Imagine if a cyber-criminal took all the money out of your bank account. What would you do? How would you pay your bills? How would you stop that cyber-criminal from continuing to attack your finances?

If you are not sure how to answer these questions, you are not alone. 

The reality is 84 percent of people report being worried about identity theft while 33 percent of identity theft victims reported they were unable to buy essentials or pay utilities online due to identity theft.

The average amount of time it takes to resolve identity theft is 600 hours.

Identity Theft Awareness Week, January 29 through February 2, 2024, puts the focus on avoiding and recovering from identity theft. There are proactive steps you can take to keep cyber-criminals at bay and minimize the impact of ID theft.

If you are concerned your personal information or identity may be vulnerable or already compromised, you can elect to freeze your credit. A credit freeze restricts access to your credit report, meaning creditors cannot access your credit report. This will prevent them from approving any new credit account in your name, whether it’s fraudulent or legitimate.

To enable lenders and other companies to once again access your credit files to create new accounts, you will need to lift your credit freeze permanently or temporarily. Freeze or lift the freeze on your credit report by contacting each of the three major credit reporting agencies – Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion – online, by phone, or by mail. 

For online and phone requests, agencies must freeze your credit report within one business day. By mail agencies must freeze your credit report within three business days. For online or phone requests to unfreeze your credit, agencies must lift the freeze within one hour. By mail agencies must lift the freeze within three business days.

Professional assistance is recommended – and free for AAA members.

Experian is AAA Western and Central New York’s identity theft partner. The ProtectMyID® Essential plan, activated after enrollment, is available to all AAA members at no cost. This includes free basic monitoring of the member’s Experian credit report, as well as lost wallet protection and fraud resolution support. Upgraded Deluxe and Platinum plans are also available.

Enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing you’ll be alerted to any critical changes to your credit report. Take advantage of the opportunity to view your open and closed credit accounts, payment history, credit inquiries, and more. Cancel and replace credit, debit, medical cards, and more with one call if your wallet is lost.

If you experience ID theft, a U.S.-based Fraud Resolution Agent delivers step-by-step support to investigate and restore your identity. In addition, AAA Premier members are eligible for up to $10,000 in Identity Theft Insurance which can reimburse you for certain eligible expenses associated with ID theft, including lost wages, legal fees, and electronic fund transfers.

Victims of fraud can feel alone, confused, and distraught. Have a team in your corner to help safeguard your identity and money. Enroll in the ProtectMyID® Essential plan to take full advantage of this AAA member benefit and learn more about how the program works. Enroll by visiting www.aaa.com/ExperianIDTheft.

Have more membership questions? Visit AAA.com/Membership or call us at 1-800-836-2582.

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