How to Avoid Becoming a Victim by Guarding Confidential Information

There was a time when identity theft and fraud were relatively rare crimes. People routinely engraved their Social Security number on things like tools and other belongings to identify who owned them. Back when to steal confidential information a thief would have to physically break into your house and rifle through your desk drawers for bank accounts, medical or bills.

Those days are long gone. Today identity theft and identity fraud are serious and increasingly common crimes. That’s why whether you’re living in your own home, with family members or in an assisted living community, it’s essential to know how to avoid becoming a victim by guarding confidential information.

What Exactly Is Identity Theft and Identity Fraud?

• Identity Theft is when someone gets hold of personal information like your Social Security number, name, and birthdate and uses it for economic gain. They then assume your identity to create new accounts for things like getting medical insurance, applying for jobs or even filing taxes.


• Identity Fraud is when someone uses confidential information to commit a crime. It might mean using your credit card to run up a big bill on expensive luxury items. Using your personal information to create a fake identity to apply for loans at financial institutions. Or worse, giving law enforcement officers your name and personal information instead of their own when they are arrested for committing crimes. In which case the police might come after you.

How Can You Tell Whether Your Confidential Information Has Been Stolen?

Unlike a burglary when you come home to a ransacked house, the signs that you’ve had identity crimes committed against you are a lot more subtle. You might miss them if you don’t know what they are. For instance, you might suddenly receive a credit card you didn’t apply for or find odd charges on your credit card or bank statements. You might get bills, collection letters or calls from companies you’ve never done business with.

The consequences of having your identity stolen are serious. Thieves might drain your bank account or make unauthorized purchases that cost you hundreds of even thousands of dollars. Your credit could be damaged which could make it hard to do things like getting a car loan. They could add incorrect or health-endangering data to your medical records. Dealing with it all can put a burden of anger, worry and anxiety on your shoulders at a time in life when you should be focusing on enjoying your life.

What Can You Do to Protect Yourself?

The good news is there are some simple ways you can avoid becoming a victim by guarding confidential information.

• Store your personal information in a safe place. Don’t carry your Social Security or anything that has it in your purse or wallet.


• Look at your caller ID. Don’t answer calls or reply to email, texts or social media messages from people or phone numbers you don’t recognize.


• Don’t ignore your bank account and credit card statement. Keep a lookout for unauthorized purchases or transactions. If you spot something, report it right away.


• They may seem like harmless fun, but avoid taking “quizzes” on social media sites like Facebook. Scammers can use your answers – like your pet’s name – to try to reset your passwords to various accounts.







• Shred old financial statements, medical records and other documents containing personal information. While there are many paid services who will do this for you, often realtors or other community-minded businesses will hold free shredding events to let you safely dispose of boxes and boxes of documents at no cost.


• Use only one credit card to buy things online. If a hacker is successful in getting one card they can usually get others you use. And never use your debit card to make online purchases.


• Consider signing up for an identity protection service. There are many resources that can protect your identity for free. However, if you do choose a paid service, look for one that provides the “gold standard” of $1 million or more in identity theft insurance.

What Should You Do if Your Identity Is Stolen?

Contact the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) at 1-877-483-4388 or online at IdentityTheft.gov. Then alert the three major credit reporting agencies, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion, and ask them to put fraud alerts and a credit freeze on your accounts. Finally contact the fraud department at your credit card issuers, bank and other financial institutions where you have accounts. It may take time, but reclaiming your identity can be done.

Identity theft and fraud are serious crimes and are becoming more common. However, if you are careful you can avoid becoming a victim by guarding your confidential information.

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