Identity theft is a crime anyone is subjected to. But what is actually more challenging is that you may not know about it until you check, and maybe it is too late. There are different signs that indicate you are a victim of identity theft. So, in this article, we will tell you how to check if someone is using your identity and how to protect it in the future.
Identity Theft
Identity theft is the action of using someone’s identity without his/her permission. This identity can be the personal information where the thief pretends to be the victim using his name, age, address, or any other personal information. On the other hand, it can be financial information such as using credit card numbers, insurance, or bank accounts.
When a person has access to any of this information, he can use it in different things. For example, do online shopping using your credit cards and e-wallets. Further, they can use your insurance number to get medical services. Another example is to use your personal information to open a gas or phone account. Hence, identity theft can cause real problems if not discovered as soon as it occurs.
Signs of identity theft
To discover the identity theft, there are different things to check. Each one of them doesn’t necessarily mean that someone is using your identity. However, they are indicators to alert you that something is wrong with your identity. Make sure you look at them and carefully think about your online activities, social media accounts, and what you share online with friends or others.
Bills
You certainly know what bills you pay monthly or yearly, so track these bills and review them all. If you received a bill you believe you don’t have to receive, then it might be a sign that someone else used your identity to sign up for a certain service. Alternatively, if you didn’t receive a bill you usually do, someone might have changed your billing address or opted out of the services you have signed for.
Bank accounts
Check all your bank accounts if you have several. Unknown purchases, debts, and any transactions could be an indication that someone stole your identity. Do this step regularly, as you can use bank applications to check debts and credits. If you notice something you don’t know its source, call your bank immediately. If you use PayPal, make sure you check the transaction history and look for any unusual activities. And by the way, always use two-factor authentication to protect your accounts.
Credit report
Review your credit report from the three bureaus and notice any unfamiliar accounts. If there is such a thing, there might be someone using your personal information to open accounts in your name. The Internet is full of scams and related issues, so always verify your personal details and see if anyone is using them with your permission.
How it occurs
Identity theft can occur in different ways. To protect yourself from identity thieves, you must know how it occurs to take care from the beginning.
Stealing your cards
The easiest way to steal your identity is by stealing your cards. These might be your ID, bank, or insurance cards. So, a person with this information can open new accounts with your name or purchase things online with your card.
Next, don’t save your card details on your laptop or phone and assume it’s safe. Instead, use an advanced tool that encrypts your data and protects it from unauthorized access.
Hacking emails
Emails may include very sensitive information such as passwords of online services such as e-wallets or banks. Thus, a hacker can get access to your email or other accounts to get your personal identification information. Also, sending spam emails asking for personal information and passwords is a way to steal your identity.
Stealing mails
Mails that you receive at your home can include tons of personal identification information, and they are very easy to steal. Anyone can open your mailbox and steal bills, bank statements, or any other mails to get access to this information. Alternatively, they can change your mailing address to receive your mails instead of you.
How to protect yourself from identity theft?
Protecting yourself from identity theft is possible by knowing how it occurs and avoiding the causes. This could be done by following these steps:
Protect personal information documents
These might be bank statements, social security cards, financial records, and any other documents that include sensitive information. So, keep these documents in a safe place you only know about. Also, collect your mail from the mailbox every day if possible.
Whenever you want to get rid of any of these documents, make sure to shred them in a way that all the important information is unclear and cannot be stolen.
Secure yourself online
Don’t provide any identifying information to untrustworthy websites. If you received suspicious links via email or any other method, don’t click on them, as they might be hackers trying to steal your information.
Further, use strong passwords and two-factor authentication to secure all your accounts. Some services offer more than two-factor authentication, such as fingerprint, Face ID, text message code, and authentication apps. The more authentication factors you use, the more secure you are.
Check for signs of identity theft frequently
Check your bills, bank statements, and credit reports frequently. Keep a record of your bills to know what is due when. Also, use bank mobile applications to easily review your bank accounts. You may also automate the process by using the credit reporting service to receive regular reports.
Don’t give personal information to anyone
Some scammers might call or text you pretending to be an official organization like a bank or something to ask for personal information. Never give your information to those callers, as this is not the way to obtain personal information. When your employer or bank needs your social security number, for example, they shouldn’t call you. Instead, you have to go there to provide such sensitive information. So, don’t let those scammers fool you.
Similarly, if any organization or service you are signing up for asks for a certain piece of information you believe is not necessary for them, ask why. Don’t just give information to anyone without knowing what they will do with it and how they will protect it.
Identity theft is a serious problem that might happen to anyone at any time, leading to serious problems. Hence, you must be cautious when dealing with your personal information. By knowing the causes and ways identity theft occurs, you can better prevent it and keep your identity safe either online or offline.
