AskFirstLock down your identity
Most of these take 5 minutes and are free. Do them for yourself, then sit down with your parents and do theirs.
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1. Freeze your credit (free)
A freeze stops anyone opening loans or cards in your name. You can lift it in minutes when you need credit.
2. Lock your phone number
Scammers “port” your number to their phone to steal your bank codes. A lock or PIN stops that.
3. Claim your government accounts first
If you don’t create these accounts, a scammer can create them in your name.
4. Lock your accounts
5. Cut the junk that leads to scams
Your ticks are saved only on this device. Links open the official sites; if one has moved, search the site’s name plus “opt out”. Outside the US, ask your bank and phone company about the same protections.