Is someone already using your identity? Check these 8 places
Is someone already using your identity? Check these 8 places
When people think about identity theft, they often start with a credit report or bank statement. Those are important places to look, but they are not the only ones. Someone using your identity may be trying to open a phone line, start utility service, use medical benefits or create a payment plan that never appears on your usual accounts.
The warning signs of identity theft can be easy to miss, especially when fraudulent activity happens outside your primary financial accounts. You do not need to investigate every record today. Start with these eight places, focusing first on accounts that could cause the most damage.
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SOMEONE COULD HAVE OPENED AN ACCOUNT IN YOUR NAME. CHECK NOW
Review checking, savings, credit card, investment, retirement and payment-app activity for transactions you do not recognize. Look beyond purchases. A new external bank connection, authorized user, payment method, mailing address or phone number can also signal an unauthorized account change. Turn on transaction and security alerts wherever your financial institution offers them. If you find an unfamiliar transaction, contact the institution through its official website or the number on your statement. Do not use a number from a suspicious text or email.
Check all three major credit reports for accounts, hard inquiries, collections, addresses or employers you do not recognize. A fraudulent credit card, personal loan or retail-financing account may appear here even when your checking account looks normal. Use AnnualCreditReport.com to access your reports. You can currently request free online credit reports from Equifax, Experian and TransUnion once a week. An unfamiliar entry does not automatically mean fraud. Some lenders operate under different business names. Verify questionable information with the company before disputing it.
Pro tip: Consider freezing your credit with all three bureaus. Credit freezes are free, do not affect your credit score and can make it harder for someone to open new credit accounts in your name.
Buy now, pay later services and store-financing accounts can be easy to overlook because they may not feel like traditional credit cards. Check services you have used for unfamiliar orders, payment plans, saved addresses or account-opening messages. Some buy now, pay later loans may not appear on your traditional credit reports. Reporting practices vary by provider and loan type. Search your inbox for purchase confirmations, shipping notices and payment reminders you did not expect. Open the retailer's official app or type its web address yourself rather than clicking a link in an unexpected message.
Your phone number can provide access to other accounts because it may receive verification codes and password-reset messages. Review your carrier account for unfamiliar devices, lines, eSIMs, upgrades, address changes or changes to your account PIN. A sudden loss of cellular service can be an early warning sign of
