6 Ways to Prevent Identity Theft.

Practical identity theft prevention for Massachusetts residents. Six concrete actions that close the most common fraud vectors, with specific guidance for paper records security.

Identity theft hit 1.4 million Americans in 2024 according to FTC reports, with average financial loss of $4,500 per victim and recovery time of 200+ hours. Most identity theft starts with documented information falling into the wrong hands. Six concrete actions close the most common fraud vectors. This guide covers each one with specific guidance for Massachusetts residents.

Way 1: Shred Sensitive Documents Before Disposal

The single biggest identity theft prevention action is shredding documents that contain personal information rather than tossing them in trash or recycling. This includes:

• Bank statements and credit card statements
• Tax returns and supporting documentation past retention
• Pre-approved credit card offers and loan applications
• Old insurance policies and benefit statements
• Pay stubs after year-end W-2 verification
• Medical bills and EOBs past retention
• Investment statements past retention
• Utility bills with account numbers

For Massachusetts residents, our drop-off shredding at our Tewksbury facility runs 99 cents per pound with no minimum. Annual cleanouts of accumulated paper run $40 to $90 typically. See drop-off pillar.

Way 2: Secure Your Mail

Identity thieves work the mail vector regularly. Three protective steps.

Lock the mailbox. A locking mailbox or PO box keeps casual theft out. Locking mailboxes run $50 to $200 from hardware stores.

Hold mail when traveling. Free USPS Hold Mail service prevents accumulation while you are away. Schedule via usps.com.

Opt out of pre-approved credit offers. Visit optoutprescreen.com to opt out for 5 years or permanently. Reduces the volume of identity-relevant mail you receive significantly.

Way 3: Monitor Financial Accounts and Credit

Regular monitoring catches fraud early when remediation is easier.

Free annual credit reports. Visit annualcreditreport.com to pull your free reports from Equifax, Experian and TransUnion once per year. Stagger them quarterly to monitor continuously.

Bank account alerts. Set up text or email alerts for large transactions, low balances and new account openings. Most banks offer this free.

Credit card transaction monitoring. Review statements monthly. Dispute unfamiliar charges immediately.

Credit freeze. Freezing your credit at all three bureaus prevents new account openings. Free under federal law. Lift the freeze temporarily when you apply for new credit.

Way 4: Strengthen Online Security

Digital identity theft has surpassed physical document theft as the dominant vector. Five steps protect digital identity.

Strong unique passwords. Different password for every account. Use a password manager (LastPass, 1Password, Bitwarden) to generate and store them.

Two-factor authentication. Enable on every account that supports it: banking, email, social media, anywhere financial. Authenticator apps (Authy, Google Authenticator) are stronger than SMS.

Phishing awareness. Treat unexpected emails asking for verification with skepticism. Banks and reputable companies do not request password resets via email. Hover over links before clicking to see the actual destination.

Software updates. Keep your operating system, browser and antivirus current. Most exploits target known vulnerabilities that updates patch.

Public Wi-Fi caution. Avoid logging into financial accounts over public Wi-Fi. Use a VPN for any sensitive activity on public networks.

Way 5: Protect Personal Information In-Person

Physical world identity theft still happens. Five protective practices.

Cover the keypad when entering PINs at ATMs, gas pumps and point-of-sale terminals. Skimmers and shoulder-surfers target visible PIN entries.

Carry only the credit cards you use. Leave the rest in a secure location at home.

Do not carry your Social Security card. Memorize the number and keep the card in a safe deposit box or fireproof home safe.

Shred receipts that contain partial card numbers. Some retailers print the last 4 digits which can combine with other information for fraud.

Be cautious with phone calls requesting personal information. Hang up and call back through verified phone numbers if a caller claims to be your bank, IRS, etc.

Way 6: Have a Recovery Plan If Theft Happens

Despite best efforts, identity theft sometimes still happens. Having a recovery plan reduces damage when it does.

Step 1. Place a fraud alert on your credit reports by contacting any of the three bureaus.

Step 2. File an identity theft report at IdentityTheft.gov (FTC’s official portal).

Step 3. File a police report with local Massachusetts police if financial loss occurred.

Step 4. Notify all financial institutions of the theft. Close compromised accounts. Open new accounts with new numbers.

Step 5. Document everything. Keep records of every conversation, every dispute, every resolution. The recovery process can take 200+ hours over months. Documentation prevents repeat work.

Step 6. Destroy any compromised paper records. Shredding old statements that may have contained the leaked information prevents secondary fraud.

Identity Theft Prevention FAQ

For Massachusetts-Specific Resources

Massachusetts has additional identity theft resources beyond federal options.

The Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation runs an identity theft prevention program at mass.gov.

Massachusetts Attorney General accepts identity theft complaints and provides recovery assistance.

Massachusetts has stronger data breach notification rules than most states under MGL c.93H. See our Massachusetts privacy law guide.

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