 TITLE: Financial Abuse: How to Identify and Stop It CONTENT: The Path to Recovery\n--------------------\nRecovering from financial abuse is a long-term process. For couples who stay together, setting boundaries and rebuilding trust are critical steps forward. For those who have suffered substantial damage to their finances and credit, recovery may mean navigating separation and divorce while also working to establish financial stability and repairing credit.\nLearning how to respond to identity theft, rebuild credit, get out of debt and make a financial plan are all good places to start. You may also find the following tools helpful for keeping your accounts secure in the wake of financial abuse:\n*   **Set up fraud alerts and credit freezes** at all three credit reporting agencies. A fraud alert asks potential lenders to verify your identity before extending credit; a security freeze prevents new lenders from accessing your credit report unless you lift the freeze, making it more difficult for new credit accounts to be opened in your name without your knowledge.\n*   **Add two-factor authentication** to your online accounts, wherever possible. Two-factor authentication requires a user to input a password or passcode plus a one-time code, sent by email or text, to verify identity. This added security can help prevent other parties from cracking into your accounts, changing your passwords and blocking your access.\n*   **Sign up for transaction alerts**, so your bank notifies you whenever a transaction is made on your account(s). This is not only handy for keeping track of your money; it also alerts you to suspicious activity. END