Don't Fall Victim to Identity Theft Published June 11, 2015 By Courtesy of Base Legal Office 19th Airlift Wing LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. -- With the recent cybersecurity incident involvingmore than 4 milion federal workers,, it's a good time to reassess the security of our finances and how we can protect ourselves from identity theft. According to transunion.com, about 19 people per minute fall victim to identity theft. You may believe that you are safe because you've never lost or had your wallet stolen, but that's not the case. Only 28 percent of identity thefts involve financial or credit fraud. Don't become a statistic. There are simple steps you should take to be vigilant against identity thieves. - Secure all of your financial documents at home and lock away your wallet or purse at work. - Limit the information you carry when you go out. Only take the essentials; leave your Social Security card at home. - If you carry an insurance card, make a copy of it and redact all but the last four digits, and keep the copy with you unless you are going to see a doctor. - Lesser known points of vulnerability include your mailbox and social media. Promptly remove your mail from your mailbox and don't overshare on social media. It's quite easy for an identity thief to answer your "challenge" questions on your accounts if you have the information posted on your social media page. Protecting yourself is simple: Remain vigilant and remain proactive.
Don't Fall Victim to Identity Theft Published June 11, 2015 By Courtesy of Base Legal Office 19th Airlift Wing LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. -- With the recent cybersecurity incident involvingmore than 4 milion federal workers,, it's a good time to reassess the security of our finances and how we can protect ourselves from identity theft. According to transunion.com, about 19 people per minute fall victim to identity theft. You may believe that you are safe because you've never lost or had your wallet stolen, but that's not the case. Only 28 percent of identity thefts involve financial or credit fraud. Don't become a statistic. There are simple steps you should take to be vigilant against identity thieves. - Secure all of your financial documents at home and lock away your wallet or purse at work. - Limit the information you carry when you go out. Only take the essentials; leave your Social Security card at home. - If you carry an insurance card, make a copy of it and redact all but the last four digits, and keep the copy with you unless you are going to see a doctor. - Lesser known points of vulnerability include your mailbox and social media. Promptly remove your mail from your mailbox and don't overshare on social media. It's quite easy for an identity thief to answer your "challenge" questions on your accounts if you have the information posted on your social media page. Protecting yourself is simple: Remain vigilant and remain proactive.