Five Quick Ways to Check If Your Identity Was Stolen
AJ Stecklein
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Identity theft can happen to any one of us. It is crucial to understand the proper steps to take when checking if your identity has been stolen, as it can cause a range of problems, including loan denials and employment challenges. I recommend not waiting to check only before significant life milestones. It is essential to check and keep updated on your reports on a more timely basis to ensure you are getting ahead of anything and not letting adverse effects alter your life. So, here are five ways to check on your identity status.?
The most significant option I recommend to everyone is simply going through the three main credit bureaus and checking your credit report. To review your report, you can contact the bureaus, Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian to ask for your free credit report. You can get these at www.annualcreditreport.com once a week.? These reports let you check your current accounts to ensure everything seems normal. If you get your report and something is wrong, you dispute the issues to the credit bureaus.? They have 30-45 days to get back with you..?
Additionally, you can look at your bank statements and current credit card statements to see if there are any withdrawals or new accounts that you did not authorize. If you do this, keep an eye out for smaller withdrawals.? Thieves will likely start with nonconsequential transactions that might not stand out to you before going in for the larger withdrawals. If you spot anything that seems suspicious, trust your gut, report your findings, and put a freeze on your account.? There are strict timelines to object. ? And these objections need to be in writing to the bank or the credit card company.? Don’t just call.
While many identity thefts occur online, your physical information is still very vulnerable to people with nefarious intentions. Items such as your checkbook, driver’s license, passport, credit or debit card, and social security card can be invaluable for thieves. If you recently had people over, have traveled, or even on an odd Tuesday, it can be a good habit to check the locations where you keep these items and ensure they are still there. Just one of these items can lead to the destruction of your credit and financials. If you have found that something is missing, it is time to check your bank accounts and credit reports.?
It can be easy to disregard a strange text or email as nothing, but in our age of technology and online vulnerability, it is important to read what we are sent to ensure it is nothing of concern. If you get a notification for a 2-step authentication that you did not initiate, this could be a sign of someone trying to infiltrate your accounts and possibly steal your identity. Additionally, phishing emails that claim to be from trusted businesses should not be trusted if they are sending odd links to click or speak about inputting your payment information again. Identity thieves have taken advantage of our online world, and to ensure you are safe, don’t gloss over those strange texts or emails.?
Many of us might not have an opinion on physical mail anymore, but it can still be important when checking on your identity status. If you are expecting mail or start to see the usual junk mail depleted, it could be time to see if your mail is being stolen. Your mail has your address and full name, giving identity thieves all the information they need to get into your life and take what they want. Additionally, if you get mail that you weren’t expecting from your bank or financial institution that includes financial statements or new accounts that you didn’t make, this could be a warning that someone got into your account.?
These are only five of the many ways to check if your identity has been stolen. If any of these have happened to you and you are running in circles trying to take your identity back, message me or contact the team at Stecklein Robertson Law for guidance today.