Identity theft is a type of crime where someone’s personal and financial data is obtained and used without their permission. To limit your exposure and protect yourself from identity theft, it’s important to learn how it occurs and to recognize the warning signs that signal fraud is developing. Here are some tips on how to protect yourself from identity theft:

• Look out for signs of identity theft, such as missing bills, being turned down for loans, being billed for items you didn’t purchase, and unauthorized transactions on your financial accounts.
• Password-protect your devices and use a password manager to mix up your passwords and make them unique for every account.
• Watch out for phishing attempts, which involve identity thieves using emails and websites to trick you into entering your account information or other private data.
• Never give out personal information over the phone, and ask for the caller’s credentials if you suspect a call is potentially legitimate.
• Use two-factor authentication to add an extra layer of security to your accounts.
• Monitor your credit reports and financial accounts regularly to detect any unauthorized activity early on.
• Shred documents containing sensitive information before throwing them away.

Remember, there’s no way to prevent identity theft entirely, but you can make it harder for criminals to gain access to your information and accounts. Speak to us if you feel you need more support when it comes to staying safe with your finances.