Credit Card Lost or Stolen: How to Protect Yourself from Identity Theft

Nothing induces panic quicker than losing your credit card. Indeed, when a fraudster has your card, the results could be damaging: they don’t just use your credit card to make purchases. With a tiny bit of your personal information, identity criminals can open up new credit accounts and get payday loans in your name, leaving you vulnerable to identity theft.

But don’t panic. If you found your credit card lost or stolen, check out this article to see what you can do to avoid card fraud and identity theft.

Can a lost or stolen credit card lead to identity theft?

Stolen card information on its own constitutes identity theft. But if your card is lost or stolen, you should assume you’re a victim of other types of identity theft as well.

Once a criminal has access to enough of your personally identifiable information (PII), they can do all sort of financial damage, such as:

• Open new banking,  credit, or debit card accounts in your name. Use your good credit history to make fraudulent charges.‍‍
• Take out fraudulent loans in your name.‍
• Sell your financial account information on the dark web.
• Steal your home equity through a fraudulent line of credit (HELOC) or a reverse mortgage scam.
• Create a “synthetic” false identity by combining your card details with other information, like someone else’s SSN.

All these can seriously damage your credit score. Your credit score affects everything from interest rates on credit cards to your ability to apply for mortgages and loans. It takes years to build up a high credit score, but an identity thief can ruin everything.

That’s why it’s important to act quickly to prevent identity theft and minimize your loss. 

How to protect your identity when you lose your credit card

If you want to know quicker about suspicious or fraudulent activities than manually checking your credit card statements, or you don’t havethe time to actively monitor your credit, you can consider using a comprehensive credit monitoring & identity protection service. It can save you the hassle and help you and your family find peace of mind.

Usually, credit & identity protection services offer one-stop prevention, detection and loss reimbursement solution:

• Monitor your credit files, accounts and personal information
  Monitor your credit, personal information, registered accounts and more to detect fraudulent activity.
• Alert you to any suspicious or fraudulent activity in real time
  Receive an email, SMS or notification through mobile app if they detect your SSN, personal info or online accounts have been compromised.
• Help you restore your identity and assets from start to finish
  Experienced US-based identity restoration specialists will assist you in resolving your fraud incident as quickly as possible.
• Up to $1,000,000 identity theft insurance
  You don’t need to worry because you’re backed by an insurance policy of up to $1 million to cover eligible losses and fees due to identity theft.

On top of that, they also provide online & device security tools (antivirus, VPN, password manager, etc.), keeping you away from malware and spoofing websites and letting you surf the Web securely.

We’ve reviewed a lot of identity theft protection services, and IdentityForce, IdentityIQ, Aura and LifeLock are definitely the best ones on the market.

Best Credit & Identity Protection Services

---

Individual: $14.99/month
Family: $20.75/month
30-day free trial

Get Protected

---

Basics: $6.99/month
Secure Plus: $9.99/month
$1,000,000 insurance for 4 plans

Get protected

---

Individual plan: $10/month
Family plan: $29/month
14-day free trial for all plans

Get Protected

---

Standard plan: $8.99/month
3 tiers of protection plans
60-day money-back

Get Protected

How to check for identity theft manually

If you want to manually check to see if someone is using your identity with your credit card information and personal data, here’s how:

1. Get your credit report and collect all your bills

First of all, collect all your bills and bank statements.

Second, visit AnnualCreditReport.com and request a free copy of your credit report from one of the three credit companies: Experian, Equifax, or TransUnion. You can get a free credit report every 12 months if you ask for it.

2. Review your reports, bills and statement and check for ID theft

Review your reports, bills, and credit card statement carefully. Below are some of the warning signs that someone is using your identity:

• You’re alerted to purchases and transactions you didn’t make
• Credit card and loan applications are denied
• You find accounts and inquiries you don’t recognize on your credit report.
• Your credit score changes unexpectedly
• You get calls from debt collectors about accounts you never opened
• You receive mail at your address, but with a different name
• Tax returns are filed under your name but without your knowledge
• You find errors on your Social Security statement
• Mail or email you’re expecting doesn’t show up

Hope you find this post helpful. Stay safe!

By Jocelyn Sun

Meet Jocelyn, a content creator for Super Easy with a unique blend of skills and passions.

With her extensive academic background, Jocelyn has refined her research skills to a fine art. Her ability to dive deep into internet searches and data analysis has transformed her into a seasoned detective of online information. Her present mission? To uncover practical solutions to everyday problems by crafting high-quality articles and how-to guides that make your life better, easier, and more enjoyable.

During her university days, she delved deep into the realms of economics and finance, igniting a fascination that burns brightly even today. In her spare time, she eagerly absorbs the latest developments in these fields. But Jocelyn is not a one-track mind: beneath her academic path lies a passionate science geek, forged through her past experiences competing in biology and chemistry events. Jocelyn's multifaceted background has endowed her with a sharp eye for detail, a logical mindset, and an unwavering commitment to accuracy - traits that equips her to research, analyze, and present information with the utmost clarity.

Beyond her work, Jocelyn dedicates at least 3 hours each week to informative and enlightening podcasts, which keeps her consistently ahead of the curve. She also has a profound passion for DIY projects, crafting beautiful and unique items like miniature houses from scratch. And amid life's ups and downs, Jocelyn always finds solace and delight in the world of music, where she can express herself freely.

View all of Jocelyn Sun's posts.