| •Criminals have many ways to obtain our personal information. They steal mail, hack corporate databases or use emails, texts and phone calls designed to deceive people into sharing their information.•They may sell your data to the highest bidder or use it themselves to open new accounts in your name or take over existing accounts. They may file for federal benefits in your name, too.•To safeguard yourself against identity theft and fraud, avoid sharing sensitive information to anyone who contacts you. Avoid clicking on links in emails and texts, set up electronic access to your financial accounts, and consider setting up a fraud alert or credit freeze to protect against fraudulent account openings. |
