Best Identity Theft Protection and Monitoring Services for 2024
Here are some key things to keep in mind about the best identity theft protection and identity monitoring services.
Early detection is key. If you’re signing up for one of these protection services, it’s not designed to prevent the initial breach and save you from becoming a victim of identity theft – which, unfortunately, is somewhat beyond your control. Instead, the best identity theft protection is to learn about suspicious activity as soon as possible to prevent you from needing a credit freeze or more to stop identity theft. Whether your credit card has charges that you never incurred, or you suddenly find that loan collectors are trying to charge you for amounts you never borrowed, it’s all thanks to a thief halfway across the country or halfway around the world who opened the credit card Or apply for a loan in your name, catching suspicious activity early is key. The scary truth is, these breaches can cost you a lot of money, and identity theft monitoring can alert you before the problem becomes too big to handle.
Understanding how your personal information is used is an important step in keeping yourself safe. Some identity theft protection companies can help monitor your personal information, notify you if your accounts and personal information have been misused by thieves, and provide you with compensation if your credit is frozen.
None of these protection services monitor your actual banking activity. I have A long-recommended way to protect yourself from being a victim of most bank fraudswhich means checking all of your accounts once a week. It’s a little painful, but over the years, in my family alone, we’ve uncovered countless fraudulent activities and accusations. We have saved thousands of dollars by doing this regularly. Consumer Reports Recommendations You can also do all the monitoring yourself.
If you’re not the type of person willing or able to take the time to conduct ongoing due diligence to protect your identity, some of these protection services can help.
Read the fine print.Finally, because each protection service offers significantly different terms and conditions, we’ve provided simple links to each company’s terms of service. Be sure to take the time to read all the fine print before you sign up for additional monthly or annual fees.
