Quiz Is Your Identity at Risk? Updated September 2017 iStockphoto Every day your personal information is at risk of falling into the wrong hands. You probably know the more obvious ways to protect your good name (shred personal information, don't carry your Social Security card in your wallet). But let's try to lessen your risk even more. Take our ten-question quiz to find out if you are protecting your ID — or playing fast and loose with it. Start Quiz Quiz | Is Your Identity at Risk? Question 1 of 10 You receive an e-mail, purportedly from the IRS, requesting personal information to confirm the address where your refund should be sent. Should you supply that information? A. Of course -- you don't want your refund going to the wrong address. B. No, something is wrong with this picture. Quiz | Is Your Identity at Risk? Question 1 of 10 You receive an e-mail, purportedly from the IRS, requesting personal information to confirm the address where your refund should be sent. Should you supply that information? A. Of course -- you don't want your refund going to the wrong address.B. No, something is wrong with this picture. The IRS doesn't initiate contact with taxpayers through e-mail. In fact, any e-mail purportedly from the Social Security Administration or other government agency asking for your personal information is almost surely a scam. The same goes for e-mails that look like they're from your bank, tel... Read more ˅ The IRS doesn't initiate contact with taxpayers through e-mail. In fact, any e-mail purportedly from the Social Security Administration or other government agency asking for your personal information is almost surely a scam. The same goes for e-mails that look like they're from your bank, telephone company or credit-card company. Only phony e-mails and phony letters will ask for your account number or Social Security number. Do NOT respond. Less ˄ Next Question Quiz | Is Your Identity at Risk? Question 2 of 10 If reputable companies ask for your Social Security number over the phone or in a loan or credit application, you should ... A. Give it to them B. Ask whether they absolutely need it C. Refuse under all circumstances Quiz | Is Your Identity at Risk? Question 2 of 10 If reputable companies ask for your Social Security number over the phone or in a loan or credit application, you should ... A. Give it to themB. Ask whether they absolutely need it Although companies frequently ask for your Social Security number, they usually don't need it. That's why you should always ask if they have to have it. If you're applying for a loan or credit, you will have to supply this number. C. Refuse under all circumstances Next Question Quiz | Is Your Identity at Risk? Question 3 of 10 If you're shopping for mortgage quotes online, the personal information you provide is less likely to be sold to other companies if ... A. You use an individual lender's site B. You use a site that provides quotes from several lenders Quiz | Is Your Identity at Risk? Question 3 of 10 If you're shopping for mortgage quotes online, the personal information you provide is less likely to be sold to other companies if ... A. You use an individual lender's site Web sites that provide mortgage quotes from multiple lenders are prime data collection spots that likely will sell your information. You can reduce the chances of your information being shared without your consent if you get quotes from individual lenders. B. You use a site that provides quotes from several lenders Next Question Quiz | Is Your Identity at Risk? Question 4 of 10 Which of these activities could put your personal information at risk? A. Registering for a product warranty B. Entering a sweepstakes C. Declaring a political affiliation when registering to vote D. None of the above E. All of the above Quiz | Is Your Identity at Risk? Question 4 of 10 Which of these activities could put your personal information at risk? A. Registering for a product warrantyB. Entering a sweepstakesC. Declaring a political affiliation when registering to voteD. None of the aboveE. All of the above Companies called data brokers buy personal information from things like sweepstakes, product warranties, credit card offers and more. Then they sell it to other companies or organizations. That information could end up in hands of scam artists, who buy the data or hack the data brokers' datab... Read more ˅ Companies called data brokers buy personal information from things like sweepstakes, product warranties, credit card offers and more. Then they sell it to other companies or organizations. That information could end up in hands of scam artists, who buy the data or hack the data brokers' databases. Less ˄ Next Question Quiz | Is Your Identity at Risk? Question 5 of 10 What can you do to ensure you're using a secure Web site? A. Look for https in the URL when making a payment B. Look for the BBB Reliability Program symbol C. Only use sites with which you are familiar D. Trust them at their word. If they say they are safe, they're safe. Quiz | Is Your Identity at Risk? Question 5 of 10 What can you do to ensure you're using a secure Web site? A. Look for https in the URL when making a payment The beginning of the URL should change to https to indicate you're on a secure site when making a payment or providing personal information. Always look for it. A closed padlock on the browser's status bar also is another sign of security. Although a sign that the company likely is reputable,... Read more ˅ The beginning of the URL should change to https to indicate you're on a secure site when making a payment or providing personal information. Always look for it. A closed padlock on the browser's status bar also is another sign of security. Although a sign that the company likely is reputable, the Better Business Bureau's Reliability Program symbol does not guarantee a site is secure. Less ˄ B. Look for the BBB Reliability Program symbolC. Only use sites with which you are familiarD. Trust them at their word. If they say they are safe, they're safe. Next Question Quiz | Is Your Identity at Risk? Question 6 of 10 Which of these practices is not safe? A. Using a hotel's computer with free Internet access to pay bills online B. Using a website link included in an e-mail C. Using your real birth date when