Identity theft refers to the unauthorized use of an individual's personally identifiable information (PII), such as name, social security number, bank information, and other sensitive information that can compromise a person’s privacy, security, and financial assets.
You can protect yourself against identity theft by securing your personal information -- online and offline. Make sure to engage in best practices such as using strong passwords, protecting your devices with updated security software, monitoring your bank transactions, securing your personal documents, and minimizing the amount of information you share online.
For proactive protection, McAfee® can actively monitor your sensitive information and give step-by-step guidance when you need it the most.
Begin by analyzing the situation and reviewing the compromised information. Then, notify the relevant authorities, such as your bank, coverage agency, a local police station, or a national cybercrime complaint center. While the relevant authorities are helping you with the case, check and secure your financial accounts, devices, and proof of identity.
The most common form of identity theft is financial identity theft, which refers to any type of theft when someone uses another individual’s information for financial gain. Some examples are New Account Fraud, Account Takeover Fraud, Business Identity Theft, and Tax-Related Identity Theft.
