Identity theft can occur if your Social Security number, health records, bank accounts, credit card information, passwords, PINs, or other personal data fall into the wrong hands. Thieves may obtain your information through theft, by accessing public sources such as social media, or by tricking you into revealing it.  

To prevent identity theft, it’s important to manage your credit card properly. For example, if the card is lost, stolen, or compromised, promptly replace those credit and debit cards.  

In managing different online accounts avoid writing down passwords; instead, create clues to help you remember them, and use unique passwords for different sites.  

If a company you do business with experiences a data breach, take immediate action by taking advantage of any offers for free credit reports, changing passwords for the affected company’s website, and canceling related accounts.  

Store sensitive documents in a secure place and shred any documents you no longer need, including credit card offers.  

Protecting Yourself on Social Media 

To safeguard your identity, avoid posting personal information, such as your birthday, on social media, this data can be exploited for identity theft.  

Additionally, when choosing security questions for your online accounts, refrain from using information that might be easily found online. Instead, consider providing fabricated answers that are still memorable to you. This approach will help enhance your security and reduce the risk of unauthorized access to your accounts. 

Protecting Yourself from Email Scams 

Avoid sending personal information via email and refrain from clicking on attachments from unfamiliar email addresses. Be particularly cautious with any email that requests you to click on a link or enter personal information online, as these could be phishing attempts.  

To learn more about phishing scams and how to avoid them, visit [TransUnion’s blog](https://www.transunion.com/blog/identity-protection/avoiding-phishing-scams).  

Additionally, stay informed about the latest scams by checking [Experian’s blog](https://www.experian.com/blogs/ask-experian/the-latest-scams-you-need-to-aware-of/). 

The Credit Freeze Option 

To protect yourself from identity theft, you might consider placing a credit freeze, which prevents businesses from accessing your credit history and thereby blocks identity thieves from obtaining credit in your name. 

 Keep in mind that credit freezing also means you won’t be able to access credit until you “thaw” your reports. 

  You can freeze or unfreeze your credit reports for free by contacting all three major credit reporting agencies.  

• For Equifax, you can call 888-298-0045, visit their website at www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/credit-freeze, or mail your request to Equifax Security Freeze, P.O. Box 105788, Atlanta, GA 30348. 

•  For Experian, call 888-397-3742, go online to www.experian.com/freeze/center.html, or send mail to Experian Security Freeze, P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013. 

•  For TransUnion, contact them at 888-909-8872, use their website www.transunion.com/credit-freeze, or write to TransUnion LLC, P.O. Box 2000, Chester, PA 19022.  

When requesting a credit freeze by mail, include your full name, address, Social Security number, and date of birth, along with prior addresses and names if applicable, a copy of a government-issued ID, and a bank statement or utility bill confirming your current address.