Discovering that your identity has been compromised can be incredibly upsetting. As such, it’s important to understand what steps you can take to secure your identity and prevent this from happening. Luckily, many steps are incredibly simple and offer significant protection. The following blog explores what you should know about these matters and why it’s in your best interest to connect with an experienced Los Angeles, California identity theft lawyer who can assist you if you have reason to believe your information was used without your consent.
How Does Identity Theft Happen, and What Impact Can It Have on Me?
Though the technological boom of the early 2000s has drastically improved our quality of life, one of the negatives of this advancement is the increase in identity theft. Because those with bad intentions can access this information over the internet without even having to live in the same state or country as the victim, there are several ways in which someone can access and take your identity.
Generally, hacking, phishing schemes, installing skimmers on ATMS, infiltrating your phone through wifi, or even buying your information from a third-party seller can lead to your identity being compromised. Additionally, mail theft, losing a wallet, or someone going through your trash can all amount to identity theft.
What Steps Can I Take to Secure My Identity?
If you are worried about identity theft, there are steps you can take to reduce the risk of this happening. One of the most important things to shield your Social Security Number. Though you may be contacted by the “bank,” unless you can prove you’re talking to an employee who needs access to this information, you should avoid providing your SSN.
Similarly, you’ll want to be alert to phishing messages and scams. Often, thieves will duplicate legitimate correspondences from banks, credit card companies, and other services to make it appear like you need to log in. The “link” they provide will take your username and password to compromise the security of the legitimate account. If you receive an email or phone call from a company and are unsure if it is legitimate, you can use a verified way to contact the company to confirm if it is a real message.
Finally, you’ll want to ensure you enable two-factor authentication on your accounts. Essentially, this requires you to have access to a phone number associated with your account to gain access, even with a username and password. For example, if you want to log into your bank account, you may need to enter a code sent to your phone to gain access.
Despite taking the necessary steps, thieves and scammers are constantly finding new ways to steal identities, which is why it can be even more upsetting if this happens to you. As such, it’s in your best interest to connect with an experienced attorney who can help you reclaim your identity and fight to have any damages associated with the theft remedied. At Los Angeles Legal Solutions, our team understands how frustrating these matters can be, so we are here to help. Connect with us today to learn more.
