Hmmm. That’s strange.
- Your credit card bill hasn’t arrived yet this month.
- You did receive a bill from a source you’re sure you never did business with.
- You noticed a debit card transaction that you can’t quite figure out.
- You keep getting annoying calls and letters from bill collection agencies.
- You were turned down for a loan you thought sure you’d be eligible for, or a job you knew you were qualified for.
- You ordered a copy of your credit report from the three credit reporting agencies and found information that just doesn’t ring true.
A Growing Problem
The sad news is that any one of the above situations could mean you are one of more than nine million Americans who have their identities stolen each year. For your own protection, know the warning signs and stay informed. We give you the information advantage with our Learning Center article What is Identity Theft.
The Federal Trade Commission features an entire identity theft website to help you prevent, detect and deal with one of the nation’s fastest-growing crimes.
Remember, frequent online monitoring of your bank account may help detect identity theft early in the game. Credit reports can also provide a clue to suspicious activity. By law you are entitled to get your free annual credit report from each of the three national consumer reporting companies, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.
Have you ever been the victim of identity theft?