Identity Fraud Examples: What Theft Looks Like

Real identity fraud examples, from mystery credit cards to a job in your name, and the warning signs each one leaves behind.

Identity fraud is hard to picture until it happens to you. The FTC says identity theft is when someone uses your personal information without your knowledge or permission to commit fraud or theft. That definition covers a lot of ground. Here are identity fraud examples. Each one leaves signs in your mail, your statements and your credit report.

A credit card account opened in your name

The first example is quiet. You get a bill for a card you never applied for. The FTC says an identity thief may use your personal information to open a credit card account in your name. The thief spends, the bills go unpaid, and your name is on the account.

The signs show up in your own mailbox and credit report. USAGov lists bills for items you did not buy as a warning sign. It also lists debt collection calls for accounts you did not open. And it lists accounts on your credit report that you did not open. Any one of those can be the first clue.

The FTC says identity theft can damage your credit with unpaid bills and past due accounts. So a card you never knew about can drag down your credit file.

Your bank account drained or credit cards run up

The second example is faster. The FTC says identity thieves can use your information to drain your bank account or run up charges on your credit cards. Here the thief does not open anything new. They use what you already have.

The signs sit in your monthly statements. TransUnion says to monitor your credit card or other account statements for purchases you didn't make. A charge you do not recognize is worth a closer look, not a shrug.

Someone using your information to get a job

The third example often arrives as a tax problem. The IRS says identity thieves can use your information to apply for a job.

The IRS says this kind of theft, called employment identity theft, can affect your taxes, Social Security benefits, and work history. The IRS says to contact the Social Security Administration if you got a Form W-2 or Form 1099 from an employer you do not know. Also contact them if your Social Security income is more than you earned or expected.

The fourth example is the slowest of all. The FTC says a thief might use a child's Social Security number, name and address, or date of birth. TransUnion says identity theft can also happen to children and can go undetected for years.

Here is why it hides so well. The FTC says that generally a child under 18 won't have a credit report. A thief who opens accounts with a child's number can use them for years before anyone checks.

TransUnion says a child may have a credit report if you added them to one of your credit accounts. But a child having a credit report without being an authorized user may be a sign of fraud. That is the fingerprint to look for. Our page on minor identity theft goes deeper on this.

The IRS says to check if you should file Form 14039, Identity Theft Affidavit, if someone stole your dependent's identity.

When the stolen identity belongs to someone who died

The fifth example follows a death in the family.

The IRS guide covers what to do after a death in the family. The IRS says to send credit bureaus a copy of the death certificate if someone stole a dead person's identity. It also says to keep too much detail out of an obituary. Identity thieves could use it.

How thieves get the information in the first place

Each example starts with stolen information. USAGov says identity theft is when someone uses your personal or financial information without your OK. It also says scammers can steal your identity in person, online, through social media, and by phone.

The methods are simple. USAGov says a thief may take your wallet or purse and use the ID, credit, or bank cards inside. They may dig through what you throw away looking for bank statements or tax documents. They may attach skimmers to ATM machines, cash registers, and fuel pumps. These steal data from your bank card. They may get personal information from your phone when you use public Wi-Fi.

Some methods come to you. USAGov says scammers may use phishing. That means fake email, texts, or phone calls that ask for your information. They may look through your social media posts and photos for details about you. They may ask you for personal information in online quizzes and surveys.

The warning signs that tie these examples together

USAGov says you may not know right away that you experienced identity theft. That is what makes these examples worth learning. The signs are small and they arrive in pieces.

Watch for bills for items you did not buy. Watch for debt collection calls about accounts you did not open. Watch for accounts on your credit report that you do not recognize. USAGov lists all three as warning signs. It also lists mail that stops coming or goes missing.

TransUnion says to review your credit report for signs of suspicious activity, like accounts opened that you don't recognize. The FTC says mistakes on your credit report might be a sign of identity theft. A wrong account is not always a clerical error. It can be a thief's work.

What to do next

If you see yourself in one of these examples, start by looking closer. Our guide on how check for identity theft walks through that step. Then see what to do if identity theft.

A few habits cut the risk of joining these examples. USAGov says do not answer phone calls, texts, social media messages, or email from numbers or people you do not know. Never hand out personal details. Your bank account number, Social Security number, and date of birth belong to you alone. Store them somewhere secure, and leave your Social Security card out of your wallet. The FTC says to always delete personal information before you toss a computer or a cell phone.