Ways to Protect Yourself from Identity Theft: Beyond the Credit Freeze
Beyond the Credit Freeze
Freezing your credit report at Equifax, Experian, TransUnion, and Innovis is a great first step, but identity thieves don't stop at credit cards and loans. They also target your bank accounts, utility accounts, tax refund, property, and Social Security benefits. Here are five more free tools to lock down your identity.
Freeze Your ChexSystems Report
ChexSystems tracks checking and savings account activity. Criminals sometimes use stolen identities to open bank accounts.
A security freeze helps prevent someone from opening a new bank account in your name. A ChexSystems freeze restricts financial institutions from accessing your ChexSystems file when you apply to open a new deposit account, and if a bank tries to pull your report during the application process, they receive a notice that your file is frozen and the account opening is blocked.
You can place, lift, or remove a freeze for free:
Online: ChexSystems Security Freeze
Phone: 1-800-428-9623
Mail: Chex Systems, Inc., Attn: Consumer Relations, P.O. Box 27120, Dallas, TX 75227
When you place a freeze, you'll receive a unique Personal Identification Number (PIN) by mail or through the ChexSystems Consumer Portal, which you'll need to lift the freeze later, so keep it secure and accessible.
Freeze Your NCTUE Report
The National Consumer Telecom & Utilities Exchange (NCTUE) is used by many:
electric companies
gas companies
water companies
internet providers
cable companies
cell phone providers
Freezing this report can help stop someone from opening utility or phone accounts using your identity.
You can place, temporarily lift, or remove a freeze for free through the NCTUE consumer portal (nctueconsumerportal.com) or by calling 1-866-349-5355. You can also mail your request to the Security Freeze Exchange Service Center, NCTUE, P.O. Box 105561, Atlanta, GA 30348.
Property (Deed) Fraud Alerts
Many county clerk and recorder offices offer free notification services.
If someone records:
a deed
mortgage
lien
quitclaim deed
using your name or property address, you'll receive an email or text alert.
This won't prevent fraud, but it lets you respond quickly.
Here in Jefferson County, the Clerk and Recorder's Office offers this through its free Recording Notification Service. You'll receive alerts only for documents recorded and indexed after the date you register, and you can register multiple variations of your name (up to 10 per email address) to catch close matches. If you suspect fraud, contact the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office at 303-271-0211 or the Fraud hotline at 303-271-6980.
Check whether your own county clerk's office offers a similar free service if you live in a neighboring county.
IRS Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN)
Request an IRS Identity Protection PIN.
This six-digit PIN prevents someone from filing a federal tax return using your Social Security number.
Even if someone has your SSN, they cannot file a return without the PIN.
An IP PIN is known only to you and the IRS, and it helps verify your identity when you file your electronic or paper tax return. Anyone with a Social Security number or ITIN who can verify their identity is eligible to enroll, and parents and legal guardians can request one for dependents too.
Request yours at the IRS Get an IP PIN page. The fastest way is through your IRS online account. Note that the IP PIN is valid for one year, and you'll need to get a new one every January.
Social Security Account
Create a "my Social Security" account before a criminal does.
Once your account exists, it's much harder for someone else to create one in your name.
You can also monitor:
benefits
earnings history
address changes
Only one mySSA account can be connected to a Social Security number, so setting up your own account ahead of time helps prevent a scammer from creating a fraudulent one in your name. Create yours at ssa.gov/myaccount. You'll verify your identity through a partner site, Login.gov or ID.me.
If you believe you're already a victim of identity theft, visit IdentityTheft.gov to make a report and get a step-by-step recovery plan from the Federal Trade Commission.
This information was adapted from the ChexSystems, NCTUE, Jefferson County, IRS, and Social Security Administration websites. Visit those sites directly for the latest guidance on protecting your identity.
