Identity theft is one of the scariest forms of cyber-attacks. The thought of a hacker gaining enough information to hijack your personal identity — meaning they can make purchases and access your devices — causes a wave of fear for most. Learn how to avoid this fear by following the proper ways to handle threats regarding identity theft.
1. Avoid: To protect yourself against identity theft, make sure to use strong, unique passwords that are at least 15 characters in length. You should also monitor your financial accounts for unauthorized charges and be discreet when posting personal information on the Internet.
2. Identify: While there are many clues that could indicate a thief has stolen your identity, several of the most common ones have been listed below:
n You see unauthorized withdrawals from your bank account;
n You do not receive your bills or other mail; or
n You receive medical bills for services you did not undergo.
3. Report: If you suspect your identity has been compromised, be sure to contact the agencies or companies that oversee your stolen credentials. Although personal breaches should not be reported to the Postal Service™, incidents that relate to your Postal accounts should be reported immediately to the CyberSecurity Operations Center (CSOC) by emailing CyberSafe@usps.gov.
Hackers use a variety of techniques to execute fraudulent activities, but identity theft is one of the most personal, severe ways. To protect against identity theft, make sure that you know how to properly avoid, identify, and report potential cyber threats and other suspicious activity.
For more information on staying “cybersafe” or reporting suspected threats, check out the public-facing CyberSafe at USPS™ website at www.usps.com/cybersafe or the Cybersafe at USPS pages on Blue (https://blue.usps.gov/cyber/) and LiteBlue (https://liteblue.usps.gov/cyber/).
— Corporate Information Security Office,
Chief Information Security Officer
and Digital Solutions, 1-5-17
