10 telltale signs that someone has stolen your identity

How would you feel if someone else pretended to be you online? That’s essentially what identity theft is, and it can happen to any of us.

You have something very important that makes you who you are – your digital identity. It’s like a puzzle made of pieces of your personal information, financial transactions and online interactions.

Unfortunately, like anything of value, it isn't immune to theft. Bad people want to steal your identity and use it to commit fraud and rob you blind.

Identity theft is a serious threat that can be hard to detect. However, you can look for some clues that someone is trying to steal your identity and take steps to protect yourself. 

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Unexpected charges on your credit card statement are one of the earliest warning signs of identity theft. Even small, seemingly insignificant purchases can be a thief testing the waters before a full-blown shopping spree.

What to do?

I recommend you regularly review your statements, and if you spot unrecognized transactions, contact your bank to dispute these charges and secure your account.

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If you notice that your regular bills or correspondence aren't showing up, it might be because an identity thief has redirected your mail to another address. It's a cunning move to keep you in the dark about their illicit activities.

What to do?

Regularly monitor your bills. If they stop arriving, contact your service providers to confirm their mailing addresses on file.

If you've been targeted, you might notice a significant increase in unsolicited credit card offers or pre-approved loans. This could indicate that someone has been checking your credit history without your knowledge.

What to do?

You can reduce such junk mail by opting out of prescreened credit offers and consider instituting a credit freeze to prevent unauthorized credit accounts. When you place a security freeze, creditors cannot access your credit report. This will keep them from approving any new credit account in your name, whether it is fraudulent or legitimate. While this can be an effective deterrent, it comes with the hassle of negotiating access each and every time you apply for credit.

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How to freeze your credit report for free

Contact each of the three major credit reporting agencies to submit your request online, by phone or by mail.

Note: To let lenders and other companies access your credit files again to create new accounts, you will need to lift your credit freeze permanently or temporarily.

If the IRS flags multiple tax returns filed in your name or if you're declared as an employee in a place you've never worked, it's a telltale sign that someone is misusing your social security number.

What to do?

Report these incidents to the IRS immediately, and follow their guidance, which may include completing an Identity Theft Affidavit.

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Regular credit checks are your friend. Notice an unexpected plummet in your credit score. It may indicate that an identity thief has been opening credit accounts or making large purchases in your name, and worse, they don’t pay the bills.

What to do?

Regularly monitor your credit score. If it drops suddenly, contact the credit bureau to dispute inaccuracies and set up credit-monitoring services.

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An unexpected loan or credit account appearing on your credit report is a glaring sign of identity theft.

What to do?

Such anomalies should be immediately investigated with the credit bureau and the respective financial institution and reported to the FTC. 

If you want a service that will walk you through every step of the reporting and recovery process, one of the best things you can do to protect yourself from this type of fraud is to subscribe to an identity theft service

Identity theft-protection companies can monitor personal information like your Home title, Social Security Number (SSN), phone number, and email address and alert you if it is being sold on the dark web or being used to open an account. They can also assist you in freezing your bank and credit card accounts to prevent further unauthorized use by criminals. 

One of the best parts of using some services is that they might include identity theft insurance of up to one million dollars to cover losses and legal fees and a white glove fraud-resolution team where a U.S.-based case manager helps you recover any losses.

See my tips and best picks on how to protect yourself from identity theft here  

7. Denied medical claims

If you're suddenly informed that you've reached your limit for a medical claim, it might mean that a fraudster has used your insurance details. Similarly, notices about unknown medical conditions or procedures could indicate that your medical identity has been compromised.

What to do?

Notice something fishy? Alert your healthcare provider and insurance company. Scrutinize your explanation of benefits (EOB) and report any services you didn't receive.

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Unexpected calls from debt collectors about unpaid bills for products or services you never bought can signal identity theft. An identity thief may have used your details to make purchases, leaving you with the bill.

What to do?

Request validation of the debt, dispute it with the creditor, report the situation to the credit bureaus, and file a complaint with the FTC if you suspect you're a victim of such theft.

