Here are 5 things you can do to avoid falling victim to identity theft

New York’s Staten Island. District Attorney Michael E. McMahon cautioned citizens that identity theft is ageless and that scammers are always coming up with new ways to attack Staten Islanders.

Particularly, identity theft targets a person’s financial or personal data. This may entail using someone’s Social Security number to open accounts and make transactions, or it may entail stealing credit or debit card information.

Identity Theft Awareness Week is being observed from January 27 to January 31 by the Federal Trade Commission and law enforcement agencies in an effort to inform, educate, and increase public awareness of the strategies that scammers are using.

According to McMahon, time is of the essence in any identity theft or fraud occurrence, and notifying law authorities right away is essential to lessening the financial effect and holding criminals accountable in court.

The following five strategies will help you avoid being a victim of identity theft:

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  Choose strong passwords by using passwords that combine letters, numbers and special characters. Also, always be sure to use a different password for each account.
  
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  Secure hard copies of documents. When it comes to the disposal of that information be sure to shred the documents to make sure no personal information is left behind.
  
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  Use two-factor verification in addition to a strong password. This is a great way to put up another barrier to keep scammers at bay.
  
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  Monitor your credit report regularly for unauthorized charges or accounts that have been made in your name. Report any unauthorized transactions immediately to your credit card company and the Federal Trade Commission and close the accounts.
  
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  Never give away personal information over the phone. Always be cautious when talking to people over the phone they might not be who they say they are. Hang up and verify the information. If it is a company, call their 1-800 number.
  

My office is still dedicated to safeguarding Staten Islanders and their personal data from scammers during Identity Theft Awareness Week! Learn how to spot identity theft, how to protect your data, and what to do if you become a victim by reading the information below.image.twitter.com/Zmhr8P44ib

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