 TITLE: How to Check for Identity Theft CONTENT: How Do I Know if My Identity Has Been Stolen?\n---------------------------------------------\nYour credit report is a reflection of the credit accounts that have been opened in your name—credit cards, student loans, mortgages, auto loans, you name it. If a fraudster opens a new account using your personal information, it will pop up on your credit report (typically within a month or two). That's why monitoring your credit report is an easy and effective way to uncover identity theft in its early stages. An unfamiliar new account, as well as errors in your personal information such as your Social Security number, could indicate potential identity theft.\nOther things that could be warning signs that your identity has been stolen include:\n*   Statements or bills for accounts you never opened arriving in the mail\n*   Statements or bills for legitimate accounts not showing up\n*   You're unexpectedly denied credit\n*   Unauthorized bank transactions or withdrawals\n*   Notification that a tax return has been filed on your behalf without your knowledge\n*   Unauthorized authentication messages for accounts you don't recognize END