United States
Identity theft occurs when an individual’s personal information is used without authorization. Learn how to protect yourself.
Identity theft occurs when someone uses another person’s personal information without his or her authorization with the intent to commit fraud or other crimes.
The stolen information may include:
Learn about identity theft protection best practices and what you can do.
Store documents with personal information such as your Social Security number, ID cards, birth certificates, and passports in a safe place. If you stop receiving your mail, contact the United States Postal Service (USPS) immediately. Someone may have fraudulently requested to forward your mail to their address.
Do not share your passwords or the access codes to your checking accounts, savings accounts, credit cards, debit cards, or other financial accounts with anyone. Always choose passwords that are longer than 8 characters, include both uppercase and lowercase letters, and use a combination of letters, numbers, and special characters.
Cancel any inactive credit or debit card accounts, shred any cards you’re no longer using, and destroy any letters you receive from the bank that you no longer need to keep. If you request a replacement card and don’t receive it within 10 business days, call us immediately to cancel it.
Match your credit card and debit card receipts against monthly statements and report unauthorized charges immediately.
Don’t include identifying personal information such as your birthdate or mailing address on your public social media profiles.
If you’re no longer using a computer or mobile device, delete all personal information stored on the device, including your passwords.
Don’t record your passwords on your computer or mobile device unless you are using a secure password keeper. Passwords that are kept in documents or spreadsheets can be easily stolen by anyone who gains access to your device.
Connect to the internet using secure connections that require a password. Connecting to unsecured public networks leaves your device vulnerable to anyone who may also be connected to the network.
Limit the number of credit cards and other personal information that you carry in your wallet or purse. Keep a copy, front and back, of all your cards and documents so that if anything is ever lost or stolen, you’ll have the information needed to report the loss.
As artificial intelligence (AI) and available technologies advance, fraudsters increasingly use AI to commit identity theft. Learn more about the types of AI schemes, what to look out for, and more about identity theft prevention.
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Learn how to respond if you're a victim of identify theft.
A security freeze protects against identity theft by making it more difficult for a thief to open a new fraudulent account using your non-public personal information. A security freeze on your credit report will not prevent a thief from making charges to your existing accounts.
If you prefer not to request a security freeze, you can instead place a fraud alert on your credit reports, which alerts users of credit reports, including potential creditors, to contact the consumer to confirm the identity of the person opening the new account or requesting credit.
Any accounts or activity present in your credit report that you do not recognize could indicate that your personal information has been compromised. Items to watch for are “new” or “re-opened” accounts and any suspicious account activity.
Frequently access and closely monitor your existing bank accounts and credit cards to identify and report any suspicious activity, such as transactions you do not recognize or account charges that you did not request.
Review tips on how to keep your personal information secure and protect yourself from online account fraud.
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Learn the key risks of artificial intelligence (AI), including online security breaches, deepfakes, robocalls, and account takeovers.
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The information mentioned is for informational purposes only, is intended to provide general guidance and does not constitute legal or tax advice. Each person’s situation is unique and may materially differ from the information provided herein. You should seek the advice of a financial professional, tax consultant and/or legal counsel to address your specific needs before any financial or other commitments regarding the issues related to your situation are made. Popular Bank does not make any representations or warranties as to the content contained herein and disclaims any and all liability resulting from any use of or reliance on such content.
