What should individuals look for to detect if theft/fraud has occurred?

Individuals should pay attention to mail or bills that do not arrive as expected as a significant indicator of potential theft or fraud. Regularly receiving financial statements, bills, or other correspondence allows individuals to monitor their accounts and activities. When these items are missing or delayed, it may signify that someone is tampering with personal information or accounts, possibly redirecting correspondence to conceal fraudulent activities.

This situation may involve identity theft, where a fraudster opens accounts using the victim's personal information and then receives the statements instead of the rightful owner. Therefore, missing mail is a critical red flag that should prompt immediate action to investigate and report any suspicious activity.

While unexpected phone calls from friends might cause concern, they are less directly related to financial security than missing billing statements. Frequent advertisements in email might suggest targeted marketing rather than an indication of fraud. Discrepancies in bank interest rates could signal issues with a financial institution but are not as immediate an indicator of theft or fraud as the non-arrival of expected billing information.