Archives - Identity Theft


Shopping online — pay with credit card instead of debit

E-commerce sites are typically well-protected from attacks. However, you can further reduce your risk by paying with credit, or with a gift/prepaid card, instead of debit. That way, you have more protections from identity theft and no prospect of your bank account being cleaned out if your card number is stolen.

Watch out for unemployment identity theft

Since the COVID-19 outbreak, some states have seen surges in fraudulent unemployment claims. It can be difficult to know if someone has claimed unemployment using your identity. Look out for notices from your state’s unemployment office or, if you are employed, your employer. If you are a victim of unemployment identity theft, report it to […]

Submit an identity theft report with the Federal Trade Commission

If you notice fraudulent activity on your bank account, notify the Federal Trade Commission immediately, then use the report to notify the police. A more comprehensive report will better equip the police to find the person responsible. To begin this process: Navigate to the Federal Trade Commission website. Click on “Get Started” on the home […]

Top cyber threats facing consumers: Personal cybersecurity tips

In July 2020, insurance company HSB released findings from a survey about consumer cyber threats. According to the results, 34% of respondents said they had experienced a cyber attack, with the most common incident cited being a malware or virus infection. While the threat landscape is broad, encouraging results from the survey indicated that consumers […]

Make your Twitter account temporarily private

If you have short-term privacy concerns or you suspect that you might be an identity theft target, you can temporarily lock your Twitter profile. From the “Settings and privacy” menu, click “Privacy and safety.” Then select “Protect your Tweets.”

What is identity theft?

Identity theft is the illegal acquisition and use of someone else’s personal information to obtain money or credit. Signs of identity theft include bills for products or services you did not purchase, suspicious charges on your credit cards, or new accounts opened in your name that you did not authorize.