Detect suspicious activity by routinely monitoring your financial accounts and billing statements.
Be alert to signs that require immediate attention:
•Bills that do not arrive as expected.
•Unexpected credit cards or account statements.
•Denials of credit for no apparent reason.
•Calls or letters about purchases you did not make.
Inspect:
Your credit report. Credit reports contain information about you, including what accounts you have and your bill paying history.
•The law requires the major nationwide consumer reporting companies--Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion-- to give you a free copy of your credit report each year if you ask for it.
•Visit www.AnnualCreditReport.com or call 1-877-322-8228, as service created by these three companies, to order your free credit reports each year.
•You also can write: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.
Your financial statements: Review financial accounts and billing statements regularly, looking for changes you did not make.