The best identity theft protection services can provide the help you need if your data is compromised. These services monitor your personal information, credit files and the web, alerting you to any suspicious or fraudulent activity. Identity theft protection services can also contact credit bureaus, banks and creditors on your behalf and assist you in restoring your identity, if necessary.
Read on to learn more about identity theft protection and our picks for the best ID theft protection services of July 2023.
Our Top Picks for the Best Identity Theft Protection
- Aura – Best for Multiple Devices
- Identity Guard – Best for Seniors
- LifeLock – Best Features
- IdentityForce – Best for Comprehensive Protection
- ReliaShield – Best Identity Theft Protection for Families
- IdentityIQ – Best for Credit Monitoring Services
- IDShield – Best for Restoration
Best Identity Theft Protection Reviews
Pros
- Credit monitoring and real-time credit inquiry alerts from each of the three major bureaus
- VPN, antivirus software and password manager on all plans
- 24/7 US-based case managers and customer service
- 60-day money-back guarantee on annual plans
Cons
- Cybersecurity features vary across operating systems
- Basic plan is more expensive than its competitors
Aura is an excellent identity theft protection service overall: its plans all boast a number of tools to protect your identity and finances, such as a variety of monitoring types and comprehensive credit services. The plans also include malware protection, a VPN, antivirus software, and a password manager to keep you safe online.
Moreover, Aura is a great deal for families, as its Family plan comes with parental controls on mobile devices to keep your children safe by blocking and filtering content, limiting screen time, and tracking internet usage and history.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Trial period
- 60 days on annual plans purchased through Aura's website or with the customer support team; 14 days
- Three-bureau credit monitoring
- Yes
- ID theft insurance
- Up to $1 million per adult for eligible losses and fees
| Paid Monthly | Paid Annually | |
| Individual | $15/mo | $12/mo (billed as $144) |
| Couple | $29/mo | $22/mo (billed as $264) |
| Family | $50/mo | $37/mo (billed as $444) |
Pros
- Uses artificial intelligence (AI) to identify identity threats
- US-based case managers available to assist with ID recovery
- Risk Management Score measures your identity fraud risk
- Three-bureau credit monitoring and monthly credit score on mid-tier plan
Cons
- Credit reports only available with the most expensive plan
- No credit monitoring on entry-level value plan
Why we chose it: We chose Identity Guard as the best identity theft protection for fast alerts because of the promptness of its notifications and use of artificial intelligence to detect threats preemptively.
Identity Guard is an excellent service for seniors, children, victims of data breaches, past ID theft victims and other groups whose identity is more likely to be stolen. The protection service’s most outstanding feature is its scanning platform, which is powered by IBM Watson, an AI supercomputer that can analyze and learn fraud patterns to warn consumers if they are at high risk of identity theft.
The company’s use of AI technology is what allows it to send alerts at record speeds. According to Power Consulting’s 2019 Review of Speed and Coverage Study, Identity Guard customers receive alerts within four minutes of a threat being identified, on average. The same study points out that the company also sends more alerts, on average — nearly 15% more than industry competitors —, which keeps customers aware of their situation and consequently better protected.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Trial period
- 60 days on annual plans
- Three-bureau credit monitoring
- Yes
- ID theft insurance
- Up to $1 million for eligible losses and fees
| Individual Plan | Family Plan | |
| Value | $8.99/mo or $5.39/mo billed annually ($64.68) | $14.99/mo or $8.99/mo billed annually ($107.88) |
| Total | $19.99/mo or $11.79/mo billed annually ($141.48) | $29.99/mo or $17.99/mo billed annually ($215.88) |
| Ultra | $29.99/mo or $17.99/mo billed annually ($215.88) | $39.99/mo or $23.99/mo billed annually ($287.88) |
Pros
- Bundle with Norton device protection, cloud storage and VPN services
- 60-day money-back guarantee (with annual membership)
- 24/7 live customer service support
- Simple, user-friendly interface
Cons
- Credit monitoring service and reports limited to one bureau on most plans
- Plan rates increases after the first year
Why we chose it: We chose LifeLock as the best identity theft protection for features because of the extensive cybersecurity software included in its plans.
