It was an ordinary day. Reading all sorts of junk on my computer when one email appeared that really drew my attention. Story was titled "15 Signs Someone Just Stole Your Identity." The headline really had my attention so I began reading what the 15 signs are that may tell me if someone stole my identity. The story started with telling me that nearly 60 million Americans have been victims of identify theft and I am to watch out for the red flags that tell me I might be one of them or may soon be one of them. Identity thieves will do whatever is necessary to get their hands on my personal information such as my SS#, bank account #s and credit card digits. And, most people who have these items stolen don't know about it until it's too late. OK...so what should I do? Well, the story went on to tell me about the most common online scams and how to avoid them. And...just in case you might not know them, I am passing them on to you in today's story. Check out the following...
1. You see errors on your credit report. Seems that each year. you can request a free credit report from any of the three major bureaus (Experian, Equifax and TransUnion). Experts recommend that you take advantage of this perk every 4 months to check inquiries. If something seems wrong, contact the credit bureaus and ask them to investigate and remove any false information on your credit report. This is critical to protecting your credit score going forward.
2. You notice unexplained charges on your credit card. You don't have to lose your wallet for thieves to steal your credit card information. Whenever you log into sensitive accounts or enter your credit card number on public Wi-Fi, hackers can gain access to your information. Contact your creditor to report the fraud and have the charges removed; then, get a new credit card as soon as possible. Here are 10 times you should never use a credit card...
1. When a website address does not begin with "HTPS"
2. When you're responding to an email.
3. When charity fundraisers approach you on the street.
4. When speaking to anyone over the phone.
5. When an online merchant has no reviews or previous listings.
6. When you're making a purchase you can't afford.
7. When a merchant needs to take your card out of view for payment.
8. When purchasing online while connected to public Wi-Fi.
9. When purchasing something on a public computer.
10. If you see bulky, plastic, exposed wires on devices you're about to swipe through.
3. You receive calls from debt collectors. Phone calls requesting overdue payments could be a sign that an identity thief is running up a tab at your expense. You may want to use the Identify Theft Resource Center's toll free hotline or online LiveChat, where an advisor can help you form the best plan of action.
4. You get a two-factor identification alert. When hackers dig around in your online accounts, they could accidentally trigger an identification alert. You can easily keep cybercriminals away by strengthening your passwords. Consider putting together four random words and adding a number, at least one lowercase, and a special character.
5. You notice unauthorized withdrawals from your band account. Check out your bank account frequently and look at all the withdrawals, no matter how small they may be. If you notice something, contact your credit card company and put a freeze on the account.
6. You start to get bills for unfamiliar expenses. Don't ignore or toss any unusual bills that appear in you mailbox. It might be innocent spam, but just in case... Make sure you are always shopping on a real site and look out for signs that a shopping site is fake.
7. You stop receiving mail or emails. Not receiving mail or emails related to expenses can be a sign of identity theft. If you don't get your bank statement or bills for water, gas, etc. make sure to follow up and call your creditors.
8. You are told that you filed more than one tax return. Strange, but true. Hackers can file a tax return in your name, claiming a phony refund and hoping to swipe it from your mailbox.
9. You receive mail addressed to a different name. If you get mail for people not living with you, it could be a mistake, but take it seriously. You may want to freeze your credit if it really is identity fraud.
10. You are rejected for insurance claims or credit applications. If you have a good credit score and are rejected for insurance, something isn't right. Call your medical provider or insurance company to check out if they have sent you the notice.
11. You are sent advertisements for expensive items. Ads for flashy cars or unfamiliar healthcare services could be a sign of fraudulent activity on your account. Call your credit card company if this happens.
12. You are notified that your information has been compromised. Could be that your employer might be the first to know if your information has been stolen. An identify thief with your SS# and the name of your current employer might try to collect unemployment benefits in your name. Avoid that by not giving you SS# to anyone unless you know who they might be.
13. You receive statements for credit cards you don't have. If you get a statement for a card you don't have, this is a good clue someone has you information and is charging items in your name. You may not find out until you get the bill in the mail.
14. Your cellphone loses service. If you lose service for an extended period of time, you should review your account for abnormal activity. Could mean that someone has transferred you to a new phone and begin charging things in your name.
15. Your medical claim is denied. If your medical claim is rejected because you have reached your benefits limit or you receive a bill for an exam that you didn't receive, someone is using your information. This could affect your eligibility for benefits. Call the medical provider immediately.
So, this is my public service announcement for the day. I found it rather informative and thought you may benefit from it just as I did. Hope nothing like this ever happens to you, but it seems to be more and more people are being scammed. If only the criminals did an honest days work instead of cheating people, the world would be a better place! Hey, someone ought to make a song with that title. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.
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