Cornerstone Group © 2025 What to Know About Synthetic Identity Theft Synthetic identity theft is one of the fastest-growing types of fraud. Instead of stealing a real person’s full identity, fraudsters create a new one by combining real and fake information, such as using a real Social Security number with a made-up name or address. These fake identities are used to apply for credit cards, bank accounts, loans, or government benefits, all of which can damage the credit of real individuals, often children or the elderly, and be a nightmare to correct. Protecting yourself starts with monitoring. Regularly check your credit reports from all three bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and Trans Union —for unfamiliar accounts. Freeze your credit to block unauthorized access and consider using identity theft protection services. Be cautious about sharing personal information, especially on social media, and watch for strange mail or credit denials. Synthetic identity theft can be hard to detect. However, staying vigilant and proactive can help stop fraud before it starts. Do you make New Year’s resolutions? You’ll probably be more successful at reaching goals if you’re regularly reminded of them and can see your progress. That’s the thinking behind the goal tracking apps featured here. Check them out! Gola - Aptly named, Gola is a goal tracker app where you can enter goals in a customizable template, see your progress in a chart, get reminders via notifications, and more. There’s also an AI feature that provides advice on completing your goals faster. Habitica - One of the cutest gamifying habit-tracker apps is Habitica. Your throwback avatar, which you can design yourself, is affected by your progress toward completing your goals, making for a fun app experience. Habitshare -This app helps you set and track goals, and lets you share your progress with friends and a social network. This way, you and your friends remain accountable to each other and stay connected. stickK - Designed by behavioral economists, stickK allows you to set goals, create a “commitment contract,” and apply a monetary incentive. (Research shows you’re much more likely to achieve your goal if you put money on the line.) If you’re unsuccessful at your goal, you choose where that money goes. Strides - If you’ve made New Year’s resolutions—maybe to drink more water, eat healthier, or take up a new hobby—but you’re not sure how to keep track of it all, Strides could be the right app for you. It lets you customize your habits and goals as you see fit. Todoist - Create tasks, projects, and subtasks, and assign them due dates, priorities, and labels. You can also sync your tasks across devices, collaborate with others, and integrate with other apps and services. Way of Life - If you want a visual goal tracker, you'll love this app. It helps reinforce good habits, or banish bad habits, by sending daily reminders and providing bar charts, pie graphs, and other measures of your progress. Stay Motivated With Goal Tracking Apps
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