Data Breaches: Range of Consumer Risks Highlights Limitations of Identity Theft Services, GAO-19-230: Published: Mar 27, 2019. Publicly Released: Mar 27, 2019. “Data breaches have exposed the personal data of hundreds of millions of people and put them at risk for identity theft. We looked at what you can do if you’re a victim of a data breach. Identity theft services can be convenient, but they don’t prevent fraud from happening in the first place. There are also some steps you can take on your own for free—such as freezing your credit reports. A freeze prevents the opening of new credit accounts or loans in your name. We’ve previously recommended that Congress reconsider legislation requiring federal agencies to offer high levels of identity theft insurance coverage.”