According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, 10% of people in the U.S. over the age of 15 have been the victims of identity theft in the previous 12-month period. If you’ve recently discovered that you are the victim of identity theft, you are not alone.
While it’s only a small comfort to know you are not alone in this victimhood, there are organizations available to assist you in your recovery. These organizations are there to help as you attempt to untangle the mess identity theft causes in your personal and financial life while also recovering from the sense of violation crimes of this nature create.
Reducing Your Risks of Identity Theft
As with all things, prevention is the best cure. There are actions you can take that will reduce your risks of becoming an identity theft victim. These are some steps you can take.
- Shred credit card and bank statements, credit card offers, account statements, and expired credit cards.
- Check your mail daily and as quickly after delivery as possible.
- If you’re traveling out of town, place a hold on your mail until you return.
- Store your social security card securely.
- Don’t give out your social security number unless absolutely necessary.
- Never, ever, use default passwords for your home or business Wi-Fi networks.
- Change network passwords routinely.
- Engage mobile phone security features.
- Create strong, unique passwords for your Internet account access.
- Opt-in for two-factor authentication whenever it is offered.
- Be mindful of the information you share on social media.
- Consider investing in identity theft protection and/or monitoring services.
While it is important to actively seek to reduce your risks of identity theft, understand that there is always some degree of risk. Knowing what to do next is important too.
What to do if You’ve Become a Victim of Identity Theft
Vanderburgh County residents have an excellent resource in place to help you address a variety of organizations to help you recover from incidents like identity theft and other crimes. Visit the Vanderburgh County Crime Victims Resources today to learn more about services that can help you in your recovery efforts.