How do you know if someone is using your credit?

Okay, so you’re worried someone might be using your credit card, huh? It’s a seriously unsettling feeling, I know. I mean, who hasn’t felt that little jolt of panic when they can’t find their wallet? Anyway, let’s talk about how to tell if something fishy is going on. Basically, you gotta be a bit of a detective, right?

Here’s the lowdown on sniffing out credit card fraud:

• Dive into those Statements! Seriously, look at your credit card statements. I know, it’s a pain, but unauthorized purchases will jump out at you, hopefully! Maybe you’ll see a charge from “Acme Widget Co.” and you’re like, “Wait, what’s Acme Widget Co.?” That’s a HUGE red flag. I remember one time, I saw a charge for something I knew I didn’t buy – a subscription to some gaming service. That was my first clue!

• Keep an Eye on Your Credit Report: Your credit report is like a financial report card, you know? It lists all your credit accounts, payment history…basically everything. If a sneaky someone opens a new account in your name, it WILL show up there. And that’s something you definitely need to catch ASAP, right? You can get your credit report for free from places like AnnualCreditReport.com. I try to check mine at least once a year, just to be safe. It’s a small thing that can give you major peace of mind.