JOPLIN, MO. --- Employees at Arvest Bank say this is the busiest time of year for identity thieves.
To help protect yourself, they recommend checking your account balances frequently with mobile banking apps.
You should also be aware of your surroundings when shopping and keep your credit cards in a secure spot.
When shopping online, make sure you are using a secure site by looking for a lock symbol at the bottom of the webpage.
Catching identity theft early could save you both time and money.
"It's a lot more time sensitive and a lot of money can be spent to get your identity back safely," Amy Howe, marketing director at Arvest Bank, says.
Identity theft has been the number one complaint reported to the Federal Trade Commission every year for the past 12 years.
