{"id":14290,"date":"2017-07-24T14:40:22","date_gmt":"2017-07-24T22:40:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.spokeo.com\/compass\/?p=14290"},"modified":"2022-04-13T12:14:54","modified_gmt":"2022-04-13T20:14:54","slug":"easy-ways-prevent-identity-theft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.spokeo.com\/compass\/easy-ways-prevent-identity-theft\/","title":{"rendered":"Easy Ways To Prevent Identity Theft"},"content":{"rendered":"

You may already know that\u00a0identity theft is growing in the U.S.<\/a>\u00a0– from enormous hacks of Target and the IRS,\u00a0to cases of individual theft, identity theft getting worse every day. In fact, 7% of\u00a0Americans have their identity stolen<\/a>\u00a0every year and that number is growing, fast.<\/p>\n

How can you be safe? There\u2019s a few easy tricks you can use to prevent identity theft – or minimize the problem when it happens.<\/p>\n

Use Strong Passwords<\/h2>\n

Use strong passwords that are at least 8 characters long and include numbers, symbols, and even spaces. You\u2019re usually required to use a strong password when you create an account. Don\u2019t use the same password for every account. Don\u2019t \u00a0usewords or numbers that are obviously connected to you, such as a birthdate or your spouse\u2019s name.<\/p>\n

Be Aware of Common Online Scams<\/h2>\n

From Nigerian scams (yes, they\u2019re now an entire\u00a0class<\/em>\u00a0of scam) to fake romance scams (often known as \u201ccatfishing\u201d) \u2013 there\u2019s a whole slice of the online world just waiting to get their hands on your personal information.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s why it\u2019s important to know the most common types of online scams and how to prevent them. It\u2019s easier than you think, even with so many types of scams out there: only deal with someone you can meet in person. This simple trick will avoid most scammers. Ifyou\u2019re still unsure, try using a people search tool.<\/p>\n

A good tool works with just a phone number, email address or name. Plug whatever you have and you can see court and criminal records, arrest records, even links to social media profiles. This is a fast and easy way to find out who you\u2019re dealing with.<\/p>\n

Use a Credit Card<\/h2>\n

Credit cards almost always provide better fraud protection than a debit card. In fact, your liability for fraud on your credit card is only $50. Debit cards have a much, much higher liability cap meaning, if your identity is stolen, you\u2019re on the hook for more money – up to $500 in many cases.<\/p>\n

Monitor Your Accounts<\/h2>\n

Keep an eye on your accounts. Consider using an account monitoring system if you want. Don\u2019t just keep an eye on bank accounts either. Check your unused social media profiles, your credit score and even consider running a background check on\u00a0yourself<\/em>. There are plenty of tools out there that watch your credit report, alerting you when something\u2019s gone wrong and a people search engine works well when you plug yourself into it.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t Give Out Personal Information<\/h2>\n

Never give out your personal information to people you don\u2019t know. This means credit card numbers, bank account info, social security numbers and account passwords but also personal contact info. Don\u2019t leave mail in your mailbox, don\u2019t forget to completely wipe your computers and phones when you sell them, and don\u2019t share details about your family or where you work with people you don\u2019t know.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t Open Weird Emails<\/h2>\n

Did you get an email that looks like garbled, broken English? Don\u2019t even open it. It\u2019s likely something that got past your spam filters and it\u2019s probably up to no good. Emails like this commonly have a virus or worm attached that can – in extreme cases – mine your computer for passwords and other sensitive information. If you don\u2019t recognize the sender, toss it in the trash. If the emails seems out of character for your contact, toss it and let the sender know they may be hacked.<\/p>\n

Staying safe online is getting more difficult each year, and identity theft is becoming the new normal. If it happens to you, don\u2019t panic. Call your bank or credit card agency and report the problem right away. Usually stolen funds are returned to your account in a few business days.<\/p>\n

Stay alert! If you meet someone online, deal with them face to face before you make a big decision with them, and stay informed by doing public record checks<\/a> on people you don\u2019t trust.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

You may already know that\u00a0identity theft is growing in the U.S.\u00a0– from enormous hacks of Target and the IRS,\u00a0to cases of individual theft, identity theft getting worse every day. 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