Avoiding Fraud and Identity Theft
The things we do every day — from swiping our debit card to simply using our smartphone — can increase our exposure to scammers, and that can make us more vulnerable to fraud and identity theft.
How to detect that your identity has been stolen:
- Incorrect information on your credit report
- Bills for items you did not buy
- Unexpected withdrawals
- Debt collection calls for accounts you did not open
- Denials of loan applications
- Medical statements with charges that you do not recognize
- Unexpected change of address
How does identity theft happen?
- Your wallet with credit, debit cards or ID is stolen
- Your trash is accessed to get financial information such as bank statements or tax information
- Skimmer devices are placed at ATM machines, cash registers or fuel pumps to steal your bank information
- Fraudulent emails, texts, or phone calls
- Personal or financial information is stolen using online quizzes or surveys
- Your mail is stolen or opened
How to protect yourself from identity theft:
- Prevent anyone from opening credit in your name with a credit freeze (see sidebar links)
- Do not share personal information if you don't need to, i.e.: bank account number, Social Security Number (SSN), or date of birth.
- Do not answer phone calls, texts, social media messages or emails from numbers or people you do not know.
- Collect your mail daily and place a hold on your mail if you know you will be away from home.
- Review your credit card and bank account statements routinely.
- Learn more about ATM skimming.
- Store personal information, such as SSN, in a safe space. If you can, do not carry it in your wallet.
- If getting rid of personal documents, shred them before throwing away or find a shredding service near you.
- Learn about how to safely use public Wi-Fi networks
- Check your Free credit report.
This information is being provided for educational purposes only; it does not constitute an endorsement or approval by the University of Kansas. The University of Kansas bears no responsibility for the accuracy, legality or content of the resources listed.