How to check if someone is using my identity
Consider this—
The Bureau of Justice Statistics estimates that 26 million Americans have their identity stolen each year.
And it gets even worse.
The BJS reports further that one in every five adult Americans has had their identity stolen at least once in their lifetime.
This could happen to you.
This article will show you how to check if someone is using your identity.
But that’s not all.
We’ll also tell you how to protect yourself from identity theft.
Let’s take a closer look.
Updated: July 21, 2025
How to check if your identity has been stolen
There are several ways you can check if someone is using your identity.
The good news?
All of them are free.
The drawback is that it’ll require some effort on your part.
But security is worth going that extra mile.
How to check if your identity has been stolen. In short:
- Keep an eye on your bank and credit card transactions.
- Check the status of your credit accounts.
- Look for any unusual activity in your Social Security account.
- Review how your health insurance benefits are being used.
- Stay vigilant for unexpected items in your mail.
- Monitor your email for any unfamiliar activity.
- Scan your social media for strange logins and unknown devices.
If you suspect identity fraud, file an official identity theft report with the Federal Trade Commission.
Scroll down for a detailed description.
1. Look at the transaction history on your credit and bank accounts
Unauthorized use of credit card accounts accounts for 31% of identity theft cases.
The use of bank accounts comes second, with a 24% share.
It’s worth looking at your transaction history and bank account statements.
Look for any suspicious activity or transactions that you can’t account for, such as payments or withdrawals.
Signs of identity theft on your credit and bank statements:
- Money transfers to unknown recipients
- Withdrawals at times and locations you don’t recall
- Unsolicited payments
- Small charges (these are a warning sign—fraudsters use them to test the waters)
- Subscriptions you didn’t purchase.
These are just a few of the most common signs, but don’t limit yourself to them.
Look for any suspicious activity and contact your bank or credit company immediately after you spot anything.
If you suspect identity theft, report it to the Federal Trade Commission.
2. Check if there are no new credit accounts opened in your name
Besides gaining access to your existing accounts, identity thieves can also open new ones in your name.
In fact, the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) reports that newly opened accounts are the most costly type of identity crime, reaching an average of $3,400 per victim.
What’s worse, identity thieves can open a credit account in your name without you even realizing it.
However, there is a quick way to review your credit accounts.
Visit AnnualCreditReport.com and obtain complete credit reports from the three major credit bureaus, including a list of all credit accounts opened in your name.
You can request one free credit report each year.
Examine your credit report for:
- New accounts opened in your name
- Changes in your credit score
- Unfamiliar credit inquiries
- Any other unsolicited credit activity.
If there is any dubious activity in your credit report, contact the credit company.
If you suspect identity theft, report it to the Federal Trade Commission.
3. Look at your Social Security account for unusual activity
Not all identity theft scams involve stealing your money.
Take your Social Security number, for example.
Identity thieves can use it to illegally obtain employment contracts or collect benefits.
If that happens, you may end up paying taxes on someone else’s earnings.
However, you can monitor your Social Security statements to keep an eye on things.
Visit the Social Security Administration website and open an account to verify your statements.
Potential signs of identity theft:
- Unrequested social benefits
- Income sources that are not yours.
Additionally, you can review your tax records with the IRS to double-check if no one is using your credentials to fake employment.
If you suspect identity theft, report it to the Federal Trade Commission.
4. Check if your health insurance benefits have been used up
Identity thieves may also steal your credentials to use for medical care.
Unfortunately, medical identity theft is on the upswing.
Review your health insurance benefit statements for any unsolicited activity to ensure everything is in order.
Cast an eye over:
- Your Explanation of Benefits (EOB)
- Your Medicare Summary Notice
- Other medical bills.
When you notice something unusual—like bills for treatments you never received—clarify it with the medical provider.
If you suspect identity theft, immediately report it to the Federal Trade Commission.
5. Examine mail for unsolicited services, accounts, or benefits
Closely examining your mail should become part of your routine.
That’s because most activity concerning your financial, medical, or governmental accounts is confirmed via old-school mail.
