Protect Yourself from Identity Theft
Posted
on Thursday, January 30, 2025
in
Articles
Identity theft is on the rise, making it more important than ever to keep your personal information secure. Protect yourself from fraud by taking a few precautions and knowing the warning signs
Steps to Protect Your Identity:
- Shred documents with sensitive information
- Keep your computer's firewalls, anti-virus and anti-spyware software updated
- Choose unique passwords that are difficult for others to guess
- Don't share personal information like your bank account number or social security number
- Monitor and review your bank account and credit card transactions regularly
- Keep confidential documents, such as your social security card in a safe deposit box or other safe place
- Collect mail from your mailbox daily
- Check your credit annually at www.annualcreditreport.com
Warning Signs That Someone Has Stolen Your Information:
- You see withdrawals from your bank account that you can’t explain.
- You don’t get your bills or other mail.
- Merchants refuse your checks.
- Debt collectors call you about debts that aren’t yours.
- You find unfamiliar accounts or charges on your credit report.
- Medical providers bill you for services you didn’t use.
- Your health plan rejects your legitimate medical claim because the records show you’ve reached your benefits limit.
- A health plan won’t cover you because your medical records show a condition you don’t have.
- The IRS notifies you that more than one tax return was filed in your name, or that you have income from an employer you don’t work for.
- You get notice that your information was compromised by a data breach at a company where you do business or have an account.
If you suspect you are a victim of identity theft, follow these steps:
- Visit IdentityTheft.gov, the federal government's one-stop resource for reporting and recovering from identity theft.
- Contact the three major credit reporting agencies to place fraud alerts and a credit freeze on your accounts.
- Enroll in a credit monitoring service.