What can I do to prevent identity theft?
Here are several ways to protect your assets & good name:
Keep all your bank cards safe from thieves. Place all bank debit or credit cards in a purse or wallet close to your body where it can't easily be snatched away. If you're shopping in a high traffic area, carry a smaller purse because it's harder to steal or sneak into. Only carry the one or two cards you'll be using that day with you. Leave all your other cards at home. Shred anything with your card number on it.
Shred your bank statements to keep thieves from getting access to your account numbers & old cards that have expired or have been canceled. You can go a step further & put the shredded pieces in different trash bags for the extra eager thieves who might put shredded pages or cards back together.
Always verify the amount on your receipt before signing it. If you get a card receipt that has blank spaces on it, write $0 in those spaces or draw through them before putting your signature on the receipt. Otherwise, the cashier could write in an amount & send the purchase to your card issuer.
Only give sensitive information on calls you initiate. This includes card numbers, account numbers, Social Security numbers, address or date of birth. Never give this info to someone who has called you. If you need to call your bank, use the number on the back of your card.
Don't click on email links from anyone that looks like your bank or another business who uses your personal information, even if the email looks legitimate. These links can be phishing scams & the scammers want to trick you into entering your login information on their fake website. Instead, go directly to that business's website to log in to your account.
Report lost or stolen cards immediately. The sooner you report a missing card the sooner your card issuer can cancel your card & prevent fraudulent charges.
Review your billing statements each month. Unauthorized charges on your card are the first sign of card fraud. If you notice a charge you didn't make, report the charge to your card issuer immediately. Keeping an eye on your transaction history routinely can help identify any fraud.
Create strong passwords & keep them safe. If you store your card number with online merchants, make sure you use strong passwords with a combination of upper & lower-case letters, numbers, & even characters. Use different passwords for each site.&; Avoid writing down or sharing your password.
Keep your personal identification numbers (PINs) for your ATM, debit & credit cards safe, & don't write your PIN on the card itself, or store it in the same place you store your card. You should also guard your ATM & card receipts.
Make sure to create secure PINs & passwords. Don't use birth dates, parts of your Social Security or driver license numbers, your address or your spouse’s or children's names or birthdates, for example. Someone trying to steal your identity probably has some of this information.
If you get financial offers in the mail that you're not interested in, shred them before throwing them away so thieves can't use them to steal your identity. Destroy any other financial papers, such as bank statements or invoices, before getting rid of them.
Don't put outgoing mail in or on your mailbox. Drop it into a US Postal Service collection box. Thieves could use your mail to steal your identity.
If you don’t get one or more of your regular bills in the mail, call each company to find out why. A thief could have filed a false change-of-address notice to send your mail to another address.
If your bills include suspicious items, such as charges you don’t recognize, don't ignore them. Instead, investigate them immediately. Periodically contact the major credit reporting agencies to get & review your file & make sure your information is correct. You can request a free annual credit report from each of the 3 national credit reporting agencies, whether or not you suspect any unauthorized activity on your account, by visiting www.AnnualCreditReport.com or calling 1-877-FACTACT that’s (877) 322-8228. Or you can request a report by directly contacting each of the agencies below. They can also tell you about setting up fraud alerts & security freezes:
Equifax: (800) 525-6285
Experian: (888) 397-3742
TransUnion: (800) 680-7289
Get more tips & information:
On guard Online: This site offers practical tips from the federal government & the technology industry to help you be on guard against internet fraud, secure your computer & protect your personal information.
U.S. Department of Justice Fraud Section site related to the CARES Act
Related questions
-
What can I do to protect my money & my account? -
How can I find out if my identity was stolen? -
How do I opt out of future mailings from Walmart MoneyCard?
