Identity theft

Identity theft is when someone uses your personal details, such as name, date of birth, address and ID number, to pretend to be you, usually for money. They might open credit cards, loans or phone contracts in your name, file a tax return to steal your refund, claim benefits, or get medical care billed to you. Warning signs include bills for accounts you did not open, debt collector calls, rejected applications and missing mail. If it happens, contact the fraud teams of affected companies, freeze your credit, change key passwords, and file an official report, such as at IdentityTheft.gov in the US or cybercrime.gov.in in India. Keep notes of every call and letter.