Home is where you feel most secure. It’s where you keep important papers and valuables, and where you can relax after a long day. However, that also makes it a prime target for thieves who may be looking for easy access to your identity. In fact, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), home burglaries account for about one-third of all property crimes. This means that, even if you don’t leave home often, you may be at risk of having your home broken into and your possessions stolen. Protecting yourself from these risks is crucial. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk of identity theft at home.
Be aware of scams.
If you’re not careful, you may be subject to scams that involve identity theft. These scams may be perpetrated by strangers who approach you on the street, or they may be phishing emails that try to trick you into sharing your personal information. In either case, you should be aware of the signs of a scam. If you get an unexpected call or email from someone claiming to be a government official and asking for your personal information, for example, it’s probably a scam. You should never give out your personal information to someone you don’t know, and you should never give out your Social Security number. If you get an unexpected call or email asking you to confirm a password reset, that’s also a red flag. If you receive a call or email asking you to confirm your password, immediately change your password.
Check your credit report.
You’re already familiar with the importance of checking your credit report from time to time, but you may not know that you should do so every year at the beginning of each calendar year. If you check your report once a year, you’ll know if there are any suspicious activity on your account. This will help you take action if there is a problem, and it will give you peace of mind knowing that your information is secure. You can check your credit report at annualcreditreport.com. You’ll need to provide your name, address, and date of birth, and you may be asked to provide a credit card number to pay for the report.
Change your passwords regularly.
As we’ve discussed, one of the easiest ways for someone to gain access to your information is by hacking into your email. To protect against this, you should change your password regularly. You should also be careful about the information you share online. For example, if you use the same password for multiple accounts, if you use the same password for your email and online banking, and if you use the same password for all of your accounts, a hacker could gain access to all of your accounts with a single password hack. You should also be careful about using the same password across multiple devices. If your phone is stolen, a thief could easily access your email. If you have a computer at home and a work computer, you may be tempted to use the same password on both devices. This is a bad idea.
Install a security device.
If you have a home security system, you can install a security device that will alert you if someone breaks in. You can also install a device that will alert you if your home is being broken into by someone who is already inside. These devices are often connected to your home’s Wi-Fi network, so they will send alerts to a computer or phone. You can also set these devices to send an alert to a relative or friend if they don’t receive an alert from you. These devices are a great way to increase your protection against identity theft. They can help you avoid being a victim of identity theft by alerting you to suspicious activity. They can also help you recover faster if your identity is stolen.
Don’t put all of your eggs in one basket.
If you only use one credit card, you may be at risk if that card is stolen. You can reduce your risk of identity theft by using more than one credit card. You can also increase your protection by using a credit card that has fraud protection. This will allow you to monitor your card and see if it’s been used without your approval. If you use a debit card, you don’t have to worry about fraud because your bank will cover any fraud losses. There are a few ways to reduce your risk of identity theft with a debit card. First, you can use a PIN number to authenticate your identity. Second, you can use a debit card that is combined with a credit card. This will allow you to have a credit card and a debit card, but you’ll have to pay the credit card portion of the bill.
Bottom line
The risk of identity theft at home is very real. It’s important to be aware of the risks and take steps to protect yourself. You can reduce your risk by changing your passwords regularly, checking your credit report, and installing a security device. You can also reduce your risk by using more than one credit card and using a debit card that has fraud protection.