A few years ago my mother-in-law had someone who tried to steal her identity. Even though she never shopped online or used a credit card in a store, she had used a credit card over the telephone to order at a few places. Someone with the same name as her (who actually lived in the same state) stole her information and began using it as her own. My mother-in-law started receiving bills and calls from purchases that she had never made! For me, this is a scary thought, but it’s also a testament to how easily it can happen. As many of my readers are crafters, homeowners, and DIY experts, the recent data breach at Home Depot may have you on edge. Today, I’m sharing these tips from LifeLock on what to do if you believe a breach has occurred to you personally.
A data breach doesn’t have to be your entire identity. It may be health information, financial information, or your Social Security number. To remain proactive when dealing with data breaches, always monitor your credit activity. Don’t let purchases that aren’t yours sneak up on you. If you notice anything that seems suspicious, notify your card issuer right away. Nothing is too minute to be a breach! Since debit cards are linked to a bank account, anyone attempting fraudulent activity can deplete your account quickly. If a debit card has any suspicion of compromise, take a proactive step and order a new one immediately. For the Home Depot data breach, stay up to date with any details released about the issue by following news stories and communication from the company. For future purposes, an identity protection service may prove to be useful for you and your family. Services such as those provided by Lifelock can alert you of fraudulent activity faster than you can detect it. Every second count when it comes to data breaches and your identity! For more information and to familiarize with their services, visit LifeLock and receive 10% off with promo code”breachwatch”!
Have you ever been the victim of a data breach? Do you use an identity protection service?
I wish hackers would put all their energy into legitimate work, argh!! As much as I wish it weren’t necessary, it’s smart to protect yourself.
I’m off to check out this site…identity theft is something I worry about…especially with the security breaches at Target & Home Depot
Yes, me too!
This is something that scares me so much! I will be checking it out for sure, thanks for sharing the info! 🙂
Fortunately, we’ve never been a victim of identity theft, but we know plenty of friends who have! 🙁
Definitely something I need to look into sooner than later. Thanks for the tip.