(NC)—Identity thieves can wreak havoc with the lives of people they try to scam, but if you know the warning signs you can prevent it from happening. Here's what to look for:
• A bank or credit card company contacts you about suspicious transactions.
• Bills and bank or credit card statements arrive late or not at all (someone may have had your mail forwarded to another address).
• Bills arrive for accounts that you do not own.
• A creditor or collection agency contacts you about unknown debts.
• Purchases and/or withdrawals not made by you appear on your monthly bills or bank statements,
• You're denied credit for reasons that don't match what you understand about your financial position.
• Your credit report shows credit issued that you didn't request.
• Your property has a lien on it that you didn't know about.
If you suspect someone has tried to steal your identity, you must take action and report it immediately. The Consumer Measures Committee, a group of federal, provincial and territorial representatives responsible for consumer affairs, has outlined what to do in the Consumer Identity Theft Kit and Checklist available at www.ConsumerInformation.ca.
- News Canada
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