10 Signs of Identity Theft to Watch Out For
Identity theft is when someone steals your personal information and uses it without your permission. It is a serious crime that can cause significant financial damage. Identity theft can happen in a variety of ways, including from people digging through your trash; using data breaches, skimming, impersonation scams, or phishing emails; and using unsecured public Wi-Fi. Identity theft can cost you money and time. It can even result in criminal charges. There are warning signs of identity theft that you can watch out for, such as keeping track of your bank statements. To protect yourself from identity theft, be wary of email scams and keep your credentials secure. If you have fallen victim to identity theft, there are steps you can take to recover your identity.
What is identity theft?
When someone uses your financial or personal information without authorisation from you, this is identity theft. This can include your basic information, such as full name and birthday as well as more detailed data like your address, social security number (SSN), credit card information, medical accounts, and bank account details. With this information, a criminal can:
- Wrack up your credit card bills.
- Drain your bank account.
- Open new credit cards or accounts in your name.
- Steal your tax refund.
- Seek medical care as you.
- Apply for a government benefit or document.
- Impersonate you in criminal proceedings.
In 2020, there were nearly 1.5 million reports of identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Financial losses from identity theft are expected to rise again in 2021, reaching over $721 billion.
How identity theft happens
There are several methods that criminals use to steal your identity, ranging from low-tech means like digging through your trash to find bills and bank statements or stealing your mail to more high-tech m