{"id":60740,"date":"2019-06-19T10:41:50","date_gmt":"2019-06-19T10:41:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zameen.com\/blog\/?p=60740"},"modified":"2019-06-19T11:51:03","modified_gmt":"2019-06-19T11:51:03","slug":"easy-tips-prevent-identity-theft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zameen.com\/blog\/easy-tips-prevent-identity-theft.html","title":{"rendered":"Here Are 7 Tips on How to Protect Yourself from Identity Theft"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Most people in Pakistan don\u2019t think twice about taking any sort of measures to prevent identity theft<strong> <\/strong>because they don\u2019t see it as a threat or even realize how dangerous it can be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Well, for starters, identity theft is no joke. It is also much more prevalent than you might think.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Imagine putting a portion of your hard earned money in a savings account every month only to later find out that your data has been breached and there aren\u2019t any funds left in your account. It sounds terrible, right? Unfortunately, anyone can be a victim of identity theft. However, before we discuss how to prevent identity theft from happening, we need to learn what it is and how does it occur. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What Is Identity Theft?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/www.zameen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image-2-32-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"identity theft via debit and credit cards is common\" class=\"wp-image-60748\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn-blog.zameen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image-2-32-1024x640.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn-blog.zameen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image-2-32-300x188.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn-blog.zameen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image-2-32-768x480.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn-blog.zameen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image-2-32-640x400.jpg 640w, https:\/\/cdn-blog.zameen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image-2-32.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>Learn how to protect yourself with these identity theft prevention tips<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Identity theft is also called identity fraud. It basically occurs when someone deliberately obtains your personal information to either use it in a fraudulent scheme, take a loan on your name, access your bank account or commit any other similar crimes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The best way to prevent identity theft is to be extra vigilant about who has access to your credit card, <g class=\"gr_ gr_5 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear ContextualSpelling multiReplace\" id=\"5\" data-gr-id=\"5\">chequebooks<\/g>, medical records, bills <g class=\"gr_ gr_4 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Punctuation only-ins replaceWithoutSep\" id=\"4\" data-gr-id=\"4\">and<\/g> other important documents. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How does identity theft happen?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/www.zameen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image-3-30-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"paying via debit card or credit card requires caution\" class=\"wp-image-60753\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn-blog.zameen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image-3-30-1024x640.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn-blog.zameen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image-3-30-300x188.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn-blog.zameen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image-3-30-768x480.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn-blog.zameen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image-3-30-640x400.jpg 640w, https:\/\/cdn-blog.zameen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image-3-30.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>Credit card fraud: One of the most common ways someone can steal your identity\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are some of the things that can lead to identity theft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Stolen wallet or mobile phone<\/li><li>Bank data breaches<\/li><li>Online phishing and malware <\/li><li>Credit card or mail theft<\/li><li>Hacking your devices or WiFi<\/li><li>ATM Skimming<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Once this stolen personal data finds its way to dark web marketplaces, things can get completely out of hand. Therefore, it\u2019s always better to report such incidents to concerned authorities as soon as possible in order to minimize the damage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you ever lose your wallet, make sure to call the bank and ask them to block your credit or debit card. Similarly, if someone steals your phone, contact your service provider to block your sim so that your number cannot be used for any fraudulent activities. You should also file a police report to prevent identity theft after losing a wallet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While there are several types of identity theft, such as character identity fraud where a criminal commits a crime in someone else\u2019s name resulting in the innocent party\u2019s arrest, financial identity theft is perhaps the most common of them all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Cybercrime laws in\nPakistan Pertaining to Identity Theft<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Federal Investigation Agency (or FIA) states an individual\u2019s identity is stolen every three seconds as a result of cybercrime. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In order to fight <g class=\"gr_ gr_4 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del\" id=\"4\" data-gr-id=\"4\">cybercrimes<\/g> such as hacking, identity theft <g class=\"gr_ gr_9 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Punctuation only-ins replaceWithoutSep\" id=\"9\" data-gr-id=\"9\">and<\/g> <g class=\"gr_ gr_5 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del\" id=\"5\" data-gr-id=\"5\">cyber bullying<\/g>, FIA created a special \u201chi-tech\u201d <g class=\"gr_ gr_6 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del multiReplace\" id=\"6\" data-gr-id=\"6\">crime fighting<\/g> unit in 2007 known as <g class=\"gr_ gr_8 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar only-ins replaceWithoutSep\" id=\"8\" data-gr-id=\"8\">National<\/g> Response Centre for Cyber Crime (NR3C). