Protect Yourself from Identity Theft
Identity theft occurs when a person uses another's personal information such as Social Security, driver's license, or credit card numbers to commit fraud. If you suspect that your accounts have been tampered with, take immediate action.听
Make a police report to a law enforcement agency and听freeze all accounts you believe to be fraudulent. Place a fraud alert on your accounts and notify all three credit reporting agencies:听
| Credit Bureau | 听Contact |
|---|---|
| TransUnion | Fraud Victim Assistance Department PO Box 6790 Fullerton, CA 92834 800-680-7289 听 |
| Experian | National Consumer Assistance PO Box 2002 Allen, TX 75013 888-397-3742 听 |
| Equifax Credit Information Services听 | Consumer Fraud Division PO Box 740256 Atlanta, GA 30374 800-525-6285 |
Phishing e-mails:听Phishers听impersonate an institution you know, like 吉祥坊, and prompt you to urgently update your account or provide some form of personal information. If you believe your account has been compromised, call or visit the company.听Do not use any of the contact information or links provided in the e-mail. For more information on phishing e-mails and examples, visit the听Phishing Information Page.
Social Media:听Phishers and hackers primarily obtain information on you from your own social media account! Set your account to private and limit the personal information you give about yourself in your posts (last name, school, location/check-ins).
Stronger Passwords:听Avoid the obvious听Abc123!听format.听Don鈥檛 rely on security questions; anyone digging deep enough can find the answer to those. Set up two-factor authentication and sign up with a free password manager like LastPass to create unique passwords that require no memorization.
Wi-Fi usage:听Limit your activities while using public Wi-Fi. Try not to purchase things or access bank accounts. Public Wi-Fi hotspots are targeted by hackers since it gives them direct access to your mobile device.
Updated Software:听Keep your computer's operating system and antivirus software up-to-date. For more information on virus protection, refer to our听Security Software听page.
Credit Report:听Check your bank statements and credit report for accuracy.听For information about your annual free credit report, visit the听. Make sure to shred your bank statements, old credit cards, and any other document containing sensitive information.
Solicitors:听Impostors also try to take information from you over the phone.听Remove your name from marketing lists by visiting the听. Or, the听听gives you a choice about whether to receive telemarketing calls at home, effective 31 days after appearing on the registry. Stop mail solicitations of pre-approved credit card applications by听听from credit bureau marketing lists. Don't give information to solicitor's on campus either; report suspicious activity to听university police at (818) 677-2111.