Protecting your identity is much easier than recovering it.

Coveted information can include your:

• Social Security number

• Driver's license number

• Medicare or other identification numbers

• Bank account information

• Debit or credit card numbers

• Usernames, passwords, and other account credentials

Robbery Has Changed

Bonnie & Clyde robbed banks with guns and getaway cars. Today's identity thieves may never leave their computers.

Instead of breaking into a bank, criminals can steal something potentially even more valuable—your personal information.

With the right information, an identity thief may be able to:

• Open credit accounts in your name

• Take control of existing financial accounts

• Apply for loans or government benefits

• Establish phone or utility services

• Make major purchases

• File fraudulent tax returns

• Create accounts and commit other crimes using your identity

The frightening part? You may not know you've been victimized until long after the damage has begun.

Identity theft can cost victims time and money, damage their credit, and create problems that may take months—or even years—to resolve.

That's why our approach focuses on more than what to do after identity theft occurs. We want consumers to understand how their information can be compromised, recognize the warning signs, and take practical steps to reduce their risk.