Cash back, up to $75 per year, is credited to card balance at end of reward year and is subject to successful activation and other eligibility requirements. Redeem rewards using our website or app. You will earn cash back of three percent (3%) on qualifying purchases made at Walmart.com and in the Walmart app using your card or your card number, two percent (2%) at Walmart fuel stations, and one percent (1%) on qualifying purchases at Walmart stores in the United States (less returns and credits) posted to your Card during each reward year. Grocery delivery and pickup purchases made on Walmart.com or the Walmart app earn 1%. For the purpose of cash back rewards, a "reward year" is twelve (12) monthly periods in which you have paid your monthly fee or had it waived. See Deposit Account Agreement for details.
Opt-in required. Account must have initial eligible direct deposits, must be in good standing and have an activated chip-enabled debit card to opt-in. Ongoing eligible direct deposits and other criteria apply to maintain eligibility for overdraft protection. Only debit card purchase transactions are eligible for overdraft protection and overdrafts are paid at our discretion. We reserve the right to not pay overdrafts. For example, we may not pay overdrafts if the account is not in good standing, or is not receiving ongoing eligible direct deposits, or has too many overdrafts. Overdraft fees may cause your account to be overdrawn by an amount that is greater than your overdraft coverage. A $15 fee may apply to each eligible purchase transaction that brings your account negative. Balance must be brought to at least $0 within 24 hours of authorization of the first transaction that overdraws your account to avoid a fee. Overdraft protection is only available on Demand Deposit Accounts that meet eligibility requirements. Log into and refer to your Account Agreement to check feature availability.
Monthly fee waived when you direct deposit $500+ in the previous monthly period. Otherwise, $5.94 a month.
Early direct deposit availability depends on payor type, timing, payment instructions, and bank fraud prevention measures. As such, early direct deposit availability may vary from pay period to pay period. The name and Social Security number on file with your employer or benefits provider must match your Walmart MoneyCard account to prevent fraud restrictions on the account.
Limits apply. Your funds typically become available on your account within 10 minutes for your use.
Carrier message & data rates may apply.
Monthly fees will continue on locked cards. Previously authorized transactions and deposits/transfers to your account will function with a locked card.
Interest paid annually on each enrollment anniversary based on the average daily balance across all savings of the prior 365 days, up to a maximum average daily balance of $1,000 across all savings, if the primary account is in good standing and has a positive balance. 2.00% Annual Percentage Yield may change at any time before or after account is opened. Annual Percentage Yield is accurate as of January 2026. Fees on your primary account may reduce earnings on your savings account. See Deposit Account Agreement for terms and conditions.
$3.74 service fee and limits apply. All rights reserved. Green Dot NMLS #914924/#908739.
Transfer money from another U.S. bank to your Walmart MoneyCard. Activated, personalized card required. Limits apply. Subject to your bank's restrictions and fees. Transfers take three (3) business days after account verification. See Deposit Account Agreement for details at WalmartMoneyCard.com
Fees and limits apply to debit card transfers. See Deposit Account Agreement.
Activated, chip-enabled debit card required to use Ingo Money check cashing service. The check cashing service is provided by Ingo Money, Inc. and the sponsor bank, identified in the terms and conditions for the service and subject to Ingo Money Inc. Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. Limits apply. Approval usually takes 3 to 5 minutes but can take up to one hour. All checks are subject to approval for funding in Ingo Money's sole discretion. Fees apply for approved Money in Minutes transactions funded to your account. Unapproved checks will not be funded to your account. Ingo Money reserves the right to recover losses resulting from illegal or fraudulent use of the Ingo Money Service. Your wireless carrier may charge a fee for data usage. Additional transaction fees, costs, terms and conditions may be associated with the funding and use of your card or account. See Deposit Account Agreement (PDF) for details. Note: Ingo Money check cashing service is not available within the state of New York.
Check cashing fees and limits apply. These services are not available in all states or stores. Reloads can’t exceed limits. Your receipt is proof of reload. All rights reserved. Green Dot Corporation NMLS #914924; Green Dot Bank NMLS #908739.