Identity theft is no longer limited to criminals opening new credit accounts in someone else’s name; it increasingly includes taking over existing bank, email or phone accounts, exploiting breached data and using personalised scams. The article argues that protection services should offer more than credit alerts, providing clear guidance and recovery help when fraud occurs.

It advises consumers to consider what a service actually monitors, including bank cards, investments, retirement accounts, SIM swaps, data breaches and suspicious personal-data exposure. Warning signs can include unexpected password-reset requests, loss of phone service, unfamiliar small charges, altered account details or unrecognised devices and transactions; coverage should match the accounts and risks a person actually has.