Your credit report can tell you if your identity has been stolen, but not all cases of identity theft result in an increase in credit cards or other incidents that appear on your report or affect your credit score. There are a few other aspects of your life that you should be aware of to protect yourself from identity thieves.
Catching these indicators early can limit the damage instead of allowing it to compound later. Here are signs that you may have had your identity stolen that may not show up on your credit report right away.
1. Your mail, accounts or devices change suddenly
Any interruption in normal communications, such as small mail or password reset emails you didn’t initiate, are some of the early signs of identity theft. Confirmation emails about actions you didn’t take and sudden loss of cell phone service qualify as red flags for crime.
It is worth investigating any of these events. While a confirmation email could be spam when a scammer wants you to enter your username and password on dubious sites, confirmation emails from reputable companies for purchases you didn’t make are more likely to indicate identity theft.
The easiest step you can take is to change your password and contact the company about the fraudulent charges. Setting up multi-factor authentication can keep future fraudsters out of your account, and you can review recent transactions to see if there’s any fraud. If fraud occurs, you can ask for a refund, which is easy to get if you fix the problem quickly. It’s also a good idea to contact your credit card issuer if a transaction has been recorded on your card.
2. You receive unusual bills, interest notices or medical bills
Not all cybercriminals steal people’s identities to gain credit. Some people steal sensitive information to wallow you in medical bills and utilities. They may also try to access your Social Security and redirect your benefits to them.
If you receive medical bills, collection notices, notices about benefits you never applied for or a creditor’s note about an account you didn’t open, you may be a victim of identity theft. Call the provider or agency directly, request records in your name and dispute the fraud charges in writing.
USA.gov has a quick survey that can help you identify who to contact about identity theft. That way, you can have a quick solution to the issue and ensure that your emails and calls are going to the right people.
3. Tax and bank marks come before credit damage
By the time your credit score drops, you may have been a victim of identity theft for several months. However, if you monitor your taxes and bank accounts, you can find red flags very quickly.
The IRS can help you with a variety of actions, such as rejecting your e-file return because someone has already filed one under your Social Security number, receiving an IRS notice about wages from an unknown employer or receiving information such as a tax return or return review from the IRS that you did not request.
The IRS has an identity theft guide that outlines what steps to take if you are a victim. The IRS Identity Protection PIN is a great tool to prevent any tax-related identity theft.
Your bank account can also help you detect identity theft. Any withdrawal, transfer, debit card activity and Zelle or similar app activity that you don’t recognize is a red flag. While it’s still a good idea to check your credit report, you shouldn’t rely solely on this document if you’re keeping yourself safe from identity theft.
