Identity theft

Criminals don't need to 'hack' you to take over your email, bank, or social accounts — they walk through one of five doors: a reused password, a fake login page, a stolen verification code, a SIM swap, or infostealer malware. Every one of those doors has a free lock. Here's the priority order, starting with the one move that matters most.

A mystery box addressed to you — no sender, nothing you bought — usually means a seller is posting fake 'verified' reviews in your name, and your personal data is already circulating. Here's what brushing is, the QR-code twist to never scan, and the lockdown moves to make.

Companies promise to erase bad credit and boost your score — for a sign-up fee and a monthly charge. Federal law says they can't take a dime before the work is done, and everything they can legally do, you can do yourself for free. Here's the law they're breaking, the $2.7 billion case that proved it, and the free do-it-yourself route.

Deed fraud crews forge a quitclaim deed, record it at the county, and then sell, mortgage, or rent out property they don't own — vacant land, paid-off homes, and elderly owners are the prime targets. Here's how the theft works, why paid 'title lock' products aren't the fix, and the free county alert that is.

Skimmers, shimmers, pinhole cameras, and keypad overlays copy your card and PIN at ATMs, gas pumps, and store terminals — the FBI puts the cost at over $1 billion a year. Here is how the hardware works, the quick physical inspection that catches most of it, and why tap-to-pay beats the swipe.

Thieves pull checks from the mail, erase the ink with household chemicals, and rewrite them to themselves — often for a much bigger amount. Here is how check washing works, the one-dollar pen habit that defeats it, and what to do if a check you mailed never arrived.

You get a letter about an unemployment claim you never filed, or a 1099-G for benefits you never received. Someone used your identity to claim jobless benefits. Here is how to recognize it, why it matters even if you lost no money, and the free steps that stop the damage.

You go to file your taxes and the return is rejected — because one was already filed using your Social Security number. Tax identity theft is quiet, seasonal, and recoverable if you act. Here is how to spot it, prevent it, and fix it.

A child's Social Security number is a blank slate with no credit history and no one watching it — which is exactly why thieves use it to open accounts that can go undetected for years. Here is how child identity theft works, the warning signs, and the free freeze that shuts it down.

Criminals copy EBT cards at store card readers and phish PINs by text, then empty SNAP benefits the moment they load. Here is how the theft works, the protection that holds, and the rule that changed: federal replacement of stolen benefits has ended.

Scammers call, text, and show up offering "free" braces, tests, or a "new Medicare card" — all to harvest your Medicare number and bill fraudulent claims in your name. Here is how medical identity theft works, why Medicare will never cold-call you, and how to protect and check your coverage.

Locked out, or watching a stranger post as you? An account takeover spreads fast — to your contacts, your other logins, your money. Here is the recovery sequence in order: regain access, kick the intruder out, lock the door, and report.

In a SIM-swap attack, criminals move your number to their phone, intercept your text codes, and drain your accounts. A carrier PIN and an authenticator app shut most of it down. Here is how to protect yourself.

A breach notice does not mean you are powerless. A free credit freeze, two-factor authentication, and an IRS Identity Protection PIN shut down the most damaging fraud. Here is exactly what to do, in order.

A credit freeze is free, doesn’t hurt your score, and blocks crooks from opening new accounts in your name. Here’s what it does, how to set one up, and what to do if your identity is stolen.