What to do if you've been a victim of identity theft and how to better protect yourself.
Review these tips for helping reduce the risk of being a victim of identity theft, and what to do if it happens to you.
Log into your bank account and transfer money elsewhere. ; Add their name to your bank account in an “account takeover.” ; File fraudulent tax paperwork and receive your tax return.
The sprawling allegations of identity theft tied to the Las Vegas woman are emblematic of the scourge facing Americans and represent an extreme for their boldness, said John Buzzard, a financial fraud analyst at Javelin Strategy and Research. Last year, he estimated identity theft accounted for more than $52 billion in estimated financial losses and impacted about 42 million U.S. adults. Long plays on a single stolen identity are rare, but the tactics used in the Las Vegas case – fraudulently ...
Data breaches: When a hacker infiltrates a company’s systems and steals customer data, they will often post it or sell it on the dark web, where other criminals can access it. Stolen wallets/purses: Physical theft of personal documents like IDs, credit cards, or passports can provide criminals with the information they need to commit identity theft. Social media: Unfortunately, many people overshare on social media, providing criminals with the opportunity to gather details about a person’s life, interests, and connections, which can aid in ...
What to do if you become a victim of Identity Theft. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, identity theft comprises “all types of crime in which…
Identity theft affects millions of people in the US each year. Find out how you can know if you’re a victim, what you can do to get your identity back, and how you can prevent future theft.
In public places, for example, criminals may engage in "shoulder surfing"– watching you from a nearby location as you punch in your telephone calling card number or credit card number – or listen in on your conversation if you give your credit-card number over the telephone. If you receive applications for "pre-approved" credit cards in the mail, but discard them without tearing up the enclosed materials, criminals may retrieve them and try to activate the cards for their use without your kn...
Medical identity theft doesn't just harm your finances, it can impact your health and even your life. Learn what you need to know.
If you're a victim of identity thieves or a data hack, you need to act quickly. Here's what to do to protect yourself.