[Villager Joyce]

Our accounting firm WallTitus in Lakeland, Florida was hacked over Christmas. Since that time, we had someone file an income tax return using our social security numbers, open a new credit card in our name and submit a chance of address with the post office forwarding our mail.

Probably most of you know and do these things, but we didn't. I would like to share some must do's. This is my way of turning my frown upside down!

Freeze your credit with all three credit bureaus. It could cost about $10 each, but well worth it. You can use your existing credit cards as before. It prevents new cards from being issued.

Set up alerts on all credit cards so you receive an alert every time your card is used.

Set up alerts on your bank statements.

Because our bad guys put in a change of address to forward our mail to a different address, I am now recommending all credit card and bank statements, power and telephone bills, etc. be set up for electronic delivery. According to a notification received last week from WallTitus, a number of their clients had holds and address changes fraudulently submitted to the Post Office.

Be diligent and look at your accounts daily or every few days. You have to be your own advocate.

Look up the Florida Attorney Generals website. Search Identity Theft. Search window is right under Pam Bondi's picture. The website provides a step by step how to protect yourself, websites and telephone numbers.

Be safe!