Five Ways to Prevent Identity Theft

Identity theft is one of the fastest-growing crimes in the U.S., affecting millions of people every year. While no one can fully prevent identity theft, you can take meaningful steps to protect yourself and make it much harder for thieves to access your information. By combining preventative steps with the right tools, you significantly reduce your risk. If you ever do find yourself a victim of identity theft, the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) is here to help you navigate recovery.

Below are five essential ways to protect yourself from identity theft.

1. Freeze Your Credit

One of the strongest steps you can take to protect your financial identity is to place a freeze on your credit reports. A credit freeze restricts access to your credit file, making it difficult for thieves to open new accounts in your name. Without your permission, creditors cannot check your file, which blocks most attempts at fraudulent loans, credit cards or services.

The process is free and relatively simple. You need to contact all three major credit bureaus to request the freeze: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Once in place, it won’t affect your current credit accounts, your credit score or your ability to use existing credit. If you need to apply for new credit, you can temporarily lift the freeze and reinstate it afterward.

A credit freeze doesn’t stop every form of identity theft, but it does close one of the most common entry points for criminals. 

2. Add Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) to All Accounts

Usernames and passwords alone are no longer enough to protect accounts. Cybercriminals use data breaches, phishing schemes and password-cracking tools to break in. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) adds another layer of security by requiring something beyond your password, such as a text code, an authentication app or a physical security key.

Enabling MFA on all accounts that offer it—especially for banking, email, healthcare portals and social media—greatly reduces your risk. Even if someone has your password, they’ll need that second factor to gain access.

When possible, avoid using text messages for MFA, as phone numbers can be hijacked through SIM-swapping. Instead, opt for authenticator apps or hardware keys for stronger protection.

By making MFA a standard practice across your digital life, you significantly reduce the likelihood of criminals gaining access to sensitive accounts.

3. Use Unique Passwords or Passkeys

Reusing passwords is one of the riskiest behaviors online. If one account is breached, every account with that same login combination is suddenly exposed. That’s why it’s critical to create unique, complex passwords for every single account.

Consider moving beyond traditional passwords by adopting passkeys, a newer and more secure authentication method supported by major tech companies. Passkeys replace passwords with cryptographic keys stored on your device, making them nearly impossible to steal or reuse.

If you’re still using passwords, a password manager is a reliable tool to generate and store strong, unique logins for every account. This takes away the burden of remembering dozens (or hundreds) of credentials while keeping your digital life secure.

Whether you use a password manager or passkeys, the goal is the same: make it extremely difficult for thieves to guess or reuse your login information.

4. Share as Little Personal Information as Possible

Oversharing makes you an easy target for identity thieves. The less personal information you share, the less criminals have to work with. Here are some key habits to practice:

• Keep social media accounts private. Limit what strangers can see, and avoid posting personal details, such as your birthdate, address or travel plans.
• Never share passwords or accounts. Even with close friends or family, shared accounts create more risk.
• Avoid online quizzes or games. Many of these are designed to trick users into revealing answers that match common security questions (such as your first pet’s name or your mother’s maiden name).
• Verify before sharing over the phone. If someone calls asking for information, do not provide it unless you initiate the contact. If unsure, hang up and verify the official contact information before calling back.

These habits create fewer opportunities for thieves to piece together your identity. 

5. Monitor Your Accounts Regularly

Even with the best defenses, determined criminals may still find ways to misuse your identity. That’s why ongoing vigilance is essential. By regularly monitoring your accounts, you can spot suspicious activity early and take quick action.

Here are some red flags to look for:

• Unfamiliar charges on credit or debit card statements.
• New devices linked to your accounts that you don’t recognize.
• Changes to contact information, such as your phone number, email or mailing address, that you didn’t authorize.
• New inquiries on your credit report that you didn’t initiate.

Set aside time at least once a month to review your accounts and credit reports. Many banks and credit card companies also offer free alerts for unusual transactions or logins. Taking advantage of these alerts can help you respond quickly if something is wrong.

The sooner you catch suspicious activity, the easier it is to limit the damage.

Reach Out to the ITRC

While you can’t fully prevent identity theft, you can build strong barriers that make it far more difficult for criminals to succeed. Freezing your credit, enabling MFA, using unique passwords or passkeys, limiting how much information you share and monitoring your accounts are all practical steps that protect your identity.

However, if you ever do become a victim, remember that you don’t have to go through the recovery process alone. The Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) provides free, confidential assistance to help individuals and families resolve identity theft cases and restore peace of mind.

Taking preventive steps today can save you stress, time and money tomorrow. Stay alert, stay informed and know that help is always available when you need it.