ID Theft
What is identity Theft?
Identity theft is a two-step process. First, someone steals your personal information. Second, the thief uses that information to impersonate you and commit fraud. Of course, stealing your personal information isn't the
worst of the crime; it's the second part of this process that does the most harm: using your information to commit credit card fraud, mortgage and utilities scams; and leave you with emptied bank accounts.
Types Of Identity Theft
There are many different types of ways that identity theft can be performed. The most common way is through a data breach. A data breach occurs when a cybercriminal hacks into a company’s database and steals the personal information that it stores about their customers. The most popular industries being attacked are healthcare, retail, financial and the government. These types of data breaches are so popular because a cybercriminal can obtain massive amounts of personal information from hundreds to millions of people such as full names, social security numbers, health insurance information and more in one fell swoop.
There are smaller scale scams that aim to steal an individual’s personal information as well. Phishing is the most popular way to try to trick users into divulging sensitive information. Either by tricking you into providing it yourself, or by tricking you to install malware that automatically steals data from your computer.
How To Report Identity Theft
If you become an unfortunate victim of identity theft, there are many ways to report it. You can start by going to the Federal Trade Commission’s website. You can fill out the FTC online complaint form to start the process.
How To Prevent Identity Theft
Prevention is the best measure you can take for protection against this threat. You can help prevent identity theft by educating yourself. Explore the articles below to read all about the signs of ID theft, the tactics used by cybercriminals, and even learn how to monitor your credit.
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Child identity theft: What parents need to knowRead More
Child identity theft can go on for years before it’s discovered. Learn what parents can do to help protect their kids from this threat.
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IRS scam calls: Fake vs. real IRS contactRead More
It’s smart to stay vigilant throughout tax season and on Tax Day for IRS scam calls. Here’s a guide to common scams and tips how to protect against them.
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Identity theft New Year’s resolutions: 10 ways to help protect your identity in 2022Read More
Credit monitoring services watch your credit reports for any new activity. They then alert you to it. They can help protect against the impact of identity theft
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Tax season: How to help protect yourself against tax-related identity theftRead More
Take these steps to help avoid tax-related identity theft and help protect your potential tax refund. An IRS tool known as an IP PIN can help reduce the odds of this kind of identity theft.
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IP PINs: How this IRS security tool could help protect you from identity theftRead More
The IRS offers taxpayers a tool to help prevent tax-related identity theft: an Identity Protection Personal Identification Number, better known as an IP PIN. Learn how to get an IP PIN.
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9 warning signs of identity theft and what to look forRead More
Identity theft is one of the fastest-growing crimes and affects millions of americans every year. Identity thieves can use your social security number, bank account credentials, credit card numbers, or date of birth to steal your personal information. If you are a victim, you’ll need to act quickly to clear your name.
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Credit monitoring services: How do they work?Read More
Credit monitoring services can alert you when there's activity on your credit files. Is that enough to help protect you against ID theft?
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How identity theft can impact foster youthRead More
Foster youth face identity theft risks that the rest of us don’t.
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7 Steps to Take Right After a Data BreachRead More
When I heard the news of the credit reporting agency data breach in September 2017, my first question was whether I was one of the ...
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Identity theft: What is it and how to avoid itRead More
Cybercriminals can access your personal information and may use it to commit identity theft or sell it on the dark web. Learn more.
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Session hijacking: What is a session hijacking and how does it work?Read More
A session hijacking attack happens when an attacker takes over your internet session. A session hijacking attacker can then do anything you could do on the site. Here’s how to help protect against session hijacking.
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What to do if your driver’s license is lost, stolen, or exposed in a data breachRead More
Take these steps to help prevent identity theft, because information on your stolen or exposed driver’s license can be used to open credit cards or file an unemployment claim in your name.
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5 things you need to know about identity theftRead More
Knowing how identity theft happens can help you better understand which information you need to protect and how you can avoid becoming a victim.
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What is phone account takeover fraud? Why it’s smart to protect your cellphone numberRead More
This fraud happens when a scammer takes control of your wireless phone account and phone number. It can cause plenty of financial pain.
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COVID-19 relief fraud and its tax impact: What you need to knowRead More
Fraudsters are using coronavirus aid programs to commit ID theft and steal funds. Learn how to help protect yourself against COVID-19-related fraud.
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Wardriving: What it is and how to help protect your networkRead More
Wardriving could enable hackers to gain access to devices connected to your home network. Find out how to help stop them.
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What you can still do about the Equifax data breach in 2018Read More
If you were affected by the Equifax data breach, it may not be too late to help protect your identity. Take these steps now.
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How to protect your Social Security number: 10 SSN tipsRead More
Your Social Security number is a high value target for identity theft. An identity protection plan could help.
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Myths and facts about identity theftRead More
Knowing how identity theft really works can help protect you from this crime.
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POS malware data breaches and why they keep happeningRead More
POS Malware Data Breaches and Why They Keep Happening
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What is RFID and why does it matter?Read More
RFID is a type of Automatic Identification and Data Capture technology. Uses include contactless payments and tracking inventory.
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Credit freezes vs. credit locks: What’s the difference and when should you use each one?Read More
Credit freezes and credit locks help prevent scammers from opening accounts and taking out loans in your name. But there are important differences, too.
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How to avoid identity theft onlineRead More
October is National Cyber Security Awareness month. Identity theft is a growing concern in today's internet landscape. Learn how to be protected against it. This is part 3 in a series of blog posts...
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5 things you should know about identity theftRead More
Knowing how identity theft happens can help you better understand which information you need to protect and how you can avoid becoming a victim.
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Credit Monitoring vs. Identity Theft Protection Services. What's the difference?Read More
Two popular options to help protect against identity theft: credit monitoring and identity protection services. Knowing which is right for you means taking into consideration of what level of protection they each offer and what you really need:
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How to help protect against phishing scams during tax seasonRead More
W-2 phishing scams are on the rise especially during tax season. The IRS reported an estimated 400% increase in phishing and malware incidents from 2015 to 2016.
