What should I do if I think my identity has been stolen?

Act fast. Freeze your credit at all three bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) to stop new accounts from being opened. File a report at IdentityTheft.gov for a personalized recovery plan. Contact your bank and credit card companies. File a police report if you have specific evidence. Get your IRS Identity Protection PIN to prevent fraudulent tax returns. According to Javelin Research, victims spent an average of 10 hours resolving identity fraud in 2023.

How can I tell if a phone call, text, or email is a scam?

Three red flags: urgency (act now or your account will be closed), requests for personal information (no legitimate company asks for your SSN or password by phone or email), and unusual payment methods (gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency). The IRS never initiates contact by phone, text, or email. If unsure, hang up and call the organization directly using the number on their official website.

What are the most common types of identity theft?

Credit card fraud (someone opens cards or makes charges in your name) is consistently the most reported. Government document fraud (fake tax returns using your SSN) has been growing rapidly. Phone and utility fraud (accounts opened in your name) saw a 1,033% increase in 2024 according to IdentityIQ. Medical identity theft (someone uses your insurance) can go undetected for months. Synthetic identity theft (criminals combine real and fake data) is particularly difficult to trace.

What should I do after receiving a data breach notification?

Change the password for the breached account immediately, and for any other account where you used the same password. Enable two-factor authentication. Check HaveIBeenPwned.com to see what was exposed. If the breach included your SSN, freeze your credit. If it included financial information, set up transaction alerts on your bank accounts.

Does freezing my credit hurt my credit score?

No. A credit freeze has no impact on your credit score. It only prevents new credit inquiries. Your existing accounts, payment history, and score are completely unaffected. You can lift it temporarily whenever you need to apply for credit.

What is a credit freeze vs. a fraud alert?

A credit freeze blocks all new credit inquiries until you lift it. A fraud alert asks lenders to verify your identity before opening new accounts, but does not prevent them from proceeding. Freezes are harder for criminals to work around. Both are free and can be active at the same time.

What is SIM swapping and how do I prevent it?

SIM swapping is when a criminal convinces your phone carrier to transfer your number to a new SIM card they control. They can then intercept text-based two-factor authentication codes. Prevent it by setting a port-out PIN with your carrier, enabling account takeover protection, and switching from SMS-based 2FA to an authenticator app or hardware security key.

How do I remove my personal information from the internet?

Start with data broker opt-outs. Sites like Spokeo, BeenVerified, Whitepages, and Radaris publish your name, address, phone number, and relatives' names. You can submit removal requests individually (free but time-consuming) or use a paid service like Incogni, DeleteMe, or Optery to automate the process. Brokers re-collect data every few months, so removal is ongoing.

Why don't people protect their privacy even when they know they should?

Researchers call this the privacy paradox, first described by Acquisti and Grossklags in a 2005 IEEE Security & Privacy paper. According to Pew Research Center's 2023 survey, 81% of Americans are concerned about how companies use their data, yet 73% feel they have little or no control over it, and 56% agree to privacy policies without reading them. The behavioral research points to two barriers: complexity (people don't know what to do) and friction (the steps feel inconvenient). Structured checklists like this guide are designed to eliminate both.

How to Protect Your Identity Online:
Free Interactive Privacy Checklist

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