Protect your identity (2024)

FAQs

Protect your identity? ›

Store documents that have your personal information, including financial documents, Social Security, Medicare and credit cards in a safe place at home and at work. Limit what you carry. Leave your social security card and Medicare card at home – unless you are going to need them for a specific reason.

Store documents that have your personal information, including financial documents, Social Security, Medicare and credit cards in a safe place at home and at work. Limit what you carry. Leave your social security card and Medicare card at home – unless you are going to need them for a specific reason.

Identity is the concept of one's role in the world and the core of who a person is. It incorporates what experiences they have had, relationships they have had, lessons they have learned, values that have been created, and memories. Identity is influenced by core, chosen, and given elements.

steal your mail or garbage to get your account numbers or your Social Security number. trick you into sending personal information in an email. steal your account numbers from a business or medical office. steal your wallet or purse to get your personal information.

The Social Security Administration has a free, online tool called Self Lock that lets you immediately stop someone else from using your Social Security number when applying for a job or a new credit account. You can access this feature after setting up an account at Social Security's E-Verity website.

Financial identity theft.

This is the most common form of identity theft — when someone uses another person's information for financial gain.

How do I block someone from using my identity? ›

Implement a credit freeze

You can freeze and unfreeze your credit at any time, so consider keeping your credit frozen until you're ready to open a new account or apply for a loan. If somebody steals your identity, freezing your credit and adding a fraud alert to your report offers even more protection.

Contact the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) at 1-800-908-4490 or visit them online, if you believe someone is using your SSN to work, get your tax refund, or other abuses involving taxes. Order free credit reports annually from the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion).

If you know your Social Security information has been compromised, you can request to Block Electronic Access. This is done by calling our National 800 number (Toll Free 1-800-772-1213 or at our TTY number at 1-800-325-0778).

The earliest signs of new account fraud are much more subtle, including: Mail or calls from unfamiliar banks. If you're contacted by a bank or financial institution that you don't recognize, it's either a phishing scam or your identity has been stolen and used to open an account in your name.

Social Security card loss or theft.

The three nationwide consumer reporting agencies - Equifax^®, TransUnion^® and Experian^® - offer fraud alerts and security freezes, which can all be activated to help better protect against fraudulent credit or loan applications.

Another idea is to use one credit card for just online purchases and another for in-person purchases. Some services provide virtual or one-time use credit cards for every online purchase. Credit Freeze: A credit freeze locks your credit report, preventing fraudsters from opening new accounts in your name.

Identity protection refers to safeguarding one's personal information and identity from theft or fraud. It involves proactively monitoring for signs of identity theft as well as taking measures to minimize risks.

Safeguard your passwords and change them often.

If someone logs on to a site and pretends to be you, they can trash your identity. Pick passwords that no one will guess and change them often. Never share them with anyone other than your parents or a trusted adult.