Spotting Identity Theft

Signs Your Identity Has Been Stolen

You may be living your daily life when suddenly something seems wrong.  Maybe a monthly bill doesn’t show up in the mail. Or maybe you receive a bill for a medical procedure that you did not get.  Or you start getting collection calls for debts you do not recognize.  While at first you may ignore these, it is important that you pay attention. Why? Because this may be a sign that your identity has been stolen.

Identity theft is common.  The U.S. Department of Justice estimated in 2013 that 34.2 million adults had experienced some type of identity theft. When someone other than you uses your stolen identity to access services or financial products, you are the victim of fraud as well. According to Federal Trade Commission's 2013 “Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book”, the most common types of identity theft-related financial fraud reported were:

  • Government documents/benefits fraud
  • Credit card fraud
  • Telephone/utilities fraud
  • Bank fraud

Here are some common signs that your identity may have been stolen:

  • There are withdrawals from your bank account that you do not remember making.
  • There are charges on your credit card statement that you did not make.                                                                                                                     
  • You stop receiving bills or other mail that you expect.                                                                     
  • You are no longer allowed to use a personal check to make a purchase.                               
  • You start receiving calls from debt collectors who are trying to collect on debts that are not yours.                                               
  • You receive bills for medical services that you did not get.                                       
  • You are unable to get health care because your health insurance company claims that you have reached your annual limit of coverage.              
  • You are unable to get adequate health insurance because records indicate that you have a health condition that you do not have.                      
  • You receive a letter from the IRS informing you that you have filed more than one income tax return, or that you have unreported income from an employer that you have never worked for.
  • You receive a notice from a company or a financial institution that your personal information has been compromised.  These are called security breaches.
  • When reviewing your credit report, you notice accounts that are not yours.

If you see something unusual, act immediately.  Call your bank, credit card company, or the business listed for the transaction in question. The sooner you react the closer you are to a solution.

For more information on spotting identity theft, visit the Federal Trade Commission.

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