LifeLock by Norton is at its best when bundled with Norton 360, a cybersecurity suite designed to provide multiple layers of protection against existing and emerging cyber threats in a single software package. Norton360 includes antivirus and malware protection, parental controls, a password manager and a VPN for five or more devices — depending on your plan — as well as a cloud backup for Windows computers.
LifeLock’s basic plan is not as feature-packed compared to other identity theft services. However, its higher-tier plans include several monitoring services that are not commonly found in identity theft protection packages, such as social media monitoring, payday loan monitoring and bank account takeover alerts.
Altogether, Lifelock is the identity theft protection of choice for those who are looking to stay as safe as possible online — just watch out for the service’s rate hike at the end of your first year.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Trial period
- 60 days on annual plan
- Three-bureau credit monitoring
- Yes
- ID theft insurance
- Up to $1 million for lawyers and experts, personal expense compensation and stolen funds reimbursement each
| Paid Monthly | Paid Annually | |
| Standard | $11.99/mo | $7.50/mo 1st year, ($89.99 upfront, renews at $124.99/yr) |
| Advantage | $22.99/mo | $14.99/mo 1st year, ($179.88 upfront, renews at $239.99/yr) |
| Ultimate Plus | $34.99/mo | $19.99/mo 1st year, ($239.88 upfront, renews at $339.99/yr) |
Pros
- Anti-phishing and keylogging software, and a fake network detector
- Unique service add-on designed to combat child identity theft
- Base plan features junk mail opt-out and social media monitoring
- 3-bureau monitoring, reports and scores bundled under one credit plan
Cons
- Much more expensive than its competitors
- Monitoring not included
Why we chose it: We chose IdentityForce as the best identity theft protection for comprehensive protection because its starting plan includes an extensive selection of monitoring types, alerts and cybersecurity tools.
IdentityForce has two identity theft protection packages to choose from, and neither is particularly inexpensive (unless you find a discount). However, what the plans lack in affordability they more than make up for in features and services.
The company’s Ultrasecure plan includes nearly everything IdentityForce has to offer, including a number of advanced features, such as sex offender monitoring, investment account alerts and medical ID fraud prevention services, that you’d only see on more expensive packages.
Meanwhile, its credit plan includes credit scores and reports from all three credit bureaus and a credit score simulator that you can use to evaluate how certain financial decisions might impact your score.
IdentityForce is also a good choice if you’re looking for child identity theft protection or a comprehensive bundle of credit services. The ChildWatch add-on features ongoing identity monitoring, SSN monitoring and an award-winning social media monitoring suite.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Trial period
- N/A (refund for unused portion of your subscription term)
- Three-bureau credit monitoring
- Yes
- ID theft insurance
- Up to $1 million out-of-pocket expenses and lost wages reimbursement
| Paid Monthly | Paid Annually | |
| Ultra Secure | $17.95 per month | $179.50 per year |
| Ultra Secure + Credit | $23.95 per month | $239.50 per year |
All annual subscriptions include two free months of service.
Pros
- Family plans cover all children under 18
- Dark web and neighborhood predator monitoring
- 24/7 customer service and unlimited recovery assistance
- Data breach alerts
Cons
- Three-bureau credit monitoring only available on most expensive plan
- Base plan doesn't include credit monitoring services
Why we chose it: We chose ReliaShield as the best identity theft protection for family plans because it offers the greatest value for families due to its comprehensive and highly affordable group packages.
ReliaShield family plans cover two adults and start at $14.99 per month, whereas pricing for family identity monitoring plans usually starts at $25 per month. In addition to their competitive pricing, all plans feature five types of monitoring, data breach updates, 24/7 customer and recovery services, as well as wallet protection. All plans also cover children under 18 years for no extra charge, making it ideal for households with a large number of minors.
