14 signs someone just stole your identity

Ads for flashy vehicles or unfamiliar health care services could be signs of fraudulent activity on your account, according to Payton. Scammers often charge big-ticket expenses to victims’ credit cards, which results in more direct mail and phone solicitations for those items.

Read about ways in which former identity thieves scammed people from right under their noses.

Believe it or not, your employer might be one of the first to know if your information has been stolen. An identity thief with your tax file number or tax identification number and the name of your current employer might try to collect unemployment benefits in your name. Eventually, your employer or an unemployment agency will notice and let you know that something seems fishy. To protect yourself against fraud, avoid giving out your tax file number unnecessarily.

Receiving statements for credit cards you never signed up for that are full of charges you don’t recall and getting receipts for purchases you never made are major signs that someone has stolen your information. Identity thieves may use your information to make purchases in your name, upgrade existing accounts, or open new accounts. Unfortunately, you may not find this out until you receive the bill in the mail.

If you lose service for an extended period of time in a place where you would normally have service, you should review your account for abnormal activity. If an identity thief upgrades a phone on your account, your device could lose service because it has been transferred to a new phone. You will want to promptly reach out to your wireless provider, as you may still be responsible for paying for the new device.

By tweaking a few of your daily habits can make you less likely to be scammed.

If your medical claim is rejected because you have reached your benefits limit or you receive a bill for an examination you didn’t receive, someone could be using your information. An identity thief could use your information during a health crisis, which could lead you to have someone else’s medical history in your personal health records and can negatively affect your eligibility for benefits. While this will be harmful to your wallet, it could also be harmful to your health, such as if a future doctor prescribes the wrong medication based on incorrect records.

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Source: RD.com