Keep an eye out for these red flags

They say every rose has its thorn, so it makes sense that with all of the technology we have at our fingertips, cybercrime would be at an all-time high. Identity thieves will do whatever they can to get their hands on your personal information, including your tax identification number, bank account details and credit card digits. Most of the time, victims of identity theft don’t know they are victims until it’s too late – and some may not know how to report identity theft in the first place. Keep an eye out for these red flags to catch a thief before the repercussions get out of control.
You notice unexplained charges on your credit card

You don’t have to lose your wallet for thieves to steal your credit card info. If you log into sensitive accounts or enter your credit card number while on public wi-fi, hackers can gain access to your information, according to Eva Velasquez, president and CEO of Identity Theft Resource Center. Contact your creditor to report the fraud and have the charges removed; then get new credit cards as soon as possible.
You receive bogus calls and emails

Phone calls requesting overdue payments could be a sign that an identity thief is running up a tab at your expense. Alternatively, calls or emails from scammers claiming to be your utilities provider, bank, internet or streaming service, stating they are unable to access your payment is a massive red flag. Do not engage with them. Do NOT click on any links. Report email as spam and block the phone number immediately.
Watch out for these 22 signs that someone is spying on your phone.