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At PATRIOT Backgrounds and Investigations, serving Davie, FL, and the nearby region, we want to let you know just how common identity theft is. Millions of Americans are victims of identity theft. In fact, in 2020 alone, 47 percent of Americans were victims. You can, however, take steps to prevent yourself from becoming one of these individuals. We at PATRIOT PI would like to explain how.
Create Strong Passwords and Change Them Often
It’s much easier to protect your information when you change your passwords regularly. This makes it so that it’s difficult for a hacker to obtain your password.
Ideally, you want to use a password that doesn’t have any of your personal information in it, such as your name or birth date. These are easy for a hacker to figure out.
You also don’t want to use the same password for multiple accounts. Never type those passwords up in your email or another place online. They can be found. Instead, you should write a physical list of them on paper at your house and keep it in a safe place.
Watch What You Share on Social Media
You may have friends and family on your social media that you share information with to keep them updated on your life. However, other prying eyes can find this information. Therefore, before you share information online, limit it to information that’s not personal and could be used to steal your identity. When there’s a great deal of information online about you, it’s easier to steal your identity.
Don’t Forget About Your Phone
Nowadays, people use their phones to surf the web more than ever before. They use their cell phones for everything from banking to shopping and everything in between. This leaves a lot of room for a hacker to access the information sent from a phone.
Firstly, you should password protect your phone. You can use this with either a pin, pattern, facial recognition, or your fingerprint.
Make sure you’re careful about the sites you go on via your phone. When you download apps, choose official ones only. Malicious apps can steal your passwords and other personal information.
Consider downloading security software on your phone.
Think About an Identity Theft Protection Program
You can opt for a program that monitors your identity when you can’t. These services look for signs that your personal information has gotten into the wrong hands, like your driver’s license number, social security number, or bank account information. You can then take the necessary steps to prevent further problems.
The monitoring program will look at your credit report and alert you when any new accounts have been opened in your name. If you didn’t open the account, you take the necessary steps to correct the problem.
Hire a PATRIOT PI
At the first signs of identity theft, you should contact PATRIOT. We provide criminal investigations, including cyber security services, to help you figure out who was the culprit.
A PATRIOT PI will sit down with you and help you identify the extent of the identity theft that occurred and will thoroughly investigate. We can also provide you with information on stopping any further damage to your credit and educate you on the multitude of ways you can protect your information in the future.
At PATRIOT Backgrounds and Investigations, serving Davie, FL, and the general vicinity, one of the services we offer is criminal investigations, including cybercrimes. Our experts are highly trained in this type of crime and want you to know you’re not alone in this; we’re here to assist.
Contact us today by calling 954-372-1103. If you prefer, you can also contact us via our secure online form.
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