HFG DIGITAL NEWSLETTER
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| HFG DIGITAL NEWSLETTER |
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Eight Red Flags of Identity TheftIdentity theft can be a very serious problem. Left unchecked, it can affect your entire life. Keep an eye out for these red flags: 1. Carefully examine all your bank and credit card statements for any purchases that you do not remember making. If someone has managed to get your card number, they will likely make purchases online that do not require a signature or identification. Call your bank or credit card issuer if you notice purchases you do not remember. They can help you research the purchases and credit your account if they determine they were fraudulent. 2. If you receive any letters of credit denial, actual credit cards or even a billing statement for which you never applied, someone may be attempting to use your identity to apply for credit. In either case, you should immediately contact the issuer of the letter and let them know you did not apply for credit. 3. It is also a red flag if you stop receiving billing statements for an existing credit account. Someone may have stolen your statements in order to get personal information about you, or they are currently using your credit for themselves and are rerouting your statements so you do not know it. 4. If you applied for credit or expect a replacement card and you have not received it in the mail, contact your bank or creditor. Your credit card may have been intercepted before it got to you. 5. Check your credit report on a regular basis to see if there are any credit cards or loans on your statement that you never opened, or if there were any denials of credit for which you never applied. If you find these types of mistakes, contact the companies and ask for more details. 6. Obviously if you get a call from a debt collector for a debt that you never incurred, this is a huge red flag that you are a victim of identity theft. Get all the information you can on the debt and the credit issuer. 7. If you are turned down for credit, it may be a red flag that you are a victim of identity theft. Ask for a specific reason for the denial and check your credit report for any new loans or credit that you did not apply for or have not used. 8. Also check your credit report for any unusual names or employers that you don’t work for. In essence, anything unusual that seems out of place or that does not belong on your credit report should be questioned and researched. For more information, visit the FTC’s Identity Theft website or the Department of Justice website on Identity Theft and Identity Fraud. The best way to combat identity theft is to stay alert and check bank and billing statements and credit reports on a regular basis. Contact the proper banking and/or credit authorities if you spot anything unusual and question it. Better to be safe than sorry. |
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