Eight Subtle Signs That Your Identity Has Been Stolen

Identity theft is a real threat to worry about. Not only is someone stealing from you and committing fraud in your name, but the negative effects of identity theft can take months or even years to recover from.

Worst of all is the feeling of helplessness: not only are most “identity theft protection” services useless , the very nature of the crime means you likely won’t know you’ve been compromised until it starts affecting your finances and reputation – At this point , quick action is needed , including contacting a seemingly endless list of businesses, financial institutions, credit bureaus and government agencies .

While you can’t always prevent identity theft, you can look for the earliest and most subtle signs that it might happen to you. Sometimes the first waves may seem like isolated oddities or simple mistakes that you can simply ignore, but acting quickly when confronted with these subtle signs of identity theft can go a long way toward limiting the damage you suffer.

Unrecognized 2FA logins

Two-factor authentication (2FA) is a powerful security tool, and you’re probably already accustomed to entering a code received via email, authentication app, or text message when accessing your online accounts. In fact, you’ve gotten so used to it that you might be tempted to ignore the occasional 2FA notification, especially if it comes from a service or company you don’t actually use.

The opposite is true: if you start seeing 2FA alerts that you didn’t initiate, it could be a sign that someone is at least halfway in the process of stealing your identity. They may have most of the information needed to access your accounts, or they may have obtained some but not others, or they may have simply made a mistake. If you see 2FA that you don’t recognize, check your online accounts, change your passwords, and check your credit reports.

Oddities with your streaming accounts

If you fire up Spotify and some weird music starts playing that is 100% out of your wheelhouse, or if weird shows and movies start popping up in your Netflix queue, it could be a sign that someone is trying to weaken your personality. Having your Spotify account hacked doesn’t necessarily mean that a criminal has completely stolen your life, but it could be an early sign that someone is at least trying and that at least one of your passwords has been compromised.

Test fees on your credit cards

As with unexpected 2FA alerts, unrecognized testing charges on your credit cards is a warning sign. Companies will sometimes charge your card a small amount when you first sign up for a service—often just a penny—to check that you’ve provided them with a valid form of payment; They then quickly refund the fee. If you don’t check your accounts regularly, you may even miss the test payment as it will likely never be credited to your account. Additionally, some scammers often charge small test fees to accounts to ensure they are active.

In any case, checking fees for accounts you are unfamiliar with are often a sign that someone is holding your identity and creating an entirely separate financial identity, and should be investigated immediately.

Credit rating fluctuations

Do you check your credit score and credit reports regularly? You really should do this. Not only will these tools give you an overview of your overall financial health, but they will also serve as an early warning that you have been compromised. A check of your credit reports will show obvious signs, such as lines of credit that you never applied for or control, but which are nonetheless listed under your name.

But your credit score can be an even better tool because it’s easier to track. Your credit score will naturally fluctuate slightly over time, but sudden changes are often a sign that a third party is playing with your credit. Even if your credit score improves temporarily, it could be a sign that someone is opening new lines of credit because they are inadvertently improving your debt ratio , causing your score to jump. Then, of course, they lower your credit score when they run out of credit lines and can’t make payments.

Strange junk mail

If you start receiving advertisements about things that are far from your usual interests or are out of your financial league, be careful. If people are spending money you don’t have to your name, you can use purchased mailing lists that send out all that great junk mail . If you’re suddenly asked about your recent interest in luxury furniture, it’s time to do a little research.

Another sign that someone is playing fast and loose with your identity is, oddly enough, receiving mail in someone else’s name. If you start receiving mail with your address but someone else’s name, this could be a sign of something called ” synthetic identity theft .” This is when thieves mix your personal information with other pieces of information (some real, some fictitious) to create a completely artificial identity. This could still be a huge problem for you, so it’s a good idea to review those credit reports.

Lack of bank and credit card statements

Another way your email can alert you that you’re a victim of identity theft? Lack of mail (and email). If you suddenly stop receiving statements, bills, and other correspondence from your banks or credit card issuers, it may be because someone has taken over your accounts and altered all your email information to hide it from you.

If you realize you haven’t seen a statement or bill by mail or in your mailbox for a while, follow these steps:

• Sign in to your account. Make sure you still have access. If you do this, change your passwords and add any possible layers of security, such as 2FA.

• Review payments and fees. See if you’ve missed any payments or if there are any payments you don’t recognize. If so, report it to the company’s fraud department.

• Check the address. Please check if your email address and email settings are correct. If yes, then there may be a glitch with the mail. Also check to see if you are entitled to receive paper statements – they may have been converted to digital statements. If the address on file is not yours , assume your identity has been stolen and follow any necessary steps .

Problems with your credit card

One of the most hidden signs of identity theft is the sudden occurrence of problems using your credit cards. If you receive unexpected refusals when trying to buy something with your card, it may be because your bank or financial institution has placed a lien on it. If the card starts working again after a while, this does not necessarily mean that it was just a random failure – you should contact the card issuer and get to the bottom of the problem. Your card could be physically damaged or it could just be a weird coincidence – but why take the risk?

Tax issues

Identity theft usually conjures up images of criminals running up large credit card bills or taking out huge loans in your name, but one common strategy that no one thinks about is tax fraud: criminals steal your identity and actually file your taxes , demanding much higher taxes. income to receive a full refund . Some signs that this is happening include:

• The application was rejected. If you try to file your taxes and the IRS tells you that you have already filed, take action immediately.

• Unexpected return. Have you received your refund check in the mail but haven’t even filed your taxes yet? Don’t think it’s just the federal government being weirdly efficient this time. This may be the result of identity tricks.

• Any unexpected entries from the IRS. Scammers sometimes fail in their attempts to steal your tax information, and the IRS suddenly sends you “requested” information, such as tax transcripts. If you receive something like this in the mail that you didn’t ask for, contact the IRS immediately.

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