My best tips to avoid Identity Theft
My best tips to avoid Identity Theft
My best tips to avoid Identity Theft
Identity theft can happen to anyone and it impacts more than 9 million Americans each year. I have outlined some steps you can take to prevent this from happening to you.
Keep your US mail secure
- A lot of identity theft stems from mail that is stolen or intercepted after it is thrown away.
- Don’t let your mail sit in the mailbox where anyone can access it - and shred any bills or documents that contain personal information.
- Even better - choose the paperless option for your regular monthly bills – and avoid getting mailed bills altogether.
Opt out of unsolicited credit card offers
- An identity thief could submit a credit card offer application and open a credit card account in your name.
- You can request to stop receiving these offers by calling 1-800-5OPTOUT or going to optoutprescreen.com.
Be smart on the phone
- Just hang up on robocalls – it’s as simple as that.
- If you do receive a legitimate-sounding call from a company or organization that you already do business with, before you give them personal information over the phone, call them back at a phone number you already have for them – for example, the phone number printed on the back of your credit card, or on your monthly bill.
- Remember that Caller ID is not a reliable indicator of the real identity of the caller.
- Never give your password over the phone – no legitimate company will ever ask for it.
- Finally, a very popular scam recently involves callers posing as IRS agents. Remember that the IRS will never call you and demand information or payment. They will always send you a paper letter first, to inform you that there is an issue that requires your attention.
- Beware of phishing text messages as well. Spammers send messages pretending to be from legitimate organizations to trick you into clicking a link and entering your personal information.
Check your credit report regularly
- Checking your credit report can alert you of an identity theft incident after it happens.
- You can check your credit report for free at annualcreditreport.com
- Look for any inaccurate information, such as accounts with companies you are not familiar with.
- Report any issues directly to the credit reporting agencies.
Be smart online
- Keep your computer updated with the latest operating system and browser patches – these updates are often released in response to recent malware threats.
- Malware can disrupt your computer and expose your information to hackers, and most malware is delivered via phishing emails. A good rule is to never click on a link in the body of an email message – even if it looks like it is from a trusted sender.
- Monitor what you post on social media. Don’t share sensitive personal information, advertise your travel plans, etc., and only accept friend requests only from people you actually know.
- Create strong passwords. The length of the password is a major determinant of its strength. Don’t use the same password on multiple sites. Consider using a password manager app to keep track of your passwords, or record them in a secure location.
Durham Tech Community, for more personal finance advice or tips, email me at chapmanl@durhamtech.edu
Larry is the Financial Coach at Durham Tech, providing individual coaching services and information to the students and employees of the Durham Tech community.