ReliaShield offers credit report reminders on its starting individual and family plans, but you’ll only find the real credit protection services on its mid and high-tier plans. These services include single or three-bureau credit monitoring, a monthly credit score tracker and credit card application notifications. The company also monitors neighborhood predators and social media, which are important types of protection for families. However, these features are not included on the Essential plan.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Trial period
- N/A (pro-rated refund for unused membership months in your term)
- Three-bureau credit monitoring
- Yes
- ID theft insurance
- Up to $1 million stolen funds and expenses reimbursement
| Individual Plan | Family Plan | |
| Essential | $7.99 per month or $87.99 yearly | $14.99 per month or $164.89 yearly |
| Prime | $14.99 per month or $164.99 yearly | $24.99 per month or $274.89 yearly |
| Elite | $21.99 per month or $241.89 yearly | $34.99 per month or $384.89 yearly |
Pros
- Three-bureau credit monitoring and scores on most plans
- Monitors utilities, cell phones and credit applications
- US-Based ID restoration service
- Low-cost plan for small budgets
Cons
- Limited identity monitoring services compared to competitors
- No money back guarantee or free trial period
Why we chose it: We chose IdentityIQ as the best identity theft protection for credit monitoring because its wide variety of credit-related services is the most complete and available across most of its four plan tiers.
IdentityIQ will be most effective for consumers whose main concern is their credit safety and health. Although the company’s identity monitoring doesn’t stand out, its plans all feature credit monitoring services and tracking in addition to essential identity theft monitoring. Higher tier plans also feature single or three-bureau monitoring, a credit score simulator and score change alerts.
Consumers on a tighter budget may appreciate the company’s wider range of plan options. Its Secure plan is only $6.99 per month — $5.94 with annual payment — and still offers daily credit alerts from one credit agency in addition to dark web monitoring, Social Security monitoring, lost wallet assistance and up to $1 million to cover stolen funds.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Trial period
- Seven days
- Three-bureau credit monitoring
- Yes
- ID theft insurance
- Up to $1 million in stolen funds reimbursement
| Paid Monthly | Paid Annually | |
| Secure | $6.99/mo | $5.94/mo (billed as $71.30) |
| Secure Plus | $9.99/mo | $8.50/mo (billed as $101.90) |
| Secure Pro | $19.99/mo | $16.99/mo (billed as $203.90) |
| Secure Max | $29.99/mo | $25.50/mo (billed as $305.90) |
Pros
- Access to in-house licensed private investigators
- Unlimited consulting and restoration services
- Scan your social media for unwanted images and posts
- Monthly credit score tracker
Cons
- No detailed credit reports provided
- No discounts on annual plans
Why we chose it: We chose IDShield as the best identity theft protection for restoration because of its combination of licensed private investigators and affordable three-bureau monitoring.
IDShield is an easy pick as the go-to service for identity restoration due to its use of professional investigators, who will step in to track down the source(s) of fraud. The company offers two plans to individuals and families alike: one for three-bureau monitoring and the other for one-bureau monitoring. If you subscribe to a family plan, a different investigator is assigned to each family member who may be a victim of fraud.
All of IDShield’s plans include dark web surveillance, credit score tracking for one year and credit reporting disputes, as well as a court record, financial account and personal information monitoring. The company also monitors social media accounts, such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, and flags problematic posts or comments. However, do note that none of its plans provide detailed credit reports.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Trial period
- 30 days
- Three-bureau credit monitoring
- Yes
- ID theft insurance
- Up to $1 million in coverage for lawyers and experts and other unrecovered costs
| Individual Plan | Family Plan | |
| 1 Bureau | $14.95/mo | $29.95/mo |
| 3 Bureau | $19.95/mo | $34.95/mo |
Other identity theft protection services we considered
The following companies are worth mentioning but didn’t make the cut due to factors such as a lack of essential monitoring, scant information on their websites, limited plan availability, and poor mobile functionality.
McAfee Identity Theft Protection Standard
McAfee is a well-known brand in the cybersecurity space, and it’s no surprise that the company has also decided to offer identity theft protection services and tools to consumers. Its most noteworthy features — malware protection, a VPN and a password manager — are mainly geared toward keeping users safe while interacting online.
While robust, these features are not enough to offset McAfee’s prohibitive cost and lack of credit-related services, which just barely keep the company out of our top list.
