In 2021, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission received more than 5.88 million fraud reports, with identity theft being the most common complaint. Having your identity stolen is an incredibly stressful, expensive, and time-consuming procedure. With society’s reliance on the internet now, identity theft is only becoming more common and easier to fall victim to. Data breaches are becoming more rampant, affecting millions of records and continuing to put consumers at risk.

Do You Need Identity Theft Protection

I’m sure you think this couldn’t possibly happen to you, right? Unfortunately, no matter how careful you are, it’s nearly impossible to fully eliminate the risk of identity theft. Regardless of your age and income, where you live, and how careful you are, if you have an identity, you are a potential target to have it stolen. 

Tips to Prevent Identity Theft

While it is impossible to eliminate the possibility of identity theft, there are certain things you can do to better protect yourself and help prevent identity theft.

Monitor Your Accounts and Credit

Be sure to check on your bank and credit card accounts as well as your credit score to ensure that everything remains normal so you don’t see any suspicious activity. The best way to prevent seriously damaging cases of identity theft is to catch and report them early. 

Be Mindful About Online Actively

Every time you enter your information on a website or make an online payment, you increase your risk of identity theft. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it, just be mindful of what you are doing and make sure you are using trusted sources and websites that utilize encryption. Avoid using public wifi networks or storing your information or passwords on your computer. Make sure to use complex and unique passwords, change them frequently, and don’t repeat them across sources. 

Shred Mail and Documents

While cyber-attacks and hacking are the most common way to have your identity stolen these days, you can still be at risk of good old-fashioned dumbest diving. Make sure you shred your mail before throwing it away, especially receipts, bank statements, insurance forms, and anything that contains your personal information.

BHCU Services for East Whiteland Township

Even if you know how to protect yourself from identity theft, there will always be risks and things you can’t control or avoid. Because identity theft is so common and devastating to customers, BHCU is proud to provide identity theft detection and recovery services to checking account holders at no cost.  We have partnered with one of the nation’s most trusted names in identity theft protection to provide you with access to a comprehensive suite of services to address fraud caused by identity theft if it happens to you or your family. 

The services we offer include:

  • Fully Managed Identity Theft Research, Remediation, and Recovery
  • Lost Document Replacement
  • Identity Theft Expense Reimbursement Insurance – up to $25,000
  • Entitlement to Credit Monitoring
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