Preventing Identity Theft

Search “identity theft” on the internet, and you’ll get millions of results. With an overwhelming amount of information available on this growing crime, it can be tough to get a handle on how identity theft affects you, and more importantly, what you can do to keep your personal information safe.

Identity theft occurs when someone’s personal information is fraudulently obtained and used for financial gain – often years after the original theft. Not only does identity theft invade your privacy, it robs you of your most valuable asset: peace of mind.

What can you do to prevent identity theft?

While there’s no way to stop identity theft from happening entirely, there are steps you can take to help prevent it. To get started:

1. Monitor your credit reports: Check your report from all major bureaus—Experian®, Equifax® and, TransUnion®, for fraudulent activity.

2. Monitor your bank accounts: Check for suspicious activity. If you spot something, address it immediately.

3. Secure your accounts: Create a strong password. Even better, make it a passphrase and create a unique login for each of your social media and email accounts.

Bonus tip: For more protection and greater peace of mind, consider enrolling in ProtectMyID from AAA. Fueled by Experian, a global leader in identity security, and built for today’s changing world of increasing threats and data breaches, ProtectMyID helps you take control of, detect and resolve identity theft.

With multiple layers of identity protection available, proactive alerts and robust features like Social Media Monitoring, Identity Alerts, and Dark Web Surveillance, you can choose the level of coverage that works for your life. To take control of your identity and help minimize your risk of becoming a victim, visit AAA.com/IDTheft.