I've never became a target of fraud , but in the past, I hadn't exactly gone out of my way to avoid them, either.
That's a problem for two reasons. First, following many instances of data breaches , my Social Security number, address and passwords are probably floating around on the dark web, making it easier to steal my identity.
Second, as someone who writes about scams for a living, it's a matter of pride not to get caught in one.
With that in mind, I decided to make myself as scam-proof as reasonably possible. The steps I took are straightforward, free and most only take only a few minutes to set up.
Here's what I did.
1. Froze my credit
- Total time: 5 minutes
A credit freeze, also known as a security freeze, essentially prevents unauthorized individuals from accessing your credit report, which financial institutions review when deciding whether to grant loans or credit cards. By implementing this measure, you can stop fraudsters from taking over your identity and opening new accounts using your personal information.
You can establish a credit freeze by going to the official sites of the three primary credit reporting agencies. Equifax , Experian , and TransUnion The online procedure is swift and cost-free; however, you have the option to accomplish this via telephone or postal service as well. Unfreezing it becomes straightforward whenever you require applying for credit or a loan.
Given that I don’t intend to apply for a new credit card, mortgage, or loan anytime soon, opting to freeze my credit seemed like an obvious choice.
2. Activated Stolen Device Protection on my iPhone
- Total time: 1 minute
Imagine being at a public venue such as a bar when you realize your smartphone has gone missing. To make matters worse, subsequent investigations reveal that your device was compromised, resulting in substantial funds—thousands of dollars—being siphoned off from linked payment platforms like Apple Pay or Venmo. Typically, all an unauthorized individual requires is physical possession of your handset along with knowledge of your passcode, which could easily be acquired just by observing you inputting it. With this information and equipment in their hands, these individuals gain entry into your system; they might even proceed to alter critical settings including resetting your Apple ID or disabling biometric authentication methods such as Face ID. This leaves you locked out and vulnerable, allowing them full command over both your gadget and personal identification details.
To combat this, Apple introduced "Stolen Device Protection" in January 2024. This security feature requires Face ID or Touch ID for critical actions like password resets and enforces a one-hour delay in certain cases, such as when the device is in an unfamiliar location. During this time, alerts are sent to your trusted devices and email, giving you a chance to intervene before any changes take effect.
To turn on Stolen Device Protection, make sure your iPhone software is updated to iOS 17.3 or later. From there, you can follow these steps:
- Go to the Settings app, and select "Face ID & Passcode"
- Enter your passcode
- Toggle "Stolen Device Protection"
3. Make Venmo account settings private
- Total time: 1 minute
Venmo can be a handy method for payment. split the bill Or make minor purchases, yet I never grasped the "social" features of the application, or why every transaction was publicly visible by default.
Instead of risking exposure to phishing scams with my personal payment information, I have adjusted my default privacy settings to "Private." To make this change, launch the Venmo application.
- Navigate to the My Profile section
- Tap the Settings gear icon in the top right corner
- Tap Privacy
- Under Default Privacy Settings, select Private
4. Signed up for Informed Delivery
- Total time: 1 minute
The Informed Delivery service provided by the U.S. Postal Service is a complimentary feature that notifies you about approaching mail and parcels.
This enables you to monitor your deliveries closely and swiftly identify any missing or stolen packages, as these could potentially be exploited by fraudsters to gain unauthorized access to confidential data such as credit card details or banking documents. Should anything go amiss, you have the option to file a report via the Informed Delivery portal, after which the USPS will conduct an investigation.
Here’s how you can register:
- Visit the Informed Delivery website
- Sign up for or access your USPS account.
- Confirm your identification to enable the service.
5. I've finally set up a password manager.
- Total time: 30 minutes
Data breaches are so common now that I've had to reset my handful of passwords every few months. But even changing passwords isn't enough — hackers can crack an eight-character password with a mix of numbers, letters and symbols in just eight hours, based on a study from 2022 Obviously, "Hello123!" just doesn’t suffice these days.
To keep ahead of possible security breaches, I began utilizing a password manager. Having looked into several alternatives, I went with Bitwarden , which also offers a free version. It creates distinct 30-character passwords for each of my accounts, and using just one straightforward master password, I can safely access everything.
To log into a website, I use Bitwarden's Chrome extension or iPhone app, which autofills the long, secure passwords for me automatically — no typing or memorizing required. I don't have to worry about weak or reused passwords anymore, either.
While updating all my logins is still a work in progress, I've prioritized my bank and credit card accounts and it already gives me peace of mind.
6. Enabled two-factor authentication for banks
- Total time: 5 minutes
To further protect my bank accounts, I've added two-factor authentication to my login process. Along with a longer, more secure password, I now receive a text code every time I log into my bank apps or websites.
This additional step might seem cumbersome, but I believe it’s essential—particularly since I’ve encountered phishing emails that closely mimic genuine communications from my bank. Generally, I refrain from clicking on any links or images within emails or text messages. Rather, I opt to find my bank’s website through a Google search and then sign in via the official page.
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