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Q: I’m scared of identity theft. What can I do?

A: You are right to be concerned. Identity theft—when someone uses your credit card information or Social Security number to open accounts and obtain unauthorized loans—is on the rise. Having your identity stolen is not only emotionally traumatizing, it can do serious harm to your credit score and financial security. Fortunately there are concrete steps you can take to protect yourself. First, be extremely vigilant about giving out your Social Security number and only do so when you are required to. Shred all bills and other documents containing financial and personal information before you throw them away. Whenever possible, pay using a credit card rather than a debit card because credit cards offer more security protections. Change passwords and logins once a month and be careful about what sites you visit and transactions you do online when using a public computer or public wireless network. Also be on the lookout for phishing scams—emails from seemingly legitimate agencies or individuals that request personal information—and wary of how you respond to them. In addition, make a point to carefully review your credit card and bank statements as well as your credit report regularly as those documents are usually the first places where you can spot suspicious activity.

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