As identity thieves get more determined and more sophisticated, consumers need to find
ways to stay one step ahead. While it may be nearly impossible to prevent thieves from
trying to steal your identity, there’s a lot you can do to stop them in their tracks.
Protect Your Social Security Number
Your Social Security number (SSN) is one of the most alluring targets of an identity thief.
You can protect it by ensuring you never give it to anyone—whether a company or
individual—who seems suspicious. For instance, you should:
- Never give out your Social Security number via email.
- Never send your SSN to someone through social media.
- Never leave computer screens unattended with your SSN on them, particularly if
you’re in public. - Never enter your SSN while connected to a public network, such as at a coffee shop or
airport.
Watch Out for Phishing and Spoofing
Phishing occurs when someone tries to trick you into providing sensitive information over
email. Spoofing is when an attacker sends an email mimicking a legitimate company,
intentionally presenting what appears to be a legitimate sender address.
Anytime anyone asks for personal information via email, you should avoid giving it to them.
You can also hover over the address of a sender—or long-tap it on a mobile device—to see
who’s sending it. When in doubt, only respond by manually entering the known email
address of the actual company that apparently reached out to you.
Use Strong Passwords
Avoid using passwords that you use on other accounts or those that contain:
- Birthdays
- Anniversaries
- Names of children or spouses
- Common words found in the dictionary
- Derivations of other passwords that just have different numbers after them
Use an Authenticator App
If you use an authenticator app, attackers won’t be able to get into an account and steal
your identity unless they have both your login credentials and the device that has the app
on it. Also, because authentication codes are temporary, they would need to have your
device at the very moment they attempt to access your account. By using an authenticator
app, you may be able to prevent hackers from getting identity information from every
account for which you use it.
Shred Sensitive Documents
By shredding sensitive documents, you can thwart identity thieves who may go through
your trash in search of identity info. Therefore, you should shred:
- Letters from health insurance companies, hospitals, credit card companies, and banks.
- Any correspondence that contains sensitive info.
- Old utility bills you don’t need for your records.
By taking these steps, you can avoid becoming the next victim of identity theft, as well as
safeguard your sensitive information while enjoying secure transactions and peace of
mind.
