Protecting Your Identity This Holiday Season

It’s second nature for us to lock our homes and cars, but what about locking up our personal information? Identity theft is one of the fastest-growing crimes of our time, yet many of us don’t prioritize identity protection until it happens to us. With the holiday season approaching, December’s National Identity Theft Prevention and Awareness Month is the perfect time to adopt some practical steps to keep scammers at bay. This time of year, fraudsters are especially active, ready to exploit the busy shopping season as consumers are preoccupied with events, online orders, and holiday planning. Here’s how to stay safe:
 

1. Use Strong, Unique Passwords

Create strong passwords that combine letters, numbers, and special characters. Avoid reusing passwords across accounts, and update them every 90 days to enhance security.

2. Enable Two-Factor Authentication

Add an extra layer of protection with two-factor authentication (2FA). This feature requires two forms of verification, making it harder for anyone to access your accounts without authorization.

3. Avoid Public Wi-Fi for Sensitive Transactions

Public Wi-Fi is risky for online banking or shopping. Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to secure your connection and keep your personal information safe.

4. Sign Up for Account Alerts

Enable notifications for account activity to catch suspicious transactions early. Review your settings to ensure alerts are activated for unusual activity.

5. Never Share Personal Information Over the Phone

Scammers may pose as trusted organizations to steal your information. If unsure, hang up and call the company using the number on their website.

6. Shop on Secure Sites Only

Before entering personal or payment information, check for “https” and a padlock icon in the website’s URL. These indicators show that your data will be encrypted.

7. Avoid Clicking Unknown Links or Attachments

Emails or texts from unknown sources often contain malicious links. Watch for poor grammar, typos, or unusual requests—delete anything suspicious.

8. Stay Alert to Phishing and Smishing Scams

Phishing uses fake emails, and smishing uses fraudulent text messages to steal your information. Ignore unexpected messages and verify directly with the company using trusted contacts.

9. Protect Your Devices with Security Software

Install antivirus programs, firewalls, and security updates to protect your devices. Keeping your operating systems up to date also fixes vulnerabilities that scammers might exploit.

10. Use Only the Official Mobile Banking App

Download mobile banking apps from your financial institution’s official website or trusted app stores. Avoid third-party app sources that may host counterfeit versions designed to steal your information.

Stay Protected with Provident’s Identity Theft Protection Service

For comprehensive security, Provident offers an Identity Theft Protection service. With 24/7 monitoring of your accounts and personal information—including family members—our service provides you with the peace of mind that comes from knowing you have an affordable, proactive defense against fraud.

Taking these steps now can help keep your information safe and make this holiday season worry-free. Prioritize identity protection today so you can enjoy the season with confidence.

Important Reminder: Provident will never call and ask you for your passcode, password, PIN or any personal information. If someone calls claiming to be from Provident and asks for a code you received beforehand, please hang up and call Provident's member service number directly at (800) 632-4600 to report the suspicious activity.