What to Do if You Know Your Identity Has Been Stolen

Is Someone Using Your Identity?

Identity theft happens every mean solar day.

Estimates are that 47% of Americans experienced financial identity theft in 2020.

With nearly half of the population afflicted, y'all're probably wondering if someone has stolen your identity.

In this guide, we'll reveal the pinnacle red flags associated with identity fraud, expose the most common types of scams, then evidence you how to check for all the different types of identity theft.

How Does Identity Theft Happen?

To steal your identity, con artists need your personal data. Hither are some of the almost common identity theft techniques:

Phishing Attacks

‍Scammers will send spam emails, texts, or even call you pretending to be a representative from Facebook, a authorities agency or police enforcement. They'll pressure you to "confirm your identity" by asking for personally identifying data such as your Social Security number, and then utilize that information to scam you online and commit crimes. (Even worse, it's not always possible to change your Social Security number, fifty-fifty after identity theft.)

Physical Theft

If a thief comes beyond your driver'south license or Social Security menu, they can employ that information to commit identity fraud. Yous probably didn't know this, but criminals don't need much to steal your identity. Your ID alone provides enough information that can exist used for identity theft. Criminals may also try to steal your concrete post to obtain financial data such as your bank account number (to commit depository financial institution scams) or credit menu account numbers.

Data Breaches

‍Modern day scammers use emerging cyber threats to hack a company's database or obtain hacked information from the Dark Web. Stolen data can include any information you've saved on a shopping website, from passwords to credit card details to Social Security numbers. Sometimes scammers don't even need stolen information equally they can get what they demand from your online footprint.

Shoulder Surfing

Believe it or not, scammers with shifty optics can steal your identity by lurking over your shoulder while you're entering login details to important online accounts on your mobile device. Another archetype shoulder surfing move also happens at the ATM while you're entering your debit card pivot number to withdraw cash.

10 Means to Recognize Identity Theft

1. Your credit report doesn't seem accurate.
2. Suspicious activity on your credit menu and bank statements.
3. Unexpected concrete mail.
4. Missing concrete mail.
5. Your personal documents are lost or stolen.
6. Suspicious phone calls and voicemails.
7. Suspicious texts and emails.
8. Unfamiliar SMS verification codes.
9. Your income tax return is way off.
10. Unfamiliar devices take access to your online accounts.

1. Your Credit Report Doesn't Seem Accurate

Reviewing your credit history is i of the nearly effective ways to know if your identity has been stolen.

Unfortunately, about people don't bank check their credit study until it'southward too late. For case, imagine you're attempting to buy a new machine at the dealership simply the lender denies you a line of credit. This could be a sign of credit theft.

If you accept whatever doubts, request a free credit report from 1 of the three major credit bureaus—Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion. You can get a complimentary credit report from the federally authorized site, AnnualCreditReport.com.

Bank check for unfamiliar charges on your credit menu accounts or suspicious inquiries on your credit file. The major credit bureaus will typically include these details in your credit report, which will touch on your overall credit score.

If you lot find any show of fraudulent activeness on your credit report, you may be a victim of identity theft.

2. Suspicious Activity on Your Credit Card and Bank Statements

Credit card fraud was the second-most-common blazon of ID theft in 2020 - with 2020 being the beginning year in history to document more than 2 million cases of fraud.

Monitoring your banking company account and credit menu statements can help protect yourself against near types of financial fraud.

Look for unauthorized charges or withdrawals on all your debit and credit accounts. Don't ignore the small transactions either, every bit thieves volition often get-go with a small buy to exam whether a card works—and to guess how vigilant the account holder is.

Check out this segment from CNBC to better sympathize why credit card fraud in the U.S. a problem that's only getting worse (and how hackers steal credit carte du jour numbers).

3. Unexpected Physical Mail

What's inside your mailbox tin can exist a red flag for identity theft.

The get-go and about obvious sign is unfamiliar mail. If you see credit card statements or letters from agencies you don't recognize, it could be a sign of loan fraud. Meaning, someone is applying for loans or credit cards in your name and perchance racking up fraudulent charges that you lot could be on the hook for.

A new trending fraud is with regard to unemployment scams - if you go a letter in the mail from unemployment with data nearly benefits you never claimed, y'all are most likely the victim of identity theft.

