Top Signs You May Have Been a Victim of ID Theft
You Could Be a Victim and Not Even Know It
By Lita Epstein, credit and debt expert, WalletPop.comWhen even the announcer of the The Price Is Right is a victim of identity theft, you know the crime can happen to anyone. Rich Fields, of "Come on down" fame, reportedly had $71,000 stolen and had to freeze his accounts ' including his direct deposit of his pay -- while he tries to recover the money. At least he got wise to the problem.
One of the scariest things about identity theft is that you could be a victim and not even know it. Identity theft includes any act in which your identity is used fraudulently. I'm sure you've head of credit card fraud, where someone opens an account in your name or uses your credit card number without your permission. But other common identity theft scams include bank account fraud, phone or utilities fraud, government documents fraud and Social Security fraud.
In this feature, we list four red flags that can signal that you are a victim of identity theft.
First Up: Red Flag No. 1
Credit Reports: The Basics
Your credit report reveals more than your credit history; it's the basis for your financial report card -- the credit score.
- Credit Report Basics
- When to Get a Credit Report
- Obtaining a Credit Report
- Reading Your Credit Report
- Avoiding Over-Inquiries on Your Credit Report
- How to Fix Errors on Your Credit Report
- Repair Your Credit; Improve Your Credit Score
- Credit Repair Services
- Credit Counseling Services
- Credit CardsFrom the Blog
ID Theft Horror Stories
Have you been the victim of identity theft? Tell us how having your identity stolen has turned your life into a living nightmare.
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