What to Do If Identity Theft Happens to You
Full Story
If you’re a victim of identity theft, you need to act quickly to contain the damage. This is, literally, a drop what you’re doing and pick up the phone situation. Then it’s time to undo the damage, making sure you keep careful records along the way.
Spotting identity theft
First off, you need to know what identity theft is and what it isn’t. If someone has opened accounts in your name, known as application fraud, or used your credit card or bank account without your consent, known as account takeover, then you are a victim of identity theft.
Security breaches, which frequently make the national headlines, are not necessarily identity theft, though they do leave you vulnerable to it. In a security breach, you’ll often hear that your personal information has been “exposed,” which means that thieves have stolen credit card numbers or other data from a secure location. Until they use that data to access your accounts or file fraudulent applications, you’re not a victim of identity theft....
Read more
Six Ways to Repair a Bad Credit Score
Defend Against Identity Theft
How to Avoid Phishing Scams
- 1Destroy private records and statements
- 2Secure your mail
- 3Safeguard your Social Security number
- 4Don't leave a paper trail
- 5Never let your credit card out of your sight
- 6Know who you're dealing with
- 7Take your name off marketers' hit lists
- 8Be more defensive with personal information
- 9Monitor your credit report
- 10Review your credit card statements carefully
Top List
Simple Ways to Protect Yourself from Identity Theft
