How to Protect Yourself

• When your Social Security Number is requested, ask if you can give alternate information
• Don't give your credit card or bank account numbers to anyone over the phone unless you initiated the call
• Shred sensitive documents, all of them
• Install anti-virus software and update regularly
• Always secure digital information behind passwords
• Never click on links in emails and then log into your accounts, go directly to the website from outside the email
• Change your passwords often
• Turn off your cell phone's blue tooth and Wi-Fi when not in use
• Monitor bank accounts at least weekly, preferably daily
• Sign up for available mobile or email alerts by your institution
• Monitor credit reports to spot unauthorized activity
• Notify your creditors and the credit reporting agencies immediately if you card has been lost or stolen
• Work through your bank and protection service provider to report problems immediately
• Use available services to restore the worthiness of your accounts and credit
• Take full advantage of your financial provider's offers of loss

Identity Theft Facts

• One in every ten American consumers has been a victim of identity theft
• Approximately 1.6 million households have had their bank accounts and/or debit cards compromised
• Nearly 50% of victims learn of their identities stolen within three months
• About 15% of victims don't learn of their identities being stolen for four or more years
• Average amount taken from each identity theft victim amounts to $4,841 (approximately three months' worth of full-time worker's wages)
• Out of pocket expenses for a victim to resolve identity theft damage ranges from $851 to $1,378
• Average time it takes to repair the damage done by identity theft is 330 hours or, said another way, over eight work weeks
• In some cases, it takes up to 5,840 hours to fully correct the damage done from the theft, which is equivalent to working full time for two years
• Approximately 70% of victims that have difficulty removing negative information stemming from the theft from their credit reports
• Estimates have it that 1/3rd of identity theft cases are perpetrated by family or friends of the victim
• 25.9 million Americans now carry identity theft insurance
• 43% of identity fraud cases were spotted by consumers that monitored their accounts; those that use electronic methods had lower than average out-of-pocket costs