Identity theft crimes are on the rise, which means more Americans are seeing their personal information being used for financial and personal gain without knowing it. With access to personal information, identity thieves can drain bank account funds, open new credit lines, get insurance for medical treatments, use the stolen identity if they are in trouble with the law, and more.
There are also several things you can do to PREVENT your identity from being stolen and used.
Tips to Protect Yourself from Identity Theft
- Protect your social security number: Make sure you know who is requesting your social security number. When asked for your social security number, always ask why they need it and if there is another form of identification you can provide. Also, ask how it will be protected. Keep your social security card at home and take the time to memorize the number. Shred documents that have your social security number on them before discarding.
- Beware of scammers: As the saying goes, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Scam calls and emails may appear to come from legitimate government agencies or businesses. Always check the sender’s email address and phone number, confirming that it matches that of the business’s official website, before giving any information.
- Use strong passwords: Make sure your password is unique, complex, and never the same as another password. Most sites have the option for second authentication, like sending a text to your mobile phone or email.
- Set up account-alerts: Sign up for text or email messages from your financial institution that inform you when your credit or debit cards have been used, or when a withdrawal or deposit has been made.
- Watch your mailbox: If you are going out of town, have a neighbor or someone close by collect your mail for you, so it cannot be stolen.
- Protect your mobile devices: Use passwords on all of your devices, in case they are ever stolen.
- Monitor financial statements: Make sure you recognize every transaction on your statements, and call to investigate if something does not look right.
