Protect yourself from identity theft

According to USA.gov, identity theft happens when someone uses your personal or financial information without your permission. This data can be used to impersonate you, claim your benefits, or commit fraud or other financial crimes. Criminals steal your contact information (name, address, email, phone number), social security number, driver’s license number, financial account numbers, PINs and passwords, and other benefits information (health insurance, pension, retirement). Because it’s your identity, you might be held responsible for what the thief does while using your information, even if you didn’t know about it. Some of the telltale signs of identity theft include:

• Unauthorized charges on your bank or credit card statements.
• Unexpected bills or collection calls for accounts you didn’t open.
• Unfamiliar accounts or inquiries on your credit report.
• Denials for loans or unexpected changes to your credit score.
• Missing bills or financial statements (a thief might have changed your mailing address).
• Notifications from the IRS that someone else has filed a tax return in your name.
• Medical bills or insurance coverage for services you didn’t receive.

How to better protect yourself

Protect your privacy – Many everyday activities allow individuals and businesses access to personal information about your habits, tastes, and activities. Your information can also come directly from what you share online. Follow these tips for protecting your privacy online:

• Don’t share personal information. Never give out personal or financial information to a stranger, especially on a phone call or through text. Limit where you store your credit card information online.
• Be careful what you share on social media. This includes information such as your birthday, hometown, family members, and education history. Delete unused or old profiles and accounts.

Monitor your data – Review your accounts monthly, or at the very least yearly, to catch suspicious activities early:

• Monitor your credit reports. Review your credit reports for any errors, unauthorized accounts, or suspicious activities. You can obtain free credit reports from AnnualCreditReport.com.
• Turn on alerts from your bank. Sign up for fraud alerts and notifications for account activities like change of address or phone number, a password change, and adding an authorized user.

Strengthen security – Follow these security tips to reduce the likelihood that you’ll become a victim of identity theft.

• Never click on links from unsolicited texts or emails. And never answer calls from numbers you don’t recognize.
• Use strong passwords. Ensure your online accounts have long, complex passwords and enable multifactor authentication. Be sure all your online accounts have different passwords.
• Secure your devices. Set screen locks and login passwords on your phone and other electronic devices. Enable device tracking should your phone or tablet get stollen.
• Avoid using public Wi-Fi networks. Many are poorly secured. Hackers can exploit them to grab sensitive data.
• Shred personal documents. Safeguard sensitive information by shredding documents like bank statements, old tax records, and medical bills before throwing them out.
• Safeguard your Social Security number. Leave your card at home in a secure place. Carry documents listing your Social Security number only when necessary.
• Be aware of your surroundings. When out in public, keep your belongings close and take notice of the people around you. Limit how much ID and payment information you carry around in your wallet or purse.

What to do if you become a victim of identity theft

If you suspect identity theft, time is of the essence. The faster you act, the better your chances of recovering any losses. Follow these next steps:

1. Make a plan. Start with the Federal Trade Commission at IdentityTheft.gov. Work through its checklist to create a personalized recovery plan to determine what you need to do depending on your situation.
2. Report to law enforcement. File a report with your local law enforcement or District Attorney’s Office. If it’s cybercrime-related, file a report with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).
3. Notify financial institutions. Ask for new cards with new numbers from your bank and credit card companies. Use free credit monitoring services when available.
4. Notify government agencies. Contact the Department of Motor Vehicles to reissue your driver’s license and identification cards. Set up an E-Verify account to lock your social security number. Or consider requesting a new social security number from the Social Security Administration.
5. Review your accounts. Check your bank and credit card accounts carefully for unauthorized transactions and correct them immediately.
6. Freeze your credit. Contact all three credit bureaus (Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax) to place a freeze on your credit. You can also place a fraud alert on your accounts. This makes it harder for someone to open a new credit account in your name because businesses must verify your identity before opening any new accounts.
7. Protect your tax records. Get an Identity Protection PIN from the IRS.

We’re here to help

Use DFPI’s 6 Layers of Scam Protection to help keep you safe from scammers. If you believe you have been a victim of a financial scam or identity theft, tell us online or call (866) 275-2677.