The possibility of my identity being stolen is something I worry about frequently, it’s a scary concept.
But what is it really, and how worried should I be?
Simply put, identity theft is the unauthorized use of another’s identity to commit crimes or for financial gain, like opening accounts, filing taxes or making purchases. Unfortunately, it can happen to anyone.
Consumers nationwide reported around 400,000 identity theft complaints to the Federal Trade Commission, or FTC in 2016, making identity theft the third largest category of complaints.
Thankfully, there are steps you can take to mitigate the risk of identity theft. According to the FTC, it’s important to “shred receipts, credit offers, credit applications, insurance forms, physician statements, checks, bank statements, expired charge cards, and similar documents when you don’t need them any longer.”
To further protect yourself against identity theft, keep the following BBB tips in mind.
Secure your information offline
– Limit what you carry. When out and about, only take what you need – leave your Social Security card at home. Lock up financial documents and records in a safe in your home, and lock up your purse or wallet while at work.
– Keep an eye on your mail. Use a secure, locked mailbox if possible. If you don’t have a locked mailbox, take sensitive outgoing mail to the post office or to a post office box and pick up incoming mail as soon as possible. Only order new checks to your home if you have a secure mailbox.
– Don’t overshare. The FTC recommends that “before you share information at your workplace, a business, your child's school, or a doctor's office, ask why they need it, how they will safeguard it, and the consequences of not sharing.” This is especially true for your Social Security Number (SSN). Ask if you can use a different kind of identification, although sometimes you will have to share your SSN. Also be careful sharing health plan information, and destroy the labels on prescriptions bottles before throwing them out.
Stay safe in the digital world
– Dispose of electronics carefully. Your computer, phone and tablet store immense amounts of personal information. Before disposing of or selling your computer, wipe the hard drive. For a mobile device you’ll need to check your owner’s manual, service provider’s Web site or manufacturer’s Web site to learn how to delete information permanently. Always remove the SIM card and delete your contacts, messages, photos, voicemails, folders and Web search history.
– Be proactive about passwords and security settings. Use different, strong passwords for all of your accounts, including your devices. Change passwords frequently and use multi-factor identification if possible. Learn more about password safety at www.bbb.org/passwords . Set the privacy and security settings on web services, devices and apps you use – make sure you aren’t sharing more information than necessary.
– Keep your devices secure and look for encryption when online. Run updated anti-virus, anti-spyware and anti-malware on all of your devices, including your phone and tablet. Before sending personal or financial information online, read the Web site’s privacy policy and make sure it’s encrypted. Look for the “https:”, where the “s” stands for “secure,” and the lock icon on the status bar. If you’re unsure about a Web site, look it up at www.bbb.org to see its rating, complaint history and reviews from past customers. Never transmit sensitive information when on public Wi-FI.
– Be social media savvy. Keep your social media accounts as private as possible. Make sure you’re only “friends” with people you know and trust in real life. Be careful about what you share, especially personal information – identity thieves can piece your life together based on seemingly-innocuous posts and use the information to answer account security questions.
If you’ve encountered a scammer, report it to BBB Scam Tracker at www.bbb.org/scamtracker . If you’ve been a victim of identity theft, find out about your options at www.identitytheft.gov .
Rebecca Harpster works for the serving the San Francisco Bay Area and Northern Coastal California.
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