 TITLE: The Unexpected Costs of Identity Theft CONTENT: How to Prevent Identity Theft\n-----------------------------\nPreventing identity theft is certainly better than having to deal with its effects. No matter how careful you are, it's not possible to avoid all risk. You can, however, improve your chances of avoiding identity theft and fraud by following some simple guidelines:\n*   Shred all documents that have personal identifying information or use a permanent marker to block it out.\n*   Stay skeptical when giving out personal information over the phone, especially if the caller is contacting you. If in doubt, hang up and directly call your financial institution or the company the caller said they represented.\n*   Don't open suspicious-looking email and never click on links in an unsolicited email. You can always log in to an account directly to see if there are outstanding issues.\n*   Use strong online passwords, stay away from public Wi-Fi, use an anti-malware program and consider using a virtual private network (VPN) to increase your online security.\nDetect fraudulent transactions quickly by monitoring your bank and credit card accounts frequently. If your card company offers transaction alerts and\/or the ability to turn your cards on and off, you can have even more immediate control over your account activity.\nMonitoring your credit can be helpful too. Check your credit report and score regularly for any unexpected changes, including new accounts or activity you don't recognize as yours. If you'd like to consolidate your efforts, credit monitoring from Experian lets you track your credit score, credit report and spending continuously, and you can set up alerts to let you know when changes and transactions occur.\nWhat if you've already been hacked? If you believe you are a victim of identity theft, consider taking these three steps:\n*   **File a report** with the authorities. Documenting your experience with the FTC and filing a police report could be necessary to dispute unauthorized charges or accounts. They can also help you clear your record if criminal activity has taken place in your name.\n*   **Freeze your credit.** A credit freeze limits the access that others, including lenders, have to your credit file. Experian, TransUnion and Equifax maintain dedicated webpages where you can set up credit freezes and find instructions for requesting freezes by mail. Since credit freezes stop legitimate applications for credit as well, and must be put in place and removed by contacting each bureau individually, they may be a hassle.\n*   **Add a fraud alert to your credit reports.** A more convenient alternative to freezing your credit is to add a fraud alert if you are, or suspect you may be, a victim of fraud. These alerts on your credit report ask creditors to take steps to verify your identity before issuing any credit in your name. Requesting a fraud alert with any credit reporting bureau will trigger an automatic fraud alert with all three bureaus.\nTools to Help You Manage Your Identity\n--------------------------------------\nWhether you're trying to prevent identity theft or are dealing with its aftereffects, managing your personal information and monitoring your credit consistently can feel like a full-time job. Services exist that can help you track your credit and accounts for signs of identity theft—and provide support if you experience identity fraud. Identity theft protection from Experian combines credit monitoring with dark web surveillance, fraud resolution support, ID theft insurance and an app that lets you lock and unlock your credit file any time, anywhere. END