{"id":1082,"date":"2019-03-03T13:10:47","date_gmt":"2019-03-03T21:10:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/betterdefend.com\/?p=1082"},"modified":"2019-03-05T08:52:09","modified_gmt":"2019-03-05T16:52:09","slug":"10-steps-to-take-if-you-suspect-youre-a-victim-of-identity-theft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/betterdefend.com\/10-steps-to-take-if-you-suspect-youre-a-victim-of-identity-theft\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Steps to Take if You Suspect You’re a Victim of Identity Theft"},"content":{"rendered":"
We all know that sinking feeling that comes with an email warning that someone has attempted to access one of your accounts. It\u2019s even more daunting when your bank calls to confirm there\u2019s been unauthorized activity on your card. Now imagine that anxiety magnified when you become a victim of identity theft. <\/span><\/p>\n Based on a study conducted in late 2017, one in every fifteen people will have their identity stolen at some point in their lives. Usually, identity fraud is for the purpose of monetary gain, with identity thieves making use of a person’s identity to achieve their financial goal. <\/span><\/p>\n However, we have good news. Even though identity thieves will stop at nothing to get a hold of your personal information, such as your driver’s license or Social Security numbers, or your banking or credit card information, you <\/span>can<\/span><\/i> take action to prevent identity theft.<\/span><\/p>\n Keep reading to discover the 10 steps you should take if you think your identity has been stolen.<\/span><\/p>\n The first thing you need to do is accurately identify the source of the problem and work from there. If you already suspect identity thieves have targeted you and your personal information, then it usually isn\u2019t hard to pinpoint where exactly the breach has come from. <\/span><\/p>\n In doing this, you will be able to easily either confirm or deny your suspicion and take the appropriate steps forward. <\/span><\/p>\n Generally speaking, most identity theft leads back to money. After concluding that you have, in fact, become an identity theft victim, you\u2019ll need to meticulously inspect your own money.<\/span><\/p>\n Obtain and review your credit card and bank statements for any activity that wasn\u2019t authorized by you. This will enable you to either isolate the incident or identify it as something that has been happening since a specific date. Don\u2019t overlook accounts that may not have been in use for a while but still have available funds. <\/span><\/p>\n If a problem is detected, contact the bank or other financial institution immediately and have the accounts frozen until further action can be taken. <\/span><\/p>\n Checking reports from all three of the credit bureaus is a most if your identity has been compromised. You should check for any new accounts that you don\u2019t remember opening, any transactions that you don\u2019t remember making, or any other activity that looks fraudulent.<\/span><\/p>\n1. Isolate the Problem<\/span><\/h3>\n
2. Thoroughly Inspect Your Finances<\/span><\/h3>\n
3. Request Credit Your Reports<\/span><\/h3>\n