How do you react when someone mispronounces your name or calls you by another name? It’s so annoying, right? What happens if someone takes out a loan from the bank using your name? However, have you exhausted your credit limit that you have no idea about? It’s scary, isn’t it?

Identity theft is the most common cyber threat and it is growing enormously. According to the 2017 Identity Fraud Study, a record 15.4 million Americans were victims of identity theft; an increase of more than 2 million victims over the previous year.

So what exactly is identity theft?

It is illegally obtaining personal information from someone that defines your identity, such as address, social security number, date of birth, Aadhar number, credit card number, bank details, etc. Now a cybercriminal can manipulate and misuse information in any way they want.

How do you know when you have been a victim?

The biggest concern about identity threats is that people often realize it much later. If you think your identity has been stolen, instead of sitting there bewildered, you need to be proactive in understanding the warning signs and avoiding serious financial or reputational damage.

Here are some signs that your identity has been stolen:

1. Error in bank or credit card statements:

Don’t ignore any unauthorized transaction, no matter how small the amount. This can be a clue before making a transaction of a large amount of money. The hack aims to test the account if a charge will be made. All major banks allow their clients to instantly track their spending online or via a dedicated smartphone app. Therefore, any suspicious activity on your account should not be neglected anyway. Don’t expect a monthly statement, but regularly check your credit reports and all your financial accounts to recognize fraud as quickly as possible.

2. Not receiving invoices and emails:

Follow up with your creditors if your bills don’t arrive on time. “Identity thieves will steal victims’ mail and, in some cases, change their postal address through the post office to a fraudulent address they have set up,” says security consultant Robert Siciliano. This could be an indication that an identity thief has meddled.

3. Receive invoices for purchases you did not make:

Thieves can buy goods or use services in your name and exhaust your credit limit. If you start receiving late payment notices or bills that you have no idea about, your identity may have been stolen for financial gain. Pay attention to your incoming and outgoing invoices and statements both in your inbox and in your mailbox. If this happens, you should inform your creditor that you have been the victim of identity theft and it is not your debt. Also, file a police report to avoid further accusations.

4. Rejected tax return:

If this happens, you have more reason to worry. An identity thief could have filed a tax return in your name to walk away with a fraudulent return. While filing your tax return, if you receive a notice that a return has already been filed with your social security number or your return is rejected even when there is no typographical error and your social security number is absolutely correct, then there is a high probability that your identity has been compromised.

5. Data security issue reported by your employer:

It’s not a big deal for hackers to find out about your current or former employer, thanks to social media. If someone gets your social security number and the name of your current employer, then it won’t be very difficult for them to collect unemployment benefits on your behalf. In that case, they may inform someone from human resources.

6. Receive a two-factor authentication alert:

We often set two-factor authentication alerts for our individual account. If you get text messages with a six-digit pin to sign in and take advantage of a service or membership you don’t recognize, be careful! Log out of that account and change the password immediately. Change all passwords that may be linked to that email on other sites.

7. Increase in a credit score:

A rising credit score can also be a red flag for identity theft. “Check your credit reports frequently for accounts you didn’t open and serious inquiries that could suggest that scammers are trying to extend credit on your behalf,” advised Ralph Rodriguez, Chief Technology Officer at Confirm.io. You may receive telephone requests for expensive items due to high cost activity on your account.

Most cyber attacks aim to steal financial data and email credentials. But the hijacking of social media accounts is just as terrifying. The circulation of private photos and videos on the Internet is a source of public embarrassment.

If you become a victim of this identity theft, take immediate action:

• Find out the source of the theft. Try to remember your online activities that could have caused the theft; Any strange attachments that you opened, downloaded suspicious software / application, registered with an e-commerce site, used your credit card to sign up for a new website, etc.

• Change password immediately

• Contact one of the credit reporting agencies’ fraud alert departments and place a fraud alert on your credit report.

• Inform your lenders, banks, and insurance companies by explaining the situation.

• Inform the police. This is proof of the crime. Credit reporting agencies would investigate further based on this report.

• Check if your computer has been affected by the virus. If your identity has been compromised through viruses or malware, it may still be hiding on your computer and attacking again. Run an up-to-date antivirus program or seek advice from cyber security experts.

These are the dangers of living in a digitally connected world. All we have to do is keep our senses open and act proactively to fight all these threats.