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    5 min read 6 stepsApril 20, 2026Verified April 2026

    How to Protect Yourself from Identity Theft

    Understand how identity theft happens and the concrete steps you can take right now to protect your personal information online and offline.

    At a Glance

    Category
    Safety & Privacy
    Difficulty
    Beginner
    Read Time
    5 min read
    Steps
    6
    Topics covered
    identity theft
    personal information
    security
    fraud
    credit freeze
    protection

    In this guide (6 steps):

    1. 1.Freeze your credit reports at all three bureaus
    2. 2.Monitor your bank and credit card accounts regularly
    3. 3.Use strong, unique passwords for financial accounts
    4. 4.Be skeptical of unsolicited calls, texts, and emails
    5. 5.Protect your physical mail and documents
    6. 6.Check your credit reports annually
    1

    Freeze your credit reports at all three bureaus

    ~37s
    A credit freeze prevents anyone — including criminals — from opening new credit accounts using your Social Security number. Contact all three credit bureaus: Equifax (equifax.com or 1-800-685-1111), Experian (experian.com or 1-888-397-3742), and TransUnion (transunion.com or 1-888-909-8872). You can freeze your credit online, by phone, or by mail. The freeze is free and does not affect your existing accounts or credit score.

    Quick Tip

    If you need to apply for credit in the future (a new credit card, car loan, or mortgage), you can temporarily lift the freeze for a specific bureau. This is called a thaw or unfreeze and can be done online in minutes. After the application is processed, refreeze your credit again.

    2

    Monitor your bank and credit card accounts regularly

    ~39s
    Log in to your bank and credit card accounts at least once a week to review recent transactions. Look for any charges you do not recognize — even small ones. Criminals often test stolen card numbers with tiny purchases of $1 to $5 before making larger ones. Report any unauthorized charge to your bank right away by calling the number on the back of your card. Most banks will reverse fraudulent charges and issue you a new card.

    Quick Tip

    Set up transaction alerts on your bank and credit card accounts. Most banks offer free text or email alerts for every transaction, or for transactions over a certain amount. This way you know right away if your card is used without your knowledge.

    3

    Use strong, unique passwords for financial accounts

    ~37s
    Your bank account, email, Social Security Administration online account, and any account that stores financial information should each have a different password. A strong password is at least 12 characters long and contains a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols. Using a password manager like Bitwarden (free) or 1Password can generate and remember these passwords for you so you only need to remember one master password.

    Warning

    Never use the same password for your email and your bank account. If your email password is stolen, criminals can use it to reset your bank password and gain access to your money. Email account security is particularly critical — protect it with a unique, strong password and two-factor authentication.

    4

    Be skeptical of unsolicited calls, texts, and emails

    ~27s
    Legitimate organizations like your bank, the IRS, and Social Security Administration do not call you out of the blue to ask for your Social Security number, account number, or passwords. If you receive an unsolicited call or message claiming to be from any of these organizations, hang up or do not respond. Then call the organization directly using a number from their official website or the back of your card to verify if there is actually an issue.
    5

    Protect your physical mail and documents

    ~32s
    Shred any documents containing personal information before throwing them away — this includes bank statements, credit card offers, old tax returns, and medical documents. Consider switching to paperless billing and statements through your bank and utility companies to reduce the amount of sensitive mail coming to your home. Use a locked mailbox if possible, and collect your mail promptly — do not leave it sitting in an unsecured mailbox overnight.

    Quick Tip

    You can report mail theft to the US Postal Inspection Service at postalinspectors.uspis.gov or by calling 1-877-876-2455. This is a federal offense and the postal service investigates these reports.

    6

    Check your credit reports annually

    ~24s
    You are entitled to one free credit report per year from each of the three bureaus through annualcreditreport.com — the only official government-mandated site for free reports. Review each report for accounts you do not recognize, addresses you have never lived at, or employers listed that you never worked for. These can be signs that someone has used your identity to open accounts. Dispute any inaccurate information through the bureau's website or by mail.

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    Identity theft happens when someone uses your personal information without your permission. They use it to steal money or open new accounts in your name. This can include your Social Security number, credit card number, or bank details. It affects millions of Americans every year, and it can take months or years to fully fix. Learning how it happens — and how to stop it — is one of the best things you can do for your security.

    Criminals get your information in a few common ways. Data breaches are one: hackers break into a company's computer systems and steal customer records. This has happened to major companies including Target, Equifax, and Yahoo. If your information was in one of those breaches, it may now be for sale on illegal markets.

    Phishing is another common method. Criminals send emails or texts pretending to be your bank, the IRS, Social Security, or another trusted organization. These messages try to trick you into typing your password, Social Security number, or credit card number into a fake website. They often push urgency: "Your account will be closed unless you verify your information now."

    Physical theft still happens too. Criminals steal mail from mailboxes — especially new credit cards, bank statements, and tax documents. They also dig through trash for discarded documents with personal information, and steal wallets and purses with Social Security cards, credit cards, and ID inside.

    The good news: a few specific, practical steps cut your risk a lot. Freeze your credit reports. Check your accounts often. Use strong, unique passwords. Be skeptical of messages you did not expect. You do not need to be a tech expert to do any of this — this guide walks you through each step.

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    identity theft
    personal information
    security
    fraud
    credit freeze
    protection

    Official Resources

    FTC Consumer ProtectionCISA — Cybersecurity TipsAARP Fraud Watch Network

    Sources used to create and verify this guide. View all sources →

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