Editorial independence
CyberIdentityTheft.com operates with complete editorial independence. No advertiser, sponsor, partner, or commercial entity has any influence over our editorial decisions, including which topics we cover, how we frame them, what sources we cite, or what recommendations we make.
We do not accept advertising, sponsored content, native advertising, affiliate commissions, or any other form of commercial consideration from companies in the identity protection, cybersecurity, financial services, or related industries. This policy is absolute and has no exceptions.
We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any government agency, including the FTC, FBI, CISA, NIST, or CFPB. We link to official government resources because they are the most reliable sources of consumer information — not because of any formal relationship.
Source standards
CyberIdentityTheft.com prioritizes official government publications and primary sources. When an authoritative nonprofit, academic institution or necessary consumer-service provider is referenced, it is clearly identified. Statistics include the source, year and a direct link whenever available.
Links to Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion are provided only so consumers can reach the official free credit-freeze pages. They are not endorsements or affiliate relationships.
Primary sources include: the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and its Consumer Sentinel Network data; the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) annual reports; the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA); the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST); the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB); and the Social Security Administration (SSA).
When we cite statistics, we include the source, the year the data was collected, and a link to the original publication. We do not use statistics without attribution.
Content review process
Before publication, every article is reviewed for factual accuracy against its cited sources, clarity and readability for a general consumer audience, and compliance with our independence and sourcing standards.
Articles are reviewed and updated when: official guidance from a cited agency changes; new data is published that materially affects the article's claims; or a reader correction reveals an error. Each article displays its original publication date and the date it was last reviewed.
Corrections policy
We are committed to factual accuracy. If you believe any information on this site is incorrect, outdated, or misleading, please contact us with the specific claim, the article URL, and any supporting evidence. We will review the claim and, if warranted, correct the article promptly.
Corrections are noted in the article with the correction date. We do not silently alter articles to remove errors — the original error and the correction are both documented.
Scope and limitations
CyberIdentityTheft.com provides general consumer education. Nothing on this site constitutes legal advice, financial advice, or professional cybersecurity consulting. Readers with specific legal or financial situations should consult qualified professionals.
We cover threats and protective measures as they are understood at the time of writing. Cybersecurity is a rapidly evolving field. Tactics used by criminals change, and guidance that was accurate when written may become outdated. We encourage readers to check publication and review dates and to consult official agency websites for the most current guidance.
Linking policy
External links on this site point exclusively to official government agency websites (.gov domains), academic institutions, or other authoritative non-commercial sources. We do not accept payment for links and do not participate in link exchange programs.
We do not link to commercial identity protection services, credit monitoring products, VPN providers, password manager vendors, or other cybersecurity products — even when those products may be genuinely useful. Our role is to educate, not to recommend commercial products.