July 2026

Identity Theft 101

*Sponsored by MySudo​

You need to watch the replay of our livestream from earlier this week where Maureen not only shared the horrific experience of how her identity was stolen, but also the fallout and the three major lessons she learned:

​3 Identity Theft Protections Most People Forget​

Go Deeper: Identity theft is rarely on people's radar until it directly affects them. But at that point, it's too late. Here are a couple steps you can take:

Using an Alias Learn how I use alias emails, phone numbers & virtual cards in this fun video: ​Watch the video →​

Freeze Tutorial Do you have a credit freeze on all major credit bureaus? If not, follow this easy tutorial: ​Read the Tutorial →​

Try MySudo One of the best ways to protect your identity online is to stop giving out your actual information every time you're asked for it. I've been using MySudo to create aliases with an email, phone number and even virtual card and it's been amazing. Try it out for 30 days for free: Try MySudo

the worst part

Hi [CORRECTED_NAME GOES HERE], I remember walking out of my house one day to find that the back window of my car, which was parked in the driveway, had been smashed and my computer bag had been stolen.

Yes, it was dumb of me to forget my computer bag in the car and I hated having to get that replaced. But honestly, the broken window and the stolen computer didn't matter that much to me.

The worst part was the feeling of being violated.

If you've ever been victim to a burglary or identity theft, you know what I'm talking about. It feels so much harder to enter the world without skepticism and concern.

Take this email as a reminder of how important it is to protect yourself (and your family!) against something like identity theft. You need to:

• Freeze your credit
• Set up an IRS PIN
• Check your credit report
• Erase your personal data online
• ...and so much more.

​Share this video with a family member or send them this written summary. Maybe they'll take one or two steps to protect themselves and even that can make a huge difference.

This Week in Privacy News

​an OpenAI publicity stunt?​

ChatGPT escaped and OpenAI is taking advantage of the news. Was this whole thing a publicity stunt or is this something we actually need to worry about? Interestingly, security researchers are divided on the answer.

--> BBC.com/news/articles/cd9w22n9e4go

​GrapheneOS on trial for phone wipe feature​

GrapheneOS is defending its duress password feature after a user was charged in the US for allegedly activating it during a federal border search. A duress password is a second passcode that doesn’t unlock your phone, instead, it securely wipes the device’s encrypted data, making it inaccessible.

--> Theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/23/cop-city-protester-phone

Pass it on!

Identity theft is a crime that impacts you even if it's your parents who are hit. It's good to make changes to your own life, but it's even better if you can help your family and friends!

Forward this email to one person you know who might benefit from it.

✌️

Josh

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3824 Cedar Springs Rd #801-8170, Dallas, TX 75219
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