Protecting your Identity is our Priority

Identity theft is a crime that occurs when your personal identifying information (PII) is used by someone else without your consent. Criminals have found numerous ways to use a person’s name, Social Security number, address, date of birth, credit card, financial and medical account information driver’s license, and even social media accounts for their own gain. They've also become better and better at committing these crimes without detection for longer periods, increasing the potential harm to their victims.

Want to learn more? Read A Savvy Consumer’s Guide to Privacy and Identity Theft »

Once an identity thief gains access to your personal information, they can make purchases, take out loans, open accounts, get medical treatment or government benefits, or even commit crimes in your name. They can also create a "synthetic identity" pieced together with information from multiple individuals and use that identity to commit fraud.

Want to learn more? Read A Savvy Consumer’s Guide to Privacy and Identity Theft »

The results of identity theft can range from bothersome to life-altering. The thief could damage your reputation by posting inappropriate content or even committing crimes in your name. You could be held financially responsible for purchases, loans, rentals or other transactions the thief makes in your name. Unpaid bills could damage your credit rating, making it impossible for you to get a home, auto, or college loan or to rent housing. You could be turned down for a job if a background check or online search turned up debts, crimes, or inappropriate web content posted by a thief. You could even be denied medical services if your medical identity is stolen.

Want to learn more? Read A Savvy Consumer’s Guide to Privacy and Identity Theft »

Identity thieves are using increasingly sophisticated methods to get your personal information and misuse it in ways that are hard to detect. You can take steps to protect your own identity, from using strong passwords to installing security software on your devices, checking your credit reports, and always shredding documents with personal information. But you can't prevent corporate data breaches or even control the security of smart devices in your home. Even safe-seeming apps from an official app store can contain spyware or other malware. And anyone can unwittingly give up personal information if they fall prey to some of today's very sophisticated phishing attacks. One in four Americans had their identity exposed in 2019 alone, some more than once. And the longer identity theft goes undetected, the more difficult it is to prove your innocence, recover your identity, and reverse any damages. So, to fully protect yourself, you need identity protection that can alert you to problems, and that can guarantee 100% recovery with expert help.

Want to learn more? Read A Savvy Consumer’s Guide to Privacy and Identity Theft »

Your credit card provider uses algorithms to spot unusual charges on your card that could indicate a stolen card number. These notifications from your bank can help to avoid card fraud on your existing accounts. But your credit card provider can’t identify new account fraud, in which a criminal uses your personal information to open new accounts in your name, because whatever they do with that card will set the pattern for what's normal. And often, these criminals will pay credit balances on time for a while, building up good credit, then make a large purchase or take a cash advance and disappear, leaving you with the debt.

Credit monitoring uses credit bureau data to detect changes to your credit file, like a change of address, a name change, or new accounts being opened in your name. For more about how identity theft protection provides additional coverage beyond your credit card, this article dives deeper into the topic.

A child’s identity is like pure gold to identity thieves because children tend to have little or no financial history, and most likely no one is checking a child’s credit report. Criminals can use a child’s Social Security Number to falsely claim dependent children or welfare payments from the government. They can even use a child’s identity to apply for loans or open accounts. By the time the child is old enough to be financially independent, they may find their credit rating is ruined, making it difficult for them to get a student or other loans, rent housing, or even get a job.