Many millions of Americans continue to be affected by identity theft every year. Unfortunately, it’s not something we tend to think about until it happens to us and disrupts our entire lives. When it comes to identity theft, being prepared, and taking precautions is the best way to prevent this nightmare. For some top practices on how to keep your identity safe from now on, read on.
Shred paper documents. Whenever you receive a paper bill or statement and are not going to store it away safely, be sure to shred it. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure – and many criminals will wade through garbage to find valuable account numbers and promotional credit offers.
Avoid using public Wi-Fi. In our ever-expanding digital world, more of us are using online methods to pay bills, view accounts, work remotely, and more. It’s important you do not use public Wi-Fi to access accounts or pay bills, as you never know how secure the Wi-Fi may be. Hackers have been known to take advantage of the weak barriers surrounding public Wi-Fi, and access important details that you view when using this connection.
Review your credit report often. Take the time to order a free credit report each year from one of the three credit report agencies. Verify your information, correct misspellings, and fix any errors that may be impacting your credit. If there are any mistakes, contact each agency directly.
These tips can help to protect your identity. For all of your personal and commercial insurance needs, contact the team at Gee-Schussler Insurance Agency.
