Identity theft is more commonplace since the advent of the internet, and it’s in one’s best interests to familiarize themselves with warning signs of potential identity theft, along with taking steps to better protect yourself from fraudsters in the future. Identity theft occurs when someone has access to your personal information and then uses it to open lines of credit or receive insurance, housing, or employment in your name — potentially affecting your credit reports and credit scores. Signs of identity theft include receiving odd bills for items or services you didn’t purchase, including charges on your credit card or bank statement that are not yours. Other signs include calls from debt collectors about accounts you didn’t open, unexplained withdrawals from your bank account, notifications that more than one tax return was filed in your name, or unexpected denial of credit. If any of these occur, there are many steps you should consider taking, including contacting the proper authorities and companies where the fraud has taken place to explain that you were a victim of identity theft. To help combat identity theft, you can consider placing a fraud alert on your credit reports, and consider freezing or locking your credit reports, monitor your accounts, and more.
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