In this episode, Brian Skrobonja shares tips and insights on how to help protect yourself against identity theft.
He sheds light on the best identity theft tools in the market, what to consider when someone steals your identity, and ways to minimize the risk of your data ending up in the dark web.
- Brian starts the conversation by sharing what he learned as a victim of identity theft and how you can be more prepared if you find yourself in a similar situation.
- The reality is that identity theft continues to be a growing problem and millions of people each year find themselves having to deal with these thieves.
- So this shouldn’t be viewed as something that happens to other people. It happens to a lot of people and can happen to you too.
- An important step to help protect yourself against identity theft is to assume it will happen to you at some point and try to be prepared to defend yourself when it does happen.
- Brian explains that we are on our own when it comes to protecting our identity–the police and credit companies are usually of little help.
- According to Brian, one super helpful thing you can do right now is visit credit reporting websites such as Experience or TransUnion.
- These companies can perform searches that go deep into the web and find where your information is posted.
- Your identity is you, and your credit is one of the most valuable assets you have–it’s worth taking steps to protect yourself.
- Brian reveals why passwords are by far the most important element for identity protection.
- Passwords are like keys. They are to help keep something of value behind a door. They don’t prevent a criminal from getting access, but it makes it more difficult.
- Using strong, complex passwords is one of the simplest ways to protect your accounts. Ideally, every account you have should have a unique password that you can change periodically.
- Brian talks about the two factor authentication. Yes, it can be a little irritating at times, but it’s an excellent tool that adds another layer of security that goes just beyond your password.
- Always shred documents with sensitive information to prevent dumpster diving thieves from getting a hold of crucial details.
- Brian explains what phishing scams are and how they work.
- These scams often involve fake emails or messages that appear to be from legitimate companies asking you to click on a link or provide sensitive information.
- For Brian, even with the best precautions, identity theft can still happen. But being aware of these things can help you not be a victim as easily.
- Once you’ve identified fraudulent activity, report it immediately. Begin by contacting your bank or credit card issuer to let them know about the suspicion’s transactions.
- Brian shares when and how to freeze your credit account.
- Identity theft can be a frustrating experience. And although there’s no proven way to prevent it entirely, you don’t have to make it easy. It is a risk we all face, but let’s not be the low-hanging fruit the thieves are all looking for.
Mentioned in this episode:
Common Sense Financial Podcast on YouTube
Common Sense Financial Podcast on Spotify
This information is being provided as a courtesy and is based solely on the hosts personal experience and is not to be considered professional recommendations or an exhaustive list of steps to prevent identity theft. Nothing can entirely prevent your identity from being stolen or used.
“The podcasts posted here before July 1, 2022 are historical in nature and were previously approved by Kalos Management, LLC. The views and statistics discussed in these shows are relevant to that time period and may not be relevant to current events. This is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended to be used as the sole basis for financial decisions, nor should it be construed as advice designed to meet the particular needs of an individual’s situation. Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal. Any references to protection, safety or lifetime income, generally refer to fixed insurance products, never securities or investments. Insurance guarantees are backed by the financial strength and claims paying abilities of the issuing carrier. Our firm is not permitted to offer and no statement made during this show shall constitute tax or legal advice. Our firm is not affiliated with or endorsed by the US Government or any governmental agency. The information and opinions contained herein provided by the third parties have been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed by our firm.”
