Protecting your identity
Protecting your identity involves putting measures in place to keep your personal details secure, as well as knowing what to do if you become the victim of identity fraud.
Identity theft and fraud
Identity theft is when someone steals your personal details - such as your name, government ID, or passport details - to commit a crime or fraud.
It often involves someone impersonating you, using your personal information to open bank accounts, withdrawing money from your accounts, or even taking out loans in your name.
Recognizing the signs
It's important to be alert to the signs of identity theft and fraud. You may find these guides helpful:
Steps to take if you are a victim of identity theft or fraud
If you are the victim of identity fraud you should report the crime to the police. It may help to obtain a copy of your police report, to give creditors and credit agencies evidence of your situation.
Contact your bank and credit card issuer to let them know the situation.
Contact at least one of the credit reporting agencies and request that a fraud alert is placed on your report.
Check your credit report. You can obtain one free credit report a year at Annual Credit Report.
Report the Identity Theft. You can do that at
Contact the post office if you believe that your mail has been tampered with, intercepted or redirected.
Changing or reviewing any passwords you use to access bank accounts and financial data. Use Passphrases rather than words, where allowed.
Watch your transactions. Be sure to enable Realtime transactions and Security alerts where available. Learn more about State National Bank Alerts.
Contacting appropriate government agencies (e.g. tax office).
Changing email addresses and update email passwords. Best to do this on all emails to be safe.