Pros
- Extensive dark web monitoring -- over 600,000 dark websites
- Parental controls with family plan
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- Lack of information on credit monitoring services
- Only yearly plans available
Zander Insurance
Zander Insurance is by far one of the most affordable identity theft protection services out there, with a starting plan of just $6.75 per month for individuals and $12.90 per month for families. These low rates come at a cost, though: the service is stripped down to the basics and lacks the credit monitoring services that many other identity theft protection plans include.
Pros
- 24/7/365 customer and recovery services
- Computer security tools included in premium plan
- Affordable individual and family plans
Cons
- Limited credit reporting and no 3-bureau credit monitoring service
- No social media monitoring
- No mobile app alerts
Experian Identityworks
Backed by one of the largest credit bureaus in the world, Experian Identityworks offers affordable and robust plans, which are supplemented by a 30-day free trial, making it easy to recommend for most consumers. Even so, Identityworks lacks outstanding features, and its shaky record of satisfaction with customer support kept it out of our top picks.
Pros
- 30-day free trial
- Dark web monitoring
- 3-bureau credit monitoring and FICO(R) score alerts and simulator
Cons
- Fraud insurance with base plan only covers up to $500,000
ID Watchdog
ID Watchdog checks all of the boxes when it comes to the essentials of identity theft protection: a robust toolset for combating identity theft, educational information for users and an affordable top-tier plan.
ID Watchdog doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but maybe it doesn’t need to — we can certainly recommend it, although we’d suggest picking a service that more directly addresses your needs.
Pros
- 1-bureau monitoring on base plan, 3-bureau on premium plan
- Child Credit Lock to protect your minor against credit fraud
- Social media monitoring included with all plans
- High-risk transactions and public records monitoring
Cons
- No credit report monitoring or score with base plan
- Family plan only allows up to four children
PrivacyGuard Total Protection
PrivacyGuard is unique in that it offers identity and credit monitoring services independent of each other. Both its identity protection and credit protection plans cover all the bases of their respective fields, meaning that consumers interested in only one type of service can avoid paying for the other.
Users interested in a more comprehensive service should note that PrivacyGuard’s mixed service is quite expensive — though it does offer some unique features not seen elsewhere.
Pros
- Monthly credit reports and scores from all three bureaus
- Up to $1 million in compensation if your identity is stolen
- Public and dark web scanning
Cons
- 3-bureau daily credit monitoring is expensive
- Doesn't offer family plans
- No social media monitoring
Identity Theft Protection Guide
Identity theft is more common than ever: in 2021 alone, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) received nearly 1.4 million reports of identity theft.
Identity theft protection services help monitor your personal and financial information across the internet and notify you whenever it might’ve been used fraudulently by someone else. However, these services only detect suspicious activity, and they can’t prevent your information from being stolen and misused in the first place.
To protect yourself from identity theft and improve your cybersecurity game, it’s important to know how to identify and avoid potential scams.
What is identity theft?
Identity theft occurs when an individual steals your personal identifiable information (PII) and uses it to commit a crime. This may involve opening accounts in your name, applying for credit, filing taxes or seeking medical services using your personal information. Identity theft protection services are specifically designed to identify instances of identity theft and alert you in a timely manner.
How does identity theft protection work?
Identity theft protection services work on an alert-based system. They monitor the web for signs of your personal information where it shouldn’t be — the dark web, social media, court or arrest records, payday loan applications — and send you a notification via one or more channels if they find anything suspicious. Many ID theft protection services also feature credit monitoring and computer security tools and may cover some of the costs resulting from identity fraud.
Why is it important to have identity theft protection?
Identity theft protection is becoming increasingly important in today’s world as criminals find a growing number of ways to steal people’s information. Because there is no one type of identity theft, these services need to be multifaceted and provide comprehensive protection features that can intercept as many kinds of scams as possible.
Freezing your credit and doing your own monitoring is certainly possible — and less expensive — but paying for identity theft protection is a welcome solution for many who are unable to do so for one reason or another.
How does identity theft happen?
Identity theft comes in many forms, and not all of them consist of a malicious hacker on the other side of the screen waiting for you to write your password.
Phishing
Identity thieves can trick you into sharing private information by using emails or text messages that look like they’re from legitimate companies, such as banks, online stores, social media sites or streaming services.
