Scam Library
Identity Theft
Your personal information — often a Social Security number obtained through a data breach, phishing, or mail theft — is used to open new credit accounts, file a fraudulent tax return, or take out loans in your name.
Warning signs
What to watch for
- Unfamiliar accounts or hard inquiries on your credit report
- A tax return rejected because one was already filed in your name
- Bills or collection notices for accounts you never opened
- Missing mail that might indicate someone is intercepting sensitive documents
Stay safe
How to verify
- Check your credit report regularly through the official free annual credit report service
- If you suspect identity theft, place a fraud alert or credit freeze with the credit bureaus and report it to your local consumer protection agency
Already sent money or shared a password?
Contact your bank using the number on the back of your card, or the official number on your statement — not any number from the suspicious message.
Not sure if something you received matches this pattern?
Check a Message