Identity Theft Awareness Week
Author: Michelle Mathot, Rocky's Agency On Aging
Identity Theft Awareness Week
Michelle Mathot
Rocky's Agency on Aging
American adults lost $47 billion to identity fraud and scams in 2024, according to an AARP-sponsored report from by Javelin Strategy & Research. The problem is huge, and our personal information can be compromised through everything from sophisticated data breaches to simple mail theft. Below are some key steps to help protect you and your loved ones.
REDUCE YOUR PAPER TRAIL
• Set up online access to your bank and credit card accounts and enroll in paperless billing to reduce the risk of physical theft of your personal information.
• Shred sensitive documents—such as bank statements, tax forms, and medical bills—before discarding them.
• Keep your Social Security card stored securely at home, and avoid leaving any personal information in your car, even if it’s locked.
STRENGTHEN YOUR SECURITY MEASURES
• Use strong and unique passwords for each account, enable multifactor authentication whenever it’s offered, avoid public Wi-Fi for sensitive transactions, and install reputable security software on your devices.
• Monitor your credit report for suspicious activity and consider freezing your credit with all three major credit bureaus to help prevent criminals from opening accounts in your name.
• File your tax return as early as you can—tax identity thieves who have obtained personal information often try to file first. You can go to irs.gov to request a personal identification number to associate with your return each year; IRS won’t process your return without it, adding an important layer of protection.
PROTECT YOUR PRIVACY
• Make sure your social media accounts are set to private and avoid oversharing information such as your birthday, hometown, family members, or education history.
• It’s risky to enter personal information into AI programs or chat tools; chat logs are not a confidential resource.
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