As more and more of our lives move online, our personal information may become vulnerable. Identity theft is America’s fastest growing crime. How can you protect yourself and your financial information?
- Safeguard your personal information.
- Be safe on Social Media.
- Be careful when shopping online.
- Use complex passwords.
- Lock down your home computer.
- Protect your smartphone.
- Look out for suspicious activity.
- Watch for signs that someone is misusing your accounts. This can include missing bills, credit cards you weren’t expecting, or even calls about purchases you didn’t make.
- Keep an eye on spending. Look over credit card, bank and billing statements regularly for any suspicious charges.
- Look at your credit report at least once a year. By law, the three major credit-reporting agencies must provide a free credit report every year. Visit AnnualCreditReport.com to request yours.
If the worst-case scenario happens and your identity is stolen:
- File a police report.
- File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
- Visit IdentityTheft.gov to inform the government.
- Call one of the major credit agencies and have them freeze your credit report.
- Close all affected accounts.
- Contact companies to dispute all fraudulent charges.
Identity theft is a serious problem. But you may be able to prevent it from happening to you. Be aware and proactive when it comes to protecting your finances and your identity.
Source: ethics.net
