Look Out for Identity Theft: Tips and Tricks

Identity theft is a rising concern for people in the United States. Identity theft can cause serious headaches and problems down the line, especially for those that don’t figure out if their identity has been stolen until it is too late. Protecting personal information is just as important as protecting your money or wallet. Here are some things you can do to find out if you are a victim of identity theft:

• Free Credit Report: If you do not wish to pay for a premium credit monitoring service, the credit bureaus are required by law to give a free credit report once a year. You can get a free credit report at annualcreditreport.com as a way to check your credit history.
• Once you get your credit report, you should check through it and look out for any information that seems unfamiliar to you.
• Look out for any inquiries you do not recognize. Inquiries are when a creditor or furnisher pulls up your credit history to give out a loan or line of credit. That means, if you see an inquiry with a company that you do not know about, there’s a possibility that a thief has tried to open a credit card or loan in your name.
• If you see any revolving or installment accounts you do not recognize, an ID thief may have opened a line of credit in your name and does not plan to pay it back. This will hurt your credit and may place a target on you when it comes to debt collection

• Check your credit card statements to make sure all transactions and purchases are valid. Look out for any purchases or withdrawals you do not recognize, and if you do see something, bring it up with your bank or credit card company.
• All credit card companies and banks offer notifications for your transactions, so you can see what’s happening with your lines of credit in real-time. You can either sign up for text messages, email alerts, or phone app notifications. This will let you know the second a fraudulent transaction occurs.
• If you have received a notice from the IRS that multiple tax returns have been received by them, that means someone may have used your social security number. This means that the thief can intercept your tax refund or may illegally work under an employer using your name.

• If you see any medical bills you do not recognize or have received notice from a clinic or hospital you did not visit, then it may be possible a thief is your medical insurance to get health benefits.
• Identity thieves can also try to open unemployment benefits in your name with your personal information. If you receive a notice from your state government or employer about unemployment, this means someone has stolen your identity.

If you feel that your identity has been stolen visit www.identitytheft.gov. Additionally, you can file a police report at your local authorities, which will help you when disputing any accounts or charges that resulted from having your identity stolen. Identity theft can cause a lot of problems for you, your family, and your credit history. If you need help removing fraudulent accounts, you can contact us at Fix Your Credit Consulting. Call (877) 212-2450 for a free consultation.

If you have any questions, feel free to give us a call at 877-212-2450!

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