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Create accounts with these services, even if you don’t intend to use them. This prevents cybercriminals from registering them first and potentially using them to commit fraud or other malicious activities.
Create accounts with these services, even if you don’t intend to use them. This prevents cybercriminals from registering them first and potentially using them to commit fraud or other malicious activities.
The U.S. Postal Service offers a service called Informed Delivery that lets residents view scanned images of all incoming mail prior to delivery. Unsurprisingly, identity thieves have been abusing this service by creating accounts on behalf of real homeowners. The thieves can then use the access to see what mail is coming to the homeowner and intercept pieces that interest them, like credit cards or notices of new lines of credit. Every adult in a household should create an account before a cybercriminal does first.
Read More: Sign up for Informed Delivery
The IRS web site contains lots of valuable personal information on American taxpayers. Identity thieves have been known to create accounts on behalf of others to generate tax refunds. That is why every adult should establish an online account before someone else does. The IRS recently started using a service called ID.me to manage taxpayer accounts. This service provides added security and reduces the chance of someone creating an account for you. To complete the process, you must agree to a live, virtual interview with an IRS agent.
Read More: Create an IRS online account
Whether you are approaching retirement or just starting out in your career, you should sign up for an online account at the Social Security Administration before someone else does. Lots of personal information can be found on this site and you don't want a cybercriminal having access to it.
Read More: Create a Social Security online account