Consistently monitor both your financial and public record information and look for:
- Unfamiliar criminal records, court records, address information or bankruptcies
- Unexplained charges or withdrawals
- Failing to receive bills or other mail. This may signal an address change by the identity thief
- Being served court papers or arrest warrants for actions you did not commit
- Receiving credit cards for which you did not apply
- Being denied credit for no apparent reason
- Receiving calls or letters from debt collectors or businesses about merchandise or services you did not buy
Although any of these indications could be a result of a simple clerical error, you should not assume that there's been a mistake and do nothing. Always follow up with the business or institution.