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Identity Theft: The Billing Warning Signs

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Signs of identity theft can come in different forms. They can appear as bank statements from unknown accounts, credit reports with cards or loans you don't know about, or calls from a collection agency looking for money you don't recall owing. All tips can lead to financial ruin and may tarnish your name because you were a victim of identity theft.

The first sign of identity theft could be a change in your billing cycle. When your bills stop arriving on schedule, you need to find out why. Contrary to popular belief, not all the criminals working to steal your name and money use online identity theft. You need to be concerned when there's a change in your billing cycle.

Find out what's going on. Call the credit card company, the gas company and all the other companies whose bills are late. Keep in mind that bills are never sent out late. You should always be sure of your billing dates to lessen the possibility of identity theft victimization.

Contact the post office. You should let them know you feel you might have been the victim of identity theft through stolen mail. Offer a list of missing bills and let them know when the bill should have arrived at the post office.

In today's society, it pays to monitor your bills and statements. Now that consumers have the option of banking online, it's easier to keep an eye on anything irregular to see the immediate effects of online identity theft.

A more serious sign of identity theft could involve having your credit denied for a large purchase. The best way to minimize fallout from identity theft is to review your credit card and bank statements monthly and to check your credit report at least annually.

A more obvious sign of identity theft occurs with credit cards. Often, victims start getting statements for a credit card they didn't even know they had. There are charges on the card, too. If this is your situation, you've become the victim of identity theft. Place a fraud alert on your credit report right away. Next, complete a fraud affidavit and send it to the company that sent you the bill.