How to tell if you are a victim of Identity Theft

Chances are, if you become a victim of identity theft, you won't know until several months after the thief initially began the crime.

Here's what to watch for if you are worried about becoming a victim...

1. Make sure your bills arrive in the mail on time

If you notice that a bill is not arriving on schedule like it did in the past, you may be a victim of identity theft. If you have an unlocked mailbox, its possible a thief could steal your mail in order to access your personal information. A thief can steal one piece of mail, or all of your mail. This is a very common method of identity theft, so pay attention to when your bills arrive.

2. You receive a strange piece of mail

If you receive a strange piece of mail, ESPECIALLY a bill, you may be a victim of identity theft. A common scenario when victims discover their problem is when the get an unsolicited bill in the mail from someone or something they did not purchase.

3. You receive a collections call

One of the most common ways victims discover their identity has been stolen is when they receive a collections call from a creditor demanding payment. Similar to number 2 above, a collections call comes when you least expect it and resolving the issue is often difficult.

4. You get turned down for a loan

If you are applying for a loan, renting a new apartment, or even getting a new job, someone will check your credit. You may be a victim of identity theft when you get turned down for a loan because your credit stinks due to an identity thief.

5. You receive an unexpected medical bill

Medical identity theft is one of the least known forms of ID theft, but could be one of the worst. In this case, a thief underwent some form of medical treatment using your personal information.

6. You get pulled over for a routine traffic stop only to find your going to jail

This is a terrible situation, but it happens all the time. Most people are not even aware of criminal identity theft, but its probably the worst form. An identity thief has stolen your information and used it to commit a crime in your name.

The time and effort it takes to fix this form of identity theft is tremendous.

7. You get a bill from the IRS saying you have a fraudulent tax return or owe them money.

This occurs when a thief has used your ssn to get a job in your name. SSN identity theft is another form of identity theft that is not widely know, but very dangerous.

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