Identity Theft: Be Aware and Prepare
posted on Monday, January 30, 2023 in SHAZAM Blog
This week is Identity Theft Awareness Week, which means it’s an excellent time for a cybersecurity check-in as we move into the new year. Identity theft is the top consumer complaint reported to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) over the past several years, and the number of cases continues to grow. The good news is accountholders can help protect themselves by simply being aware of the risk and taking basic precautions.
New Social Engineering Scams
Cybercriminals are becoming more sophisticated in their efforts to find new ways to gain access to victims’ personal information through tactics that go beyond the expected phishing, smishing or vishing attack. For example, one of the latest identity theft scams involves targeting job seekers online with fake employment opportunities to solicit social security numbers or financial account information of unsuspecting parties. Once these criminals have a victim’s information, they’re on their way to commit government document or benefit fraud, credit card fraud, bank fraud and more. This is just one of the many examples of new social engineering schemes taking place today.
What To Look For and What To Do
Beyond practicing good cybersecurity hygiene, like using separate and complex passwords for each online account and limiting the amount of personal information shared online, individuals can also take steps to monitor their accounts for potential identity theft activity. To help accountholders keep tabs on their personal data, here are five helpful tips to share from the FTC:
- Read credit card and bank statements carefully and often.
- Know payment due dates. If a bill doesn't arrive when expected, find out why.
- Read statements from health insurance plans and ensure that claims paid match the care received.
- Shred documents with personal and financial information.
- Review credit reports from each bureau at least once a year.
If an accountholder suspects that their personal information has been compromised, they can report it to the FTC. Please share the information in this blog with family members, employees and accountholders. We can all do our part to keep cybercriminals out of business by staying vigilant.
Resources:
Federal Trade Commission
Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book 2021
Tags
- cybersecurity
- fraud
- phishing
- security
- social engineering
- social media
SHAZAM, Inc. and ITS, Inc. provide this blog for general informational purposes only. Our blog may be shared by a direct link wherein the content remains as originally presented and has not been altered. SHAZAM, Inc. and ITS, Inc. assume no responsibility for errors or omissions in the contents on the blog. By using this blog, reader agrees that the information published does not constitute nor is a substitute for legal advice which should only be sought from a qualified, licensed attorney.
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