Identity Theft Protection Services
Frequently Asked Questions about Identity Theft Protection Services.
How can I prevent identity theft?
Signing up for one of our recommended services is the best way. Each service is different and different ones may be best for different people. Some services, such as LifeLock and TrustedID are what we call "preventive" services, meaning they are great for preventing ID theft before it can happen. Other services, such as Identity Guard are what we call "detection" services, which mean that they detect that someone is trying to steal your identity and help you catch it before it harms you, but they don't try to prevent it altogether. See "What type of identity theft protection is right for me?" for help on which type of solution you should get.
In addition to signing up for one of our recommended services, there are many things you can do to help prevent identity theft:
- Carefully monitor your credit report for any suspicious activity (many of our recommended identity theft services do this, as do all of our recommended credit monitoring services.)
- Always shred documents containing personal or financial information.
- Only put your name on your checks - don't include your Social Security number, address or even your phone number.
- If you receive preapproved credit offers (many of our recommended services stop these from being mailed to you), make sure you destroy them.
- Don't carry your Social Security number, birth certificate or passport in your wallet.
- Don't mail anything from your personal mailbox unless it has a lock.
- Carefully review all monthly financial statements (credit cards, bank accounts) to be sure there is no fraudulent activity.
- Never give out personal information over the phone unless you are absolutely who you are speaking to.
- Never give out personal information on the Internet unless you are absolutely sure you are on a trustworthy website.
- Do not click links from emails to get to an online account - it may be a fake email directing you to a counterfeit site (phishing). If you think the email is legitimate, type in the web address of your account yourself.
Search our blog archives and frequently asked questions for more information about Identity Theft Protection Services
Recently answered questions about Identity Theft Protection Services:
What if a teenager loses his wallet?
The following post in our Reader Question series is an actual user submitted question.
Q: If someone who has just turned 18 and has no prior credit history loses his wallet, what can he do to prevent someone using his driver's license to open up new accounts in his name? Would it do him any good [...]
Will someone act on my behalf if my identity is stolen?
The following post in our Reader Question series is an actual user submitted question. To maintain the integrity of the original question, we do not edit or change reader questions in any way.
Q: Do any of the identity theft protection companies you feature offer an advocates service if my identity is compromised or stolen? [...]
Does TrustedID cover legal costs to restore your identity?
The following post in our Reader Question series is an actual user submitted question. To maintain the integrity of the original question, we do not edit or change reader questions in any way.
Q: Does TrustedID also cover legal costs which may occur during the restoration of your identity after ID theft?
A: Yes. TrustedID's identity theft [...]
If someone has stolen your identity, do you get the money back?
The following post in our Reader Question series is an actual user submitted question. To maintain the integrity of the original question, we do not edit or change reader questions in any way.
Q: If someone has stolen your identity, and taken money out of your checking account or charged something using your bank account, do [...]
Will LifeLock protect my bank accounts?
The following post in our Reader Question series is an actual user submitted question. To maintain the integrity of the original question, we do not edit or change reader questions in any way.
Q: I know that LifeLock protects your credit card, Social Security, driver's license, and address changes. But what about my bank accounts? I [...]
If our identity is stolen or compromised, would LifeLock do the paperwork con...
The following post in our Reader Question series is an actual user submitted question. To maintain the integrity of the original question, we do not edit or change reader questions in any way.
Q: If our identity is stolen or compromised, would LifeLock do the paperwork connected to clearing my name/credit?
A: If your identity [...]
Should I sign up for identity theft protection right away?
The following post in our Reader Question series is an actual user submitted question. To maintain the integrity of the original question, we do not edit or change reader questions in any way.
Q: My car was broken into tonight and my purse stolen. I have my driver license, passport, employee ID card and a [...]
How do I login to my Identity Guard account?
The following post in our Reader Question series is an actual user submitted question. To maintain the integrity of the original question, we do not edit or change reader questions in any way.
Q: I am a member [of Identity Guard], how do I sign on to the member services when I am not on [...]
Do my husband and I need the Trusted ID family plan?
The following post in our Reader Question series is an actual user submitted question. To maintain the integrity of the original question, we do not edit or change reader questions in any way.
Q: I have 2 credit cards. my husband has 3 credit cards and we both have ATM cards. We need the family [...]
What family members can be included in the Trusted ID family plan?
The following post in our Reader Question series is an actual user submitted question. To maintain the integrity of the original question, we do not edit or change reader questions in any way.
Q: What family members can be included in the same services [with Trusted ID]?
A: Trusted ID's family plan covers any family members that [...]
