Protecting Your Identity Online

Identity theft is on the rise, and each year, millions of people become victims of the crime. There are numerous forms of identity theft, but financial identity theft is arguably the most common. With this type of theft, an individual's personal identity has been stolen and crimes are committed that will result in the financial injury of the victim. This information might include Social Security numbers, credit card information, bank account numbers, and other financial data.

If you find that you have been a victim of identity theft, it is important that you act quickly in order to minimize the damage. You should immediately put a fraud alert onto your credit reports and contact any institutions that were directly affected by the breach. For example, if your credit card was stolen, you should immediately contact the issuer. It is also essential that you contact the Federal Trade Commission, file a police report, and protect your Social Security number by speaking with the Social Security Administration and the IRS.

Fortunately, there are steps that you can take to prevent yourself from financial identity theft. Be wary of phone calls and promotional offers that might ask for your personal information, and keep your important documents secure. Review your credit reports regularly, use secure sites when shopping online, and never place documentation with personal information listed in the trash without shredding it first.

• Common Identity Theft Schemes - A review of the most common identity theft schemes and scams that you need to know about.
• Facts and Statistics - Startling facts and statistics about identity theft and fraud.
• Financial Identity Theft - Information about the most common type of identity theft.
• Financial Readiness - How to protect yourself from identity theft by preparing yourself financially.
• Protecting Yourself from Identity Theft - Important steps to take in order to secure your identity.

Prevention

Understanding how to prevent identity theft is essential in order to keep yourself safe. Prevention starts with carefully managing your personal information, including only carrying essential documents with you and never giving out personal information over the phone. Be sure to monitor your credit and shred paperwork with personal identifying information before throwing it out.

• Complete Credit Card Safety - Important information for how to keep your information safe when making credit card transactions.
• Credit Monitoring - The importance of monitoring your credit and why you should invest in credit monitoring services.
• Document Management/Shredding - Why you should shred your documents and important papers.
• Employee Privacy Rights - How employers can help to keep the information of their employees safe to prevent identity theft.
• Password Safety - How to create a secure password for your Internet merchant accounts in order to prevent identity theft.
• Protecting Your Social Security Number - How to keep your Social Security number secure to prevent identity theft.
• Regular Account(s) Statement Review - How to protect yourself from identity theft by securing your bank account.
• Safe Practices - Tips for preventing identity theft and keeping your information safe.
• Shredding Personal Documents - What personal documents you should shred and when you should dispose of them.
• Types of Credit Monitoring Services - Information about the various types of credit monitoring services available.

Steps to Take if Identity Theft is Suspected

If you are a victim of identity theft, you should take immediate action by contacting the fraud alert department of one of the three credit reporting agencies, as the agency you call is required to contact the other two. Contact your insurance companies, banks, and lenders to make them aware of the situation, and open new accounts if you are worried that your bank account information has been compromised.

• Bank Accounts and Identity Theft - What to do when your financial information is stolen or compromised.
• Filing a Police Report - How to file a police report after your identity has been stolen.
• Getting Your Credit Report - Information about how to get a copy of your credit report and what to look for, including signs of new credit card acceptance.
• Reacting to Potential Identity Theft - Financial resources outlining what you should do if your identity has been stolen.
• Reporting Identity Theft to the IRS - Tips about how to determine if your identity has been compromised and how you should report this to the IRS.
• Steps to Take After Identity Theft - The U.S. Department of Education describes what to do if you fall victim to identity theft.
• Talking to Credit Bureaus and Creditors - How to report identity theft to creditors and credit bureaus.
• Understanding Your Rights - Know your rights when it comes to identity theft.
• Warning Signs - Important warning signs that your identity may have been stolen.
• What to Do if You Are a Victim of Identity Theft - Ten steps that you should take if you believe you are a victim of identity theft.

Actions to Take if Identity Theft is Confirmed

If identity theft has been confirmed, you'll want to verify that a fraud alert has been placed on your credit report. Ensure all bank or credit card accounts that have been created fraudulently or tampered with have been closed, and file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission in order to help law enforcement track down the identity thieves. You should also contact your local police department to file a police report, and if law enforcement seems reluctant to take your report, be sure to contact another jurisdiction for assistance.

• Filing a Complaint with the FTC (PDF) - How to file a complaint with the FTC when identity theft is confirmed.
• Recovering from Identity Theft - Information about the first steps that you should take if you are the victim of identity theft.
• Reporting Identity Theft - How to report identity theft to the appropriate agencies.
• Reviewing Your Credit Report - How to check your credit report for errors.
• Talking to the Credit Bureau - Important tips about how to talk to the credit reporting agencies in the event of identity theft.