Identity theft

How to protect yourself, your reputation and your assets.

Identity theft is a growing issue. As we have become more digitally engaged, thieves have gained opportunities to discover information about you. Luckily, there are actions you can take to protect you and your family from identity theft.

Why protect yourself?

Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information like your name, social security number or date of birth, with the intent to commit a fraud.

How many people reported identity theft in 2023?

That’s correct.

The FTC logged more than 1 million identity theft reports in 2023. This number is considered conservative since many people never report their identity theft.

Incorrect.

The FTC logged over 1 million identity theft reports in 2023.

Source: ftc.gov/news-events, As Nationwide Fraud Losses Top $10 Bilion in 2023, FTC Steps Up Efforts to Protect the Public. February 2024

Certain groups are more likely to be targets of identity theft including the young and the more affluent. Once someone steals your identity, it can cost thousands of dollars or more and take hundreds of hours to resolve. Here are different methods used to steal someone’s identity.

Phishing

Thieves call or email, posing as financial companies asking for personal information

Rummaging

Thieves search your trash or mailbox for financial statements

Skimming

Dishonest store employees steal credit/debit card numbers using a “skimmer” device

Telemarketing schemes

Thieves call claiming you won a prize and request your personal information

Social network searches

Popular social networking sites are searched for personal data

Spyware

A computer virus is used to steal personal data from your computer

Hacking

Thieves break into email, online accounts and databases to access your information

Shoulder surfing

Thieves observe you entering your PIN or password at an ATM

Avoid being a victim

Knowing what to look out for and making sure you routinely monitor and safeguard your personal information is essential. Here are some of the dos and don’ts to keep in mind.

Dos

Buy and use a paper shredder on documents that contain personal information
Regularly check your credit report for unusual activity
Install virus protection on your computer
Store important documents like bank statements in a locked place

Don'ts

Click on links in unsolicited emails
Give information to just anyone who calls you. Call back customer service to confirm the request is legitimate.
Trust caller ID – it can be manipulated to show misleading information
Carry your Social Security card

If you become a victim of identity theft, here are some actions you can take to help get your identity and finances back under your control.

File an Initial Fraud Alert with a credit reporting agency and consider putting a credit freeze on file with all three credit reporting agencies.
Access your credit reports from the three credit reporting agencies. Look over each report carefully and note any detail that isn’t yours.
File an Identity Theft Report with the Federal Trade Commission to let federal and local authorities know about the crime.
File a police report.
For each fraudulent entry on your credit report, you’ll need to file a dispute with the fraud department of each credit reporting agency and contact any lenders or collections agencies associated with the activity.

Identity theft can affect everyone

Identity theft is not limited to adults. Children can also be victims. In fact, nearly one in 50 children in the U.S. are victims of identity theft annually.

Here are steps to take now to prevent a child’s identity, or your own, from being stolen.

Don’t overshare personal details such as Social Security numbers. Ask if a Social Security number is actually required or can other information be substituted.
Keep sensitive personal and financial information out of sight and locked up.
For a child, be on the alert for red flags like collections calls or mailings for preapproved credit card offers.