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Furthermore, in August 2016, the National Assembly of Pakistan passed the hotly-debated Prevention of Electronic Crimes Bill 2015. As far as identity theft is concerned, the law states whoever obtains, sells, transmits or uses an individual\u2019s identity or related information without authorization shall be punished for up to three years in prison or with a PKR 5 million fine or both. Offenses include using someone\u2019s email address to pose as someone else or claiming false identity on the phone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>7 Easy Ways to Prevent Identity Theft<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are some simple ways to prevent identity theft from happening to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Check your bank accounts regularly<\/li><li>Report any discrepancies in your credit card bills<\/li><li>Password protect all of your devices<\/li><li>Activate multi-factor authentication <\/li><li>Shred your important mail and bills<\/li><li>Only make online payments to trusted sites<\/li><li>Be careful about disclosing your personal information <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s further discuss these strategies to prevent identity theft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Check your bank accounts regularly<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/www.zameen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image-7-9-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"connect to safe networks before making online transcations\" class=\"wp-image-60756\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn-blog.zameen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image-7-9-1024x640.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn-blog.zameen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image-7-9-300x188.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn-blog.zameen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image-7-9-768x480.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn-blog.zameen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image-7-9-640x400.jpg 640w, https:\/\/cdn-blog.zameen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image-7-9.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>Always ensure you are connected to a safe, private network before entering your account details to log in<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>This one is a no-brainer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you don\u2019t use online banking, you should think about activating the service as it will allow you to constantly keep a check on your total balance. Moreover, along with setting SMS alert for every single transaction (both credit and debit) from your account, consider setting up an email alert as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, in order to prevent identity theft online, always ensure you are connected to a safe, private network before entering your account details to log in. For instance, accessing your bank account while being connected to WiFi at a public coffee shop can have disastrous consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Furthermore, most banks send out 6-month account statements to their customers without any extra charges. Make sure to carefully study these reports. It will not only help you detect any unknown purchases that might have been made on your card but will also help you keep your spending habits in check and <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zameen.com\/blog\/10-tips-manage-home-budget.html\" target=\"_blank\">successfully maintain a home budget<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Report any discrepancies in your bills<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/www.zameen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image-1-32-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"tracking record of your expenditure is important to avoid fraud\" class=\"wp-image-60759\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn-blog.zameen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image-1-32-1024x640.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn-blog.zameen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image-1-32-300x188.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn-blog.zameen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image-1-32-768x480.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn-blog.zameen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image-1-32-640x400.jpg 640w, https:\/\/cdn-blog.zameen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image-1-32.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>One of the best ways to prevent identity theft is to keep a record of all your transactions<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In case you come across any suspicious transactions on your credit card bill or bank statement, notify the bank immediately. It doesn\u2019t matter if the amount is minor or if it only happened once, ignoring such incidents can put you at risk of massive fraud. Being proactive about these things is the best way to prevent identity theft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can also help prevent identity theft by keeping a log of all possible transactions. It\u2019s essential for account holders to know how much money they have in the bank so no one could steal it without being noticed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As mentioned above, it is recommended you opt for monthly or bi-monthly e-statements as paper mail can create quite a lot of clutter and is also not good for the environment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Use strong passwords<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/www.zameen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image-8-6-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"selecting strong passcode can help prevent ID fraud\" class=\"wp-image-60761\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn-blog.zameen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image-8-6-1024x640.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn-blog.zameen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image-8-6-300x188.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn-blog.zameen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image-8-6-768x480.