Identity theft remains one of the most common consumer crimes, and a divorce or major life change is exactly when your financial information tends to be spread across new accounts and conversations. A simple framework for protecting yourself:
Defend
- Never share account numbers, PINs, or your Social Security number unless you initiated the contact and trust the source.
- Be wary of unsolicited calls, texts, or emails asking for personal information.
- Keep your devices’ security software up to date.
Destroy
- Shred financial documents and unwanted credit offers before throwing them out.
- Wipe old devices and drives completely before disposing of them.
Detect
- Review your statements regularly for charges you don’t recognize.
- Check your credit reports periodically — you’re entitled to a free one annually from each major bureau at annualcreditreport.com.
If you suspect identity theft, place a fraud alert with one of the major credit bureaus (they’re required to notify the others), file a police report, and report it to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.