On Your Own; Your Legal Right @ Eighteen On Your Own formatted final version | Page 40

Protect your information physically. Guard your mail and trash from theft.
Shred papers with personal identifying information, including credit offers
you don’t respond to. “Opt out” of receiving free offers of credit. Secure
your wallet, purse, phone, and other items containing personal
information.
Protect your information digitally. Password protect your phone, tablet,
computer, and other devices, and your Internet accounts.
Use different passwords for different sites, use strong passwords, and
change them regularly.
Don’t give out identifying information, or even view it yourself, through an
unsecure Internet connection or an unsecure website—including shared
WiFi. When shopping online, avoid companies and websites you don’t
know.
Avoid phishing, spam, and other malicious emails. Don’t open
attachments without checking they’re legitimate. Type in the URL or
contact the company directly rather than following a link.
Don’t forget to protect yourself on social networking sites. Be careful
about oversharing. Identity theft can happen anywhere there’s
information to steal.
Watch Your Identity. Your best protection is prevention. Your second-best
protection is to spot theft early.
Review your credit reports at each of the three major credit bureaus once
a year: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. Doing so is free. Report any
unfamiliar activity. Also review your credit card and bank statements
every month and report suspicious activity.
What should you do if you’re a victim of identity theft?
Immediately close any accounts that have been tampered with or opened
without your permission.
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