October 2022

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”]Identity fraud is a challenging and sensitive issue. It is typical for you and your family to experience emotional distress as a result of this crime. Give yourself time to work on mending the emotional impact of ID Fraud that you and your family experienced. Be ready for a range of different feelings. Few individuals are psychologically ready for the effects of identity theft. Identity theft victims may at times experience overwhelming psychological pain from loss, helplessness, rage, loneliness, betrayal, and even embarrassment. Deep-seated worries about one’s ability to maintain financial security, keep family members safe, and regain trust are brought on by this crime. Another issue you might have to deal with is the possibility that the theft involved a person you know. Finally, you might become irritated […]

What is identity theft?… How common is it? How do identity thieves operate, and which online scams should you watch out for? Identity theft continues to be the fastest growing crime in America. It’s consistently one of the top consumer complaints. If you are a college student or in the military, you are one of the most targeted populations by thieves. It’s been known to cost the victim both time and money, as, on average, 100s of hours, many months, and thousands of dollars are spent to resolve each crime. Identity theft has increased because it’s so easy to do and the rewards are so large Okay, now that we understand the seriousness of the crime, let’s get down to the business of beating it because it’s not going away, but it can be mitigated. Let’s start with a definition. Identity theft takes many shapes and forms. We’ll condense it […]

The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) provides tips on how to stay away from con artists who prey on people after natural disasters like Hurricane Ian. Preying on people after hurricane Ian is something we should all be aware of as with any natural disaster. Disaster victims and those attempting to donate to charities are both targets of scammers. “First, understand that officials with government disaster assistance agencies do not call or text asking for financial account information and that there is no fee required to apply for or receive disaster assistance from FEMA or the Small Business Administration,” according to the FCC. “Anyone posing as a federal official and asking for money is an imposter.” Always be suspicious of phone calls that ask for information! “Remember that phone scams often use spoofing techniques to deliberately falsify the information transmitted to your caller ID display to disguise their identity or […]

The Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) published the 2022 ITRC Consumer Impact Report last week. It details a new scam known as “social media account takeover fraud,” in which cybercriminals and ID theft criminals hijack Facebook and Instagram accounts to steal personally identifiable information (PII). Account takeover fraud (ATO), is when a fraudster successfully accesses your bank account, credit card account, cell phone account, utility account, Social Security account, or reward/loyalty card account. This occurs when malicious actors attempt to take control of an account using weak passwords, phishing, hacking, and/or credential stuffing. What is happening… Social media account takeover attacks have increased by more than 1,000% in the past 12 months, according to the ITRC. The results of a quick survey of victims who reported a social media account takeover are included in the 2022 Consumer Impact Report. The victims who participated in the micro-survey stated the following: 85 […]