According to the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) and AARP, 1.3 billion American consumer records were stolen in data breaches in the first nine months of 2024. Almost one-third of Americans have been a victim of identity theft. Criminals stole nearly $23 billion from consumers last year. Every year, there are more than 50,000 individual personal data breaches in the US.
Most common causes of identity theft are when someone obtains the following personal Information
- Name
- Address
- Phone numbers
- E-mail address
- Birthdate
- Social Security Number
- Drivers License
- Credit Cards
Credit card fraud is the most common type of identity theft.
- Don’t shop on unsecure websites.
- Have all credit and debit card transactions sent to your email
- Review your bank and credit card statements regularly.
- Never send your credit card information via email or give it over the phone unsolicited.
- Don’t use public Wi-Fi for financial transactions.
- Shred documents that show your credit card number (bank statements) and social security numbers
- Contact your credit card company right away if you lose your card.
Basic things not to respond to
- Phone calls from anyone looking for personal information from you.
- E-mails or text messages asking to verify your personal information,
- Attachments from someone you don’t know
- Messages stating “Don’t close this page, call this number.” If this happens, close out of the browser (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, etc.), turn off the computer by holding down the power button, and pull out the power cord.
Password rules
- Use a combination of upper and lower case letters, numbers and symbols (i.e. Rr123456#)
- Do not use names, your address, phone numbers, your pet’s name, or common words such as “password” or “computer”
- Change your passwords every 6 months
- Do not use the same password on multiple accounts
- Do not store a list of your passwords on your computer or mobile phone
- If you keep a list of your passwords, do not place it near your computer or in your desk
Shopping
- Use credit cards only, no debit cards
- Avoid saving credit card numbers at retailer sites
- Monitor your account statements for unauthorized transactions
On the road
- Do not make any financial transactions or enter password information at public wi-fi locations (hotels, coffee shops, airports, etc.)
- When in a hotel, if you get a phone call from the “front desk;” asking to confirm your credit card, go directly to the desk instead of responding on the phone
What to do if you are a victim of identity fraud
- Call your bank and cancel your ATM/debit card
- Change all your passwords.
- Call your credit card companies to report that your card(s) have been stolen
- Report your missing driver’s license to your local DMV and get a new one
- File a police report
- Call the three credit reporting agencies (Experian, Equifax, Transunion) and have a fraud alert and freeze your account
Experian 888 397 3742
Transunion 888 909-8872
Equifax 800 685-1111
- Debt collectors – Tell them you are a victim and provide them with documentation
To read the complete article from AARP click here
