9 warning signs of identity theft you should never ignore

Identity theft can start quietly.You may not see a drained bank account or a maxed-out credit card.

The first warning could be a strange letter in the mail, an unfamiliar inquiry on your credit report or a password-reset alert you never requested.Those little clues are easy to brush off, but catching them early can give you more time to protect your money, credit and accounts.One unusual message does not automatically mean someone has stolen your identity, so do not panic.

Instead, verify what happened and pay attention to anything else that looks out of place.Here are nine identity theft warning signs you should never ignore.Missed CyberGuy LIVE? Watch the Protect Your Money replayOur free CyberGuy LIVE class, Protect Your Money From Today’s Biggest Threats , has ended, but you can still watch the full replay and download our financial protection checklist.Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson walks you through five simple ways to help defend yourself against AI scams, fraud, identity theft and financial hacks.

You’ll learn how to set up bank alerts, strengthen your account logins, protect your phone number, freeze your credit and help secure your retirement savings against unauthorized transfers.No technical experience is needed.Get the free replay and checklist now at CyberGuyLive.comCYBERCRIME LOSSES NEAR $21B: 5 WAYS TO PROTECT YOUR MONEYIdentity theft can begin with subtle warning signs, including unfamiliar credit inquiries, password-reset alerts, strange bills or unexpected account changes.

(Ute Grabowsky/Photothek via Getty Images)A company may contact you after discovering that customer information was exposed.The notice could come from a bank, retailer, employer, healthcare provider, insurer, school or another organization.Read it carefully.

Find out what information may have been involved, when the incident occurred and whether the company is offering steps such as password changes or credit monitoring.Save the notice with your other records.A breach notice...