It’s easy to think of identity theft as something that won’t happen to you. Unfortunately, it’s all too common — with a case reported every 22 seconds.
Last year, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) received more than 1.1 million online reports of identity theft, but the actual figures are more staggering than that.
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Javelin Strategy and Research estimates there were 18 million identity theft victims in the U.S. in 2024, who lost a total $27 billion.
Identity theft can take different forms. It can mean con artists use your personal information to create a social media profile, open a credit card or withdraw funds from a bank account.
“Every new piece of new information that is shared about you online can become something that nefarious actors can use to steal your identity,” Security.org analyst Corie Colliton told KTLA 5.
That’s why it’s important to delete any personal information you have floating around online. Here’s how to do that.
How to reduce your online footprint for free
There are a number of steps you can take to diminish your online footprint, reducing the odds of your becoming a victim of identity theft.
Keep in mind that deleting your personal information only stops criminals from seeing it in the future. It doesn’t mean they haven’t already captured it.
But it’s wise to wipe the slate as clean as possible.
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Here’s how to remove your personal information on Google for free:
- Do a Google search of your name.
- If there’s a result that reveals any personal information about you that you don’t want shared, click on the three dots next to the URL and hit “Remove Result” on the window that opens.
- You’ll be asked why you don’t want your results displayed. Select the reason that applies from the choices that pop up.
- If your request is approved, the link in question should disappear in a few days.
You can also sign up for Google’s free “Results about you” service, which sends you an alert when your personal information shows up in an online search.
From there, you can request to have the link removed from search, but that doesn’t make the site in question disappear. To get your personal information removed from the source, you’ll need to contact the site directly.
You can also use deteleme.com’s free DIY guide to learn how to remove your personal data from websites like Airbnb or Ticketmaster, which was hacked in 2024.
In fact, the Ticketmaster breach was one of many in 2024, a year that saw a 6% increase in data breaches across numerous sites, according to the cybersecurity firm Flashpoint.
That’s why it’s a good idea to scrape your personal data off as many sites as you can. If the step-by-step process is too daunting or time-consuming, you can use paid services.
For example, in addition to deleteme.com, Privacy Bee can remove your personal information online for a price. Privacy Bee’s plans start at $8 per month. If you want your data removed from the Dark Web or are an identity theft victim, you’ll pay more.
It is big business. As identity theft soars, so does the cybersecurity market. IdentityTheft.org predicts that the market for identity theft protection services will hit $28 billion by 2029.
The importance of protecting your personal identity
In addition to the steps above, it’s important to remain vigilant by monitoring your credit and other financial accounts.
Here are some ways to do that:
- Monitor your bank and credit card accounts regularly to identify any transactions you don’t recognize.
- Check your credit report every month for fraud and identity theft. You’re entitled to a free copy from each reporting bureau each week. Experian offers a free credit-monitoring service.
- Be on the lookout for new accounts opened in your name or hard inquiries you don’t recognize. Those are a sign that someone is trying to open an account in your name.
If you believe you have been the victim of identity theft, you can freeze your credit. This prevents criminals from opening accounts in your name even if they have all of the necessary information to do so, like your Social Security number.
It may sound like a lot of effort, but any time and money you spend protecting your identity is more than worth it.
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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
