IS Identity theft, a pervasive crime, involves the unauthorized use of personal information, leading to potentially devastating consequences like damaged credit scores and financial depletion.
According to the 2021 Identity Fraud Study by Javelin Strategy & Research, identity fraud incurred a staggering $56 billion cost in 2020, impacting over 49 million Americans.
The pandemic facilitated new opportunities for identity thieves, particularly in online activities. Account takeovers, new account fraud, and mobile phone account fraud were prevalent.
Secure personal information, monitor accounts, recognize signs, and consider identity theft protection for prevention, detection, and resolution against identity theft.
Identity Theft Protection Services
Identity theft protection services are companies that offer various features and benefits to help you safeguard your identity. These services typically include:
Identity theft monitoring: This feature alerts you of any suspicious or fraudulent activity involving your personal information, such as new accounts, inquiries, or changes in your credit reports, bank accounts, or public records.
Some services also monitor the dark web, social media, and other sources for any exposure or misuse of your information.
Identity theft alerts: This feature notifies you of any identity theft monitoring alerts via email, text, phone, or mobile app.
You can review the alerts and confirm whether they are legitimate or fraudulent. Some services also provide you with guidance and advice on how to handle the alerts and prevent further damage.
Identity theft insurance: This feature covers you for any expenses or losses that you may incur as a result of identity theft, such as legal fees, lost wages, or fraudulent charges. The amount and scope of coverage may vary depending on the service and the plan you choose.
Some services also offer identity theft recovery services, which provide you with a dedicated case manager who can assist you with the process of restoring your identity and resolving any identity theft issues.
Identity theft prevention tools: This feature provides you with various tools and resources to help you protect your identity and enhance your security, such as credit freezes, fraud alerts, password managers, VPNs, antivirus software, or identity theft education.
There are many identity theft protection services available in the market, each with different features, benefits, and prices.
You need to compare and evaluate the services based on your needs, preferences, and budget. One of the identity theft protection services that you may want to consider is Allstate Identity Protection.
Credit; Freepik
Protect Yourself from Identity Theft with Allstate Identity Protection
Allstate Identity Protection is a service offered by Allstate, one of the largest and most trusted insurance companies in the United States. Allstate Identity Protection provides you with comprehensive and innovative features and benefits to help you protect your identity and your digital footprint. Here are some of the reasons why you may want to choose Allstate Identity Protection:
All-in-one protection: Allstate Identity Protection monitors not only your credit and financial accounts, but also your online accounts, social media, email, phone, and more.
It alerts you of any breaches, hacks, scams, or identity theft risks that may affect you. It also helps you manage and secure your passwords, delete unwanted accounts, and control your online privacy.
Real-time alerts: Allstate Identity Protection notifies you of any identity theft monitoring alerts in real-time, so you can take immediate action and prevent further damage.
You can also customize your alert preferences and settings to suit your needs.
Unlimited recovery: Allstate Identity Protection offers you unlimited access to identity theft recovery experts who can help you restore your identity and resolve any identity theft issues.
You also get unlimited reimbursement for any expenses or losses that you may incur as a result of identity theft, with no deductible or cap.
Family protection: Allstate Identity Protection allows you to protect your entire family, including your spouse, children, parents, and grandparents, under one plan. You can also add your pets to your plan and protect them from pet identity theft.
Affordable plans: Allstate Identity Protection offers you two plans to choose from: Essentials and Premier. The Essentials plan costs $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year for an individual, or $17.99 per month or $179.99 per year for a family.
The Premier plan costs $14.99 per month or $149.99 per year for an individual, or $24.99 per month or $249.99 per year for a family.
Both plans include all the features and benefits mentioned above, with the Premier plan offering additional features such as credit monitoring, credit reports, and credit scores.
Allstate Identity Protection Reviews
“Allstate Identity Protection stands out as the best service, providing thorough monitoring, instant alerts, and assistance in managing online accounts and passwords for peace of mind and secure identity protection.”
“I love Allstate Identity Protection. It’s easy to use and very comprehensive. It covers my whole family and even my pets and also reimburses me for any expenses or losses that I may have due to identity theft. It is worth every penny.” – Lisa, customer
“Exceptional value is delivered with comprehensive monitoring, unlimited recovery, and insurance, making it a recommended choice for safeguarding identity and privacy.”
“Allstate Identity Protection excels with high customer satisfaction, trust, and innovative features, making it a reliable choice in identity theft protection.”
Allstate Identity Protection has also received high ratings from various sources, such as:
- 4.8 out of 5 stars from [Trustpilot], based on over 2,000 reviews
- 4.7 out of 5 stars from [Google Play Store], based on over 1,000 reviews
- 4.6 out of 5 stars from [App Store], based on over 500 reviews
- 4.5 out of 5 stars from [Consumer Affairs], based on over 300 reviews
- 4.4 out of 5 stars from [Best Company], based on over 100 reviews
Identity Theft Prevention Tips
While identity theft protection services can help you prevent, detect, and resolve identity theft issues, you also need to take some steps on your own to protect your identity and your information. Here are some of the identity theft prevention tips that you can follow:
- Protect your personal information:
Safeguard your personal information: Only share it with those who need it. Be cautious of unsolicited messages seeking personal details.
