PROTECTING YOURSELF FROM IDENTITY THEFT

IDENTITY THEFT, CREDIT REPORTS, AND PROTECTING YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION IN THE DIGITAL AGE

Identity theft is the type of crime that is linked to your personal information and your credit report.
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Common Identity Theft Scenarios:

• A cybercriminal steals your personal information and then uses that information to open fraudulent accounts using your name and social security number.
• A cybercriminal gains access to one of your accounts and can incur charges on your account for goods, services, and/or cash advances.
• A cybercriminal gains access to your bank account and tries to send or transfer money from your account.

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM IDENTITY THEFT

Understanding the Threat of Identity Theft
One of the most important steps you can take is to first understand that the threat of identity theft is real and can have devastating consequences on your credit report and peace of mind.  Cybercriminals are constantly on the lookout for personal information that can be used to steal someone's identity.
 
Securing Your Personal Information and Accounts
Protecting your personal information is crucial to preventing identity theft.

• Avoid public wifi networks.
• Use firewalls on your computers.
• Use strong, unique passwords.
• Do not share sensitive details, such as your Social Security number, bank account information, and passwords with others or electronically.
• Use secure websites for online transactions.
• Avoid oversharing on social media.
• Check your credit reports regularly for suspicious activity,such as unauthorized transactions or unfamiliar charges.
• Monitor your accounts regularly.
• Use multi-factor authentication.
• Use alerts and notifications for transactions.
• Check your web sessions for unrecognized activity or devices. 
• Immediately report any discrepancies or suspicious activity to your financial institution.

ADDITIONAL IDENTITY THEFT PREVENTION TIPS

​Password Security
Create strong, unique passwords for online accounts to help prevent identity theft. Avoid easily guessable passwords and consider using a password manager to securely track of your credentials.
 
Be Wary of Phishing Scams - These Especially Target The Elderly - And Verify Communications
Phishing scams are a common tactic used by cybercriminals to steal personal information.  Phishing scams often target the elderly because of their vulnerability and relative unfamiliarity with new technologies. 
Phishing scams are not just limited to emails and malicious links, but can also occur by email, phone, text message. Be cautious of unsolicited emails, texts, or calls asking for sensitive data. Verify the legitimacy of the sender before sharing any personal details. 

Phishing scams usually involve cybercriminals pretending to from your bank, a creditor, utility provider, financial institution, or a governmental entity to obtain personal information from you.

• If you receive a text message alert or notification, verify that the alert or notification is indeed from your bank or credit company by checking the number and contacting the bank or credit company for further verification.  
• If you receive an email purporting to be from one of the above, verify that sender's email address is indeed from your bank or financial institution and then contact your bank or financial institution for further verification.  
• If you receive a phone call purporting to be from one of the above, you can simply hang up and call back using a phone number belonging to the company or governmental authority for further verification.

Secure Your Devices
Ensuring the security of your devices is essential to protect against identity theft.  Be sure to keep your software up to date, enable firewalls and antivirus software, and avoid connecting to public Wi-Fi networks.  Instead, you can use personal hotspots with strong passwords and be sure to turn off visibility or sharing settings like Airdrop and bluetooth.

If you have a Wi-Fi network at home, you should set up guest networks so that nobody except you can use your personal network.
 
Conclusion
Unfortunately, there is no way to completely prevent identity theft. However, it is better to be safe than sorry when you someone asks for your personal information or you suspect suspect identity theft, or a phishing scam. By understanding the risks, securing your personal information, monitoring your accounts, strengthening your passwords, being vigilant against phishing scams, and securing your devices, you can reduce the risk of falling victim to identity theft. 
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SPEAK TO AN EXPERIENCED IDENTITY THEFT LAWYER IN MICHIGAN TODAY

Hadous|Co. has helped countless consumers fix credit report errors, and recover damages under the FCRA for inaccurate credit reporting and identity theft.  Attorney Nick Hadous is an accomplished consumer litigation attorney and has helped clients recover millions. In addition, he serves on the Litigation Advisory Board for the Institute of Continuing Legal Education (ICLE) where he is a content contributor and author in consumer protection litigation.  If you are the victim of identity theft and your credit report has been affected, please contact us for a free phone or Zoom consultation by calling us today or by using the contact form below.  We know how to help you fix mistakes on your credit report caused by identity theft.​