registering for something D. All of the above Quiz | Is Your Identity at Risk? Question 6 of 10 Which of these practices is not safe? A. Using a hotel's computer with free Internet access to pay bills onlineB. Using a website link included in an e-mailC. Using your real birth date when registering for somethingD. All of the above Don't use the free Internet hookup in a hotel or other public place to pay bills online or view other sensitive information. Thieves have been known to load keystroke loggers on those computers so they can gather your access codes. Don't use a link that's included in an e-mail, which c... Read more ˅ Don't use the free Internet hookup in a hotel or other public place to pay bills online or view other sensitive information. Thieves have been known to load keystroke loggers on those computers so they can gather your access codes. Don't use a link that's included in an e-mail, which can easily be faked. Instead, type the correct address yourself. And enter the year you were born but not the actual day and month because ID thieves need that information. Less ˄ Next Question Quiz | Is Your Identity at Risk? Question 7 of 10 What provides the most protection for your credit report? A. A credit freeze B. A fraud alert C. A security lock Quiz | Is Your Identity at Risk? Question 7 of 10 What provides the most protection for your credit report? A. A credit freeze If you're a victim of identity theft -- or worried that you could be -- you can request a credit freeze to block potential lenders from getting access to your credit report without your authorization. To be secure, you need to freeze your record at all three bureaus. A fraud alert just requir... Read more ˅ If you're a victim of identity theft -- or worried that you could be -- you can request a credit freeze to block potential lenders from getting access to your credit report without your authorization. To be secure, you need to freeze your record at all three bureaus. A fraud alert just requires lenders to take extra steps to verify your identity before granting credit in your name. Less ˄ B. A fraud alertC. A security lock Next Question Quiz | Is Your Identity at Risk? Question 8 of 10 You put your computer at greater risk of being hacked (and having your personal information stolen) if you leave it on all the time and connected to the Internet. A. True B. False Quiz | Is Your Identity at Risk? Question 8 of 10 You put your computer at greater risk of being hacked (and having your personal information stolen) if you leave it on all the time and connected to the Internet. A. True Turn your computer off when you're finished using it. Leaving your computer on 24/7 connected to your cable or DSL hookup is the the dream scenario for scammers who want to install malicious software on your machine and then control it remotely to commit cyber crime, according to the National... Read more ˅ Turn your computer off when you're finished using it. Leaving your computer on 24/7 connected to your cable or DSL hookup is the the dream scenario for scammers who want to install malicious software on your machine and then control it remotely to commit cyber crime, according to the National Cyber Security Alliance. If you do leave your computer on, make sure you are extra vigilant about having the most recent anti-virus software. Or if you can, leave it running but disconnect it from the Internet. Less ˄ B. False Next Question Quiz | Is Your Identity at Risk? Question 9 of 10 If your mother, wife or sister dies, could you be putting her identity at risk if you mention her maiden name in an obituary? A. No B. Yes Quiz | Is Your Identity at Risk? Question 9 of 10 If your mother, wife or sister dies, could you be putting her identity at risk if you mention her maiden name in an obituary? A. NoB. Yes If the deceased is a woman, don't mention her maiden name, which many financial institutions use as a security password. Don't use the exact birth date of the deceased, either. Be sure to notify the Social Security Administration immediately when a loved one dies. Also alert the dep... Read more ˅ If the deceased is a woman, don't mention her maiden name, which many financial institutions use as a security password. Don't use the exact birth date of the deceased, either. Be sure to notify the Social Security Administration immediately when a loved one dies. Also alert the department of motor vehicles because a driver's license is a key piece of identification that can be misused in the wrong hands. Less ˄ Next Question Quiz | Is Your Identity at Risk? Question 10 of 10 If you're a victim of identity theft, should you file a report with the police? A. No, it's not something the police usually get involved with B. Yes, you need documentation Quiz | Is Your Identity at Risk? Question 10 of 10 If you're a victim of identity theft, should you file a report with the police? A. No, it's not something the police usually get involved withB. Yes, you need documentation Definitely file a report with the police because you'll need a copy of it to dispute fraudulent accounts and debt created by the identity thief, according to the Federal Trade Commission. If the police are reluctant to let you file an ID theft report, ask to file a miscellaneous incident rep... Read more ˅ Definitely file a report with the police because you'll need a copy of it to dispute fraudulent accounts and debt created by the identity thief, according to the Federal Trade Commission. If the police are reluctant to let you file an ID theft report, ask to file a miscellaneous incident report or check with another jurisdiction, such as the state police or sheriff's department. Less ˄ See Results Quiz | Is Your Identity at Risk? Results Next QuizThe Retiree Tax Quiz See All Quizzes answer_num=2,2,1,5,1,4,1,1,2,2|answer_text="B. No, something is wrong with this picture.","B. Ask whether they absolutely need it","A. You use an individual lender's site","E. All of the above","A. Look for https in the URL when making a payment","D. All of the above","A. A credit freeze","A. True","B. Yes","B. Yes, you need documentation"|total_questions=10|url=/quiz/credit/T048-S001-is-your-identity-at-risk-quiz/index.html|total_pages=22|page_id=10482|evaltext_num=0|kipad_id=scams Advertisement Advertisement Sponsored Financial Content