Do you know the signs of your data or network being compromised… or what about your identity being stolen?

No judgment…we promise! Most of our clients are not until we make them aware which is why we decided to create this for our clients and the community. Most consumers do not know until it is too late. So, by being proactive (like charging your phone before you go to bed) well then, this 2-minute read will give you some easy steps to put on the calendar and make this a part of your routine.

Trust us – If you have not had to deal with Identify theft – you do not want to!!

Here are some signs your identity might have been stolen:

1. Unfamiliar or unauthorized credit card charges.
2. Missing statements or invoices
3. Missing utility bills
4. Suspicious activity on bank or credit card statements.

Tips to help keep your “electronic life” safe and secure:

Your Home Security network – Keep your home operating system updated with its latest security update – setting this feature on “automatic update” is a little step that can go a long way

Taxes – File your tax return on a secure network or at home. Do no do it at your office or on a public Wi-Fi. Before you give your information to someone to file your taxes make sure you have vetted them properly.

Tax Time “burglars”!

Unfortunately, with all of your information in one place at one time, it is very common to see these scammers ramp up their efforts to steal the information of millions of people.

To start fighting tax identity theft:

• Protect your Social Security Number throughout the year. Do not give it out unless there is a good reason, and you are sure who you are giving it to.
• File your tax return as early in the tax season as you can.
• Use a secure internet connection if you file electronically or mail your tax return directly from your local post office.
• Research a tax preparer thoroughly before you hand over ANY personal information.
• Check your credit report at least once a year for free at annualcreditreport.com. Make sure no one has opened a new account in your name.

If you suspect you have been victimized by identity theft, take the following steps:

1. File a claim with your identity theft insurance, (if you have it).
2. Notify your mortgage, primary bank, credit card companies of your stolen identity.
3. File a report with the Federal Trade Commission.
4. Contact your local police department.
5. Place a fraud alert on your credit reports.
6. Freeze your credit.
7. Sign up for a credit monitoring service if offered.
8. Tighten security on your accounts.
9. Review your credit reports for mystery accounts.
10. Review credit card and bank statements for unauthorized charges.

Many consumers may fail to realize that their cybersecurity insurance policy (if they have one -whether it is a personal or a business policy) may not cover identity theft.

A 15-minute review with one of our insurance advisors, might not be able to save you 15% or more…but it can go a long way toward understanding what our value is with our clients when it comes to being an advisor and educating them about their risk and facilitating a coverage analysis with a policy review which is distinctly different from the one-size-fits-all insurance offered by today’s trendy and very successful direct-to-consumer insurance providers and ad campaigns.

Why pay for insurance if it is not the coverage you want and need?

What is the best way to find out if you have the right coverage – with the least number of headaches?

Call Aspen Insurance Agency, today, and we will do a free risk analysis and quotes of any policies you request to see if we can help you, just like we have helped thousands of families across the country.

Our job is NOT to sell you a product – we “sell” a service.

Our job is to make sure you have the best product and coverages at the most affordable price for your budget. That is the easy part – the hard part is continuing to build the relationship and trust to make sure you are not just protected at “the point of sale” but for many years to come and that is our commitment to our clients.