Identity theft: when someone else is you

HOW IT WORKS A scammer gathers enough of your personal data — from data breaches, phishing, stolen mail or a single careless form — to open credit cards, take loans or empty accounts in your name. Often you find out months later, when a collection letter or a loan rejection arrives. Identity theft is a slow crime; the earlier it is caught, the cheaper it is to fix. RED FLAGS - Bills or statements for accounts you never opened. - Loans or credit checks you did not apply for. - Letters from debt collectors for unknown debts. - Your post stops arriving (someone redirected it). - A tax refund is refused because a return was 'already filed'. WHAT TO DO - Act fast: contact your bank and the credit bureaus to freeze your file. - Report the theft to the police — you need the report for banks and bureaus. - File a fraud alert with every credit bureau. - Change passwords on everything, starting with email. - From now on: shred documents, use a password manager, and enable two-factor authentication everywhere. REMEMBER Identity theft is a race. A fraud alert takes minutes and can stop the damage before the first account is opened.