{"id":6479,"date":"2025-08-04T08:34:33","date_gmt":"2025-08-04T13:34:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stpaulfcu.org\/?post_type=education&#038;p=6479"},"modified":"2025-08-04T08:34:33","modified_gmt":"2025-08-04T13:34:33","slug":"your-guide-to-identity-theft-protection","status":"publish","type":"education","link":"https:\/\/stpaulfcu.org\/education\/your-guide-to-identity-theft-protection\/","title":{"rendered":"Your Guide to Identity Theft Protection"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Did you know there were over 1.1 million identity theft reports in the U.S. in 2024? The total financial losses from those reports exceeded $12.7 billion in fraud. It may come as a surprise that individuals in their 30s reported identity theft more frequently than any other age group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Luckily, there are steps you can take to prevent becoming the next victim. Here\u2019s your guide to identity theft protection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-monitor-your-credit\">Monitor Your Credit<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Check your credit score for free on sites like <a href=\"http:\/\/creditkarma.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CreditKarma.com<\/a> and get a free annual report from each of the credit reporting agencies at <a href=\"http:\/\/annualcreditreport.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">AnnualCreditReport.com<\/a>. Look for sudden hits to your score and suspicious activity on your report and credit card bills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-use-multi-factor-authentication\">Use Multi-Factor Authentication<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When using any other service utilizing sensitive information, always choose multi-factor authentication for extra protection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-use-strong-unique-passwords\">Use Strong, Unique Passwords<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Never use identical passwords across multiple accounts. Instead, create strong, unique passwords for every login you use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-only-use-wi-fi-with-a-vpn\">Only Use Wi-Fi with a VPN<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When using public Wi-Fi, always choose a Virtual Private Network (VPN) instead of your default Wi-Fi settings to keep the device\u2019s sensitive information secure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-block-robocalls\">Block Robocalls<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Lower the number of robocalls \u2013 and the potential scams \u2013 that reach your home by adding your number to the Federal Trade Commission\u2019s No Call List at\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.donotcall.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">donotcall.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-upgrade-your-devices\">Upgrade Your Devices<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>By upgrading the operating systems for your computer, tablet and phone, you\u2019ll be protected from the most recent security breaches, viruses and hacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-shred-old-documents\">Shred Old Documents<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Some criminals search through trashed papers to get information. That\u2019s why it\u2019s best to shred all documents containing sensitive information as soon as you don\u2019t need them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-keep-personal-information-personal\">Keep Personal Information Personal<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Be super-cautious about sharing sensitive data with strangers \u2013 and even with friends. It\u2019s also a good idea to use the strongest privacy and security settings on your social media accounts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-invest-in-identity-theft-protection\">Invest in Identity Theft Protection<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Services like LifeLock will monitor your personal information online and immediately alert you about any suspicious activity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At St. Paul Federal Credit Union, we value member privacy and <a href=\"https:\/\/stpaulfcu.org\/education\/fraud-protection-and-credit-information\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">take every precaution<\/a> to ensure the safety of your information. Be proactive about protecting your identity. Keep your information and your money safe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Did you know there were over 1.1 million identity theft reports in the U.S. in 2024? The total financial losses from those reports exceeded $12.7 billion in fraud. It may come as a surprise that individuals in their 30s reported identity theft more frequently than any other age group. Luckily, there are steps you can [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":6480,"template":"","education-category":[194],"class_list":["post-6479","education","type-education","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","education-category-tips-resources"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.3 (Yoast SEO v27.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Your Guide to Identity Theft Protection - St. Paul Federal Credit Union<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Worried about identity theft? Millions of people fall victim every year. 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