Some other possibility is medical identity theft. In this scenario, you may receive written notices from a health insurance visitor regarding unfamiliar procedures, or invoices from a medico's part that you never visited.

iv. Missing Concrete Mail

Another ruby-red flag is missing physical mail.

In fact, 210 million packages were stolen from Americans in 2021.

Thieves will steal packages right off your front porch. They'll steal mail straight from your mailbox, and even submit a change of address request to try and road all your letters and packages to an authorized address.

It's especially important to monitor your physical mail when y'all're expecting sensitive deliveries, similar a new credit carte du jour or a replacement Social Security carte du jour.

five. Your Personally Identifying Documents Are Lost (or Stolen)

It's critical that you lot know where all of your identifying documents and debit/credit cards are at all times.

If any of the post-obit items are lost or stolen, you may be at gamble for identity theft:

1. iPhone / Android.
2. iPad / Tablet.
3. Laptop / Figurer.
4. Wallet / Purse.
5. Passport.
6. Commuter's License.
7. Social Security Card.
8. Debit Carte.
9. Credit Menu.
10. Insurance Card.

While you're at it, remove any extra credit cards from your purse or wallet. It's best to travel with merely 1 or two credit cards, along with one form of ID, similar your driver's license.

If your wallet contains dozens of credit cards, and then you lose your wallet, you've created a jackpot opportunity for identity thieves.

NEVER shop your Social Security card in your wallet. Your Social Security number is at the acme of every scammer'south wishlist, and you tin can't beget to let it fall into the wrong easily.

If your Social Security card is lost or stolen, you should contact Social Security administration immediately and request a replacement card at ssa.gov .

6. Suspicious Phone Calls and Voicemails

We've all seen the "scam likely" caller ID label before. Certain, it's easy to ignore robocalls, telemarketers, and automated voicemails. But it could be a sign of a deeper trouble.

Paying close attending to those unwanted calls and voicemails could assistance you recognize identity theft. Beware of unsolicited calls from debt collectors, credit carte du jour companies, and utility companies.

If you receive a suspicious call from a fiscal institution, information technology may indicate that someone is applying for credit cards or attempting to open bank accounts in your proper name.

If you lot receive a sketchy voicemail, don't return the call. Instead, dial the company's official number to verify that the message is legitimate.

For a closer await at how prevalent spam calls take get, cheque out this segment from CNBC.

7. Suspicious Emails and Text Letters

A flurry of strange emails doesn't necessarily mean your inbox has been hacked. But information technology's even so a cause for concern. Your email accost and phone number are often compromised whenever data breaches occur. Comparitech constitute that 49% of U.S. companies accept experienced a data breach in 2021.

Given how widespread this problem has go, you might get notifications well-nigh new accounts created in your proper noun, or flagged transactions from your bank or credit card.

During the vacation season, text message scams are particularly prevalent during Black Friday and Cyber Monday. It's not uncommon to get a fake delivery notification via SMS, just like this instance beneath.

8. Unfamiliar SMS Verification Codes

Two-Factor Hallmark (2FA) is a pop method of strengthening access to your online accounts past requiring two methods of identity verification.

When yous enable 2FA on services like Gmail, PayPal, Amazon, Facebook and others - yous'll exist asked to verify your identity with a special lawmaking before given admission to the desired account.

Nosotros've all gotten text messages similar this one earlier. It contains a unique, one-time verification code.

Image Credit:How to Geek

Just what happens if you receive an SMS containing a verification lawmaking that you lot never requested?

It means an unauthorized person has successfully decoded your password, and if not for 2FA, your account would have been compromised!

Unfortunately, two-factor authentication via SMS creates security vulnerabilities due to a new blazon of scam called SIM swapping.

Therefore, instead of receiving 2FA codes via SMS, you lot should always strive to use an authentication app such equally Google Authenticator, Microsoft Authenticator, or Okta.

nine. Your Income Tax Return is Way Off

Tax fraud is a uncomplicated, but lucrative scam. A fraudster volition impersonate you past reporting income that qualifies you for a tax refund—except the thief cashes the check, then vanishes.

