3 surefire signs someone stole your identity
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Identity theft is a growing concern, with more than 16.4 million people falling victim to it in 2014. That skyrocketed to 49 million people in 2020, resulting in a staggering $56 billion in losses. Unfortunately, most victims realize too late that their identity has been stolen, making it so much harder to regain control.
Luckily, there are a few signs to watch for so you can act swiftly and minimize the damage. Read on to find out how to spot identity theft and what you can do about it.
1. A credit card opened in your name
There are few things worse than receiving an invoice for something you didn’t purchase. It could be a billing error or something more sinister like identity theft. A tell-tale sign that someone stole your identity is when a credit card or service is opened in your name.
These scenarios are incredibly stressful, but there are some things that you can do:
- Regularly check your banking statements – Look for any unusual activity. If you see anything suspicious, report it to your bank.
- Review your credit report – Check it for accounts you didn’t open or inquiries you don’t recognize. A new credit card, a personal loan, or a car loan will appear as a new account. A new cell phone plan or utility service like water, gas, or electric will show up as an inquiry
- Set up alerts – Sign up to get text or email alerts from your credit card or bank whenever there’s a new transaction. This could help you spot unauthorized or fraudulent activity on your accounts.
2. Tax identity theft or stolen Social Security number
Nobody likes filing taxes. But it can be even more stressful when the IRS notifies you of another filed tax return. You should only submit one tax return to the IRS, so it might indicate tax identity theft if there are more.
- Tax ID theft – A notice from the IRS that there’s more than one tax return filed in your name could be a sign of tax identity theft. Contact the IRS immediately to find out what’s going on.
- Watch for unauthorized employment – A notice that you have income from an employer you don’t work for is a sign someone stole your Social Security number so they can get a job.
3. Unemployment benefits
Unemployment claims spiked during the pandemic. So have fraudulent unemployment claims. Unfortunately, you will only be aware of it once you get a notice from the state unemployment benefits office. Here’s what to do if you receive a notification:
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It’s a shame that thieves are taking advantage of the pandemic. Countless scams related to vaccines, vaccination cards, economic relief, employment and the COVID virus itself have surfaced.
One scam making the rounds involves a text message informing recipients that their unemployment benefits are expiring. The message includes a link to a fake state workforce agency site that requests personal information. Tap or click here for details on this scheme.
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The COVID-19 pandemic has left a devastating economic impact on working Americans. More than 40 million unemployment claims were filed at its peak, and that’s not even counting gig workers and self-employed people.
If you or someone you know needs to file, there is a way to speed up the process. Tap or click here for an app that can help.
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The COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on the job market, costing more than 40 million Americans their livelihood over the past several weeks. Although mandatory lockdowns and quarantines are now ending, the long-term effects of this economic blow still remain to be seen.
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COVID-19 may decimate the health of at-risk patients, but those of us who aren’t getting sick are still feeling the economic sting of the deadly virus. Since March, more than 30 million jobs have been lost in the U.S., leaving many Americans to rely on unemployment benefits to make ends meet.
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The COVID-19 pandemic has put millions of Americans out of work, with over 30 million unemployment claims submitted since the start of the crisis. As the months drag on, there’s no sign of when the job cuts will stop — or when economic recovery can begin in earnest.
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Jobs are hard to come by right now thanks to a mix of layoffs, furloughs and closings happening across almost all industries. A record number of people — over 22 million in the last month alone — have applied for unemployment benefits thanks to the economic hit we’ve sustained.
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The coronavirus pandemic shocked our once-booming economy. More than 6.6 million layoffs in the past week alone have left Americans uncertain about the future and desperate for financial assistance.
That’s why the CARES Act was signed into law, which provides aid to affected businesses and workers. In addition to expanded unemployment benefits, most Americans will qualify for direct cash from the federal government to ease their hardship, to the tune of $1,200 per person. Tap or click here to see what you qualify for.