In the last year alone , identity theft has claimed over nine million victims in the US alone, and about 85% of these victims only realized that they have been victimized until it’s too late, when unknown charges have been made to their credit cards and/or something’s gone wrong with their credit report. Only the remaining 15% found out due to diligent activities by various companies and businesses have allowed the detection of identity theft and fraud.  So it is wise to protect yourself from identity theft, before it’s too late.

How to prevent identity theft

Many seems to be unaware of warning signs that should set off warning bells in your head. Here are 5 signs that can help you identify possible ways to rob you of your identity and then you can actually start to protect yourself from identity theft.

1. Your monthly bank statement shows withdrawals and fund transfers you don’t remember making.  You may be a victim of bank fraud.

2.  Some checks from your checkbook maybe missing and new checkbooks don’t come in your mail. Statistics show that the unauthorized use of others’ checking accounts is one of the fastest growing types of identity theft, protect yourself from identity theft by ensuring your checks are all accounted for.

3.  Credit card theft shows your credit card statements with purchases you did not make or receipt of billing statements from credit accounts and cards you never opened. An even worse scenario is when a credit collection company calls you to pay for stuff you never bought.

4. When your billing statements don’t arrive in your mail, you may need to protect yourself from identity theft, it can mean that your bills are being diverted to another address. Missing mails you expected to arrive can also be a sign that someone is raiding your mailbox.

5. You need to protect yourself from identity theft when you find yourself being disapproved for a new credit card, a loan or mortgage, when you know you can clearly have been approved. Checking your credit records will show debts that you don’t remember having.

Now that you know the warning signs you need to look out for, you can now protect yourself from identity theft, make sure that you take steps in order to alleviate some if not all of these warning signs, so you can stop identify theft from happening to you.