Protecting Yourself from Identity Theft: A Practical Guide
What do data breaches, credit card offers, forms at the doctor’s, and Dark Web marketplaces have in common? They are all avenues where someone can potentially access your sensitive personal information, including your Social Security number. With just a few digits, malicious actors can wreak havoc.
In 2023, approximately 2.6 million individuals fell victim to fraud, with around 1 million targeted by identity theft. Americans collectively lost a staggering $43 billion to identity fraud. While the average reported loss is $500, the overall cost often extends far beyond monetary value, encompassing significant time and stress.
The Alarming Reality
Approximately 416,000 identity theft victims discovered the issue only after receiving alerts from their credit card companies, attempting to apply for a new card, or being denied a loan. By then, the damage was already done.
Who’s at Risk?
Unfortunately, everyone is a potential target. Although certain cybercrimes, like ransomware attacks on large corporations, are extensive, in the world of fraud, anyone with a bank account, credit card, or mailbox is at risk.
The Growing Threat
The increased prevalence of identity theft stems from the vast amount of personal data available to scammers. For instance, the recent breach at National Public Data, where a hacker group allegedly accessed an unencrypted database containing records of 2.9 billion individuals, highlights the scale of the problem. This database contained Social Security numbers, full names, and addresses, which were then made available on the Dark Web.
Taking Control of Your Privacy
It’s possible to buy a comprehensive profile about you, including your voter records, email address, cell phone number, utility usage, purchase history, credit score, browsing habits, job history, medical information, family members’ names and contact details, your address, and how much you paid for your house. This information is readily available, often for a small fee.
Manually removing your information from these sites is an option, but it’s time-consuming and can be incredibly frustrating. Many sites intentionally make the process complex, hoping you’ll give up.
Introducing Incogni: Your Privacy Ally
Incogni acts as your personal privacy service. It locates your personal data on people-search and data-broker sites, and then automatically submits removal requests on your behalf. This service regularly provides updates on its progress.
Incogni has removed personal data from hundreds of these databases. Furthermore, they ensure your info stays off these sites permanently by compelling data brokers to add your information to their suppression lists, preventing them from collecting any associated personal details.
Take Action Today
Protecting your identity is crucial in today’s digital world. Consider using a service like Incogni to safeguard your information and reduce your risk of becoming a victim of identity theft.
[Learn more about Incogni and consider getting a discounted offer today.]
