Incidences of theft identity are so prevalent in the digital world that there is a need to adopt effective preventive measures. Americans are at higher risk, as a study has found them to be more susceptible to identity theft than other nations (Cook, 2018). The fundamental principle of protection from identity theft is to keep the credit card or social security card safe by keeping them in a locked cupboard and also never leave the house or car unlocked.
One can never protect themselves against identity theft entirely, but these measures can mitigate the risk, and I agree with them. Individuals should protect their cell phones with passwords and take only one credit card outside and keep others in a safe location. It is also advisable to pay in cash rather than using a credit card. Moreover, one should ensure that the merchant double-checks their identity by asking for a photo ID. There are three major credit reporting agencies in the U.S. that keep track of all credit cards and payments, including Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion (Irby, 2018). Consumers could approach these agencies and compare their records with the information maintained by these agencies so that any differences could be resolved.
Furthermore, I would suggest that individuals must limit the amount of information that they share on social media and be very alert and watchful when using the Internet. Revealing birthdate, phone number, and email ID to millions of users beyond individuals’ social circle makes them easy prey to cyber-thieves. Moreover, placing a fraud alert on credit reports and freezing credit in the case of card loss may shield us from problems, hardships, and monetary losses (Devaney, 2018).
References
Cook, S. (2018).Identity theft stats & facts: 2017 – 2018. Web.
Devaney, T. (2018). How to protect yourself from ID theft. Web.
Irby, L. (2018). Who are the major credit reporting agencies? Web.