These so-called phishing messages usually urge you to click a link and take immediate action regarding a blocked account or outdated payment information, for example. They may also ask you to download attachments that infect your device.
Formjacking
With formjacking, hackers insert malicious code into legitimate website forms, with the aim of copying your billing information or login credentials without arousing suspicion.
Make sure the websites you visit are secure by checking that their address begins with “https” and features a small lock. Note that this isn’t fool-proof, as sophisticated hackers can include these safety measures in formjacked websites.
Physical document theft
Don’t carry your Social Security card, passport and other important documents in your wallet, purse or car unless necessary. Make sure to shred documents that contain personal information, such as bank statements and utility bills, before disposing of them.
Data breaches
A data breach is when someone gains access to your devices or a business’ database without authorization. With a data breach, cybercriminals can steal names, dates of birth, home and email addresses, passwords, credit cards, driver’s licenses or even SSNs.
Not all data breaches can be avoided, but there are some things you can do to reduce your data breach risk, namely using distinct passwords for different accounts and enabling two-step authentication when possible.
Other kinds of identity theft
Some methods for stealing a person’s identity consist of exploiting specific types of documents, such as medical, investment, and tax documents. A thief could also compile several pieces of information to create a fake version of you.
Synthetic identity theft
Cybercriminals might create new identities by combining real personal information with fake data. For example, they may use a real Social Security number and a false name to apply for a loan.
Child identity theft
Scammers can steal a child’s personal information and use it to open bank accounts, credit cards, or apply for loans, for example. Child identity theft often goes unnoticed until years later when the affected individual tries to obtain a job, car insurance or a new credit card.
Medical identity theft
Your information could be used to obtain health insurance or to submit false claims to Medicare and other insurers. This type of fraud may also involve a scammer using your health insurance to visit a doctor or get a prescription.
There have even been cases where the scammer’s and the victim’s health records are mixed up, leading to misdiagnosis or inadequate treatment.
Tax identity theft
A scammer that gets access to your Social Security number can use it to file a fraudulent tax return and collect the refund before you do. Most people become aware of this type of theft when the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) flags their tax return as a duplicate.
Types of identity theft protection services
Identity theft protection companies help you monitor your private information across the internet and spot scams early on.
The most common features of identity protection services are:
Credit report monitoring
Credit monitoring works by regularly reviewing your credit report’s history for signs of possible fraud and identity theft. ID theft protection companies that offer this service monitor your credit report from one or all three major credit bureaus — Experian, Equifax and TransUnion — depending on the plan you choose.
If the protection service finds any suspicious activity in your credit file, such as applications for several new accounts or accessing your accounts from unknown devices, they notify you via email, text or phone so you can verify this information. Although this is something you can do on your own, credit monitoring services offer a faster, hands-off way of keeping tabs on your credit in exchange for a monthly or annual fee.
Identity monitoring
ID theft protection services monitor websites, the dark web, databases and criminal or public records for signs that your personal information is being shared or used by fraudsters. They usually track your Social Security number, driver’s license, passport, home address, email, phone number and bank accounts.
For example, an ID theft protection company will notify you if your Social Security is used to file a suspicious tax refund or if your email address and password were exposed in a data breach and are now available on the dark web.
Identity recovery services
If your identity is compromised, good ID theft protection companies will provide professional assistance to help you recover your identity and secure your accounts. These restoration services include contacting government agencies, requesting a credit freeze, and helping you write letters to creditors and debt collectors.
You can also dispute your credit report. However, hiring a company to do so can save you some time and effort.
Fraud insurance
Identity theft services in our list offer fraud protection services via insurance coverage ranging from $20,000 to $1 million. This is especially useful for seniors at risk of identity theft, who are often the target of identity fraud.
This compensation is meant to cover out-of-pocket expenses such as legal fees or lost wages related to recovering your identity. Keep in mind that identity theft insurance won’t reimburse you for any stolen money or financial loss.
Cybersecurity Software
Many ID theft protection services now include additional tools designed to protect your personal information online, such as VPNs, antivirus software and password managers. How useful these are will vary depending on your personal Internet use.
For example, you may need a VPN if you work in a sensitive field where your online actions must be kept private from internet service providers.
