Skip to main content

Identity Theft

Identity theft is often the goal for online social threats like phishing and ransomware. Identity theft occurs when someone uses your name, Social Security number, credit card number or other personal information without your permission. This page contains links to helpful resources for protecting your identity. 

What to do if your identity has been stolen
  • Go to IdentityTheft.gov for a comprehensive resource for identity theft.
  • Place a credit freeze on your credit by contacting each of the three nationwide credit reporting agencies listed below.
  • Get a free copy of your credit report from one of the three nationwide credit reporting agencies through a jointly administered website, such as AnnualCreditReport.com. Carefully review your credit report, credit card statements, and other personal financial account information. Look for suspicious activity.
  • If you see new accounts or other suspicious activity, close accounts that you believe have been tampered with and file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission.
  • If your personal information has been used to commit a fraud, file a report with your local police department.
  • Carefully review your personal financial information on an ongoing basis, and periodically obtain a copy of your credit report. You are entitled to receive a free credit file disclosure once every 12 months from each of the three nationwide consumer credit reporting agencies. You can keep checking for new activity at no cost to you throughout the year if you order a free copy from each agency one at a time spaced four months apart.

NOTE: When you need to lift a credit freeze, contact the bureau(s) to request it be lifted when you need lenders to access your credit. It is a good idea to identify which bureau a lender will use to check your credit and just lift the freeze at that one bureau, and then put the freeze back in place once the need for a credit check passes.

Basic Security Tips
  • Use multi-factor authentication everywhere you can.
  • Always use a secure Wi-Fi connection. When you are on campus, make sure you use UAWiFi. If you are off-campus and do not have access to secure wireless, connect to the UA VPN.
  • Beware of phishing. Check out our Phishing page for information.
  • Shred paper documents that have sensitive data before discarding them.
  • Destroy digital data when you get rid of a device.
  • ALWAYS monitor your credit. 
Resources