Identity theft can cause serious financial damage, from draining bank accounts to using insurance information for medical bills. Criminals are clever and will use any means necessary, including stealing sensitive data to steal money or access services under your name without your knowledge. Protect your finances by being vigilant in safeguarding your personal details.
Here are some identity theft safety tips:
1. Monitor your bank and credit card accounts regularly and look for any suspicious activity.
2. Be wary of emails, text messages, or phone calls asking for confidential information such as usernames or passwords – never give out this information.
3. Use strong passphrases instead of passwords, and consider using a password manager.
4. Secure your internet connection by using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) when available.
5. Review your credit report regularly to look for discrepancies or unauthorized activity.
6. When in public areas like an airport or coffee shop, avoid accessing sensitive data on unsecured Wi-Fi networks.
7. Shred all documents that contain personally identifiable information before disposing of them.
8. Limit the amount of personal data you share online, such as avoiding signing up to websites with full names and address details if possible.
9. Use two-factor authentication whenever possible – this adds an extra layer of security to protect your account login credentials, even if they are compromised in some way.
10. Enable fraud alerts on all financial accounts so you can be quickly notified of any suspicious activity related to them.
11. Avoid clicking on suspicious links in emails or text messages, as this could potentially lead to identity theft scams or malware downloads onto your device(s).
12. Be aware of ‘Skimming’ – where criminals use special devices to steal card details at ATMs and point-of-sale terminals when making payments – always cover the pin pad when entering your PIN code at these locations too!