Identity Theft. Eight Steps to take if you are a victim.
Identity Theft. Eight Steps to take if you are a victim.
You’ve spent years building, managing, and securing your financial life. But what happens if your identity is stolen? Unfortunately, it happens regularly. In 2018, over 5.5% of consumers had their identity stolen.
Identity theft is a growing concern, affecting millions of Americans each year. There are two main types: conventional identity theft, where criminals impersonate you using your personal information, and synthetic identity theft, where they combine your data with fake details to create a new identity. Methods like dumpster diving, phishing, hacking, and data breaches are commonly used to collect this information.
If you become a victim, take immediate action by contacting your financial institutions to shut down any compromised accounts. Review statements for fraudulent charges, request a copy of your credit report to spot new accounts, and file reports with the Federal Trade Commission and local police to create …