Are there steps I can take to avoid identity theft if my Social Security number’s been stolen?
Yes. The first thing you can do is freeze your credit. Read More
Yes. The first thing you can do is freeze your credit. Read More
Yes, if someone has stolen your child’s personal information, it’s possible for accounts to be opened in your child’s name. To determine whether this has happened, you can contact the three major credit bureaus (Experian, TransUnion, Equifax) to see if your child has a file. Read More
Comments Submitted by:
Privacy Rights Clearinghouse
Consumers Union of U.S., Inc.
Consumer Action
PrivacyActivism
Submitted October 13, 2004 to:
Read MoreCredit freezes (also called security freezes) prevent fraudulent accounts from being opened in your name by not allowing anyone to check your credit report. Read More
A data breach is a security violation in which sensitive, protected or confidential data is copied, transmitted, viewed, stolen or used by an unauthorized individual. It could be a result of
Read MoreA Social Security number (SSN) is a nine digit identification number that has become a universal identifier for both the government and the private sector in the U.S.
Read MoreA Social Security number can be used to steal your identity (commonly called identity theft) to commit fraud, open new credit and bank accounts, get medical care/other benefits and obtain employment.
Read MoreA credit freeze is the greatest protection you have against identity theft, specifically new account fraud. In 2003, California became the first state in the US to pass a law giving its residents the right to freeze their credit. Read More