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Be wary of unsolicited contact from financial institutions you have no relationship with. If a bank you've never used before sends you a notice, someone may have opened an account using your stolen identity.

What to do?

Contact the institution to close the fraudulent account, notify your local law enforcement, and report to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) if you think this has happened to you.

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Unsolicited job offers, especially ones that seem irrelevant to your field or too good to be true, may indicate that someone is using your personal information to search for jobs or build a false identity.

What to do?

If you suspect that the job offer is fraudulent or part of a scam, report it to the relevant authorities. You can contact your local law enforcement agency or file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

Below are some next steps to take if you find you or your loved one is a victim of identity theft.

If you are a victim of identity theft, the most important thing to do is to take immediate action to mitigate the damage and prevent further harm.

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In our daily stroll through the digital park, we've encountered some menacing signs of identity theft. While it's important to be aware of the potential pitfalls, it's equally vital to remember that these online spaces are not all doom and gloom. After all, they're the same avenues that allow us to connect, share, and explore like never before. 

It's all about learning to walk these paths with our eyes wide open and with as much resilience to fend off all the bad stuff targeting our lives more and more online.

The whole idea is not just about reacting to the signs of identity theft but anticipating and arming ourselves against it. It's about taking the steering wheel of our digital lives into our hands and driving with confidence, not apprehension.

Instead of just being cautious about potential dangers, what proactive measures are you considering to safeguard your digital identity? Do you have an online safety routine? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.

For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.

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Mike Williams, ex-NFL wide receiver, breathing on his own after being taken off life support: reports

Mike Williams, a former NFL wide receiver who suffered serious injuries in a workplace construction accident earlier this month, was reportedly breathing on his own after he was removed from life support.

Williams remained in the intensive care unit of a Tampa, Florida-area hospital, according to the Tampa Bay Times on Saturday. Williams’ agent Hadley Engelhard and the mother of his daughter, Tierney Lyle, told the outlet there had been no change in his condition.

A GoFundMe linked to Williams’ father said the player had had a "major accident" at work last Friday. The page said a steel beam "fell on his head causing a massive head injury" and that there was swelling on his brain and swelling on his spinal cord that was ruptured." 

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The injuries resulted in Williams being paralyzed in his right arm and from the waist down.

Williams passed out and "never regained consciousness," according to the GoFundMe. He was placed into a coma on Sunday.

Mary Rosenthal, the mother of the 36-year-old former player, told WIVB-TV that the family needed a "Hail Mary." She said he was taken off the ventilator on Friday.

"He said, if this ever happens to me, to pull my plug because I don’t want to live like that," Rosenthal said. "Those are his wishes. When he was a football player, he had already signed the papers."

Williams, a Buffalo native, attended Syracuse University. As a true freshman in 2006, he led the team with 461 receiving yards. He was an all-Big East selection the following season but was suspended for the 2008 season for academic reasons.

In seven games in 2009, he caught 49 balls for 746 yards and seven touchdowns but quit the team due to a possible suspension after he violated team rules following a car accident.

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Nonetheless, he was a fourth-round selection by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2010 NFL Draft, and he impressed quickly.

In his rookie season, he led the team with 964 receiving yards, and his 65 receptions were one shy of tying the team lead. He also scored 11 times, the most on the team. His impressive campaign was good for a second-place honor for Offensive Rookie of the Year behind St. Louis Rams quarterback Sam Bradford.

The Bucs signed him to an extension worth close to $40 million before the 2013 campaign, but he played in just six games that year and was then traded to his hometown Buffalo Bills, where he spent one season.

In 2015, Williams was supposed to be suspended for the first six games of the season, but he remained a free agent throughout the year.

He was on the Kansas City Chiefs practice squad in 2016.

Williams' 20 touchdowns at Syracuse are tied for the second-most in school history, along with Pro Football Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison.

In his professional career, he totaled 223 receptions for 3,089 yards and 26 touchdowns.

Fox News' Ryan Morik contributed to this report.

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