
Common Scams: ID Theft
BE VIGILANT TO PROTECT YOUR IDENTITY AND SENSITIVE INFORMATION.
Anyone can be the victim of identity theft, regardless of age, gender, or economic status. The good news is that there are ways to reduce your risk, and steps to take if you’ve had your information compromised.
Personal Information
First and foremost, it’s important to protect your personal information, including your:
- Social Security Number
- Driver’s license number
- Date of birth
- Passwords
- Account Numbers
- Address
While one of these things on its own may not be enough to impersonate you, by combining several pieces of information, an identity thief could be successful.
Protecting Yourself
Steps to keep your information safe may include:
- Shred mail and other paper statements with personal information
- Be wary of phone calls or other communications that “phish” for information (to learn more visit our phishing and social engineering post)
- Monitor your credit at www.annualcreditreport.com
If You Suspect ID Theft
If you suspect your identity may have been stolen, you should go to the Federal Trade Commission’s identity theft website at www.idtheft.gov or you call 877-IDTHEFT (877.438.4338). There, you will find information on specific steps to follow, including placing a fraud alert with credit reporting agencies, placing credit freezes, and steps to repair your credit.