Beware of notifications that a revenue enhancement return has been filed on your behalf, or if you lot receive a West-2 (or other taxation forms) from a company you lot never worked for. You tin can also go online and review your tax render status on the official IRS website.

This blazon of scam is near common at the beginning of the yr, before near people take filed their annual taxes with the IRS.

10. Unfamiliar Devices Have Access to Your Online Accounts

Nosotros're using more devices to access our online accounts than always earlier.

According to a report by Statista:

"The boilerplate American had access to more than ten connected devices in their household in 2020."

Given how many connected devices we are using today, it'due south a skilful idea to regularly conduct a security review on your most sensitive online accounts.

Check for suspicious activity and thoroughly review all the devices that are currently logged into your online accounts.

Periodically, you should reset your passwords, enable 2FA and forcefulness all other devices to sign out.

If you meet logins from unfamiliar locations or devices you don't recognize, sign out of those sessions and modify your password immediately.

For case, Google allows you to see devices that accept accessed your account.

If you receive a notification similar the instance below, it means you've been hacked and must secure your account immediately.

Was Your Identity Stolen? Follow These 10 Steps

1. Alter all your passwords.
2. Utilise a secure password manager.
3. Force all unfamiliar devices to sign out.
4. Enable 2FA via authenticator apps (not SMS).
5. Notify your banking concern and cancel your accounts.
6. Notify the FTC.
7. File a police force report.
8. Freeze your credit.
9. Use antivirus software.
10. Become ID theft protection.

i. Change All Your Passwords

Preventing identity theft starts with having potent, unique passwords. Near people know they need to change all their passwords, but they keep putting it off considering it's a headache. Change your usernames and easily guessable common passwords to avert being financially ruined.

two. Use a Secure Countersign Manager

Don't be lazy. Avert selecting commonly used passwords for your about precious online accounts.

Another bad habit is choosing simple passwords that you lot can easily recollect off the superlative of your head. If yous can recollect information technology, that ways it can be hacked. Instead, employ a secure password director for ultimate peace of listen.

3. Force All Unfamiliar Devices to Sign Out

In that location's a skilful chance your accounts were accessed past foreign devices from unfamiliar locations. You'll demand to make certain they're logged out.

4. Enable 2FA via Authenticator Apps (Not SMS)

As explained, SMS is vulnerable to SIM swapping, and therefore you should use apps similar Okta or Google Authenticator to secure your sensitive accounts.

5. Notify Your Bank and Cancel Your Accounts

When identity theft occurs, y'all'll need to contact your bank. They'll assistance you through the process of canceling your checking business relationship, savings account and obtaining new credit cards. Y'all'll need to transfer all your funds from the quondam accounts to your new accounts, and set a new instance of online banking as well. If you accept a lot of credit cards, this process can be a hassle, but it's worth the actress endeavor to secure everything and start fresh.

six. Notify the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

You lot should submit a report to the Federal Trade Commission if your identity is compromised. The FTC handles fraud cases and can provide assistance. You tin file a claim with the FTC online at IdentityTheft.gov

seven. File a Police Report

In addition to reporting identity theft to the FTC, you should contact your local law enforcement and file a police written report . If yous are covered by identity theft insurance, a police report may be required in order to submit an insurance claim.

eight. Freeze Your Credit

Request a credit freeze and set up fraud alerts. Aura tin help you with this .

nine. Use Antivirus Software and VPN

Ransomware, malware and spyware are running rampant today. Don't let these harmful applications wreak havoc on your online privacy.

‍Try an antivirus solution similar Aureola to keep your devices protected.

Additionally, public Wi-Fi volition leave yous exposed to all types of security vulnerabilities. Public internet connections like those at coffee shops, libraries, and airports can exist tempting—simply they're not secure. If possible, utilise a VPN to protect your data while browsing publicly.

x. Consider Identity Theft Protection

If you don't know what to do if your identity is stolen, offset with identity theft protection.

Aura is equipped to handle many of the above steps proactively. With Aura, you can get identity theft protection for your entire family unit along with a $1,000,000 insurance policy for each adult family member.

Ready to pace up your digital security game ? Try Aura's xiv-Day Costless Trial

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Source: https://www.aura.com/learn/how-to-know-if-your-identity-has-been-stolen