Identity Theft
Why is it important to know how to protect your personal and financial information? If people illegally get your information, they might use it to steal your money. This is called identity theft and it is against the law.
Information You Should Keep Private
Remember to keep your Social Security number, bank account numbers, and passwords private. Whether your money is in a piggy bank, a bank, credit union or the stock market, you should be in control of your hard earned money.
How can somebody steal your identity?
One of the most common ways to steal your identity is to trick you into giving out personal information such as your social security number and banking information. Another way is through a “scam.” A scam is an attempt to trick people into giving their money or information to a person or group. Be on alert to identify a scam. Scammers use many ways to get information:
How to Avoid Scams and Identity Theft
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has many videos on how to avoid scams and identity theft.