Catch Identity Theft Early

Most people don’t realize they have been victimized and their identity has been stolen. It takes time for signs of identity theft to be noticed. The longer the thief can hide the crime the more money he/she is able to access. If you are an identity theft victim or are looking for ways to prevent identity theft, make sure you get a copy of your credit report on a regular basis. By carefully looking over your credit report and finding information that may be fraudulent you can limit the damage a thief may cause. Here are 6 tips on how to read your credit report:

  1. Be aware of all accounts that are listed on your credit report and compare the balances on what you believe them to be.

  2. Look for suspicious inquiries where it lists who have received a copy of your credit history. Some identity thieves “pretext” by posing as a landlord or employer.

  3. Make sure there have not been any requests made about loans or leases that you did not apply for.

  4. Check for addresses where you have never lived.

  5. Check for typos in your SSN.

  6. If you come across any information that is not correct, contact the credit bureau, creditor, employer, or government agency immediately. Follow up with a letter describing what actions were taken. Your protections are usually stronger if you report the problem quickly and in writing.

There are additional ways to be on the look out for identity theft. Here are just a few examples:

If you feel your bills aren’t arriving on time or at all contact the organization and see if there has been an address change or if there is another reason this may be happening.

If you receive unexpected credit cards or account statements you may have fallen victim to identity theft.

If you find yourself being denied for credit without any good reason you may want to check into the situation, obtain a copy of your credit report and look it over thoroughly.

You receive calls and or letters from companies about purchases you did not make.

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