Take Control of Your Identity: 5 Proven Strategies to Prevent Identity Theft

While all types of fraud pose serious challenges, identity fraud is one of the most powerful and consumers must take extra care to detect and avoid it. People need to educate themselves on protecting their personal information, but many may feel like they don’t know where to start. Five key steps can be taken to combat identity fraud and prevent fraudsters and scammers from obtaining personal information or accessing accounts.

Beware of phishing

Phishing emails are an essential tactic for scammers and have evolved beyond the clunky, poorly written efforts of the past. However, many still contain signs of a scam, such as poor formatting and unofficial email addresses. Phishing emails are designed to convince consumers to click on a malicious link. Consumers should therefore avoid following links they do not recognize. Pay extra attention to an email that calls for immediate action, such as demanding payment to keep your energy going; scammers know that consumers are more likely to make a mistake when there is urgency.