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Identity theft occurs when thieves steal your personal information to open accounts under your name, tap into your credit and bank funds, or even file tax returns. These actions can cause severe damage to your personal identity, requiring years to rectify.
While technology is a valuable ally in detecting and alerting you to potential fraudulent activities, it's ultimately your responsibility to exercise caution in safeguarding your most precious asset - your identity. This article will help to provide guidance and information for you that's easy to understand, so you can make informed decisions about protecting yourself.
What is Identity Theft?
Thieves can use your information to pose as you, opening and accessing your accounts, and using your credit. Your personal information such as your Social Security Number, bank account numbers, driver’s license number, and other pieces of valuable data that are individual to you can be used maliciously when they fall into the hands of others. You may not always be checking up on your accounts, and these criminals are hoping that your neglect will allow them to act without being discovered right away.
Signs of Identity Fraud
Identity criminals want to get their hands on as much of your personal information as possible. While there are many different ways identity criminals can take advantage of your personal information, here are some common signs of identity fraud:
- Bank statement charges-look over your bank statement each month to ensure that all charges are ones that are being made by you. If you have a mobile app or online access, you can regularly look over your activity during the month to be extra diligent. Immediately contact your bank if you find any unfamiliar purchases.
- Credit card charges- just as with your bank statement, you should be diligent in tracking your spending with your credit cards. Be aware of all the transactions that are made—hackers typically try to complete a small purchase to ensure the card is active. If a transaction is suspicious, contact your credit card company immediately, dispute the transactions, and get a new card.
- Declining credit score- if your credit score seems to be taking a negative hit, begin investigating the cause, specifically if you can’t pinpoint a reason off the top of your head. New loans, credit cards, hard credit inquiries, and late payments can all be reasons for a drop in your credit score.
- New lines of credit- taking out a new line of credit such as opening a new credit card or getting a loan is usually an intentional action. If you learn of new accounts that you don’t remember signing up for, identity thieves may have your information and are actively using it. Often thieves will use a different address for these kinds of accounts, so regularly checking on your credit history through annualcreditreport.com can help you stay aware of potential threats.
- Debt collector calls- when you receive phone calls from debt collectors regarding accounts you have never heard of, it’s a good indication your identity has been compromised.
- Being rejected for lines of credit- when you apply for a line of credit you feel you are qualified to receive and are denied, check to see if your credit is being used (and abused) by someone else.
Read more >>> How to Prevent Identity Theft
If you are not vigilant in monitoring your accounts, scammers can easily take advantage of you. Understand the signs to be aware of, click carefully on any email, and don’t give out your personal information. Other ways to protect your personal information online are as follows:
- Secure your online accounts – with many data breaches your online accounts may have been compromised and unintentionally shared with the public. Use https://haveibeenpwned.com/ to see if your phone or email address has been included in a data breach.
- Regularly update your devices – many operating systems are regularly updated with new features, often including patches to prevent hackers from accessing your information. Keeping your devices up to date can be an easy way to keep identity thieves at bay. This also goes for your web browser, apps, and other digital sources.
- Use antivirus software – software downloaded from malicious links, emails, and the like can wreak havoc on your computer. Microsoft users should definitely be diligent in using the built-in software, and Mac users are usually protected if they keep their macOS up to date. When it comes to your phone, only download trusted apps and avoid antivirus apps.
- Be wary of free Wi-Fi – free wireless internet rarely has strong security measures in place, meaning others can easily track and view your activity. Always make sure you are only inputting your personal information when you know you have a secure internet source.
- Enact multi-factor authentication – though multi-factor authentication can seem time consuming, it does in fact, add a layer of protection for your personal information. This requires users to provide two or more levels of verification to access an account. You may need your account information as well as access to your email address or phone for an extra passcode to prove you are who you say you are.
- Freeze your credit
- Regularly check your credit report (which is now offered by many banks)
Identity Theft Protection Apps
Along with common sense, you may want to use apps to help ensure your personal information stays personal and private. Different apps and plans offer different levels of security, some watching out for your financial well-being such as with credit monitoring services, and others protect your digital devices and assist you in restoring your identity when your personal information is taken advantage of and shared.
