(This article originally appeared in the January 2026 issue of Military Officer, a magazine available to all MOAA Premium and Life members who can log in to access our digital version and archive. Basic members can save on a membership upgrade and access the magazine.)

Your military service might put you and your family members at an elevated risk of identity theft compared to your civilian peers. During and after your service, you and your family have regularly interacted with agencies, organizations, and systems that require the sharing of sensitive personal information.

In addition, frequent moves mean you have an information footprint with many landlords, utility companies, school systems, and businesses.

While it’s often necessary to share personal information, doing so puts you at risk of that information being misused.

[RELATED: MOAA's Scam and Fraud Prevention Resources]

This can come as part of a large-scale event, such as the Office of Personnel Management data breaches in 2014 and 2015. Alternatively, information can be compromised at a much smaller scale, by systems or by humans at even the most local level. Whether accidental or intentional, the results can be catastrophic.

Additionally, if your identity is compromised, frequent moves, multiple addresses, and deployments can make it harder to both notice and clean up the problem.

[RELATED: Navy Warns Travelers of Possible Online Listing Scams]

So what can you do?

Be Proactive

First, regularly monitor your credit report. You can get one for free every 12 months from each of the three major reporting agencies using the federally approved portal. As of this writing, the site is offering free weekly online credit reports.

Active duty servicemembers can put active duty alerts on their accounts, and everyone can use credit freezes to prevent new credit from being opened without direct authorization.

[RELATED: Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Active Duty Fraud Alert]

When filling out forms in person or online, consider whether every piece of information must be shared. Ask questions, verify that the information is necessary, and ask about security protocols.

When working online, ensure you are using a secure network. Create complex and varied passwords, and enable multifactor authentication.

Lastly, consider identity theft protection programs, like Aura Identity Theft Protection. MOAA members get exclusive savings when they purchase this specific service. Such technology can monitor your personally identifiable information to prevent identity theft and fraud.

Some plans also offer insurance coverage to help with expenses if your identity is compromised.

[MEMBER BENEFIT: Save on Identity Protection With Aura]

If your identity is compromised, make a prompt report to local authorities, military command, and the Federal Trade Commission. You should also report it to your financial institutions and other companies who might be impacted.