Every 14 seconds, someone becomes a victim of identity theft.1 These fraudsters can usually trigger warning signs of identity theft — and prevention is key, helping you catch the thief before you find out they inflicted thousands of dollars in damage. To help ensure you don’t pay this price, review our list of identity theft warning signs and our tips to help you avoid becoming a victim.

10 warning signs of identity theft

1. Unfamiliar transactions you didn’t make appear on your bank or credit card statements. (Even small $1 or $2 charges can be the sign of a problem.)
2. Receive a statement for credit card or other account you never opened, or they appear on your credit report.
3. Missing bills you’ve been expecting by mail or email. The fraudster could have changed the mail or email address to ensure you don’t see their fraudulent charges.
4. You’re unexpectedly denied for a loan, credit card, checking account or healthcare coverage.
5. Bills for medical services you didn’t have performed appear, you are told you’ve mysteriously reached your benefits limit, or your records suddenly show a condition you don’t have.
6. Start getting debt collection calls, even though you regularly pay your bills.
7. Your employer or former employer tells you someone is trying to collect unemployment benefits under your name.
8. You receive a two-factor authentication notice you didn’t trigger.
9. Your credit report contains obviously fraudulent information, such as an incorrect name, address, employer or Social Security number.
10. You get notices from the IRS that your e-filed tax return was rejected or a second return was filed in your name.

This is just a short list of triggers that if not caught early could become a larger issue. If you’re worried you might be a victim, contact us to file a report and recover your funds.. With today’s technology, it can be easier for fraudsters to get our Personally Identifiable Information (PII). Here are some easy ways to keep your PII safe:

10 ways to help prevent identity theft

1. Keep your smartphone, computer, wallet and checkbook safe — more than 40% of identity thefts are tied to their loss.
2. Shop only on secure sites (look for “https” in the URL, or for a lock or unbroken key icon) — 21% of identity thefts occur when the victim is shopping online during the holidays.
3. Avoid using public Wi-Fi unless you can connect securely, such as over a virtual private network (VPN). When you’re done, disable the connection.
4. Use strong passwords with a mix of letters, numbers and symbols. Password-protect any device that connects to the internet or saves your personal information. Don’t use the same password across multiple sites, update your password often, and always log out when you’re done.
5. Keep your devices current on anti-virus, anti-spyware and anti-malware software, and keep firewalls active.
6. Only give personal information to trusted sources and always ask why it’s needed.
7. If you don’t know the sender of an email, don’t open it. Even if you do open it, don’t click any links or download attachments.
8. Use credit cards rather than debit cards for shopping — they typically offer more fraud protection.
9. Routinely review your financial accounts and check your credit report. You can request one free from each credit bureau every 12 months.
10. Consider signing up for fraud alerts and freezing your credit files.

At the end of the day, this can be a lot to manage. At Bridge Pioneers, we recognize that managing your identity is more important than ever.
If you’re ever worried that your accounts have been compromised, contact us to start recovery process.

The post 10 Identity Theft warning signs and prevention tips. first appeared on Bridge Pioneers.

Scammers use email or text messages to try to steal your passwords, account numbers, or Social Security numbers. If they get that information, they could get access to your email, bank, or other accounts. Or they could sell your information to other scammers. Scammers launch thousands of phishing attacks like these every day — and they’re often successful.
Scammers often update their tactics to keep up with the latest news or trends, but here are some common tactics used in phishing emails or text messages:
Phishing emails and text messages often tell a story to trick you into clicking on a link or opening an attachment. You might get an unexpected email or text message that looks like it’s from a company you know or trust, like a bank or a credit card or utility company. Or maybe it’s from an online payment website or app. The message could be from a scammer, who might

• say they’ve noticed some suspicious activity or log-in attempts — they haven’t
• claim there’s a problem with your account or your payment information — there isn’t
• say you need to confirm some personal or financial information — you don’t
• include an invoice you don’t recognize — it’s fake
• want you to click on a link to make a payment — but the link has malware
• say you’re eligible to register for a government refund — it’s a scam
• offer a coupon for free stuff — it’s not real

Imagine you saw this in your inbox. At first glance, this email looks real, but it’s not. Scammers who send emails like this one are hoping you won’t notice it’s a fake.
Here are signs that this email is a scam, even though it looks like it comes from a company you know — and even uses the company’s logo in the header:

• The email has a generic greeting.
• The email says your account is on hold because of a billing problem.
• The email invites you to click on a link to update your payment details.

While real companies might communicate with you by email, legitimate companies won’t email or text with a link to update your payment information. Phishing emails can often have real consequences for people who give scammers their information, including identity theft. And they might harm the reputation of the companies they’re spoofing.

The post How To Recognize Phishing first appeared on Bridge Pioneers.