BBB: Identity theft is more common than you think
(WHNT) – Scams are designed to either steal your money or your identity in order to steal your money later. Scammers have all kinds of techniques to collect personally identifiable information.
Once they have it, they can become you, using your identity to open accounts, file taxes, or obtain medical coverage.
With enough personal information, a scammer can pretend to be you and commit many crimes. They can make false applications for loans and credit cards, withdraw money from your bank account, or obtain services in your name. They can also sell your information to others on the Internet.
Identity theft may take a long time to detect. Scammers ensure that bills and statements for new accounts are not sent to your address. You may notice what is happening once the scammer has already inflicted substantial damage on your assets, credit, and reputation. Consumers should also be aware of synthetic identity theft, where a scammer combines real and fake information to create a brand-new, fictitious identity. Fraudsters often use stolen Social Security or Social Insurance numbers, paired with fake names, dates of birth, and addresses, to commit this type of crime.
In the U.S., visit the Federal Trade Commission's website for information on how to stop and recover from identity theft.
Look for unexplained withdrawals, charges, and accounts. Review your bank account and credit card statements regularly. Look for unfamiliar charges, accounts, or withdrawals. Know when your bills are due; one tip-off for identity theft is when you stop receiving certain bills. This can happen because scammers have changed the address associated with your bank account or credit card. If bills don't arrive on time, follow up with your creditors. Debt collectors may call you about debts that aren't yours. You can also set up automatic alerts on your accounts so you are notified every time a transaction is made.
Check your credit reports regularly for unauthorized inquiries and accounts. In the U.S., you can check your credit report with each of the three major credit bureaus once per year at AnnualCreditReport.com. This is the only free crediting reporting service authorized by the Federal Trade Commission. Space these checks out throughout the year, and you will quickly know if something is wrong. In Canada, the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada provides information on requesting a free credit report.
Be careful with your personal information:Treat your personal information like the valuable commodity it is. Ensure you shred documents containing your bank account information, Social Security/Social Insurance number, or other personal information. These include credit card applications, insurance forms, financial statements, health forms, and billing statements from utilities and phone services. Cut up expired credit and debit cards, and cut through the numbers before you dispose of them.
Secure personal documents at home:If you have roommates, employ outside help, or have contractors in your home, ensure personal documents are in a safe place – preferably under lock and key – and not lying out in plain sight. Minimize personal information on checks. You don't need to include your Social Security or Social Insurance number, driver's license, or phone number.
Be alert to phishing attempts:Scammers are sophisticated; their phishing attempts may come via email, text, social media messages, or even phone calls. Be suspicious of any unsolicited communication asking you for personal information. Whether it's a supposed tech support call, an offer for a free cruise, or a charity plea, they may be after your personal information. See BBB's tips on phishing and tech support scams.
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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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