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Identity theft—look for clues
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Last night I received a frantic phone call from a woman who was contacted by collection agency concerning a past due telephone bill with a carrier with whom she had never had service. During my interview with her, I learned that two months ago she received a telephone call from a collection agency about a past due credit card bill with a credit card company she had she had not done business with for nearly 20 years. In both cases, the collection agency was able to provide the last four digits of her social security number.
My advice, don’t wait for multiple clues to take action. The sooner that you take steps to deter identity thieves from repeated abuse of your identity the better. Immediately place a fraud alert on credit reports (See Consumer Identity Theft Resources in the right column). When someone calls representing that they are a collection agency or creditor, never provide your personal or financial information over the phone, see my article “Bait for identity theft—don’t be lured.”
This example illustrates “utility fraud” and “new (credit card) account fraud.” Clues for these types of identity fraud include being contacted by a collection agency, being denied credit or services because of bad credit or receiving bills for products or services you did not order.
There are several types of identity fraud that, if you are victimized, provide different clues. The most important thing for you to do
is to act on the clues.
is to act on the clues. A professional associate complained of becoming a victim of identity theft and the hours and legal fees that it was taking to resolve the situation. I learned that six months earlier she had received a credit monitoring alert from a service she subscribed to (to provide an early warning of identity theft) but did not act on the alert. If you subscribe to a credit monitoring service and receive an alert—take action.
One of my associates with an uncommon last name, discovered medical treatments and conditions on her medical records that were not about her. Was she a victim of medical identity theft where someone else used her name to get medical treatment? She requested that the errors to her records be removed, but the medical facility refused to do so under the guise of HIPAA—stating that HIPAA (a federal law assuring medical privacy) prevented them from changing erroneous records. She had her attorney send a written request to the medical facility to have the erroneous medical notes removed from her records. The clinic immediately fixed her medical records, but only after getting an attorney involved.
Have you reviewed your medical records lately? Have you noted any medical procedures or tests on your health insurance that you do not recognize? Has your health or any other insurance premiums suddenly increased? These can be clues to identity fraud involving medical and insurance.
Due a tax refund, but didn’t receive it? Identity thieves may have claimed your refund before you filed your tax return. Have you been contacted by the IRS or your state’s department of revenue claiming that you have unreported income? These are clues that others may be employed and working under your social security number. Does the amount shown on your annual social security statement correspond to your earnings? If the earnings shown are higher than what you earned, it’s a clue!
You are arrested for a crime you didn’t commit or you are denied employment. These are clues that someone committed a crime in your name or that you have a criminal record courtesy of someone else who used your identity when they were charged with a crime.
Look for clues that you may be a victim of identity theft. Look for things out of the ordinary or those that don’t seem to make sense. Investigate. If you are not sure, Ask Dr. Privacy.
Want to learn more about clues? Read my 10 examples of Consumer Red Flags and each of the corresponding “Diaries.”
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- Ask Dr. Privacy
- Consumer Red Flags
- FTC's Identity Theft Site
- Take Charge: Fighting Back Against Identity Theft (FTC Pub.)
- Victims--Follow These Steps: Fraud Alert, Close Accounts, Police Report, FTC Complaint
- File an Identity Theft Complaint with the FTC
- Pre-approved Credit Card Offer Opt Out (888-567-8688)
- Credit Reports--Official Free Annual Credit Report (877-322-8228)
- Medical Information Bureau--Free ANnual Report (866-692-6901)
- Social Security Administration--Annual Statement (800-772-1213)
