How does someone learn about identity theft? Identity theft takes place when a person uses the personal identifying information of another person, such as their name, social security number, or account number, to commit fraud or various crimes. The word identity theft was actually coined just decades ago. In recent years, credit and debit card numbers have also been the victim of identity theft, due to the ease with which people can gain access to them. Here are some common signs of identity theft and how you can protect yourself:

Has your credit report been tampered with? – If you notice that any unauthorized transaction has been made on your account, this is a very high sign of possible ID theft. Unauthorized charges should be reported immediately to all of the credit reporting agencies. This is especially important if the unauthorized charges were made to your accounts that you did not open. You may wish to contact all three credit reporting agencies so that you have a full list of all of the accounts that have been compromised.

Have your social security number were stolen? – Anyone who owns a social security number is automatically considered a victim of ID theft. There is only one exception to this: if the thief has used your number to apply for a driver’s license, or applied for employment, then the thief may not have a social security number. If this happens, you will need to contact the federal trade commission or your local police department to file a report of the ID theft.

Has someone else opened up bank accounts in your name? – Most people do not consider the possibility of someone else opening up bank accounts in their name. However, it is very common for identity thieves to open up bank accounts in someone else’s name to take advantage of their good credit. This crime is called identity theft, and it can occur if someone else obtains a Social Security number (SSN) and uses it to apply for credit or takes out loans. You will need to file a police report with your local police department, and then wait for the credit companies to take action against the thief.

Does someone else have access to your accounts and credit cards? – Identity theft happens when someone else has access to your accounts and credit cards. If someone else has “taken” your identity (which means they have your credit and financial information without your permission), then they are ID theft victims. If you notice that someone else has been accessing your accounts without authorization, then you should contact your credit companies and banks, and then file a police report. Some companies may even require you to take an anti-fraudulent course of action to minimize the risk of future attacks.

Has your credit report been canceled or damaged due to ID theft? – If you notice that your credit reports have been canceled, or that your credit card statements are missing, then you may be a victim of ID theft. The best thing to do is file a police report with your local police department. In many cases, these types of crimes will not be prosecuted unless there is some evidence presented in court.