Question

You have recently been hired as a journalist for the financial section of the town newspaper. Your first task is to write a column about recognizing identity theft. What type of things would you suggest a person look for when identifying whether or not identity has been stolen?

A.
1. Misspelled words on your credit report
2. Interest rate hikes on cards you've had for a long time
3. Denial of credit for no reason
4. Failure to receive a bill two months in a row

B.
1. Bills or financial statements failing to arrive
2. Receiving credit cards you didn't apply for
3. Denial of credit for no reason
4. Receiving calls from debt collectors or companies about merchandise or service you didn't buy.

C.
1. Fewer credit offers being received in the mail
2. Receiving activated credit cards in the mail that you did not request
3. The wrong address listed on your credit report

D.
1. Multiple inquiries by long-term creditors on your credit report
2. Credit offers sent in the mail
3. Increases on current lines of credit for no apparent reason

Answer 1

Answer: B.

Why: Option B lists the clearest, most common red flags of identity theft — missing bills (which can mean a thief changed your mailing address), credit cards you didn’t apply for, unexplained denials of credit, and calls from collectors about purchases you didn’t make. Those are concrete, actionable signs that someone is using your identity.

Additional signs to watch for (good to include in your column)
- New accounts, loans, or charges on your credit report you don’t recognize.
- Mail or electronic account notifications you didn’t receive (or sudden change of mailing address).
- Unfamiliar inquiries on your credit report from creditors you didn’t contact.
- Unexpected changes to account passwords or security questions.
- Tax-return rejections because one was already filed in your name.
- Unexplained withdrawals or charges on bank statements.
- Wrong address, misspelled name, or unfamiliar accounts listed on your credit reports.

What to do if you suspect identity theft (brief)
1. Pull your credit reports (annualcreditreport.com in the U.S.) and review for unfamiliar activity.
2. Place a fraud alert or credit freeze with the major credit bureaus.
3. Contact the companies where fraud occurred to close or freeze accounts and dispute charges.
4. File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at identitytheft.gov (or your country’s equivalent) and get a recovery plan.
5. File a police report if needed and keep records of all communications.

These points will give readers practical signs to watch for and immediate next steps.