Social Security is promoting identity theft prevention and if you happen to become a victim, what do you do in that circumstance?

If you are a victim of identity theft you may never know how it happened if they didn’t contact you directly. Jack Myers with Social Security explains if they contacted you directly and stole your money, the impact is immediately clear. You may notice they bought items with your credit cards or bank accounts or even obtained new credit in your name.

How do you spot ID theft? Myers encourages keeping track of your mail for missing bills or other documents and review credit card and bank statements for unauthorized transactions. 

No plan is 100% foolproof, but there are steps you can take to minimize the risk of becoming a victim of identity theft. Myers recommends protecting documents that contain personal info and ask questions before giving out your SSN.

You should report fraud to the company where it occurred, and be wary of calls or text messages that come from them. If possible initiate all contact yourself.

You can contact a credit bureau to place a fraud alert on your credit report. Additionally, file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at www.identitytheft.gov orile a police report. 

For more info visit the Social Security website at www.ssa.gov and look for the publication: Identity Theft and Your Social Security Number.