What to do if you suspect your identity has been stolen?

If you become a victim of identity theft, or even suspect that you might be a victim, take immediate action.

1. Contact one of the credit reporting agencies’ fraud alert departments and place a fraud alert on your credit report. …
2. Contact your lenders, banks, and insurance companies and let them know the situation.

Keeping this in consideration, What should you do if you suspect identity theft?

Report Identity Theft. Report identity (ID) theft to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) online at IdentityTheft.gov or by phone at 1-877-438-4338. The FTC will collect the details of your situation.

Secondly How common is ID theft? Identity theft affects about 1 in 20 American each year. According to Javelin’s 2020 Identity Fraud Survey, 13 million consumers in the U.S. were affected by identity fraud in 2019 with total fraud losses of nearly $17 billion.

Can my identity be stolen with my name and address?

“The short answer is no,” says Eva Casey Velasquez, president/CEO of the Identity Theft Resource Center. “However, your name and address could be used as a gateway to steal your identity.”

How long does it take to investigate identity theft?

On average, it can take 100 to 200 hours over six months to undo identity theft. The recovery process may involve working with the three major credit bureaus to request a fraud alert; reviewing your credit reports to pinpoint fraudulent activity; and reporting the theft.

What is the most common form of identity theft?

Financial identity theft is by far the most common type of identity theft. In 2014, identity thieves stole $16 billion from 12.7 million identity fraud victims, according to Javelin Strategy & Research.

How often is someone’s identity stolen?

Identity Theft By the Numbers

Consider these identity theft statistics: In 2019, 14.4 million consumers became victims of identity fraud — that’s about 1 in 15 people. Overall, 33 percent of U.S. adults have experienced identity theft, which is more than twice the global average.

Who is most likely to be a victim of identity theft?

U.S. residents age 16 or older, were victims of one or more incidents of identity theft in 2014 (figure 1). This was similar to findings in 2012. Among identity theft victims, existing bank (38%) or credit card (42%) accounts were the most common types of misused information.

How can I find out if someone is using my identity?

How To Know if Someone Stole Your Identity

1. Track what bills you owe and when they’re due. If you stop getting a bill, that could be a sign that someone changed your billing address.
2. Review your bills. …
3. Check your bank account statement. …
4. Get and review your credit reports.

What are 2 warning signs that your identity may have been stolen?

9 warning signs of identity theft

• Your bank statement doesn’t look right or your checks bounce. …
• You see unfamiliar and unauthorized activity on your credit card or credit report. …
• Your bills are missing or you receive unfamiliar bills. …
• Your cellphone or another utility loses service.

What information does someone need to steal your identity?

Identity theft begins when someone takes your personally identifiable information such as your name, Social Security Number, date of birth, your mother’s maiden name, and your address to use it, without your knowledge or permission, for their personal financial gain.

Can you fully recover from identity theft?

On average, it can take between 100 and 200 hours and six months to fix. But in some cases, it can take thousands of hours and years to resolve fully. Several key factors determine the length of the recovery process, but before we review those, let’s look at the steps involved in resolving identity theft.

Does identity theft ruin your life?

Damaged credit: If an identity thief steals your Social Security number (SSN), opens new accounts in your name and never pays, it could ruin your credit history. Not only can this impact your ability to get credit, but it can also hurt your job prospects and increase your auto and homeowners insurance premiums.

How much does it cost to recover from identity theft?

The average loss for a victim of identity theft is $1,100, according to the Javelin study.

What do hackers do with your stolen identity?

Your info could be used to open credit cards or take out loans. If hackers have your Social Security number, name, birthdate and address, they can open credit cards or apply for loans in your name.

What are the 4 types of identity theft?

The four types of identity theft include medical, criminal, financial and child identity theft.

Can someone steal your identity with just your name?

This is commonly referred to as personally identifiable information, or PII. When such information is linked to your name, it gives the thief easy access to your identity. Armed with just your name and your Social Security number, a thief can not only access your accounts but also obtain credit in your name.

How fast does identity theft happen?

On average, it can take 100 to 200 hours over six months to undo identity theft. The recovery process may involve working with the three major credit bureaus to request a fraud alert; reviewing your credit reports to pinpoint fraudulent activity; and reporting the theft.

What is the main cause of identity theft?

Among the leading causes of identity theft, data breaches stand out as they can rapidly impact a massive group of people. Consider the 2013 Target incident, where hackers gained access to the credit card information of millions of shoppers at the major national retailer.

How can you protect yourself from identity theft?

1. 10 Ways To Protect Yourself From Identity Theft. …
2. Destroy private records and statements. …
3. Secure your mail. …
4. Safeguard your Social Security number. …
5. Don’t leave a paper trail. …
6. Never let your credit card out of your sight. …
7. Know who you’re dealing with. …
8. Take your name off marketers’ hit lists.

Which is the most common age group for victims of identity theft?

In 2020, the most targeted age group for identity theft were 30 to 39 year olds, among whom 306,090 cases were reported to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in the United States. The second most targeted age group were those aged 40 to 49, with 302,678 cases of identity theft reported.

What are four types of identity theft crimes?

The information is captured in a wide gamut of methods from sifting through someone’s trash to accessing databases. The four types of identity theft include medical, criminal, financial and child identity theft.

How can I check if someone has taken a loan out in my name?

The best way to find out if someone has opened an account in your name is pulling your own credit reports to check. Note that you’ll need to pull your credit reports from all three bureaus — Experian, Equifax and TransUnion — to check for fraud since each report may have different information and reporting.

Can someone use my SSN with their name?

A dishonest person who has your Social Security number can use it to get other personal information about you. Identity thieves can use your number and your good credit to apply for more credit in your name. … The Social Security Administration protects your Social Security number and keeps your records confidential.