Protecting your personal data

Identity Theft is a broad category, including all kinds of crime that involve a thief using your personal data in a deceptive way. This can include using your credit card, your checking account, or even providing your identity for non-monetary reasons.

So when we talk about preventing Identity Theft, we start with protecting your identity. It’s not just a question of your credit cards or blank checks; you must safeguard all the data a thief could use to compromise your identity.

In this series on Identity Theft Prevention, we’ll talk about different ways thieves operate, and how to thwart them. There’s no way to be 100% safe, since an identity thief could strike at a business or financial institution and gain access to your information there. The best you can do is to be secure in your own person, residence, and workplace. We’ll help you make sure your identity is as protected as you can make it.

To start, understand the different ways criminals gain access to your data. Many people still think online hacking is where most identities are stolen, but in reality, thieves are more likely to steal your identity from your mailbox or your trash. They can also get access to your info by simply standing in the right place at the right time and watching you enter a PIN or password into a computer or your cell phone.

The main information you need to protect is your Social Security Number and any account numbers you may have with credit cards or financial institutions. That may sound like an easy task, but there is a lot of additional data that can lead a thief to more sensitive info. If they can get your cell phone or laptop computer, they may be able to get to those important account numbers. So protecting your identity means protecting any avenue a thief might use to get to your ID numbers or financial accounts.

Even things like your resume might contain enough information for a thief to use to compromise your identity. Don’t share anything you don’t have to, whether it’s online or in a store or restaurant. We’ll talk about some specific steps to take to protect yourself, but it’s important that your general mindset be one of caution when dealing with your personal information.

For more information, download our free eBook, “ID Theft: Protecting and Restoring Your Good Name,” or check out our online course on Identity Theft Prevention, available here in our FIT Academy. For more information about National Protect Your Identity Week (NPYIW) or to find a local PYIW event near you, visit ProtectYourIDNow.org.

Related articles:

• What is Medical Identity Theft and How Can I Avoid It?
• Criminal Identity Theft
• The Various Types of Identity Theft and Fraud
• What Seniors Should Know About Identity Theft
• Identity Theft Thieves Prey On Consumers in Many Ways