Proactive Ways to Protect Yourself from Identity Theft
Living in a world where every two seconds someone falls victim to identity theft1, it can be overwhelming to think about all the different ways in which your identity can be stolen. The good news is there are plenty of ways to protect yourself from the unthinkable. Zander Identity Theft Solutions – the only program used and recommended by Dave Ramsey – has compiled a list of proactive strategies that will lower the chances of having your identity stolen when coupled with their comprehensive protection plan.
Check your credit report at least three times a year. You can request a credit report from each of the three credit bureaus for free every four months to keep a steady pulse on your credit score and identify any inconsistencies that may pop up. However, be wary of sites that claim to offer you your credit report for free, as many implement hidden fees and you’ll end up getting dozens of credit card offers in the mail after signing up. Your best option is to use https://www.annualcreditreport.com.
Regardless of how you’re checking your credit score, always be on the lookout for these red flags:
- Inactive accounts that suddenly have activity on them
- A line of credit you didn’t open
- Incorrect personal information
- A good standing account in collections
- A credit inquiry you didn’t apply for
Don’t take any chances when it comes to suspicious activity on your credit report. If you notice something out of the ordinary, immediately report it.
Be sure your computer has updated anti-virus software. This is a simple, but often overlooked, strategy to help protect yourself against identity theft. Routinely check for updates, including anti-key logging software. You can add an extra layer of protection by making a habit of logging out of accounts you access on a computer or mobile device.
Protect yourself on social media. A simple post about your birthday can lead to disaster. Beware of oversharing, and set your privacy settings to the highest level to be safe.
Keep your phone secure. Virtually all phones have privacy settings, like a passcode or thumbprint scan. Take advantage of these setting as a first line of defense to keep your phone and identity safe. Other simple ways to protect yourself include keeping Bluetooth turned off when you’re not using it or registering with iCloud so if your phone gets stolen you can remotely wipe it of personal information.
Avoid unsecure Wi-Fi at all costs. Think twice before checking your banking statements as you wait at the airport. When you’re on an unsecured network, virtually anyone can gain access to your information. Be sure your home Wi-Fi network is secured with a password, too.
Regularly change your passwords. Every 90 days, change the password to your bank accounts, email and social media. While we’re on the subject of passwords, remember your password is only as strong as you make it. Creative, long passwords with a combination of upper and lowercase letters and special characters are harder to guess, leaving you less vulnerable to an identity theft disaster.
Check your bank accounts daily. Make it a habit to log on to your account and check your statements daily to be sure there isn’t any strange activity. Most banks have systems that will monitor your spending habits and flag your account if something irregular is going on, but it’s not wise to rely solely on your bank to protect you.
Don’t send bills from your personal mailbox. Don’t underestimate the depths to which a thief will go to steal your information. Putting a check in your personal mailbox could mean handing over your bank account number and routing number to a thief, putting you at serious risk. Use a post office or postal service to send bills, or consider investing in a locked P.O. box.
Don’t fall for phishing scams. Always be vigilant when opening emails. Avoid opening any emails that look suspicious, have strange subject lines or unknown senders. Never click on links or download attachments from a suspicious source. These are quick and easy ways to fall victim to identity theft.
Ensure your children’s information is protected. A common misconception is that children can’t be victim to identity theft. Unfortunately, that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Thieves actually target children at a higher rate because it is likely they can use their identity for a longer period of time before anyone notices. Protect your children for free with a Family plan from Zander ID Theft Solutions. If you find out your minor has a credit file, take immediate action.
Increase your awareness of data hacks and breaches. Just because a breach has happened doesn’t mean you are a victim, but it does mean that you should be on alert. Most breached companies will notify you via email or letter if your information was exposed; if you receive this correspondence, take precautionary measures like removing payment information from the exposed site and changing your password, then be diligent in monitoring your accounts. Zander ID Theft Solutions offers personal information monitoring as part of their plan, and will alert you if your personal data has made it to the dark web.
Guard your Social Security card, bank account numbers and medical history. Your wallet is the worst place for a social security card because, if it gets stolen, a thief now has your unique name, date of birth and social security number at their fingertips. Keep this sensitive information in a safe place, and only take it out when you need it. Don’t forget about other lesser known types of theft, like medical identity theft. Be sure to analyze your medical bills for suspicious charges.
These tips will help you stay proactive and fight against identity theft, but it’s important to remember identity theft comes in all shapes and sizes. The best way to protect yourself is to keep an eye on any type of personal identification that could be stolen from you and have a solid plan in place for what to do if your identity is compromised.