5 signs to identify if you are a victim of identity theft

Everyone is currently exposed to cyber attacks such as identity theft, so it is important to know how to identify when it has been breached in order to put an end to the attacker and he stops taking advantage of it.

After the health crisis, children, adolescents and adults spend more time online and experts from ESET predict that by the end of 2022 people will spend more than eight hours a day in the digital world.

During the time spent online, personal data, login credentials are shared with companies such as Meta, Amazon, Mercado Libre, Netflix, HBO, Uber and more that collect information for its optimal functioning, however, cybercriminals see this as a window of opportunity and will do everything to steal the data to companies or directly to users.

According to the cybersecurity organization, by the third quarter of 2021, almost 1,300 such violations had already been reported; more than in all of 2020. As a result, hundreds of millions of victims were declared at risk of identity theft. This is why it is important to know when you are becoming a victim of identity theft and thus minimize the impact.

1.- Unusual activity on your account/card movements: You should be aware of money movements and registrations, even if they are minimal, as fraudsters often verify the validity of stolen cards with purchases that seem harmless before increasing their activity. If something doesn't look right, the card and/or account can be frozen. This can often be done through your mobile banking app. Then, immediately contact the banking provider.

2.- Online/phone accounts stop working: If attackers obtain login credentials, the first thing they will do is change the password to block access. Alternatively, if they have managed to deceive the mobile operator, they will cause them to transfer the number to a device under their control. This is known as SIM swapping and is particularly dangerous, as it means that they will be able to intercept any single-use SMS passcodes that banks often use to validate identity.

3.- Having trouble filing taxes: Another common strategy is to use the victim's Social Security numbers and other personal data to file personal taxes, posing as the victim. This way, the attacker can fraudulently claim any tax refund due.

4.- Problems with medical bills or claims: If you receive a medical bill for services you never received, or you try to file a claim, but are rejected because you have already reached the pre-assigned limit by your provider, you may have been a victim of identity theft. Such scams can be highly profitable, especially in countries with private health systems.

5.- Call from debt collectors: If someone who stole your identity generated a huge bill on your credit card or a debt similar to your name that later disappeared, it is only a matter of time before the lender asks a collection agency to investigate.

To maintain security, consider enabling two-step authentication for all accounts, using long and unique strong passwords, having an updated antivirus, regularly enabling automatic updates, avoiding installing unofficial applications, logging on to public WiFi networks or visiting pages that don't start with HTTPS.

KEEP READING