Having your identity stolen is hopefully something you and the people around you are unfamiliar with, although it can never hurt to be cautious. Here is some expert advice as to what to do if the circumstance ever comes up. Initially, it’s important you diagnose the account that has been compromised.
Identity theft is a serious crime but often goes unpunished as it can be very difficult to pinpoint the location and identity of the person using the alternate, stolen identity. Because regaining a stolen identity is extremely tedious, the best defense is a good offense. If your wallet, Social Security number, or other personal information is lost or stolen, there are steps you can take to help protect yourself from identity theft. Tagged with: identity theft , IRS , personal information , privacy , theft Dec 20, 2017 · Here’s what to do if your identity gets stolen and some tips to protect yourself. Talk to your bank The first step when fixing identity theft is to call the banks or businesses where you hold the accounts that have fraudulent charges and report the incident. Revenue Service (IRS). An identity thief also might use your Social Security number to file a tax return to receive your refund. If you’re eligible for a refund, a thief could file a tax return before you do and get your refund. Then, when you do file, the IRS will think you already received your refund. If your Social Security number is stolen, Consider an Identity Theft Protection Service like Complete ID. Nothing can completely prevent identity theft, but a service like Complete ID can help monitor your records and alert you to anything suspicious. They’ll even help you through the steps to restoring your identity hassle-free.
Identity theft is a serious crime but often goes unpunished as it can be very difficult to pinpoint the location and identity of the person using the alternate, stolen identity. Because regaining a stolen identity is extremely tedious, the best defense is a good offense.
Identity theft: 10 steps to recover if your identity is stolen Your utility providers and telephone carriers should be alerted in case an identity thief tries to open a new account in your name, using a utility bill as proof of residence. 7 Easy Ways to Get Your Identity Stolen | Tom's Guide
That’s when it becomes clear that you’ve had your identity stolen. Identity theft is a silent crime that can hurt you now with loss of finances, and in the future with damage to your credit and reputation. A recent Harris Poll reported that almost 60 million Americans have been affected by identity theft.
What to do when your identity is stolen. Advice from Bank A stolen identity: you hear about it happening to other people. However, you never think it will happen to you. With so many schemes and scams out there trying to snatch your information, it shouldn’t be surprising that for the past 15 years, identity theft has been the top consumer complaint to the FTC. Nineteen people become victims of identity theft every minute. What To Do If You Are A Victim Of Identity Theft