Chase Credit Journey Dark Web Alert: Prevent ID Theft

You've probably heard of identity theft, but do you know how it happens? Identity thieves often use the dark web to steal sensitive information, including your credit card numbers, social security numbers, and even your login credentials.

It's estimated that over 1 billion people have had their personal data stolen and sold on the dark web. This is a staggering number, and it highlights the importance of taking steps to protect yourself from identity theft.

One of the most common ways identity thieves get your information is through data breaches. In 2020, a major data breach exposed the sensitive information of over 100 million people.

Identity theft is a serious concern, especially when your personal data is available on the dark web.

Your name, address, social security number, and birth date are the most vulnerable data points that can be used to open credit accounts or make purchases without your knowledge or permission.

If your personal data, like your name, phone number, or email address, is on the dark web, you'll be more vulnerable to identity theft and online scams.

Cybercriminals often find passwords and login credentials on the dark web, which they use for credential stuffing, trying your password from one site on a bunch of other sites.

It's less common for your credit card or government ID info to be openly published on the dark web, but if it is, it's likely to be sold on dark web sales sites.

Don't worry too much about the dark web, though - not all the information found there is useful to bad actors. Most of it is trivial, like your 2013 password for a yoga bulletin board.

You can't be too careful when it comes to your credit. Identity monitoring can help protect against identity theft.

Identity monitoring tools can track Social Security number activity, monitor data breaches, and send identity verification alerts when a creditor checks your credit. These alerts can help you know if your identifying information has been stolen or used without your consent.

Free credit score checks allow you to see your credit score without harming it, which can help you detect negative data points from unauthorized activity. You can also sign up for follow-up credit score monitoring that checks for activity and changes to your credit report and sends you notifications directly.

Fraud security features help you recover from fraud with suspicious account activity alerts, the option to freeze your credit accounts, and real-time credit report monitoring around the clock.

Here are some other ways to protect your credit:

A virtual private network (VPN) can also help protect your connection to the internet and shield your identifying data.

If you're concerned about your identity being compromised, dark web monitoring can provide you with peace of mind. With services like Chase Credit Journey, you can track your sensitive information and receive alerts when leaks are detected.

Dark web monitoring creates a personalized "watchlist" that tracks all forms of your sensitive information, scans for leaks of your personal data, and issues alerts when leaks are detected. This can help you stay on top of your identity protection.

Some digital security and dark web monitoring services, like Aura, will send you alerts if they detect your information on the dark web. For instance, if your bank was hacked and your account password was leaked, Aura will send you an alert so you can update your online banking password and lock down your account.

Here are some key features of dark web monitoring:

If you notice unfamiliar purchases on your credit card, it's a red flag that your account has been compromised. Your bank will normally send you a new card after suspicious purchases are identified or reported.

Even small purchases can be a sign that your credit card number has been stolen from a list of hundreds of accounts sold on the dark web for as little as five cents each.

It's not just the credit card number that's at risk - your entire identity can be used to make purchases without your knowledge or permission.

You can use dark web monitoring tools to keep your identity safe. Chase Credit Journey offers identity monitoring, credit account freezes, suspicious activity alerts, and even insurance to help bring you peace of mind.

The Dark Web is a network of heavily encrypted web pages that basic web browsers or search engines cannot crawl. It's only accessible with an anonymizing browser called Tor, and it tends to host a sizable number of illicit marketplaces.

A digital security and Dark Web monitoring service like Aura will first need personal details like your name, address, phone number, email, and Social Security number to begin continuous Dark Web monitoring. Aura then conducts Dark Web scans for the information you've shared.

Your bank will normally send you a new card after suspicious purchases are identified or reported. Even if they're small, it could be because someone has purchased your credit card number from a list of hundreds of credit card accounts sold for as low as just five cents apiece on the dark web.

Dark Web monitoring can help you protect yourself from these threats by creating a personalized "watchlist" that tracks all forms of your sensitive information.

Here are some features of Dark Web monitoring:

Some banks and credit unions offer dark web surveillance absolutely free, such as Chase Credit Journey and Capital One's CreditWise. These services lack the digital security tools and advanced monitoring and restoration services many paid services offer.

Protecting your personal data is a top priority, and there are several steps you can take to safeguard your information.

Strengthening your passwords is a good place to start. Complex and varied passwords can protect you from identity theft, and two-factor authentication can help assist you in this process.

Checking your privacy settings is another crucial step. This can help you uncover any vulnerabilities in the way you share data and browse the web.

Updating your contact information can also help keep the communication lines open between you and your credit accounts and lenders.

Choosing paperless statements can help keep your account information safer, as printed records can make your information more vulnerable.

A virtual private network (VPN) can also help protect your connection to the internet and shield your identifying data from potential threats.

Here are some identity protection measures you can take:

If you discover that your personal data is on the dark web, there's not much you can do. It's out there and may have already been sold numerous times.

Strengthen your passwords by making them complex and varied, and consider using two-factor authentication to add an extra layer of security.

To uncover any vulnerabilities in the way you share data and browse the web, check your privacy settings regularly.

Keeping your contact information up-to-date with your credit accounts and lenders can help you stay informed about any changes to your account status.

Paperless statements can help keep your account information safer, but remember to protect them with password protection on your computer or email account.

If your identity is compromised, you can seek help from credit restoration services that offer identity theft insurance, such as the Credit Journey set of credit restoration services.

If you experience an identity breach, you can place a credit freeze or fraud alert with one of the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion) to encourage lenders to verify your identity.

You can also use identity monitoring tools that track Social Security number activity, data breaches, and identity verification alerts to stay on top of potential threats.

To monitor your credit score and report, you can sign up for a free credit score check and follow-up credit score monitoring that sends you notifications about changes or suspicious activity.

By taking these preventative measures and staying vigilant, you can minimize the consequences of having your personal data on the dark web.