What’s the Best Identity Theft Protection for Seniors? 

Whether you’re a senior citizen yourself or you want to help out an older adult in your life, identity theft protection can require specific accommodations and ease of access. It’s not that those over the age of 65 are unable to navigate typical safeguards – to the contrary, they’ve got way more experience with financial management than most younger Americans. 

The bottom line is that for the elderly, some newer technologies may be unfamiliar or just unwanted for many reasons. Plus, some software and service providers offer discounts for older adults. So, what’s the best identity theft protection for seniors? That’s what I aim to answer here. 

This is what’s in store: 

• How Should ID Theft Protection Cater to Seniors?
• Best Identity Theft Protection for Seniors
  • 1. Zander Insurance® ($6.75 to $9.95 per month)
  • 2. Aura® ($12 to $37 per month)
  • 3. LifeLock® ($10.42 to $69.99 per month)
• Common Memberships That Offer Discounted ID Theft Protection
• Is Identity Theft Protection Worth it?
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Wrapping up

Now, let’s explore? 

How Should ID Theft Protection Cater to Seniors? 

In general, based on my research, anyone can expect to pay from $10 to $70 per month for ID theft protection insurance. And, many standalone credit monitoring systems charge $20 to $30 per month. While most ID theft platforms offer credit monitoring, if you were to pay for each separately, you could spend up to $60+ per month. 

The reason why I outline pricing is that one of the first things someone over 65 should look for in an ID theft protection service is a senior discount. Moreover, if your ID theft protection system offers credit monitoring, there is no need to pay a separate service. 

Now, according to Pew Research, as of 2022, nearly 40% of senior citizens don’t own a smartphone. 

This tells me two things: 

1. Mobile apps may not be as important for seniors as they are for the rest of us.
2. Some seniors might prefer more traditional informational formats like paper reports and customer support via phone (vs live chat or email).

Seniors may benefit from ID theft protection services that offer user-friendly interfaces and stand-out customer support. And, education on common scams and phishing tactics is crucial, given potential tech unfamiliarity for older adults. 

For some, family involvement in monitoring and support can be important. So, the best solution might ensure that a trusted loved one can access reports or receive notifications. 

So, what we’re ideally looking for is: 

• Senior discounts or low pricing
• Real-time credit monitoring
• Paper report option
• Phone support 
• Easy-to-use portal
• Family access and notifications

Keep reading to find out which ID theft protection services check most of these boxes. 

You might also like: How to Respond to Identity Theft & Protect Your Assets

Best Identity Theft Protection for Seniors 

I narrowed down my picks to the three best services I could find. See what each plan offers, then read about the importance of ID theft protection and get answers to some of the most common questions. 

1. Zander Insurance® ($6.75 to $9.95 per month)

Zander Identity Theft Solutions is Dave Ramsey’s pick for safeguarding against identity theft. Their Elite Cyber Bundle, at $9.99 per month, offers encrypted online protection, antivirus, and more. It includes recovery assistance with up to $1 million reimbursement for stolen funds. 

Family plans cover two adults and kids for added value. What’s great for older adults? While there is no senior discount, you really won’t need one – The affordable $9.99 monthly cost and comprehensive protection make it ideal for staying secure without breaking the bank.

You might also like: Top 8 Best Credit Repair Books of All Time +Free Resources 

2. Aura® ($12 to $37 per month)

Aura offers Smart, Simple Online Safety powered by AI, providing comprehensive protection for the entire family through its all-in-one identity theft protection services. Key features include a $1,000,000 coverage for eligible losses, 24/7 U.S.-based expert fraud support, transparent pricing with no sudden renewal increases, and a risk-free 60-day money-back guarantee.

 Aura addresses the increasing threat of online crimes, with users benefiting from proactive protection and fast detection of potential risks. The service covers various aspects, including financial fraud protection, family safety, and the fastest fraud alerts, making it a versatile choice for users seeking reliable online security. 

