![]() Remember, children can be victims of identity theft too.ĭon’t overshare on social media. You may want to set rules around information that can’t be shared online. No matter their age, kids can be taught the basics about online safety. Talk about Internet safety with your children. Keep your devices locked and password-protected, and ensure that antivirus software on your computer is updated and current. If you are traveling or use public WiFi often, consider a virtual private network (VPN). Remember that even if a network requires a password, it may not be secure. Be wary of connecting to public WiFi networks. Learn about the practice of “ phishing” and how to recognize when an email or other message may not be legitimate. How to Help Protect Your Information OnlineĬonsider practicing good cybersecurity habits. Note that locking mailboxes must conform to U.S. You can also purchase a locking mailbox or rent a post office box. If you are out of town, consider having your mail held at the post office. Mail theft is one way that identity thieves can use to gain access to your information. Learn about different types of fraud and identity theft, as well as the steps you can take to help protect against them. You are entitled to a free copy of your credit reports every 12 months from the three nationwide credit bureaus - Equifax, Experian and TransUnion - by visiting can also create a myEquifax acccount and get six free Equifax credit reports each year. Visit our dispute page to learn other ways you can submit a dispute. At Equifax, you can file a dispute by creating a myEquifax account. You can file a dispute if you see information that is inaccurate, incomplete or that you don't recognize. In addition, regularly reviewing these can help detect suspicious activity that may signal fraud or identity theft. The same is true for your credit reports – you want to make sure your information is accurate and complete. On your financial and bank account statements, you’ll want to ensure every transaction listed is accurate. Review your financial statements and credit reports regularly. A fraud alert encourages lenders and creditors to take extra steps to confirm your identity before issuing credit. A security freeze restricts access to your credit reports for the purposes of opening new accounts, and must be lifted or removed if you're applying for credit. ![]() Learn about steps you can take regarding your credit reports. There are two free tools you can use to help guard against the opening of new credit accounts in your name. You might want to ask if you could share the last four digits of the number instead of the entire number to help protect personal information. ![]() If you are asked to provide your Social Security number (or your child’s Social Security number), ask why it is needed and how it will be stored. ![]() Cross-shred documents containing personal or sensitive information, including bank and credit card statements and old credit cards. Consider limiting the documents and cards you carry when possible, including your Social Security card. Here are some habits to consider adopting to help protect personal information: How to Help Protect Personal Information Offline While it may not be possible to prevent identity theft completely, it can help to educate yourself about the risks and take steps to help safeguard your data. Whether they use tactics such as stealing your wallet or sophisticated phishing emails online, it can be hard to stay vigilant. Identity thieves are constantly looking for new ways to obtain personal and financial information such as credit card or Social Security numbers. Keeping Social Security cards at home, getting a locked mailbox and being careful what you share on social media are a few easy ways to help better protect yourself from identity theft.There are free tools that can help you better restrict access to your credit reports.It may not be possible to completely protect yourself against identity theft, but there are steps you can take to help protect your personal information.
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