If someone is tampering with your identity, it should show in the letters you receive.
Besides, identity theft comes in many forms.
Apart from targeting your money, Social Security number, or health benefits, identity thieves can also exploit other data.
Your address can be used for fraudulent residency claims, employment or tax fraud, and even to evade authorities.
Monitor your mail for these warning signs:
- Suspicious activity on your existing accounts (credit, bank, medical, etc.)
- Letters confirming the opening of new accounts
- Letters bearing your address but someone else’s name.
If anything catches your attention, contact the institutions involved and report potential identity theft.
If you suspect identity theft, immediately report it to the Federal Trade Commission.
Check your email inbox for suspicious-looking updates.
Nearly all online activity triggers a confirmation email. While this can be a bit frustrating when you’re trying to keep your inbox clean, it can also help you spot an identity theft attempt.
To spot identity theft, keep an eye out for:
- Unprompted password-change requests
- Unsolicited activity regarding your accounts, such as medical, credit, or bank accounts
- Confirmations of new account openings
- Unrecognized purchase confirmations
- Requests for governmental services you did not make.
A general rule of thumb here is to look for any emails referring to actions taken in your name.
If you spot anything suspicious going on in your online accounts, change your passwords and set two-factor verification immediately.
If you suspect identity theft, report it to the Federal Trade Commission.
Unauthorized use of social media or email accounts may cost you more than credit card fraud.
According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), Americans had to pay an average of nearly $3,000 out of their own pockets for identity theft involving their social media accounts.
For comparison, credit fraud cost an average of $620.
Thieves can use your accounts to place advertisements, spread malicious content, sign up for services, and more.
Fortunately, most platforms offer options to monitor login attempts and devices connected to your account.
Check your Facebook, Instagram, and other social media accounts for:
- Recurring login attempts from locations you don’t recognize
- Logged-in devices that you can’t account for
- Ads running in your name
- Spam messages sent from your account to others.
And if you see anything out of the ordinary—change your password immediately.
If you suspect identity theft, report it to the Federal Trade Commission.
Take active actions to prevent identity theft
There are plenty of identity theft protection services available.
But there’s a catch—
Most of these services primarily monitor the web for suspicious activity involving your personal data.
That means it’s often too late to take action by the time you get notified.
Instead, prevent identity theft from happening in the first place.
Stop identity thieves from finding your personal information
For an identity theft to occur, someone has to access your personal information first.
The bad news is that your data is widely accessible on the web.
And it gets worse—
Hundreds of data brokers also trade your personal information.
This includes your name, surname, address, employment history, the value of your house, details about your partner and kids, medical history, and much more.
That makes identity theft as easy as pie.
Unless you—
You can combine an identity theft protection service with a data removal tool.
The former will inform you once your data has been misused, the latter will make it harder to target you in the first place.
FAQ
How do you check if your identity has been used?
• Monitor bank and credit transactions
• Verify your credit accounts
• Check your Social Security account for anomalies
• Review health insurance benefits usage
• Monitor mail for unexpected items
• Watch for unfamiliar activity in your email
• Inspect social media for unusual logins and devices.
How do I know if my ID is being used by someone else?
An identity thief can use your ID to open new credit accounts, obtain government documents, and more. One way to verify that no one is misusing your ID is to check your credit report for any unusual activity. If someone has used your ID, it may show up there.
How do I know if my identity is being used without my knowledge?
To verify that no one is using your identity, you can check the following:
• Credit report for new accounts
• Bank and credit card transactions
• Social Security account for used benefits or registered income
• Social media accounts for unusual logins or logged devices.
If someone has used your identity, you’ll likely find traces there.
You can also look out for these warning signs:
• Increased spam calls
• Suspicious mail (e.g., addressed to someone else)
• Unsolicited password change requests.
How do you know if someone is using your identity to work?
Here’s how you can determine if someone is using your identity for employment:
• Check your Social Security account for any income sources you don’t recognize.
• Review your tax records with the IRS.
If you find indications that someone has used your identity for employment fraud, report identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission.
