14 signs someone just stole your identity

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 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.

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.

When hackers dig around in your online accounts, they could accidentally trigger an authentication alert. You can easily keep cybercriminals away by strengthening your passwords. “Consider putting together four random words and adding a number, at least one lowercase, and a special character,” says Theresa Payton, CEO of the cybersecurity firm Fortalice and co-author of Protecting Your Internet Identity. A password like “CosyChairFireBook2020!” would be tough for a scammer to crack.

Now discover 12 password mistakes hackers hope you make.

It’s always a good idea to keep a close eye on withdrawals from your bank account – no matter how small. Hackers might withdraw a couple of bucks at first to test if the charge goes through. As soon as you notice any unfamiliar charges, contact your credit card company and ask them to freeze your credit. “This prevents [the] opening of any new lines of credit, making you a tougher target,” says Robert Siciliano, a security analyst. Identity thieves will quickly move on.

Don’t ignore or throw away any unusual bills that appear in your letterbox. It might not be innocent spam mail; bills or notices for overdue payments could mean trouble with identity fraud, experts say. In this case, you should file a police report right away. “They probably will not catch the criminal, but it puts you on record as having reported the identity theft and can help in repairing your credit,” Weisman says.

Just as receiving odd bills can be a sign of identity theft, not receiving mail or emails related to expenses is a red flag. This is especially true for items that you receive on a regular basis, like bank statements and bills. An identity thief only needs your name and address to reroute your mail and intercept sensitive documents, so make sure to follow up with creditors if your bills don’t arrive on time.

Strange, but true: Identity thieves can file a tax return in your name, claiming a phony refund. Being rejected for an electronically filed tax return or receiving a tax refund you did not request are big red flags that your identity has been stolen. If this happens to you, Weisman recommends contacting the tax office as soon as possible to report the fraud.

If you start getting mail addressed to people who don’t live with you, you should take it seriously. Mistakes happen, but it can’t hurt to freeze your credit in case it ends up being identity fraud. “Everyone should do this, regardless of whether they are a victim of identity theft or not,” Weisman says. “It is the single best thing you can do to protect yourself from becoming a victim of identity theft.”

Let’s say your application for credit is denied, but you have a good credit rating. Or your medical insurer rejects a claim even though you know it was legitimate. Weisman says identity thieves might be taking out loans or making fraudulent claims with your information. He recommends reaching out to your medical provider or credit card company to confirm and report the fraud.