Identity theft requires constant diligence

Identity theft is a problem that is getting worse every year, and the authorities are having more and more trouble keeping an eye on it. These days, if you want to avoid becoming a victim of this insidious crime, you have to maintain a constant vigil on all of your personal information. You can start by keeping an eye on your mailbox; the most common source of theft is mail. But there are some obvious signs that someone might be tampering with your personal information. All you have to do is recognize them.

Here are some things you should watch out for. Any one of them could be a sign of suspicious activity in your name:

• Unusual charges on your credit card bill. Anything you don’t recognize (hotel bill from Tahiti?) might be a sign that someone else is using your credit card. On the other hand, simple charges from Wal-Mart may not strike you as odd if you regularly shop there. Keep an eye on every single charge on your card. Many thieves try small charges at ordinary stores before using the card for bigger or more exotic purchases.
• Bills that haven’t arrived. If you haven’t received a bill from the phone company in several months, it could mean that a thief has intercepted it and changed the address. This is a common sign of trouble; you could soon end up with a number of bills in your name that you don’t even know about.
• Calls from debt collectors or “past due” notices in the mail - If you are receiving notices of unpaid bills or calls from collectors for things you didn’t buy, that’s a sure sign that someone may be using your good name for bad deeds.
• Good credit but you’re turned down for more - Have you done a credit report check lately? You might find all sorts of things on there that you don’t know about. If you have good credit (or think you do) and you have recently been denied credit, it could be a warning sign. Take advantage of the opportunity to check your credit report from all three bureaus and make sure that nothing is amiss.
• Passwords that don’t work - This could be a sign that your account has been compromised, especially if you bank online.

As the problem of identity theft becomes more and more common, the potential of huge financial loss increases. These days, it’s not enough to assume that everything is all right. You have to take charge and stay on top of your personal information. Otherwise, you might find out that someone has depleted your bank account, bought a home, or run up $5000 in credit card charges in your name. It often takes months of time to clear up identity theft problems; why do it if you don’t have to? The sooner you take charge, the sooner you minimize your risk.

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