Identity theft is not new…it goes back to taking place before the year 2000. I wrote a post which touches base on a personal story of someone I knew way back when if you’d like to read it.
That said, did you know that credit monitoring isn’t proactive identity theft protection? Just because you watch your credit reports doesn’t mean that someone won’t steal your identity. Identity theft has come a long way since it first made its appearance. If you’ve never had to deal with identity theft then you’re very lucky, but here are some tips on what to look out for:
1. You’re Getting Collection Calls
If you’re getting collection calls and you don’t remember opening those accounts, you might have been compromised.
2. Your Credit Report Has Unknown Accounts On It
If you check your credit report and it has accounts on it that don’t seem familiar, then you might have a problem.
3. If you Apply for Credit and Get Denied
If you’ve always taken care of your credit and you’re denied for a new account, someone might be using your information.
4. There Are Inquiries On Your Credit and You Didn’t Apply For Anything
When you try to open new credit, the business makes an inquiry. If there are lots of inquiries from places you never applied from, then you might be a victim of credit fraud.
5. You Start Getting Bills for Credit Cards You Didn’t Open
This one is pretty obvious that someone stole your identity.
The best way to make sure you keep your identity safe is through LifeLock. They not only monitor your credit to make sure everything is safe but they also keep track of you online with address changes, making sure your information isn’t sold on the black market, and so much more.
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