Information theft is on the rise
File - Jewell Baggett walks amidst debris strewn across the yard where her mother's home had stood, in Horseshoe Beach, Fla., after the passage of Hurricane Idalia, on Aug. 30, 2023. . Frauds and scams often emerge during specific incidents such as the COVID pandemic, and in the wake of climate-related catastrophes. . Over 1.1 million people in the U.S. alone reported the crime to the Federal Trade Commission in 2022.
“They’re imposters, so they’re going after your personal information and your financial information however they can," she said. “They'll relate it to anything in their deck of cards — to COVID, to the weather.”should be extra careful of impersonators asking for identifying details, Tressler said. Scammers might pretend to be from the utility company or the Federal Emergency Management Agency and ask to “verify information.
In the fall, when student loan payments resume, Tressler cautions that borrowers should be wary of anyone claiming to be a debt servicer and asking for private information. For example, your actual student loan servicer will never ask for your Federal Student Aid ID or your password, and neither will the Department of Education. You also never have to pay a third party to contact your servicer. The Federal Student Aid site provides more guidance about avoiding identity theft online.
“They could open debit, checking, or savings accounts, utility accounts, get Social Security, Medicare, or a drivers license,” Tressler said. “Insurance or medical accounts too.”It can take time to realize your data has been stolen. According to the FTC, signs include:— Inaccurate information on your credit report— A phone, electricity, or gas account opened in your name— Medical bills or insurance charges for procedures you didn't have— The Federal Trade Commission online at IdentityTheft.
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