Identity theft is the fraudulent acquisition and use of a person’s identifying information, usually for financial gain. There are different types of identity theft including online, medical, and economic identity theft. Someone committing identity theft can steal and buy things with another person’s credit cards, steal tax refunds, open credit cards, get medical care, and pretend to be another person when arrested.
Taking some extra steps when it comes to identity theft can greatly benefit you. Some examples of how to protect yourself from identity theft are creating different passwords for your accounts, collecting mail daily, and freezing your credit. By freezing your credit, no one will be able to look at or request your credit report. This will make sure no one, not even yourself, can open an account, apply for a loan, or open a credit card. If you collect your mail daily, there is less chance someone will be able to steal any information directly from your mailbox. Sometimes identity theft is not so high-tech. When creating new accounts, using a password that is different from existing accounts, is proven to be more secure. Longer and more complex passwords are proven to be the most secure. Another way to protect yourself from identity theft is to install antivirus software. In doing so, you are making it difficult for hackers to access your personal information. Outdated software is easier for criminals to hack into. Also, it’s known that checking your accounts frequently for any forgiven charges is a good way to protect yourself from identity theft.
In conclusion, identity theft is a big thing worldwide that occurs pretty often. But there are things you can do to avoid being a victim. These steps could be as small as making your passwords complex and hard to guess or checking your accounts daily to make sure you are the only person making charges to your bank and credit card accounts.
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The Snapper 