Identity theft rarely announces itself: 6 signs you missed

By the time a debt collector calls or a lender rejects your loan, an identity thief may have been using your information for months. The warning signs often arrive much earlier.

They may show up as a small card charge, a strange IRS letter, a missing bill or an Explanation of Benefits for care you never received. Each one can look like routine mail or another account notice.

That is exactly what identity thieves count on. Here are 6 quiet signs of identity theft to check before the damage spreads.