Even if a thief only accesses a small amount of your personal information, they may be able to steal your identity if they can find out more about you from public sources. This includes social media accounts which may include your date of birth, photos and information about your family.
name and address. credit card or bank account numbers. Social Security number. medical insurance account numbers.
You may become a victim of identity theft if: you have lost or had stolen important documents such as your passport or driving licence.
These are some signs to look out for: Unusual bills or charges that you don't recognise appear on your bank statement. Mail that you're expecting doesn't arrive. You get calls or texts about products and services you've never used.
And in Australia, driver's licences can be used to apply for tens of thousands of dollars in bank loans and telephone accounts, access government benefits, or even apply for more identity documents like passports — all in your name.
Physical Theft: examples of this would be dumpster diving, mail theft, skimming, change of address, reshipping, government records, identity consolidation. Technology-Based: examples of this are phishing, pharming, DNS Cache Poisoning, wardriving, spyware, malware and viruses.
Contact your police department, report the crime and obtain a police report. Decide whether you want to place a security freeze on your credit report.
There are five steps you should take right away if someone steals your identity: See if you have identity theft insurance. Contact the relevant companies. Report the theft to the FTC and the police.
The easiest way to become a victim of a bank scam is to share your banking info — e.g., account numbers, PIN codes, social security number — with someone you don't know well and trust. If someone asks for sensitive banking details, proceed with caution.
If you gave the fraudster your bank account number or routing number, contact your bank or credit union immediately. You may need to close the account and open a new one. Social security number. Go ahead with a fraud alert or credit freeze and report your information stolen at the FTC's identitytheft.gov website.
Log onto your accounts and make sure all transactions look familiar. Immediately report any suspicious-looking activity to the bank. Monitor your credit report. Create accounts with the big credit bureaus — Experian, Equifax and TransUnion — to keep an eye out for new accounts that weren't opened by you.
An unfamiliar new account, as well as errors in your personal information such as your Social Security number, could indicate potential identity theft. Other things that could be warning signs that your identity has been stolen include: Statements or bills for accounts you never opened arriving in the mail.
With the rise of identity theft, it's essential to take the necessary steps to safeguard your personal information. One effective way to protect yourself is by changing your name. While it may seem drastic, a name change can provide an added layer of security and peace of mind.
Finder's analysis of data released by the Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC) has revealed that the cost of identity crime in Australia reached a staggering $3.1 billion in 2019, a substantial 17% increase from 2016.
Inform your bank, building society and credit card company of any unusual transactions on your statement. Request a copy of your credit file to check for any suspicious credit applications. Report the theft of personal documents and suspicious credit applications to the police and ask for a crime reference number.
Identity theft is when someone uses another person's financial or personal data, usually for monetary gain. This means a fraudster may take sensitive information like names, birthdates, Social Security numbers, driver's license details, addresses, and bank account numbers or credit card numbers.
Identity thieves will use your personal information, including your name, birthdate and Social Security number, to masquerade as you. Be cautious about anyone who asks for your personal information. Make sure you check your credit report each year to ensure nothing suspicious happens to you behind the scenes.