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.

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Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson walks you through five simple ways to help defend yourself against AI scams, fraud, identity theft and financial hacks.

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Get the free replay and checklist now at CyberGuyLive.com 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.