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Is It Really You?


Technology has come a long way in the last thirty years. There are so many wonderful things we can do that two generations ago would have considered impossible. But with modern conveniences often comes new problems. Having your identity stolen is one of those issues. And it’s more involved than a thief pretending to be you to access your ATM with your PIN.

If someone takes out a credit card in your name, you are not liable to pay the bill; banks have insurance to cover fraud. However, taking care of the legalities surrounding such a problem is time-consuming and stressful. Resolving the issue can take over your life. This is the major reason to get identity theft insurance, more commonly called ID theft protection.

Check out what a company offers before you enroll; many offer reimbursements for losses and time-spent on recovery efforts, and some go as far as offering a representative who will clean things up on your behalf. Decide what you want and find a company that fits that bill.

Meanwhile, there are simple things you can do to help protect your identity as well as those of your children. Check your credit report regularly and report inconsistencies. Make sure computers have updated antivirus software. Use the highest privacy settings on all social media accounts. Secure phones with passcodes. Don’t use unsecured Wi-Fi. Change passwords often, never use the same one for more than one site, and use a password manager.  Check online accounts daily and keep your account numbers (including Social Security numbers) secure. Monitor medical histories. Pay attention to the news–they report data hacks and security breaches. And don’t fall for phishing scams; the IRS will not call you, and there are ways to double-check whether or not that email from card company is secure.

Don’t bury your head in the sand when it comes to this. The chances of identity theft will undoubtedly continue to rise in the coming years, but you don’t have to become an easy target.

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