Every day, consumers who have a smartphone are interacting with the economy in various ways, from mobile banking to purchases at local shops and online shopping sites.
Identity theft is when someone uses your personal data — your name, Social Security number, birth date, etc. — to impersonate you, typically using that information to steal from you.
Oportun Chief Information Security Officer Manju Mude says, “These online scammers and criminals are growing more aggressive and sophisticated, using tech advancements to their advantage.”
Here are five tips to protect yourself from online identity theft:
Tip #1 — Protect your personal information: Don’t respond to email, text messages or phone calls asking for details to confirm your identity unless you have verified the request is legitimate.
Tip #2 — Choose unique passwords: Try to select different passwords for every site you use. Avoid using any part of your personal information (like your name, family names, pet names, addresses or birth date). Use a mix of words, letters, numbers and symbols to make your password less easy to be stolen by criminals. There are also apps out there that can safely store all your passwords.
Tip #3 — Use alerts: Many financial institutions will text or email when transactions are made on your accounts. Sign-up to receive text message alerts so that you know when your credit card has been used, and any activities on your accounts, such as withdrawals or deposits.
Tip #4 — Protect your mobile devices: Use passwords on your electronic devices. Use a banking app rather than a mobile browser for banking.
Tip #5 — Consider what you’re posting on social media: Use caution when posting information to social media that can be used to identify you, your family and location. Social media quizzes and puzzles can reveal a lot of private information about you even though they seem fun or harmless.
For more information, go to https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/identity-theft-protection-for-taxpayers-in-six-steps.