What is Identity Theft?
Identity theft occurs when someone steals your personal information—such as your name, Social Security number, or credit card details—to commit fraud, such as opening accounts, stealing tax refunds, or obtaining services in your name. It often stems from data breaches, phishing scams, or stolen mail.
How to Stop and Prevent Identity Theft
Place a Credit Freeze: Freezing your credit with the three major bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) prevents new accounts from being opened in your name.
Monitor Financial Accounts: Regularly review your credit union and credit card statements for unauthorized charges.
Secure Personal Documents: Shred documents containing sensitive information, such as your credit union statements, medical bills, and credit card offers. Better yet, go paperless!
Secure Digital Information: Use strong, unique passwords and enable two-factor authentication (2FA) for online accounts.
Guard Your Social Security Number (SSN): Only share your SSN when necessary and ask why it is needed. You may not be aware of it, but you can lock your Social Security number to prevent unauthorized access if your SSN has been compromised.
To block electronic access to your SSN, call the Social Security Administration at 800-772-1213. Once you've made your request, any automated telephone and electronic access to your Social Security file is blocked.
Beware of Phishing Scams: Do not click on links or open attachments from unknown emails, texts, or callers.
Common Signs of Identity Theft
Receiving bills for products or services you did not purchase.
Unauthorized charges on your credit card or credit union statements.
Being denied credit or receiving unexpected credit cards in the mail.
Finding accounts on your credit report you did not open, explains the AnnualCreditReport.com.
Not receiving your mail, which could indicate a change-of-address scam.
What to Do If Your Identity Is Stolen
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Report to the FTC: File a report immediately at IdentityTheft.gov. Complete the online form or call 1-877-438-4338. Include as many details as possible.
Place a Fraud Alert: Place a free, one-year fraud alert on your credit report by contacting one of the credit bureaus. That company must tell the other two. A fraud alert is free. It will make it harder for someone to open new accounts in your name. When you have an alert on your report, a business must verify your identity before it issues new credit in your name. You can renew the fraud alert after one year.
Contact Your Credit Union: Call University Credit Union and your credit card companies to close fraudulent accounts and freeze existing ones.
File a Police Report: Contact your local police department to report the identity theft.