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn-blog.zameen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image-8-6-640x400.jpg 640w, https:\/\/cdn-blog.zameen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image-8-6.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>One of the simplest ways to prevent identity theft: strong passwords<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>All of your electronic devices, particularly phones and laptops, need to be password protected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While it\u2019s one of the simplest ways to prevent identity theft, you must remember that thieves and scammers can be really good at guessing your passcodes. It\u2019s understandable that you would want to use a password that you can easily remember, but someone with access to your personal information can easily use your mother\u2019s maiden name or your date of birth to access your devices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The same goes for other passwords. It\u2019s advised to update your passwords every two months or so to prevent identity theft on the internet. If you have a hard time remembering the combinations, consider replacing some of the alphabets or digits with the characters on your keyboard such as \u2018$\u2019 and \u2018&amp;.\u2019 <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to that, never, under any circumstances, save your passwords on your phone or laptop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Activate multi-factor authentication<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/www.zameen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image-6-15-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"multistep authentication via phone helps prevents ID theft\" class=\"wp-image-60763\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn-blog.zameen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image-6-15-1024x640.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn-blog.zameen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image-6-15-300x188.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn-blog.zameen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image-6-15-768x480.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn-blog.zameen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image-6-15-640x400.jpg 640w, https:\/\/cdn-blog.zameen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image-6-15.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>Multifactor authentication can help reduce risks of identity theft<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Multi-factor authentication is like a layered defence mechanism that protects against the threat of identity theft. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Generally, multi-factor authentication systems prevent identity theft by combining two or more independent security measures \u2013 like a password, a security question and biometric verification. For instance, if someone tries to access your bank account online, you might receive an SMS or an email alert with a one-time passcode that is essential to log in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In another scenario, if someone steals your credit card and attempts to swipe it a shop, they might be required to complete biometric verification or enter a pin code. This is yet another simple but effective <g class=\"gr_ gr_7 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar only-ins replaceWithoutSep\" id=\"7\" data-gr-id=\"7\">way<\/g> to prevent identity theft from happening to you. Furthermore, activating multi-factor authentication can also prevent internet identity theft,<strong> <\/strong>which remains a serious threat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Shred your important mail and bills<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/www.zameen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image-10-4-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"shredding important documents to prevent banking fraud is crucial\" class=\"wp-image-60767\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn-blog.zameen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image-10-4-1024x640.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn-blog.zameen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image-10-4-300x188.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn-blog.zameen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image-10-4-768x480.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn-blog.zameen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image-10-4-640x400.jpg 640w, https:\/\/cdn-blog.zameen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image-10-4.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>Shred your paper mail if you don&#8217;t want to be a victim of identity theft<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Before you start worrying about how to prevent identity theft online<strong>, <\/strong>pay some attention to all the physical ways someone can get access to all your personal information and then impersonate to open a bank account or do something even worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To start off, always make sure to shred your bank statements, credit card bills and other important mail with your name, phone number and other details before throwing them into the trash. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some of the documents that you should shred include old copies of identity cards, tax returns, pay slips, sales receipts, ATM receipts and any sort of photo ID. If you don\u2019t have a shredder, use a black marker to block all of your personal information before tearing up the documents and putting them in the bin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"docs-internal-guid-229ac6ad-7fff-a711-7b5f-fdc3c1916893\"><strong>Only make online payments to trusted sites<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/www.zameen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image-5-22-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"using reliable websites to shop online to prevent scams\" class=\"wp-image-60770\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn-blog.zameen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image-5-22-1024x640.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn-blog.zameen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image-5-22-300x188.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn-blog.zameen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image-5-22-768x480.