Detecting Suspicious Activity With ID theft, early detection is the key! Detect suspicious activity by routinely checking your account and billing statements. Also... Read your credit card statements and financial accounts carefully, looking for any charges you did not make. Check your credit report yearly. The law allows you to have a free copy of your credit report every year annualcreditreport.com Here are a few warning signs you may be a victim: Oftentimes, there aren’t any! Your monthly credit card or financial statements contain fraudulent charges, or suddenly stop arriving You don’t receive any mail for several days You are denied credit for no apparent reason You start getting bills from unfamiliar companies for goods or services you didn’t request Credit collection agencies try to collect on debts that don’t belong to you No warning signs? Check your credit report anyway! Get one free report per year from each bureau Look for accounts you didn’t authorize Check for accuracy; dispute inaccuracies Beware of emails and websites offering “free” credit reports Don’t give your social security just to get a free credit report