How can I avoid, detect, or handle identity theft?

University IT’s Information Security Office provides specific guidance to the Stanford community on how to avoid, detect, and handle identity theft at https://uit.stanford.edu/security/identity-theft.

Keeping your identity information protected is important, especially in light of recently reported incidents of tax returns fraudulently filed in the names of Stanford community members.

Review these tips and a dozen more on the University IT Information Security website:

• Avoid: Proactively freeze your credit to block credit inquires by contacting each of the three major credit bureaus.
• Detect: Review your credit report annually, and request a free credit report each year.
• Handle: Call each of the three major credit bureaus to place a fraud alert on your credit records, and report it to the Stanford Department of Public Safety.