Protecting Your Identity
Bart R. McDonough · 2018
There are several techniques bad actors use to get their hands on the sensitive information that makes up our identity. Bad actors want our personally identifiable information (PII) to open bank accounts and credit cards, obtain loans, submit healthcare claims, and even evade the police. Social engineering is the most common tactic for obtaining sensitive information by tricking someone into divulging social security numbers (SSNs), bank account numbers, and other personal details. LifeLock has subsequently gone through numerous lawsuits, one which ruled LifeLock's Fraud Alert system illegal. LifeLock floods credit reporting agencies with fraud alert requests by impersonating the owner of the credit file. This chapter presents essential recommendations to protect our identity and our credit score and to prevent the opening of fraudulent accounts. It also presents essential recommendations for military personnel to protect their identity while they are on active duty, according to the Identity Theft Resource Center.