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn-blog.zameen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image-5-22-640x400.jpg 640w, https:\/\/cdn-blog.zameen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image-5-22.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>To avoid identity theft, only shop via trusted sites<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Who doesn\u2019t love online shopping?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Although there is nothing better than buying things from the comfort of your home, online shoppers must be very careful while paying for their purchases. Apart from steering clear of any suspicious looking external links, always do a quick Google search to determine if the site you\u2019re buying from is even credible. Sometimes, going through the website\u2019s reviews on social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook also helps prevent internet identity theft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Moreover, if the URL of the website reads \u201chttp\u201d instead of \u201chttps\u201d in the browser window, your information is definitely not secure. However, sometimes \u201chttps\u201d sites are not secure as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Be careful about disclosing your personal information <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/www.zameen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image-9-6-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"Filling documents online requires care to prevent identity fraud\" class=\"wp-image-60773\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn-blog.zameen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image-9-6-1024x640.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn-blog.zameen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image-9-6-300x188.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn-blog.zameen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image-9-6-768x480.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn-blog.zameen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image-9-6-640x400.jpg 640w, https:\/\/cdn-blog.zameen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image-9-6.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>You can prevent ID theft by keeping yourself from disclosing too much of your personal information online<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Social media is all about oversharing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While people in your friend list might not particularly care about your parent\u2019s birthdays, internet scammers can use this information to commit fraud in your name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In order to prevent identity theft online, keep yourself from disclosing too much of your personal information on the internet. If possible, you should also consider changing your privacy settings so only a select few are privy to what you post on your timeline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These strategies to prevent identity theft might not be completely foolproof, they will definitely lower the risk of you becoming a victim of a fraud.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Meanwhile, if you are looking for ways to save up for something important, like buying your dream house or going on a trip abroad, don\u2019t forget to check out a few simple tips on <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zameen.com\/blog\/simple-effective-tips-saving-money-pakistan.html\" target=\"_blank\">how to save money while living in Pakistan<\/a>. For more information on finance-related issues, stay tuned to <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zameen.com\/blog\/\" target=\"_blank\">Zameen Blog<\/a> \u2013 the best lifestyle blog in the country. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Most people in Pakistan don\u2019t think twice about taking any sort of measures to prevent identity theft because they don\u2019t see it as a threat or even realize how dangerous it can be. Well, for starters, identity theft is no joke. It is also much more prevalent than you might think. Imagine putting a portion of your hard earned money in a savings account every month only to later find out that your data has been breached and there aren\u2019t any funds left in your account. It sounds terrible, right? Unfortunately, anyone can be a victim of identity theft. However, before we discuss how to prevent identity theft from happening, we need to learn what it is and how does it occur. What Is Identity Theft? Identity theft is also called identity fraud. It basically occurs when someone deliberately obtains your personal information to either use it in a fraudulent scheme, take a loan on your name, access your bank account or commit any other similar crimes. The best way to prevent identity theft is to be extra vigilant about who has access to your credit card, chequebooks, medical records, bills and other important documents. How does identity theft happen?&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":81,"featured_media":60747,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11052],"tags":[27366,27325,27368,27306,27305,15360,2233,27324,27326,27323,27322,2788],"persona":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-60740","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-lifestyle","8":"tag-how-to-prevent-identity-theft","9":"tag-email","10":"tag-how-does-identity-theft-happen","11":"tag-identity-fraud","12":"tag-identity-theft","13":"tag-internet","14":"tag-lifestyle","15":"tag-mobile-phones","16":"tag-online-banking","17":"tag-online-fraud","18":"tag-passwords","19":"tag-technology","20":"cat-11052-id"},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>7 Easy Tips on How to Prevent Identity Theft | Zameen Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"From using online banking to activating multi-factor authentication, here are some simple yet effective ways to prevent identity theft.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zameen.com\/blog\/easy-tips-prevent-identity-theft.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Learn Steps You Can Take To Protect Yourself From Becoming A Victim Of Identity Theft\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"From using online banking to activating multi-factor authentication, here are some simple yet effective ways to prevent identity theft.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.zameen.com\/blog\/easy-tips-prevent-identity-theft.html\" \/>\n<meta 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