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Identity Theft

Q&A: Safeguarding your personal data is hard. Here are a few tips.

May 13, 2024 By Liz Weston

Dear Liz: I was recently alerted that my Social Security number has been found on the dark web. My information was part of the AT&T breach that took place recently. I am no longer an AT&T customer and haven’t been for several years, but they have not made any contact with me. What do I do to keep myself safe and how do I get my information removed from the dark web? Why hasn’t AT&T reached out to me?

Answer: As a consumer, you don’t have much power. Companies often demand your personal data, such as Social Security numbers, before they’ll do business with you. Once your information is in their databases, you have no control over what happens to it. And if your information is leaked, there’s no way to remove it from the dark web.

You can’t even be sure how your information got there, given the sheer volume of database breaches in recent years. If you’re an adult with a Social Security number, chances are pretty good that number can be found on the black market sites where criminals buy and share information, says Eva Velasquez, chief executive of the Identity Theft Resource Center, a nonprofit that helps identity theft victims.

In other words, your data may have been compromised long before the latest incident, which AT&T says affected 73 million current and former customers. AT&T began notifying impacted customers via letters or email starting in April. Those customers should have received an offer for free credit monitoring.

There are a few things you can do to make yourself a bit less vulnerable to identity theft, such as putting freezes on your credit reports, not clicking on links in texts or emails if you didn’t initiate the transaction and using digital wallets or other secure payment methods.

Also, don’t be your own worst enemy. Beware of sharing personal information (birth dates, address, phone number, etc.) on social media. Consider limiting your audience to people you know and trust, Velasquez says.

The Identity Theft Resource Center also recommends using passkeys, a technology that replaces passwords, whenever you’re offered that option. If a passkey is not available, the center suggests using passphrases of 12 characters or more rather than shorter passwords. A passphrase is a sequence of words that can be personalized for easier memorization, typically with numbers added and a mix of capital and lowercase letters. The center gives an example of a passphrase for a 2015 University of Texas graduate: “H00kEmH0rns2015.” You’ll still need unique passphrases for every account and site. You also should turn on two-factor authentication or multi-factor authentication where available. This requires an extra step, such as getting a code on your phone or from an app, but this will make your accounts harder to compromise.

Filed Under: Identity Theft, Q&A, Scams Tagged With: credit freezes, dark web, Identity Theft, multi-factor authentication, passkey, passwords, Social Security number, two-factor authentication

Q&A: Identity theft fears? Get a credit report, credit freeze

June 13, 2022 By Liz Weston

Dear Liz: I divorced 32 years ago. Recently, I received calls from a collection agency about a debt that has not been paid. I discovered that my ex used my phone number as one of his contact numbers. My number is supposed to be unlisted and unpublished, but he found it online. I have stopped receiving calls from the agency, but how do I stop this from happening again?

Answer: Please check your credit reports to make sure your ex didn’t swipe even more sensitive digits: namely, your Social Security number. If his credit is bad, he may be tempted to pretend to be you in order to get credit cards, loans or other accounts. That’s identity theft, and there are steps you should take now to protect yourself.

You can access your credit reports for free at AnnualCreditReport.com. (If you’re asked for a credit card number, you’re on the wrong site.) Look for any accounts that aren’t yours and consider freezing your credit reports at each of the bureaus. Credit freezes prevent someone from opening new accounts in your name. You can thaw the freeze whenever you need credit, also for free.

You can’t prevent someone from adding your phone number to their credit applications, but under federal law you can tell a collection agency to stop contacting you, and it must comply. Make the request in writing.

Filed Under: Credit Cards, Identity Theft, Q&A Tagged With: Identity Theft, q&a

Monday’s need-to-know money news

November 2, 2020 By Liz Weston

Today’s top story: 4 tax triggers new investors need to know about. Also in the news: A new episode of the SmartMoney podcast on identity theft and financial stability, how to compare Medicare Advantage plans, and how to save your finances by avoiding these common mistakes.

4 Tax Triggers New Investors Need to Know About
Advice from the tax pros.

Smart Money Podcast: Financial Stability and Identity Theft
Creating financial stability in an unstable world.

Medicare Advantage Plans: How to Compare
Medicare Advantage Plans are an alternative to Original Medicare, offered by private insurers. Here’s how to shop.

Save Your Finances by Avoiding These Common Mistakes
Some errors are more costly than others.

Filed Under: Liz's Blog Tagged With: common financial mistakes, financial stability, Identity Theft, Investments, investors, Medicare Advantage, SmartMoney podcast, tax triggers

Monday’s need-to-know money news

June 15, 2020 By Liz Weston

Today’s top story: These are probably your best options for travel this summer. Also in the news: A new episode of the SmartMoney podcast on how the pandemic is changing our financial lives, how your state may let you deduct the costs of working from home during the pandemic, and 10 steps to avoiding tax-return identity theft.

These are probably your best options for travel this summer
It’s going to be weird.

SmartMoney Podcast: The Pandemic Is Changing Our Financial Lives, and What to Know About Refinancing Now
Things have changed dramatically.

Your State May Let You Deduct The Costs of Working From Home During the Pandemic
Covering the costs of your upgrades.

10 Steps to Avoiding Tax-Return Identity Theft
Protecting your Social Security number.

Filed Under: Liz's Blog Tagged With: Identity Theft, pandemic, SmartMoney podcast, summer travel, tax deductions, tax returns, working from home

Tuesday’s need-to-know money news

February 18, 2020 By Liz Weston

Today’s top story: Identity theft protection you may not know you already have. Also in the news: How auto insurers use you non-driving habits to raise prices, how younger consumers can get a credit boost from their elders, and how to close a credit card the right way.

Identity Theft Protection You May Not Know You Already Have
Some surprising sources.

How Auto Insurers Use Your Nondriving Habits to Raise Prices
What you need to know about price optimization.

Younger Consumers, Get a Credit Boost From Your Elders
Authorized user status could give you a boost.

How to Close a Credit Card The Right Way
Protecting your credit score.

Filed Under: Liz's Blog Tagged With: auto insurance, closing credit cards, Credit Score, Identity Theft, identity theft protection, price optimization

Monday’s need-to-know money news

December 16, 2019 By Liz Weston

Today’s top story: Retirement costs that could surprise you. Also in the news: A new episode of the SmartMoney podcast on keeping your New Year’s money resolution, how procrastinators can win at gift-giving, and another reason to not pay for your gas at the pump.

Retirement Costs That Could Surprise You
Covering all the bases.

SmartMoney podcast: ‘How Can I (Actually) Keep My New Year’s Money Resolution?’
Making it past the first week and beyond.

How Procrastinators Can Win at Gift-Giving
You might need to leave the house.

Another Reason to Not Pay for Gas at the Pump
Hackers have a new way to steal your info at the gas station.

Filed Under: Liz's Blog Tagged With: gas stations, gift giving, Identity Theft, New Year's resolutions, procrastinators, Retirement, retirement costs, SmartMoney podcast

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