Identity thieves try to steal personal information through a variety of methods, including sending phishing emails that impersonate legitimate people or companies in order to trick people into giving out passwords, credit card numbers, or other sensitive information. To help protect yourself from being a victim of identity theft, there are some simple tips you should always keep in mind while surfing the web:
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Email isn't a secure channel to send sensitive information back and forth. It's much better to go directly to the website, if you have an existing relationship with the company, and enter your information there.
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When entering personal information on a website, check the browser bar for a secure connection. If you see https:// in the browser's address bar, it's a good indication the connection is protected.
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Make sure messages you receive are legitimate. LinkedIn focuses on your professional brand, so if you receive an email claiming to be from LinkedIn asking for your bank or financial information, be cautious. Valid LinkedIn messages will always include your name and current professional headline in the footer of the message. Learn more about how to spot phishing.
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Create strong passwords. Learn more about account security and best practices.
In addition to performing the above steps, we strongly encourage all members to use security software and services. The following companies are offering LinkedIn members free trials or discounted pricing. You’re welcome to research these or other similar offerings to see which best fits your needs. Please note that once you click on one of the following logos, you'll be directed to that site for additional details.
LifeLock is a leader in the identity theft industry and helps you identify if someone is using your identity. The LifeLock system helps protect your identity and alerts you if they see unusual activity on your personal information.
Experian helps provide you with access to monitor your credit and other aspects that make up your score. If you’re a victim of identity theft, you may be alerted if there is a sudden change on your credit.
TransUnion is a trusted leader in the credit and identity monitoring space that offers total credit protection all in one place from credit score, credit report, and credit alert.
Learn more about the warning signs of fraudulent messages.