another address;
Receiving credit cards for which you didn't apply: Many times, criminals, while pretending to be you, will order credit cards in your name. Then they will attempt to retrieve the new card from your mailbox before you even know it was there;
Being denied credit or being offered less-than-desirable terms for no apparent reason: If you have an excellent credit history, but find yourself being turned down for home and car loans (or being offered sky-high interest rates), there's a good chance an identity thief has trashed your credit;
Getting calls or letters from debt collectors or businesses about things you didn't buy: Look out if you are contacted about a product or service you didn't purchase -- someone posing as you may have gone on a spending spree;
You receive something in the mail about a house you never owned, an apartment you never rented, or a job you never held: Contact the sender to verify the name and mailing address in their records; if they did not make a mistake, you may be an ID theft victim;
Staying vigilant is key to detecting identity theft. Despite your best efforts at keeping your personal information private, it may be possible for someone steal your identity. The trick is finding out about the problem before it costs you your good credit... and your good name.