DEFEND against ID theft as soon as you suspect a problem.DETECT suspicious activity by routinely monitoring your financial accounts and billing statements.DETER identity thieves by safeguarding your information.This information is summed up in the FTC's clear and concise message on identity theft: Deter, detect, defend. The Federal Trade Commission, the nation's consumer protection agency, wants you to have the information you need to protect yourself against identity theft. Ways to Protect Yourself from Identity Theft Receiving calls from debt collectors or companies about merchandise or services you didn't buy.Denial of credit for no apparent reason.Receiving credit cards for which you did not apply.This could mean an identity thief has submitted a change of address. Failing to receive bills or other mail.Other indications of identity theft can be: Look for unexplained charges or withdrawals. To find out more, go to Monitor the balances of your financial accounts each month. You are entitled to one free credit report from each of the three agencies each year. If you have lost any personal information or, if it has been stolen, you may want to check all your reports more frequently for the first year. You can find out by ordering a copy of your credit report from the three nationwide credit reporting agencies. If an identity thief is opening new credit accounts in your name, these accounts are likely to show up on your credit report. How Can You Tell If You Are a Victim of Identity Theft? They may get a job or file fraudulent tax returns in your name.They may get identification, such as a driver's license issued with their picture in your name.They may create counterfeit checks or credit or debit cards, or authorize electronic transfers in your name and drain your account.They may open a bank account in your name and write bad checks on the account.They may establish phone or wireless service in your name.When they use the credit cards and don't pay the bills, the delinquent accounts are reported on your credit report. They may open new credit card accounts in your name.Because the bills are being sent to a different address, it may be some time before you realize there's a problem. The imposter then runs up charges on your account. They may call your credit card issuer to change the billing address on your account.Once identity thieves have your personal information, they may use it to commit fraud or theft. What Do Thieves Do with Your Personal Information? They may steal credit card files from other companies, such as department stores, vendors, suppliers, etc.They may complete a "change of address form" to divert your mail to another location.They may steal your mail from your mailbox, including bank and credit card statements, credit card offers, new checks and tax information.They may steal personal information they find in your home.They may rummage through your trash, the trash of businesses or public trash dumps, in a practice known as "dumpster diving.".They may retrieve your credit reports by abusing authorized access.They may swipe your card for an actual purchase or attach a device to an ATM machine where they may enter or swipe your card.
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