Data Breach

How To Check The Five Signs of Identity Theft And Protect Your Personal Data Online

9:06am Friday, January 3, 2022

as told to Ed S. - sponsored by Truthfinder

Here’s an uncomfortable truth: in this day and age, identity thieves can wreak havoc on almost anyone’s finances.

Identity theft happens when someone's essential personal data, like their Social Security number, is stolen with the intent to falsify accounts in the victim's name.

Unfortunately, many people find themselves in this situation. In fact, according to TransUnion, about 19 people fall victim to identity theft every minute.

Most of these identity thieves don't just take a few hundred dollars and call it a day. According to US Bureau of Justice Statistics, identity thieves caused about 17 billion dollars in financial losses in 2006.

Identity theft is a serious issue that most people don't catch until it's too late. Keep reading to learn how to recognize the signs of identity theft — and how to safeguard your personal information before it falls into the wrong hands. Plus learn how you can protect your identity with Guardian from TruthFinder.

5 Signs Of Identity Theft

1. Mysterious Withdrawals

One of the best ways to keep track of your identity is to watch your bank account very closely. Keeping track of your purchases is not only a good practice to limit spending and increase saving, but it can also help you spot erroneous charges or credits that may be the cause of identity theft. If you see one of these charges, it is always a good idea to follow up with your bank.

2. Surprising Medical Bills

Although people most frequently associate identity theft with criminals opening fraudulent credit accounts or stealing access to bank accounts, there are many instances of medical care fraud as well.

Identity thieves can gain access to your health care plan with just a few key pieces of information, including your SSN. If you receive a mysterious medical bill or spot an erroneous charge on your plan summary, contact your provider immediately.

3. Plummeting Credit Scores

Credit card fraud is among the most common kinds of identity theft and can certainly be one of the most financially damaging. However, regularly checking your credit score and credit report can help you keep track of any fraudulent activity.

If you spot any mysterious accounts, or you see your credit score drop unexpectedly, you should contact the establishment that opened the account or caused the drop in your score. Catching credit card fraud early is the best way to reduce the overall impact on your finances.

4. Missing Bills And Statements

When a thief hijacks your identity, they will often seek to redirect your bills and statements. The longer that they go undetected, the more money they can potentially steal from you. If a bill or statement does not arrive on time, call the provider to double-check your address on your account. If the address is not one you use, work with the service or product provider to switch accounts to stop the theft from causing further damage.

5. IRS Mix-Ups

Due to the amount of personally identifying information included on tax documents, anything to do with the IRS is a lucrative target for an identity thief.

Here’s a likely sign that your identity has been stolen: a missing tax return or a notification from the IRS that the return that you submitted does not match your reported income. If you receive a notification like this, contact the IRS to investigate further.

Identity theft is no joke. There are many different ways that a perpetrator can steal your identity and ruin your finances. But fortunately, there’s an easy way to discover if you are at risk.

Guardian, by TruthFinder, can show you how much of your data is actually being leaked online and what you can do to protect yourself. It provides you with a score that explains just how exposed you really are (sort of like a report card but for your online privacy).

Here’s How Guardian Protects You

First, you enter your name and state and find your Guardian privacy report. After you select your report, Guardian can look through hundreds of millions of records and track down all of your personal data that’s currently available online. You might see things like financial records, assets, social media data, mortgage information, licenses, and other highly personal information. It’s a little scary because it’s the type of information that you’d use to verify your identity online (think security questions like "have you ever lived at 1234 55th Street?").

Next, Guardian will search what’s known as the "Dark Web". This is the part of the internet that isn’t accessible to most people unless you have special software. It’s shocking that these websites even exist. In fact, this is where identity thieves buy and sell YOUR private data. Things like passwords, social security numbers, and credit card information are all on sale. You need to monitor these dangers if you use the internet frequently. Think about what could happen if the password you use for online banking is sold on the Dark Web.

Start today by searching your name with Guardian and pulling your report. You might be surprised by just how much information is out there about you.