Possible Signs of Identity Theft and Fraud

Some possible signs of identity theft and fraud:

• Unusual activity in your financial accounts
• Purchases you can't account for on your debit and credit card statements
• A missed month here and there if you receive hard-copy statements in the mail
• When checking your credit report, you notice credit cards and loans that you didn't apply for, but which appear in your name and go to a different address.

You are not necessarily a victim of identity theft and fraud if, for example, your wallet is lost or stolen, or if you receive a suspicious e-mail or phone call. Identity theft is usually a cumulative process — someone typically needs to accumulate various pieces of your personal information.