10 Signs Your Identity May Be Stolen and What to Do About It

🔟 Telltale Signs of Identity Theft!!!
 
1. Unfamiliar Charges on Your Bank or Credit Card
If you see charges you didn’t make — even small ones — it could be a thief testing your account.

✅ Action: Contact your bank/card issuer immediately and freeze the card.
 
2. You’re Denied Credit for No Clear Reason
If you have good credit but suddenly get denied, your credit report may contain unauthorized accounts or excessive inquiries.

✅ Action: Check your credit report at AnnualCreditReport.com
 
3. Bills or Mail Stop Arriving
A thief may have changed your mailing address to divert important statements or documents.

✅ Action: Contact your local post office and financial institutions to confirm your address.
 
4. You Receive Bills for Things You Never Bought
Fraudsters may open new accounts in your name and rack up charges, which then get mailed to you.

✅ Action: Dispute the charges and place a fraud alert with the credit bureaus.
 
5. Debt Collectors Contact You About Unknown Accounts
This usually means someone used your identity to take out a loan or open a credit card.

✅ Action: Ask the collector for details, then dispute it in writing.
 
6. Your Tax Return Is Rejected
If the IRS says your return has already been filed — and it wasn’t you — someone may have used your SSN to file fraudulently.

✅ Action: Contact the IRS Identity Protection unit: 1-800-908-4490
 
7. Your Social Security Statement Shows Extra Income
If someone is using your SSN to work, the earnings may show up on your SSA statement.

✅ Action: Create a My Social Security account and check for inaccuracies.
 
8. You’re Notified of a Data Breach
If your info was exposed in a breach (email, health, or finance), your identity could be at risk.

✅ Action: Change passwords, monitor accounts, and freeze credit if needed.
 
9. You Notice New Accounts on Your Credit Report
Credit monitoring alerts or your own check show accounts you never opened.

✅ Action: Report immediately to Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax.
 
10. You Receive an Employment or Government Benefits Letter You Didn’t Expect
This may mean someone used your identity to claim unemployment benefits or a job.

✅ Action: Contact the issuing agency to report fraud and verify your identity.