Did you know the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) received more than 444,000 reports  of identity theft in 20181 ? Credit card fraud was the most common type, with more than 167,000 cases reported. But other types of identity theft, including medical, online shopping, email, social media and insurance are on the rise. So, it’s important to take steps now  
to help prevent you from becoming a victim in the future. 

•   Shred it. Shred pre-approved credit offers you receive in the mail and paperwork that
     has sensitive data (e.g. social security and account numbers) that could be misused if it
     falls into the wrong hands.
•   Enable multi-factor authentication. Multi-factor authentication requires you to provide
     more than one piece of data to verify your identity, providing an added layer of security
     on your accounts.
•   Use the Internet wisely. Skip the public Wi-Fi and be sure you’re using a secured, private
     internet connection whenever you log into online accounts. Use only reputable and
     secure sites when shopping online and never click on links sent from someone you
     don’t know.
•   Choose passwords carefully. Use complex passwords, and don’t re-use the same 
     password for multiple accounts. If you’re worried you won’t be able to keep track,
     consider using a password manager, which generates and stores passwords for you.
•   Monitor your credit reports. Checking your credit reports on a regular basis can alert you
     to suspicious activity, so you can take steps to resolve it quickly. Under the Fair Credit
     Reporting Act,2  you’re entitled to receive one free credit report from each of the three
     major credit bureaus – Equifax, TransUnion and Experian – every year. Request your 
     copy at AnnualCreditReport.com.
•   Consider freezing your credit. Freezing your credit limits who can access your credit
     reports, making it difficult for fraudsters to open new accounts in your name. You’ll need
     to lift the freeze before applying for a new loan or line of credit, but the added security
     may be worth the inconvenience.

For more information on protecting  against Identify Theft, please visit PremierAmerica.com/learn/security-center. 

¹www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/reports/consumer-sentinel-network-data-book-2018/consumer_sentinel_network_data_book_2018_0.pdf ²www.ftc.gov/system/files/545a_fair-credit-reporting-act-0918.pdf

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