Avoid clicking on suspicious links or attachments. Shred documents with personal information before disposal. Secure your mailbox and monitor your mail. Regularly check statements for errors or unauthorized charges.
- Protect your devices and accounts:
Enhance your digital security: Employ robust, unique passwords, change them regularly, and utilize a password manager. Enable two-factor authentication for added protection.
Safeguard against malware and hackers with a VPN, antivirus software, and firewall. Keep devices and apps up-to-date with security patches. Exercise caution with public or unsecured networks.
- Protect your credit and identity:
Guard your credit: Regularly check your credit reports from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion through AnnualCreditReport.com. Scrutinize for errors or signs of identity theft and dispute any discrepancies. Consider placing a fraud alert or credit freeze to thwart unauthorized account openings.
A fraud alert prompts identity verification by creditors, while a credit freeze restricts access to your credit reports. Additionally, opt out of pre-approved credit offers via 1-888-5-OPT-OUT or OptOutPrescreen.com.
Identity theft monitoring services
Identity theft monitoring services detect and alert you to potential fraud involving personal information. Receive alerts through various channels and get guidance on handling them. Services vary, so choose based on your needs and budget.
Some of the factors that you may want to consider when choosing an identity theft monitoring service are:
The scope and frequency of monitoring:
Consider a service monitoring personal information across diverse sources like credit bureaus, financial institutions, public records, dark web, and social media. Opt for real-time or daily monitoring for prompt issue notification.
The quality and accuracy of alerts:
Opt for a service offering clear, detailed alerts specifying the nature and source of suspicious activity, along with steps for resolution. Minimize false or irrelevant alerts for peace of mind.
The ease and convenience of use: You may want to choose a service that has a user-friendly and intuitive interface that allows you to access and manage your account and alerts easily and conveniently.
You may also want to choose a service that has a mobile app that lets you receive and respond to alerts on the go, as well as access other features and tools that the service offers.
The customer support and service:
Select a service with responsive customer support for assistance with questions or issues. Choose one with a strong reputation for quality service and customer satisfaction.
Consider Allstate Identity Protection for comprehensive and innovative features, safeguarding your identity and digital footprint effectively.
Identity theft restoration
Steps
Reporting the identity theft:
Report identity theft to authorities, credit bureaus, financial institutions, and service providers. File a police report and an identity theft affidavit with the FTC for recovery.
Closing or freezing the affected accounts:
In case of identity theft, promptly close or freeze compromised accounts (credit cards, bank accounts, loans) to prevent further losses and protect your credit, while disputing unauthorized charges ensures a swift recovery. Taking immediate action is crucial for financial security and peace of mind.
Correcting your credit reports:
To safeguard your financial well-being after identity theft, carefully review credit reports from major bureaus—Equifax, Experian, TransUnion.
Identify errors or signs of fraud (e.g., new accounts, inquiries) and dispute inaccuracies promptly with both the credit bureau and the respective creditor. Swift correction of credit reports aids in restoring your credit score, enhancing credit history, and preventing future complications.
Restoring your identity and reputation:
To reclaim your identity and reputation post-identity theft, update crucial personal details—name, address, phone number, email—with relevant organizations.
If identification documents like driver’s license, passport, or Social Security card are lost or stolen, obtain new ones. This process aids in restoring your identity, bolstering security, and rebuilding confidence.
Benefits
Identity theft recovery experts: An identity theft protection service can provide you with access to identity theft recovery experts who can assist you with the process of restoring your identity and resolving any identity theft issues.
Serve as your advocate, handling communication and coordination. Guide you through steps, offering advice and support in the restoration process.
Identity theft insurance: An identity theft protection service can provide you with identity theft insurance that can cover you for any expenses or losses that you may incur as a result of identity theft, such as legal fees, lost wages, or fraudulent charges.
The amount and scope of coverage may vary depending on the service and the plan you choose.
Some services offer identity theft recovery with a dedicated case manager to assist in restoring your identity and resolving issues.
Identity theft prevention tools:
Enhance your security with tools like credit freezes, fraud alerts, password managers, VPNs, antivirus software, and identity theft education from identity theft protection services.
Customer service contact information
| Contact Method | Details |
|---|---|
| Phone | Call 1 (800) 255-7828 for customer service, available 24/7. Hearing impaired: 1-800-877-8973. |
| Fill out the online form on the Allstate website with your details for a prompt response. | |
| Chat | Click the chat icon on the website, provide your name and email, and connect with a representative. |
| Agent | Locate a local Allstate agent through the website’s tool or view your current agent by clicking ‘My Agent. |