For seniors, Aura’s simple interface, comprehensive protection, 24/7 support, transparent pricing, and family safety features make it a suitable option in the identity theft protection landscape.

3. LifeLock® ($10.42 to $69.99 per month)

LifeLock® provides comprehensive identity theft protection, which gives seniors a robust solution to safeguard their personal information. Covering key aspects such as taxes, finances, restoration, and personal info, LifeLock is designed to prevent identity theft during vulnerable periods. 

Seniors benefit from the simplicity of the service, ensuring their identity remains secure. LifeLock’s all-in-one protection can be further enhanced with device security and a VPN, making it a convenient choice for seniors looking for comprehensive defense against identity theft. 

It’s important to note that credit scores are based on VantageScore 3.0 from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. For older adults seeking reliable identity protection with user-friendly features, LifeLock is a suitable option.

Common Memberships That Offer Discounted ID Theft Protection

Now, if you or your loved one already has a membership with one of the many common companies that offer discounts on ID theft protection, it could be worth exploring. I decided to dig around and see what I could find. 

Here are some common places seniors find ID theft protection discounts:

• AARP – 53% off ID Theft Protection Powered by Norton®  (LifeLock® starts at $10.42 per month)
• AAA® – Low-cost ProtectMyID® Enrollment (free to $!5.95 per month) 
• SureBridge® GetWell® – One-bureau monitoring and ID theft protection for $13.95 per month 
• Credit unions – Banking with a credit union? Find out if they offer discounts on ID theft protection
• Phone and internet service providers – Check your phone service provider website for discounts and additional benefits you may not be taking advantage of
• Costco ® – 😞 No longer accepts new enrollments for CompleteID® member discounts 

As with all investments and expenses, it’s best to shop around to see where you can get the best deal. In your case, it could be right in front of you already. 

You might also like: How to Fix Your Credit After Identity Theft 

Is Identity Theft Protection Worth it? 

Before I answer some common questions, I want to say that ID theft protection is crucial, especially for seniors that may not be intuitively aware of common modern-day scams. But, there’s a caveat – the right protection may or may not come in the form of paid software and constant credit monitoring. 

Yes, technology makes it easier to stay on-top of your finances in real-time. However, it may not be a necessity if its not affordable for you. 

According to Consumer Reports®, in 2013, around 50 million U.S. consumers spent $3.5 billion on identity theft protection while do-it-yourself safeguards were as effective as paid services (without the annual cost of $120 to $300). The feature argues against purchasing ID-theft protection due to deceptive marketing, an exaggerated threat of identity theft, and the uncommon occurrence of new-account fraud. 

The same article says that $1 million insurance is overkill when the majority of ID-theft victims had zero out-of-pocket loss in 2011 – and the average loss for the minority that was so unfortunate was $309 for existing-account fraud and $1,205 for new-account fraud.

Instead, Consumer Reports recommends free alternatives like: 

• Online banking with notifications
• Monitoring credit reports
• Placing security freezes on credit files

So, ID theft protection is invaluable, but ask yourself if it’s worthwhile to invest in technology and insurance to protect yourself? It really depends on how important convenience is to you. 

You might also like: Can IdentityIQ Really Protect Your Finances? The Truth

Frequently Asked Questions

Wrapping up 

My top ID theft protection picks for seniors are Zander Insurance®, Aura®, and LifeLock®. However, it’s also a good idea to look at current memberships to see if any of your existing benefits include discounts on ID theft protection. Don’t be afraid to shop around a little, and consider whether it might be easier to protect your identity with free and/or manual solutions. 

Seniors can be more vulnerable to identity theft due to factors like limited tech familiarity and potential social isolation. Scammers might target them through tactics they’re unfamiliar with. However, vulnerability isn’t exclusive to seniors. Everyone should stay vigilant about protecting their personal information online and offline.

Has ID theft impacted your credit? To get your score up fast so you can move forward with your life, check out Credit Secrets and start your journey to better financial health.