5 Ways to Protect Yourself Against Identity Theft

If you’re not using a password manager, you’ll want to:

• use a different password for each account.
• devise passwords with a mix of at least eight characters, numbers, and symbols such as “$,” “@,” “^,” and “(”.
• store them in a safe place only you can access.
• change them periodically, and especially if a company or vendor you use has experienced a breach.
• use two-factor authentication, which requires your log-in credentials plus a unique, time-sensitive code sent to your mobile device to complete the log-in process.

Other smart rules to live by:

• Make sure the privacy settings on your social media accounts limit who can see your information—including, but not limited to birthdate, workplace, and photos.
• Examine your friends or connections lists for people you may not know.

Safeguard your information by:

• securing your mailbox, and having mail held at the post office when you are not home.
• storing documents with sensitive personal data—like tax returns and bank statements—in a safe.
• stopping preapproved credit offers that come in the mail. To opt out, call 1.888.5.OPT.OUT (1.888.567.8688) or visit www.optoutprescreen.com.
• investing in a shredder to destroy credit card statements, receipts, offers, and expired credit cards.

These include:

• your health insurance. Review your history to make sure the services and prescription drugs included are ones you received.
• store them in a safe place only you can access.
• your bank statements. Check all spending and payments, as well as ATM withdrawals.
• your credit.
  
  You are legally entitled to a free yearly report from the three credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Request one from each every four months, either directly through each agency, or at annualcreditreport.com. Look for strange activity and accounts or credit cards you didn’t open.

You can protect yourself by:

• verifying that you are on a familiar website with proper security controls before you input personal information.
• sharing your Social Security number only when necessary, and asking first why it is being requested.
• not clicking on email links from what appears to be your bank; call your bank directly to see if the email (or call) is legitimate.
• corresponding directly with businesses, banks, or institutions you are familiar with.