If you want to know more about VPNs and antivirus software, or would like to pick one out yourself, take a look at our best VPN services and best antivirus software pages.
How to prevent identity theft
Here are some recommendations if you want to know how to protect your identity from theft and fraud:
- Create strong passwords. Avoid sequential letters and numbers like “1234” or “abcd.” Instead, use random sequences that include punctuation marks and letters in both lowercase and uppercase.
- Don’t reuse passwords. If a reused password is exposed in a data breach, hackers would get access to all of the accounts with the same login credentials. Consider getting a password manager, which generates strong passwords for you and stores them in an encrypted format, if you’re having issues remembering your passwords. (For more on this type of software, read our article about the best password managers.)
- Avoid carrying around your Social Security card. Be it in your purse, wallet or car, don’t bring it with you unless it’s absolutely necessary. Also, don’t share personal details like SSNs, bank account numbers, driver’s license, and birth dates through text messages, email or social media.
- Request copies of your credit report through AnnualCreditReport.com. Keep an eye out for new accounts or loan applications you don’t recognize. Make sure to check your monthly credit card bills and bank statements for unauthorized charges, as well.
- Request fraud alerts from your credit bureaus. This way, banks and other financial institutions can contact you to verify your information before approving new accounts. If you know how to freeze your credit, you should ask the three national credit bureaus to do so in order to prevent new accounts from being opened in your name until the freeze is lifted.
- Protect your Internet-connected devices. You can do this by installing an antivirus software and enabling two-step factor authentication when available, which gives your accounts an extra layer of protection.
- Watch out for phishing attempts. When you receive an email asking for personal information or requesting you click on a link, check for spelling and grammatical errors, and hover over the sender’s name to reveal the full email address.
- Protect your physical information. Shred receipts, account statements and expired credit and debit cards before disposing them.
- Collect your mail every day. If you’re going on vacation, make sure to place a hold on your mail (you can do this online at USPS.com), or have somebody pick it up on a regular basis.
Where could identity theft access your personal information?
Identity thieves can access your personal information in a number of ways: some physical, some digital. They may dig through mail or trash in search of credit card or bank statements, fill out a change-of-address form to forward your mail to them and steal your wallet or its contents.
Cybercriminals can also phish for information with fake emails or text messages, obtain your information through unsecured websites or public Wi-Fi and steal electronic records exposed due to a data breach.
What is the dark web?
The dark web refers to a group of internet sites that are not indexed by search engines such as Google or Bing, and cannot be accessed by regular browsers. While it is not illegal to access this part of the web, it has been used for illegal activities such as buying and selling stolen personal information.
Dark web monitoring is a service that focuses on this specific part of the World Wide Web. Companies that provide ID theft protection offer this service to scan dark web sites where personal information is traded or sold, and notify clients if any of their identifiable information is found there.
How to choose an identity theft protection service
Choosing the right identity theft protection service comes down to three key elements: alerts, monitoring, and restoration.
- First, look at the alerts that each ID theft protection service will send you if it suspects your identity has been stolen. Review if you need alerts for more niche cases and on how many devices you want to install the software.
- Then, consider the types of monitoring you need. Some people just want essential monitoring, while others may be looking for specialized services, such as social media and investment monitoring.
- Lastly, single out each company’s identity restoration package. It should include features such as stolen funds reimbursement, personal expense compensation, and coverage for lawyers in the event your identity is used fraudulently.
Cost of identity theft protection
In addition to how this type of service works, you’re likely wondering how much identity theft protection costs. On average, identity theft protection costs around $10 to $30 per month for an individual plan. ID theft protection for families is usually more expensive, but you can find family plans starting as low as $15 per month.
If you’re debating whether to pay for one of these services, consider how expensive an identity theft lawyer can be in comparison. Identity theft lawyers cost around $368 per hour, which is the hourly rate for attorneys with 11 to 15 years of experience, according to the 2018 Edition of The Survey of Law Firm Economics.
Consumers at greater risk of having their identity stolen should weigh the cost of preventative measures against that of reactive measures, like hiring a lawyer to help restore your identity.
Is identity theft protection worth it?