| App | Cost | Service |
|---|---|---|
| LifeLock | Less than $10/month | LifeLock not only monitors your credit and VantageScore, but also looks for suspicious activity that may also be threats to your identity by sending alerts directly to your phone. |
| DeleteMe | Less than $10/month, but pricing is dependent on number of people and years of protection | This hands-free subscription protects you and your family by deleting names, former and current addresses, email addresses, age, and phone numbers that are being sold online. |
| Bitdefender | Less than $10/month | With the number of data breaches always on the rise, Bitdefender searches both the public web and Dark Web for your personal data that has been leaked to help you take control of your personal online privacy. |
| Aura | Free for 14 days, then pricing starts at $12/mo (billed annually) up to $37/month (billed annually) | Depending on the plan you choose, you receive online and device security with antivirus, VPN, password manager, anti-track and ad block, and email alias; identity theft protection with included online account monitoring, personal info and SSN monitoring, removal of personal info from data brokers, and lost wallet remediation; Financial Fraud protection with credit monitoring, financial monitoring, and annual credit reports; and parental controls that lets you manage your family’s mobile devices, blocks and filters content, and limits screen time. |
| Identity Guard | $5.39-$31.99 depending on your plan | Identity Guard monitors the accounts you are registered for along with your credit for fraudulent activity. If potential fraud is occurring, Identity Guard will notify you via text or email. You will also have access to a recovery specialist to help you take care of identity theft and fraud committed, along with $1,000,000 insurance for stolen funds. |
| Identity Force | $17.95/mo - $23.95/mo, depending on the plan | Both plans include a Smart SSN tracker, alerts on your bank and credit card activity, as well as monitoring the Dark Web for your information and offer up to $1 million in identity theft insurance. |
| IDShield | $14.95/mo - $24.95 depending on plan | IDShield offers both individual and family plans with 1 or 3 credit bureau monitoring. Plans also include identity monitoring (SSN, social media, Dark Web, etc.), financial protection (credit monitoring, credit score tracking, hard inquiry alerts, etc.), cybersecurity and protection of up to 3 devices , and identity restoration with licensed private investigators when fraud does occur. |
Ways You Can Become a Victim of Identity Theft?
The digital nature of society today means that identity fraud is actually a pretty typical and easy crime to commit. As an online consumer, you need to take precautions, just as you would when you are out and about. You wouldn’t leave your wallet or purse on a shelf while you are browsing around a store, and the same goes for when you are online.
Stolen Passwords
Be cyber savvy by creating strong passwords and using a password manager. Password managers allow you to create strong, unique passwords for all your accounts. These programs also store your passwords and help when you need to generate new one. With a variety of free and paid resources available, it’s important to take the time to protect your digital accounts.
When you create a password, use the following tips to help you create a strong and difficult password:
- Create a password with more than 6 characters
- Each account should have its own original password
- Use a combination of uppercase and lowercase words, numbers, and symbols
- Avoid personal information, such as your birthdate or username
- Combine creative words and phrases together, such as using the first letter of each word of your favorite song lyric
- Use two-factor authentication
- Change your password regularly (especially if you’ve been involved in a security breach)
Phishing
Phishing is another way you may also inadvertently hand over your personal information if you receive a phone call, text, or email directly stating that your information is needed for a variety of reasons. This type of phishing attack often looks like a message that comes from a trusted brand, group, or even your banking institution. The communication often seems legitimate with corporate logos. Clicking on links can lead you to malicious sites targeted to stealing your information.
Banks will never send you a text or email telling you to click on a link. These kinds of emails are malicious and are looking to access your accounts. Log on to your banking accounts directly from the website or call your bank to confirm they did or didn’t send the message.
Identity theft services can be a useful tool in helping prevent identity theft, but it is up to you to monitor and check your accounts regularly as small changes may be overlooked.
What do I do if I’m a victim of identity theft?
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has shown that someone in the U.S. becomes a victim of identity theft every 14 seconds, with the older generation disproportionately being impacted. Some apps that are specifically for protecting against identity theft have teams in place to assist you when identity theft does occur. If you become a victim of identity theft you can expect, on average, to spend 100-200 hours over the course of six months to correct the misdoings of fraudulent activity.
When you face identity theft, it’s in your best interest to begin by:
- Reporting the identity theft to the FTC online at identitytheft.org or by calling 7-877-438-4338
- Report the fraud to the major credit bureaus, Experian (1-888-397-3742), Equifax (1-800-525-6285) and TransUnion (1-800-680-7289)
- Contact your local police department
- Notify your bank and credit cards
- Review your credit reports, bank statements, and credit card statements for unauthorized charges
- Change your online passwords
- Freeze your credit (especially if you are not shopping for a loan or credit card) to prevent thieves from opening accounts in your name and ultimately ruining your credit
In today’s digital landscape, data breaches are becoming more common. Continually monitoring and checking your accounts, credit scores, and credit history can help keep you apprised of any suspicious activity. The sooner you notice any questionable charges or notifications, the more easily you can prevent large breaches regarding your identity.