Page 5: Articles from Daniel Cohen

When someone uses your identity, it can be hard to know who you need to notify first. Start by filing an identity theft report with the FTC at IdentityTheft.gov, then contact the bank or card issuer involved and one of the three credit bureaus for a fraud alert. Depending on what happened, you may also need to involve the police, SSA, IRS, or FBI.

Identity theft is when someone uses your personal or financial information without your permission. They can use your name, Social Security number, credit card number, bank account information, medical insurance number, or other identifying details to get money, credit, services, medical care, tax refunds, employment, or other benefits. That is the basic identity theft definition most people are aware of.

Identity theft is the kind of situation that feels like a personal, financial, and legal attack – all at once. And it basically is. One day, everything looks normal. The next day, there is a bank charge you didn’t make, a credit card you never opened, a debt collector calling about an account you don’t recognize, or a credit score that suddenly makes no sense.

It might not seem fair, but companies are now able to research your background to determine if you're moonlighting.