Five Steps to Protect Yourself from Identity Theft

Numbers have certainly increased during the last five years when it comes to identity theft. With the recent Equifax breach and the fallout therefrom, it is more important now than ever to be vigilant about protecting your identity and minimize the risks that you will be one of the ones injured by security breaches and the like. Below are a few tips to keep in mind:

Change Passwords Frequently

Someone recently shared that using short sentences or phrases are especially good to use as passwords because the chances of someone actually being able to hack the password diminishes if there are more letters or characters used in place of letters.

Protect Your Checks

It's important to remember that a lot of important information is contained in checks so don't leave your checkbook in your car. If you do leave checks at home, put them in a safe place as often information is compromised by acquaintances and "friends", etc.

Please Be Careful What You Post on Social Media

Scam artists surf social media and get information from those sites. Additionally, if someone sends a "new" friend request and this person is already on your friend list, do not accept the request without verifying with that person (by phone or in person) that he or she has sent the request.

Log into Your Online Banking Often

At least once a week-to review transactions. We tend to think that fraud occurs with large transactions. However, that may not be the case. If you see something that you are unfamiliar with, contact your financial institution immediately.

Use Different Passwords for Different Accounts

By doing so, if you are hacked and you have various passwords, there is very little chance that all of your accounts will be compromised.

It's so easy, in our fast paced world, not to take time to consider these simple steps that could protect you from serious breaches with your identity and credit. We are here to help you and if you need assistance regarding your credit or you are in financial distress, please contact one of our offices today. You will meet with one of our attorneys to confidentially discuss your situation.