To check for identity theft, regularly review your credit reports (via AnnualCreditReport.com) for unfamiliar accounts or inquiries, monitor bank/credit card statements for unauthorized charges, check your mail for missing bills or unexpected statements, and look for IRS alerts about multiple tax returns filed in your name. Other signs include calls from debt collectors for unknown debts or unfamiliar medical bills.
You know your identity might be stolen through signs like unexpected bills or debt collection calls for accounts you didn't open, unfamiliar charges on bank/credit statements, loan application denials despite good credit, missing mail, or IRS alerts about fraudulent tax returns, all indicating someone is using your personal info for fraudulent activities like opening new accounts, draining funds, or filing taxes in your name. Regularly checking credit reports and bank statements is crucial to catch these red flags early.
Signs of identity theft
How to tell if someone is using your identity
Identity Theft: If you think an identity thief is using your SSN to work or to collect benefits, call the Social Security Fraud Hotline at 1-800-269-0271. If you think someone may be using your SSN to work, check your Social Security Personal Earnings and Benefit Statement.
Monitor Your Credit Reports, Bank and Credit Accounts
One of the most effective ways to protect against identity theft is to monitor your credit reports and billing statements so you can spot and report unauthorized activity.
Here's how to tell if identity theft has already happened: 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 and may be misusing your information as an identity thief. Review your bills.
You may not find out that someone is using your SSN until you're turned down for credit, or you begin to get calls from unknown creditors demanding payment for items you never bought.
To check if someone opened a bank account in your name, request free reports from checking account reporting companies. You should also monitor your credit reports monthly, as new bank accounts may appear there.
If your identity was stolen:
What to do if your Social Security number is on the dark web
appear to be forged or altered; Personal identifying information (i.e., photograph, physical description) on the identification does not match the individual presenting the information; Address or name does not match the information on the identification and/or insurance card(s), credit card(s), etc.
Identity Theft Facts
Most stolen cards are used within 48 hours, so it is important to report a missing card immediately.
You know your identity might be stolen through signs like unexpected bills or debt collection calls for accounts you didn't open, unfamiliar charges on bank/credit statements, loan application denials despite good credit, missing mail, or IRS alerts about fraudulent tax returns, all indicating someone is using your personal info for fraudulent activities like opening new accounts, draining funds, or filing taxes in your name. Regularly checking credit reports and bank statements is crucial to catch these red flags early.
To report identity theft, contact: The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) online at IdentityTheft.gov or call 1-877-438-4338. The three major credit reporting agencies. Ask them to place fraud alerts and a credit freeze on your accounts.
You can lock your Social Security number (SSN) primarily through the myE-Verify service to prevent its use in employment verification, or get an Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) from the IRS to block fraudulent tax filings, but you cannot "freeze" your SSN entirely, so also consider freezing your credit reports with the three credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion) for broader identity theft protection.
One of the best ways to check if someone has been using your identity is to look at your credit report. Because your credit report has information about your credit accounts and credit applications, you can tell immediately if someone has tried to use your identity.
Yes, you should take steps to "lock" or protect your Social Security Number (SSN) by using free services like credit freezes and SSN locks (like E-Verify Self Lock), and by being cautious about sharing it, as this significantly helps prevent employment fraud, tax scams, and unauthorized access to accounts. While no single lock stops all identity theft, combining freezes, locks, monitoring your accounts, and limiting SSN disclosure offers strong defense against fraudsters using your SSN for loans, jobs, or benefits.
An extended fraud alert can be placed if you are a victim of fraud or identity theft. It requires a copy of a valid police or law enforcement agency report, or a Federal Trade Commission Identity Theft Report, and lasts for 7 years.