What Is Credit Card Fraud?
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Beware of These 7 Signs of Identity Theft
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Last Updated: November 11, 2025
Key Takeaways
- Regularly reviewing your credit card statements and credit report can help catch signs of identity theft.
- If you see unusual credit card charges—even just a few cents—your personal information could be at risk.
- Review and remember common warning signs, like a missing credit card statement, to protect your identity.
If you don’t think that monitoring your credit or bank accounts for signs of identity theft is a priority, you might want to think again. Anybody could be vulnerable to identity theft and fraud.
To protect your personal information as much as possible, it can help to know how to check for identity theft. Quickly spotting fraudulent activity on your credit report and credit cards may help you keep fraudsters from spending your money.
Consider these seven warning signs that could hint at potential identity theft.
1. Unexplained transactions on your credit and bank accounts
An obvious giveaway that someone has obtained your credit card information or access to your bank account is a list of charges you don’t remember making. If you don’t check your statements regularly, this suspicious activity could be easy to overlook.
A common practice among identity thieves is to make one or two small charges on a credit card. If these go unnoticed, they may get bolder and start making larger charges. The damage can be severe by the time you catch on.
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2. Your credit card is declined
Having your credit card declined unexpectedly can be a shock, especially if you’ve always had good credit. Unfortunately, it’s another one of the signs of identity theft you need to watch out for.
A declined card could mean that an identity thief has maxed out your credit limit. It could also mean that they’ve opened fraudulent accounts in your name. This could cause your credit score to drop.
3. You’re flooded with calls or notices from debt collectors
Being hounded by debt collectors is annoying, especially when it’s connected to a bill you’re sure you don’t owe.
If debt collectors are calling you day and night or sending letters to your home, don’t ignore them. They could be a sign that an identity thief has racked up credit card bills in your name. It’s also possible that thieves have taken out a loan using your personal information.
4. You’re denied new credit
In some cases, you may not see a warning sign of identity theft until you try to apply for a new credit card or loan. If you get denied for a reason that seems totally out of character, check your credit report for signs of identity fraud.
For example, you’re denied because of multiple derogatory items on your credit report when you always pay your bills on time. This could suggest that someone has been using your information without your knowledge.
5. There’s new information on your credit report that you don’t recognize
Checking your credit report periodically can go a long way toward heading off identity theft.
If you see an inquiry for a credit card or loan that you don’t remember applying for, or unfamiliar accounts listed, those are tip-offs that your information may have been stolen.
6. You get a credit card in the mail you didn’t apply for
Credit card companies don’t usually send credit cards to your home unless you've opened a new account or one of your existing cards is about to expire. If a new card shows up in your mailbox unexpectedly, don't write it off as a mistake and toss it in the trash.
Call the credit card company ASAP to find out why the card has been issued. It may be a fraudulent account that could tip you off to possible criminal identity theft.
7. Bank account or credit card statements go missing from your mail
If you still get paper statements for your bank or credit card accounts, make sure they're showing up each month.
If you notice that your statement seems to have pulled a vanishing act, call the bank or credit card company to verify that it mailed. Then, double-check the mailing address on file to make sure an identity thief isn't having the statements rerouted.
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The bottom line
Identity theft can happen to anyone. But, with some common sense, you may be able to enjoy some added peace of mind.
Strong passwords on your accounts, not giving out personal info when you don’t have to, and monitoring your statement for fraudulent activity go a long way toward keeping fraudsters out of your accounts. Setting up a fraud alert on your accounts is a great idea, too.
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