How to know if you’re a victim of identity theft

As we spend more of our lives online – working, going to school, shopping, and more – we face an increasing risk of identity fraud. If you’re on social media, your risk is even higher. And with everything happening in the world, cybercriminals have started targeting people who want to know what’s happening with the pandemic. While the type of scam will vary, identity theft remain a threat unless we do something to stop it.

One of the first things you can do to stop identity theft is recognize the ways in which a cybercriminal might try to steal your identity – and the warning signs that suggest you might be a victim of identity theft. 

How do cybercriminals steal your identity?

There are lots of ways for criminals to get your personal identifying information – the information that makes up your identity, such as your Social Security number, credit card numbers, and passwords to bank accounts — including overhearing you on the phone, buying your information on the dark web, or stealing your information by tricking you into going to a bogus website or clicking on an email link. However they get it, the results can be devastating if you’re not aware of what’s going on.

They can use your personal information to:
 

• Open credit cards or new lines of credit
• Make purchases using your credit or debit cards
• File a tax return in order to claim your refund
• Use your health insurance to get medical care
• Rent an apartment, lease a car, or pass a background check

What should you look for?

One of your best defenses against identity theft is to catch it quickly if it happens. That means you’ll need to know what to look for. Below is a list of warning signs that indicate that you may be a victim of identity theft:
 

1. Your bank statement doesn’t accurately reflect credit made by you or an authorized user
2. You see unfamiliar or unauthorized activity on your credit card or credit report
3. You have missing bills or missing mail
4. You are receiving unfamiliar bills
5. You receive calls from debt collectors
6. You’re unable to file taxes because someone else has already filed them in your name
7. You are notified that your information was in a data breach