The crime of identity theft is rising in popularity. Unfortunately, victims of identity theft are unaware that their identity has been stolen before their good name and good credit has been damaged.

Would you know before it is too late if your identity is stolen? Here is what to check for to stop identity theft in its tracks.

Criminals will often apply for new loans or credit cards under a false name, using a stolen identity. You should contact a lender or creditor if you begin to receive letters of approval or phone calls of acceptance for loans to which you have not applied.

This is one of the first signs that something is wrong and can save you a lot of problems down the road if you investigate soon enough.

If you suddenly stop receiving bills or credit card statements, this is another indicator that you may be the victim of identity theft. Often a criminal assuming another person’s identity will change the address on that person’s bills so they are unaware that someone else is using their credit cards until it is too late.

Know when your monthly bills are supposed to arrive, and if they are late, call your credit card company. Be vigilant about your bills and thwart identity theft before too much damage is done.

If you see charges on your credit card statements that are not from purchases you’ve made, you need to contact your credit card company immediately and report these unauthorized charges.

While this is a very common indicator of identity theft it often goes overlooked if a person doesn’t pay close attention to their bill so always review it as soon as it arrives. Paying close attention to your finances is the best way to stop identity theft before it gets out of hand.