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Ways to protect yourself from scams and identity theft: free steps first, then paid tools
Last updated · By Daniel Morton, Scam, Fraud & Prevention Consultant, Winston-Salem, NC
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Short answer: You don't have to buy anything to be safer. Free steps like a credit freeze and your phone company's spam-call tools cover a lot. If you want more help, a paid identity protection service, a home phone call blocker, or a medical alert device can add another layer. No product can stop every scam.
Aura
We suggest Aura to neighbors who want one service that watches for signs their information is being misused. Here's what Aura says its plans include:
- Watches for your personal info, like your SSN or email, on the dark web and alerts you
- Alerts you to suspicious activity on linked bank and card accounts
- Helps screen scam calls and texts, and blocks dangerous websites
- Antivirus, VPN and password manager for your devices
- U.S.-based fraud specialists help you recover, and plans include identity theft insurance (terms apply)
Good to know before you sign up: it's a paid monthly or yearly subscription, so check current prices and plan details on Aura's site. It doesn't replace the free steps below, and like any service it can't promise to stop every scam.
See Aura's plans and pricesAd / affiliate link: we may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you. Learn more
Upcoming offer from Aura (Black Friday sale): Couple & Family plans up to 75% off, with a free $5M ID theft insurance gift. Starts November 24, 2026 at 5 AM ET. Ends November 28, 2026 at 3 AM ET, per Aura's holiday sale schedule (checked Nov 5, 2026). The sale is not live yet. Offers can change, so confirm on their site.
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Optery
People-search and data broker websites can list your name, address, phone number and relatives, which scammers can use. Here's what Optery says it does:
- A free account shows where your info may appear on people-search and data broker sites, with screenshots
- Paid plans fill out and submit the opt-out requests for you, and keep checking for new listings
- Reports with before-and-after screenshots show where profiles were removed
- The free account also gives shortcuts and guides if you'd rather do the opt-outs yourself
Good to know: automatic removals are on paid plans, so check current prices on Optery's site. Removals take time, listings can come back, and no service can get you off every site.
See Optery's plansAd / affiliate link: we may earn a commission if you sign up through this link, at no extra cost to you. Learn more
Free alternative: you can opt out of people-search sites yourself for free. Most have an opt-out or "remove my info" page, usually linked at the bottom of the site. It takes more time, and you may need to repeat it.
Compare your options
| Option | What it helps with | Cost | Where to get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Credit freeze | Makes it much harder for someone to open new credit in your name | Free by law | Each of the three credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, TransUnion |
| Your phone company's spam-call tools | Labels or blocks many robocalls and scam calls on cell phones | Basic versions are usually free | Ask your carrier or check its app |
| Identity protection service (our pick: Aura) | Alerts if your information shows up where it shouldn't, help recovering if it's misused | Paid subscription | See Aura's plans Ad / affiliate link · Learn more |
| Opt out of people-search sites yourself | Removes your listing from each site you contact | Free, but takes your time | The opt-out page on each people-search site |
| People-search removal service (good pick: Optery) | Finds your listings and submits removal requests for you | Free scan; removals on paid plans | See Optery's plans Ad / affiliate link · Learn more |
| Home phone call blocker | Screens or blocks unwanted calls on a landline | One-time purchase | Compare call blockers on Amazon Ad / affiliate link · Learn more |
| Medical alert device | Lets you call for help with one press of a button | Device cost; some also charge a monthly monitoring fee | Compare medical alerts on Amazon Ad / affiliate link · Learn more |
What to look for
Identity protection services
- Which alerts are included (for example credit, bank accounts, and your personal info online)
- Whether you can add a spouse or family members
- Help from real people if something goes wrong, and what any insurance covers (read the terms)
- The price after any first-year discount, and how to cancel
Call blockers
- Works with your type of phone (most plug in between the phone and the wall jack)
- Big, clear buttons and simple setup
- Whether it needs caller ID service from your phone company
Medical alert devices
- Whether it only calls family or connects to a monitoring center, and whether that costs a monthly fee
- Whether it works only at home or also away from home
- Water resistance, so it can be worn in the shower
- Fall detection, if offered, is helpful but not perfect, so the button still matters
Who may not need a paid service
If you've frozen your credit, use your phone company's free spam tools, and check your bank and card statements often, you're already doing a lot. A paid service is a convenience, not a requirement.
Why you can trust this page: I'm Daniel Morton, a scam, fraud and prevention consultant in Winston-Salem. Our scam guides are free and based on official warnings with sources linked. We haven't lab-tested these products; this page explains what each option does, based on the companies' own information, and what to look for. Some links pay us a commission at no extra cost to you, and that never changes the free advice. Read our full disclosure.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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