Ransomware. Phishing. Malware. Identity theft... Fraud comes in many disguises, all designed to steal your money.

• What is the most common type of fraud

  Identity theft routinely tops the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) list of complaints, representing approximately 25% of all reported fraud cases.  Thieves can steal your personal information in a variety of ways: 

  • Stealing wallets and purses 
  • Digging through your trash to find financial statements 
  • Swiping information from an unsecured website or public WiFi 
  • Using fake emails, phone calls, websites, and text messages targeting staff and business systems to “phish,” “vish,” or “smish” for information 
  • “Skimming” an ATM with an electronic device that steals information on the magnetic stripe of a debit or credit card 

• How do I protect myself against identity theft

  Safeguarding your personal information is the first line of defense against identity theft. This includes your name and date of birth, Social Security number, tax documents, bank statements, medical bills and more.  A few common-sense tips will make it harder for criminals to steal your valuable data: 

  • Create strong passwords, don’t share them, and change them periodically 
  • Don’t carry your Social Security number in your wallet 
  • Avoid “phishing,” “vishing,” and “smishing” – don’t fall for emails, telephone calls, or text messages asking you to verify your account number or password 
  • If you receive a suspicious email or text with a link, even from a familiar-looking source, check the sender’s return address or phone number to see if it’s coming from a random address  
  • When possible, use 2-factor verification for online accounts 
  • Don’t share personal information on social media accounts 
  • Keep up to date on virus and spyware software 
  • Before entering your credit card number when shopping online, look for web pages with “https” in the address bar and the padlock symbol in the browser window 
  • Check your credit cards bills and bank statements promptly for unauthorized charges 
  • Shred documents containing personal or financial information before disposal 

• What should I do if I think my identity has been stolen

  There are some tell-tale indicators fraud has occurred. If you receive notification about new accounts or unfamiliar purchases, don’t ignore them as spam. Consider subscribing to a credit monitoring service, some of which offer identity theft insurance.  If you suspect you’ve been a victim of fraud, there are steps you should take immediately: 

  • Place a fraud alert on your credit reports 
  • Scan credit card and bank statements for unauthorized charges, and alert your credit card company or bank to dispute the charges 
  • Have your credit card issuer cancel the affected card and issue you a new one 
  • File a report with the Federal Trade Commission at https://www.identitytheft.gov
  • If you have identity theft insurance, file a claim 
  • File a report with your local police department, and maintain a record of the fraud in case a crime is committed using your personal information