How to Protect Yourself: Your Identity Theft Questions, Answered

What is identity theft and how can I protect myself?

Identity theft is when someone uses or attempts to use your personal information without your consent. Common pieces of information that get stolen include names, passwords, addresses, social security numbers, and any account numbers, such as bank, loan, and/or medical accounts. To protect yourself, take careful precautions in your daily life and online to avoid being scammed.

What is a “Phishing Scam”?

A phishing scam is when scammers impersonate legitimate organizations to steal your private information. They often will come as unsolicited phone calls, emails, or text messages. Be wary of emails that say you won giveaways you didn’t sign up for, fake invoices, and requests for updated payment methods.

Pro Tip: Don’t click any links or attachments when you receive any unsolicited email. Review who sent you the email and if this source can be trusted. A quick Google search of the email address can help you figure out if the sender is legitimate.

Can passwords help protect my identity?

Keeping your information protected with passwords is an effective way to stay secure. A unique password, a long combination of letters, numbers, and symbols, provides strong protection for your personal data. Be sure to use passwords on your phones, laptops, tablets, and home Wi-Fi network. The longer the password, the better; however, avoid using your birthday or Social Security number.

How can I monitor my financial information?

Review all bank and credit card statements. Sign up for email or text notifications for your credit card purchases. Reach out to your credit card company immediately if there are any inaccurate changes. Enroll in credit monitoring services, like Experian, TransUnion, or Equifax. These companies will alert you when there are changes to your credit.

Pro Tip: Consider freezing your credit. Freezing your credit prevents lenders from accessing your credit report, which makes it much harder for identity thieves to open new accounts in your name.

What other ways can I protect my personal information?

Some ways you can protect your information:

• Shred documents instead of throwing them in the trash.
• Be cautious when sharing information on social media. Sharing information that may be used in passwords or security questions can pose a risk to your information.
• Keep documents in a safe and secure location.

Pro Tip: If you are going out of town for a while, you can place a hold on your mail at the post office. Leaving your mail out can allow someone to gain access to your personal information.

Protecting your personal information starts with taking small but powerful steps. By adding extra layers of protection, you can greatly reduce your risk of identity theft and keep your digital and financial life safe.

For more information on how to protect yourself from identity theft, check out our Identity Theft factsheet.