How To Avoid Identity Theft
To avoid identity theft, you need to protect your personal, financial, and digital information carefully. Here are the top strategies to reduce your risk:
🔐 1. Safeguard Personal Information
- Don’t share your Social Security number (SSN), bank account, or other sensitive info unless absolutely necessary.
- Shred documents containing personal details before disposal.
- Don’t carry your SSN card or unnecessary personal documents with you.
💻 2. Secure Your Digital Life
- Use strong, unique passwords for each account.
- Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) wherever possible.
- Keep your operating system, antivirus, and apps updated.
- Avoid clicking on suspicious links or email attachments (common phishing tactics).
🧾 3. Monitor Financial Activity
- Regularly check your bank and credit card statements for unauthorized transactions.
- Set up transaction alerts with your bank or credit card provider.
- Use credit monitoring services to get notified of unusual activity.
🔍 4. Check Your Credit Reports
- Get a free credit report from each of the three major bureaus (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion) once per year at AnnualCreditReport.com.
- Look for accounts you didn’t open or other inaccuracies.
🏦 5. Freeze Your Credit
- Place a credit freeze to block new credit inquiries unless you lift it.
- It’s free, doesn’t affect your credit score, and can prevent criminals from opening accounts in your name.
📱 6. Be Smart with Devices
- Don’t access financial accounts on public Wi-Fi; use a VPN if needed.
- Lock your phone with a PIN, fingerprint, or facial recognition.
- Avoid storing sensitive info (e.g., passwords, ID scans) in unencrypted apps.
📬 7. Protect Your Mail
- Use a locked mailbox or a PO box.
- Don’t leave mail sitting out; retrieve it promptly.
- Opt for paperless billing and statements where possible.
👤 8. Be Aware of Phishing & Scams
- Watch out for urgent messages claiming to be from banks, the IRS, or tech support.
- Never provide personal info over the phone unless you initiated the contact.
📞 9. Limit What You Share Online
- Don’t overshare on social media—birthdays, hometowns, and family names can be used to answer security questions or guess passwords.
🆘 10. Know What to Do If You’re a Victim
- File a report at IdentityTheft.gov.
- Notify your bank, credit card companies, and the credit bureaus.
- Keep records of all correspondence and reports.