If you’ve been a victim of identity theft, what should you do after contacting the company that reported the suspicious charge and issuing a credit fraud report?
Report the identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission
.
Which of the following is one way to protect yourself against identity theft?
A good way to stop an identity thief from accessing your data is
to mix up your passwords, and use a unique one for every account
. Don’t include your name in any passwords or your birthday, and change your password anytime you suspect an account is compromised.
What is an effective strategy for avoiding identity theft?
preventing identity theft:
don’t throw credit card bills directly away (shred) make a password for your phone
.
don’t click on suspicious links
or anti virus emails. don’t give sensitive info over the phone especially if you don’t call.
Which of the following people is most likely to be a victim of identity theft *?
Consumers between the ages of 40 and 69
are reporting identity theft at higher rates, suggesting a growing awareness of this crime—and vulnerability.
How do I know if I am a victim of identity theft?
Other things that could be warning signs that your identity has been stolen include:
Statements or bills for accounts you never opened arriving in the mail
.
Statements or bills
for legitimate accounts not showing up. … Unauthorized authentication messages for accounts you don’t recognize.
How can I find out if someone is using my identity?
- Track what bills you owe and when they’re due. If you stop getting a bill, that could be a sign that someone changed your billing address.
- Review your bills. …
- Check your bank account statement. …
- Get and review your credit reports.
What should you do if you suspect identity theft?
Report Identity Theft. Report identity (ID) theft to
the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) online at IdentityTheft.gov
or by phone at 1-877-438-4338. The FTC will collect the details of your situation.
What should I do if my identity has been compromised?
- File a claim with your identity theft insurance, if applicable.
- Notify companies of your stolen identity.
- File a report with the Federal Trade Commission.
- Contact your local police department.
- Place a fraud alert on your credit reports.
- Freeze your credit.
How do I protect my bank account from identity theft?
- Use unique passwords for every account. You probably know that having a strong password is important. …
- Leverage two-factor authentication. …
- Be cautious of public Wi-Fi. …
- Update and patch your software regularly. …
- Install ad blockers. …
- Utilize features and tools provided by your bank.
What are four types of identity theft crimes?
The information is captured in a wide gamut of methods from sifting through someone’s trash to accessing databases. The four types of identity theft include
medical, criminal, financial and child identity theft
.
Which is the most common age group for victims of identity theft?
In 2020, the most targeted age group for identity theft were
30 to 39 year olds
, among whom 306,090 cases were reported to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in the United States. The second most targeted age group were those aged 40 to 49, with 302,678 cases of identity theft reported.
Who are the main identity theft victims?
Three main age groups stand out among victims of identity theft:
the elderly, college students and children
. The Bureau of Justice reports the number of elderly victims grew by 25 percent between 2012 and 2014. In children, identity theft victims as young as 5 months old have been reported.
What are the first signs of identity theft?
- An unfamiliar loan or credit account on your credit report. …
- An inexplicable denial of credit. …
- Bills for accounts you know nothing about. …
- An unexpected drop in your credit score. …
- Collections agency calls for overdue accounts you know nothing about.
How can I track someone who stole my identity?
- Step 1: Order Copies of All Three Credit Reports. …
- Step 2: File an ID Theft Complaint with the FTC. …
- Step 3: File a Police Report Documenting Your Identity Theft. …
- Step 4: Write a Letter Requesting the Records From All Companies Involved.
What are 2 ways that you can reduce the risk of identity theft?
- Freeze your credit. …
- Safeguard your Social Security number. …
- Be alert to phishing and spoofing. …
- Use strong passwords and add an authentication step. …
- Use alerts. …
- Watch your mailbox. …
- Shred, shred, shred. …
- Use a digital wallet.
How do you check if my SSN is being used?
To see if your Social Security number is being used by someone else for employment purposes,
review your Social Security Statement at www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount
to look for suspicious activity. Finally, you’ll want to use additional scrutiny by regularly checking your bank and credit card accounts online.
