With identity theft running rampant, it’s important to be on your toes when it comes to your credit. You need to be aware of what lines of credit are being opened in your name, including credit cards. Finding out if and when a person has opened a line of credit in your name can be tough. Not all creditors report to credit bureaus on the same timeline. Eventually, most credit in your name will show up on your credit report.

The best option is to monitor your credit often to see what shows up about you. Also, if you get something in the mail for a credit card that you know you don’t have, that’s a clear sign of fraudulence.

What to do if you’re a victim of credit card fraud?

If you’re a victim of credit card fraud, contact the three credit bureaus and place a fraud alert. You can even request that your credit be frozen entirely. The next step is to file a police report because this is an illegal activity. Next, contact the creditor and tell them what has happened and that you did not authorize that account. Dispute the balances that show up on your credit report too.