You can protect yourself from ID theft by practicing basic security measures, but an identity protection service can offer some peace of mind — even more so if you have an overwhelming amount of online and financial accounts.
ID protection services do the heavy lifting for you by looking for possible exposure of your personal information and spotting instances when your data might have been used fraudulently. This makes ID theft protection especially worthwhile for individuals who don’t actively monitor their own credit.
What to do if you suspect identity theft?
If you suspect that you are a victim of identity theft, there are several steps you should take immediately.
- Analyze your situation. Have you handed out this information to a family member or close friend that may have used it accidentally?
- Change your password and login details. This is especially important if you use the same password and/or login information for more than one account, and if said account(s) could have been compromised due to a data breach.
- Review your credit report. You should be looking for signs of fraud, such as new lines of credit that you did not open yourself.
Common warning signs of identity theft
Identity theft often goes undetected until it is well underway. By familiarizing yourself with the common warning signs, you may be able to prevent it from causing significant damage to your finances or credit. These warning signs include:
- Unexpected changes to your credit score. Your credit score could experience gradual or sudden dips depending on how an identity thief uses your information.
- Unfamiliar purchases or transactions in your bank statements. Identity thieves may use your information to purchase goods, upgrade services on existing accounts or open new accounts in your name.
- New credit cards or lines of credits you did not apply for. Identity thieves can also use your personal data to apply for credit facilities. According to the Federal Trade Commission’s 2022 Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book, credit card fraud was the most common type of ID theft in 2022.
- Errors on your credit report, tax return or Social Security statement. Not all errors on these documents are the result of identity theft. However, a large number of errors and suspicious information could be a sign of potential fraud.
- Missing bills or emails. By using a change-of-address scam, identity thieves can reroute your bills or statements. Emails can also be rerouted to another address if a thief gains access to your account settings.
How to check if someone is using my identity
You can take several measures to verify if someone has stolen your identity. You should first check your credit card statements and bank account warning signs, such as unauthorized transactions and new accounts under your name.
You should also request a credit report if your credit score is behaving strangely or if you cannot prequalify for a loan or apply for a credit card when you usually could.
How to report identity theft
Reporting identity theft starts by filing a report with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at IdentityTheft.gov or calling 1-877-438-4338. Once you fill out the FTC report, you may also file a police report, especially if you have an idea of who may be behind the crime. The documents you’ll need for this include:
- A copy of your FTC Identity Theft Report, which helps with recovering your identity and shows businesses that someone stole your identity
- A government-issued photo ID, such as your driver’s license or passport
- Your physical address and proof thereof, such as a mortgage statement or utility bill
- Proof of identity theft (unfamiliar bills, recurrent credit checks, notices from the IRS, etc.)
To prevent damage to your credit, you should also contact your bank and credit card issuer, and place a fraud alert at one of the three following credit bureaus:
- Experian (Experian.com/fraudalert | 1-888-397-3742)
- TransUnion (TransUnion.com/fraud | 1-800-680-7289)
- Equifax (Equifax.com/CreditReportAssistance | 1-888-766-0008)The credit bureau you notify of the situation must then tell the other two so they are all aware of the ongoing case.
When it comes to phishing emails, you can forward them to the Anti-Phishing Working Group at reportphishing@apwg.org. Text messages can be forwarded to SPAM (7726). Remember to report the phishing attack to the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint.
Latest News on Identity Theft Protection
Cybercriminals have become increasingly creative in devising new methods to obtain your credit information. Fraudsters today employ a variety of tactics to access this data, including account hacking, phishing schemes and credit card skimming. As incidents of credit card fraud increase, it’s crucial to learn how to protect your credit cards from scammers. It’s also important to know what to do if your information is found on the dark web.
A new report on scam trends by Fraud.org, which analyzed around 3,500 scam complaints from the previous year, reveals that the typical amount of money lost to investing scams surged from $1,750 in 2021 to $18,700 in 2022, representing a tenfold increase. The study identified investing scams as the primary cause of the largest losses in 2022. Some financial experts attribute this rise in victims’ losses to cryptocurrency fraud schemes.
