Identity Theft Prevention

Your Personal Information Is Valuable. Protect It.

Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information without permission, typically to commit fraud or obtain financial benefits.

Criminals may use stolen information to open accounts, apply for credit, access existing financial accounts, or impersonate you.

Your name, Social Security number, date of birth, account numbers, and other personal details can all be valuable to criminals.

How does identity theft happen?

Identity thieves may obtain information through:

  • Phishing emails, text messages, and phone calls.
  • Data breaches involving businesses or organizations.
  • Stolen mail or documents.
  • Unsecured personal devices.
  • Fake websites and online applications.
  • Information shared publicly on social media.
  • Lost or stolen wallets and identification.

Warning signs of identity theft

Be alert for:

  • Credit cards or loans you did not apply for.
  • Unfamiliar charges or withdrawals.
  • Collection notices for accounts you do not recognize.
  • Unexpected password-reset notifications.
  • Mail regarding financial accounts you did not open.
  • Changes to your account information that you did not authorize.
  • Missing bills or financial statements.

How to protect your identity

Safeguard personal information.

  • Never share your Social Security number unless necessary.
  • Avoid providing personal information through unsolicited calls or messages.
  • Securely dispose of documents containing sensitive information.
  • Keep personal documents in a secure location.

Protect your digital identity.

  • Use strong, unique passwords.
  • Enable multifactor authentication.
  • Keep computers and mobile devices updated.
  • Be cautious about information shared on social media.

Monitor your credit.

  • Review your credit reports regularly.
  • Look for unfamiliar accounts or inquiries.
  • Consider placing a credit freeze if you are concerned about identity theft.

A credit freeze can restrict access to your credit report and make it more difficult for someone to open new credit accounts in your name. It is generally free to place and lift through the three nationwide credit bureaus.

What should you do if your identity is stolen?

  1. Contact the financial institution or company involved.
  2. Change passwords for affected accounts.
  3. Consider placing a fraud alert or credit freeze with the credit bureaus.
  4. Review your credit reports for unfamiliar accounts.
  5. Report identity theft through the Federal Trade Commission’s IdentityTheft.gov website.
  6. Follow the recovery steps provided by the appropriate organizations.

Remember

Your personal information can be just as valuable to criminals as your money.

Be careful about what you share, where you share it, and who has access to it.