 TITLE: What Is Synthetic ID Fraud? CONTENT: How to Protect Yourself From Identity Theft\n-------------------------------------------\nDetecting synthetic ID theft can be more difficult than detecting other types of identity theft. But here are some things you can do to keep your—and your loved ones'—information protected.\n*   **Monitor your credit.** To check for any unfamiliar accounts and ensure all your information is correct, get your credit reports from all three credit bureaus (Experian, TransUnion and Equifax) at least once a year, which you can do for free through AnnualCreditReport.com. You can also monitor your Experian credit report for free.\n*   **Lock or freeze your credit reports.** This keeps others from opening an account in your name.\n*   **Freeze your children's credit reports.** The credit bureaus will create and then freeze children's credit reports, which could help keep others from using their SSN to open new credit accounts. The process is a little different at each bureau—you can learn about Experian's process.\n*   **Be careful about what you share on social media.** Fraudsters may be able to gather information, such as birthdays, from social media posts.\n*   **Limit sharing SSNs.** This is particularly important if you have children or are a caretaker for an older relative. You can ask organizations if they truly need an SSN, or if a different type of personal information or identification could work instead.\n*   **Keep an eye on your mail.** If you see unusual mail regarding government benefits, Social Security statements or preapproved credit offers for a child, that could be an indication of fraud.\nUnless you're complicit in the creation or use of the fake identity, you likely won't be responsible for any of the fraudulent activity.\nHowever, synthetic identity fraud is far from a victimless crime—as it's sometimes described. Rising fraud rates could increase the cost of credit for everyone and make it more difficult to open a credit account or apply for government benefits. END