In today’s digital world, understanding identity theft and how to protect yourself against it has become more crucial than ever. Identity theft is a mounting concern for many Americans, as it can have a long-lasting negative impact on their finances and daily lives. ID theft protection services have emerged as one means for consumers to monitor their personally identifiable information and obtain assistance in the event of identity fraud.
ID Theft Protection FAQ
How should you respond to the theft of your identity?
The first thing you should do if your identity is stolen is to notify the company or agency that issued your stolen credentials. You should then put a freeze or fraud alert on your credit and report the theft to the FTC.
Lastly, file a report with your local law enforcement agency. During this process, you'll want to ask for copies of your credit reports for evaluation, clean up your personal accounts and inspect your bank and credit card statements.
Do police investigate identity theft?
Many credit report agencies and creditors encourage consumers to notify the authorities if they believe their identity has been stolen. While doing so is an essential step in the process, the reality is that the police rarely investigate identity theft due to the nature of this type of crime.
Filing a report with the authorities supports your case as a victim in the long run, but you should keep your expectations low when it comes to the police taking matters into their own hands.
How does child identity theft occur?
Child identity theft happens when someone steals your child's personal identifiable information and uses it to wrongfully obtain services or benefits, or to commit fraud. Identity thieves can impersonate your child by amassing bits and pieces of digital and/or physical information, which may be compromised in numerous ways. For example, you may have left documents with your child's information somewhere out in the open or given their information to a business with a weak cybersecurity infrastructure.What is credit monitoring?
Credit monitoring services track and regularly review your credit report's history for signs of possible fraud and identity theft. If they find any suspicious activity in your credit file, such as applications for several new accounts or accessing your accounts from unknown devices, they will notify you via email, text or phone so you can verify this information. Although this is something you can do on your own, credit monitoring services offer a faster, hands-off way of keeping tabs on your credit in exchange for a monthly or annual fee.What is the best identity theft protection?
The best identity theft protection for you will depend on your budget, the number of devices you want to protect and the types of protection service you need. For example, our research showed that IdentityForce offers the most comprehensive ID theft protection package. However, some consumers may only be interested in paying for credit monitoring services, or may prioritize having cybersecurity for a larger number of devices instead.What is synthetic identity fraud?
Synthetic identity fraud is a more sophisticated kind of cyberattack that is difficult for the financial services industry to identify and mitigate. By combining real and fake information, an identity thief can forge a new identity that is used to open fraudulent accounts and make dishonest purchases. The real information is often a person's stolen Social Security number; the fake information can be a fabricated name, date of birth, mailing address and phone number.How We Chose the Best Identity Theft Protection
The best identity theft protection service should offer more than just the essentials: it should come with a comprehensive variety of identity and credit monitoring services across its plans and provide a robust identity restoration package. Ideally, it should also offer cybersecurity tools that help protect your information online to prevent your data from being stolen in the first place.
We evaluated each provider’s monitoring and alerts services, reimbursement policies, customer service and additional cybersecurity software to establish which companies offered the best identity theft protection services.
Monitoring and Alerts – We favored services that watch a wide range of items — home titles, the dark web, payday loans, court records, etc. — while giving special mention to those with niche and unique types of monitoring. The best identity theft protection services send you real-time alerts via email and SMS text messaging when breaches are detected. To that end, the companies we chose all have iOS and Android mobile apps to make communication easier.
Identity Restoration – Identity theft protection packages should always include some level of fraud insurance, which can reimburse you for any legal fees incurred during the identity restoration process. Ideally, they will also have experts who can guide you through the process and contact financial institutions and government agencies on your behalf.
Cybersecurity Tools – Although seen merely as extras or embellishments to identity theft protection by some, cybersecurity software is one of the best tools to avoid having your identity stolen nowadays. The digital age has made VPNs, password managers, malware detectors and antivirus indispensable tools in the fight against ID theft, and we favored services that include them across most of their plans.
Summary of Money’s 7 Best Identity Theft Protection of July 2023
- Aura – Best for Multiple Devices
- Identity Guard – Best for Seniors
- LifeLock – Best Features
- IdentityForce – Best for Comprehensive Protection
- ReliaShield – Best Identity Theft Protection for Families
- IdentityIQ – Best for Credit Monitoring Services
- IDShield – Best for Restoration
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