http://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/myFICO-Blog/Watch-Out-for-6-Signs-of-Identity-Theft/ba-p/1508222 <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><font size="3"><span>Identity theft can have a devastating impact on your life, affecting far more than just your pocketbook. Keep an eye out for these 6 warning signs that could mean your identity has been stolen.&nbsp;</span></font></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><font size="3"><strong>1) Unexpected phone calls from creditors.</strong></font></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><font size="3"><span>Identity theft can have a devastating impact on your life, affecting far more than just your pocketbook. Keep an eye out for these 6 warning signs that could mean your identity has been stolen.&nbsp;</span>If you get a call from a creditor demanding payment for a purchase no one in your family made, have the caller give you all the information possible and investigate.</font></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><font size="3"><strong>2) Strange credit card charges.</strong></font></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><font size="3">It's easier to spot these if you keep all your receipts and reconcile them with your statements each month.</font></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><font size="3"><strong>3) Getting turned down for credit unexpectedly.&nbsp;</strong></font></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><font size="3">This is one of the more common ways people discover they've been victimized.</font></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><font size="3"><strong>4)&nbsp;</strong><strong>Account usernames and passwords or ATM PINs stop working.</strong></font></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><font size="3">This suggests that an identity thief may have changed your access codes.&nbsp;</font></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><font size="3"><strong>5) Missing bills.&nbsp;</strong></font></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><font size="3">If bills from your accounts suddenly stop arriving, it could mean an identity thief has changed your address in order to use bank accounts without raising suspicion.</font></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><font size="3"><strong>6) Strange information in your files.&nbsp;</strong></font></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><font size="3">If information in a personal file is not yours it could signal identity theft or it could be an innocent mistake. To avoid mistaken identity problems use your middle name or middle initial on accounts to distinguish you from others who have the same name.</font></p> <p style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;</p> <div style="text-align: center;"><font size="3"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">&nbsp;</span></font></div> <div id="container"> <div class="con_wrap" style="text-align: center;"> <div class="con_ul_floatRight"> <div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"> <div><font size="3"><strong><font color="#000000">Protect Yourself from Identity Theft!</font></strong></font></div> <div><font size="3">Proactively check and review your <a href="http://www.myfico.com/Products/Products.aspx" target="_blank">FICO Scores and credit reports</a> on a quarterly basis. This is one of the best ways to spot a fraud quickly and minimize any damage. Read more about&nbsp;<a href="http://www.myfico.com/CreditEducation/idtheft.aspx?sourceid=blog" target="_blank">protecting yourself from identity theft</a>&nbsp;and what actions to take if it happens.</font></div> <div><font size="3"><br /></font></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="con_wrap" style="text-align: center;"><font size="3"><img src="/t5/image/serverpage/image-id/2400i0A3F74FCA90D606B/image-size/medium?v=mpbl-1&amp;px=-1" border="0" alt="main-image-idt-jul-lp.jpg" title="main-image-idt-jul-lp.jpg" align="center" />&nbsp;</font></div> </div> Tue, 24 Jul 2012 19:42:24 GMT Sarah 2012-07-24T19:42:24Z http://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/myFICO-Blog/Watch-Out-for-6-Signs-of-Identity-Theft/ba-p/1508222 <p><img src="/t5/image/serverpage/image-id/2398i88654C67C5281175/image-size/small?v=mpbl-1&amp;px=-1" border="0" alt="main-image-idt-jul-lp.jpg" title="main-image-idt-jul-lp.jpg" align="left" />Identity theft can have a devastating impact on your life, affecting far more than just your pocketbook. Keep an eye out for these 6 warning signs that could mean your identity has been stolen.&nbsp;</p> Tue, 24 Jul 2012 19:42:24 GMT http://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/myFICO-Blog/Watch-Out-for-6-Signs-of-Identity-Theft/ba-p/1508222 Sarah 2012-07-24T19:42:24Z http://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/myFICO-Blog/Watch-Out-for-6-Signs-of-Identity-Theft/bc-p/1631066#M96 <p>Why does Equifax dispute accounts and say its from the attorney general on lines of credit? I reported then for putting items on my credit, &quot;mix-files,&quot; missing payment history, missing credit limits.<br>The person at equifax claimed the items put on was verified by PHONE and she could not send me the verification (complete description of method used to investigate this item) Then the rep sends a letter to the Attorney General stating what would remain, and removing the items in relationship to my identity theft and that I would receive a copy of score, and report and the outcome of the investigation.<br>I spoke with this rep to find out why I am receiving letters from identity theft related collections, and my current creditors are all contacting me stating that &quot;Equifax has contacted them on MY BEHALF because I am stating that the account is not mine and Attorney General made this request&quot; and she stated they were left over from when we spoke. UGH<br>That is not what she sent to the Attorney General nor what she told me.<br>I never disputed anything that is MINES and the Attorney General was call on Equifax about the legal term &quot;Mix-Files&quot; this is when two or more credit files merge together due to data error. Then they marked all my accounts new and added 41 inquiries.</p> Mon, 08 Oct 2012 13:01:06 GMT http://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/myFICO-Blog/Watch-Out-for-6-Signs-of-Identity-Theft/bc-p/1631066#M96 Maori 2012-10-08T13:01:06Z