Protect Yourself from Data Breaches with LifeLock

This is a sponsored post on behalf of LifeLock. Though I was compensated for my time, all opinions are my own.

It seems like every time you turn around companies are being breached and our personal information is being exposed. The scariest thing? It can happen to anyone. Just yesterday I came home to a letter from our credit union to inform us that my husband’s debit card had been compromised. It wasn’t in the media like Target, Home Depot, and Jimmy Johns. In fact, the Identity Theft Resource Center states that we’ve already had 395 data breaches in the U.S. already this year (which the majority is never even reported by the media)!! The scary thing isnot only do they get access to our credit card and make fraudulent charges, but they also can gain access to personal information such as your address, birthdays and socials. Studies show that individuals who receive a data breach notification letter are more than four times as likely to become victims of identity theft. In addition, average out-of-pocket costs are over 200% higher for victims of data breach. 

*Image credit to PCworld.com

Though there isn’t much we can do as individuals to prevent breaches, there are some things we can do to protect ourselves:

1. Monitor your transactions: Keep an eye on the activity on your credit and debit card accounts, looking for any charges that don’t seem to be yours.
2. Report suspicious transactions immediately: If you see a card transaction—even a small one—that doesn’t look right, contact the card issuer immediately. The phone number is on the back of your card.
3. Order a new debit card: If you believe your debit card number was compromised, don’t wait for fraudulent charges to start appearing on your statement. Request a new card from your bank. This way, you reduce the chances of a criminal depleting your bank account, and you avoid potential challenges in recovering your funds. Credit cards offer more protection and less risk because funds are not directly withdrawn from your bank account as they are with a debit card.
4. Follow the story: Investigation of this crime is still under way. Watch for news and communication from Home Depot.
5. Consider using an identity protection service: LifeLock provides identity protection products and services you can count on. In fact, with LifeLock Advantage™ and LifeLock Ultimate Plus™, we can help you detect fraudulent activity with alerts for cash withdrawals, balance transfers and large purchases within our extensive network.

LifeLock has many different options to choice from to fit your needs: LifeLock Standard^™ offers identity theft protection helps proactively safeguard your credit, your finances and your good name with vigilant services that alert you of potential threats before the damage is done. If identity thieves steal your personal information, they could take out a mortgage, commit tax fraud, open new credit accounts and a whole lot more.
                                                                                                                       LifeLock Advantage™ Identity Theft Protection: Enhanced protection for an always-connected world. Technology is part of your life.You bank online. You search, shop, text and share. But the more you’re connected, the more everything is connected to everything about you. Today’s criminals are smart. They can sit at home with their computers – and take what’s yours and make it their own. That’s why you should activate your LifeLock Advantage™ membership today.
                                                                                                                       LifeLock Ultimate Plus^™ Identity Theft Protection: The leading identity theft protection from the industry leader. You’ve worked hard. You’ve sacrificed and you’ve saved. Now you want to do everything you can to protect your finances, your family and your future.Today’s modern criminals don’t care if you’re the lifeline for your family. To them, you’re just another goldmine. And remember, the more digitally connected you are, the more connected they are. Get the protection and convenience of LifeLock Ultimate Plus^™ membership so you can get on with your life.

 

 

Be sure to sign-up for LifeLock and use code “BreachWatch” for a 10% Discount!!