Identity Theft: Preventing, Fighting Back and Controlling Damage Caused by ID Fraud

Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in the nation. However, there are things you can do to protect yourself and possibly avoid falling prey to identity theft.

Identity Theft Information Library

Learn how you can:

1. Fight Back Against Identity Theft
2. Control Damage If You’ve Been a Victim of ID Theft
3. Watch Out for Credit Card Scams

How to Prevent Identity Theft:

1. Safeguard your social security number. Your social security number is a valuable piece of information. Criminals can use this information to open credit cards or bank accounts and make fraudulent transactions.
   • Keep it in a safe location.
   • Don’t carry your social security number in your wallet. You don’t want strangers having access to your social security number if your wallet is stolen.
   • Be very selective about who you give your social security number to. If you’re asked for your social security number to verify identity – perhaps when opening an account with a utility provider – ask if you can provide another form of ID.
2. Monitor your credit. One of the benefits of credit monitoring is early detection of unauthorized activity. If someone tries to obtain credit using your identity, any activity involving your credit will likely be reflected on your credit report.
   • To monitor your credit, obtain your free annual credit report from all 3 credit reporting companies – Experian®, Equifax® and TransUnion®.
   • Consider signing up for a credit monitoring service. For an additional fee, credit reporting companies offer a service in which a consumer is notified when changes are posted to their credit report. Learn about Experian’s Triple Advantage credit monitoring service.
3. Shred any documents containing personal information. Shredding documents is one of the simplest things you can do to avoid becoming a victim of ID theft.
   • Don’t throw away your old tax returns, credit card offers or financial statements without shredding.
   • Thieves will often pick through trash looking to find personal information.