7 Ways to Protect Your Personal Information from Identity Theft

How do you know you’re a victim of ID Theft?

Some key signs may include receiving invoices for unknown purchase, unauthorized withdrawals from your account, or a change of address you didn’t request. Identity Theft can make it hard for you to get credit, a job, or a loan, so be vigilant and protect your personal information.

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7 Ways to Protect Your Personal Information

  Keep your financial records, Social Security, and Medicare cards in a safe place.

  Shred papers that include your personal or medical information.

  Take mail out of your mailbox as soon as you can.

  Only give your Social Security number if you must. Ask if you can use another kind of identification.

  Don’t give your personal information to someone who calls or emails you.

  Use passwords that are not easy to guess. Use a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols.

  Don’t put personal information on a computer in a public place, like the library.

If You Are a Victim of Identity Theft:

• Call the company where the fraud occurred.
• Place a free fraud alert by contacting one of the three credit bureaus. They are required to tell the other two.

Report Identity Theft to the FTC at IdentityTheft.gov