July 22, 2024

Identity theft is nothing new, I had my identity at risk three times and finally froze my credit making it difficult for anyone to play games with my bank accounts or credit cards. So, what has prompted this e-mail:

A friend’s daughter received a “legitimate” call from a reputable big box store requesting her husband’s phone password (too long to go into details). Okay, your first instinct would be it was a scam and providing the numbers would be foolish at best and dangerous at worst. But after some sly convincing she relented and provided the numbers. This created a cascade of concern and hours/days trying to undue the risks involved.

Always be suspicious if you receive a phone call as phone scams are rampant. With AI (Artificial Intelligence) getting more sophisticated, it is easy for hackers to collect your voice from online media and create sentences with your voice or the voice of others and call you requesting money or asking you for vital information.

I have discussed this with my entire family, kids and grandkids, and explained the issue and we agreed to a family verbal password that they must provide if requested. In other words, if I receive a call from them requestioning anything I feel is suspicious, I will ask for the password, if they forgot, I will ask them a question that only they would know, something not found on their social media such as a Facebook page.

If you have a Facebook page be sure to protect it from hackers.  Again, with AI being used by hack and scammers, they can retrieve family data from your profile page. I recommend you delete family information including phone numbers, address and family relative information. Might sound like an overreaction but being safe than sorry is always best.

So, what would you do?

First, have a password protection app on your phone and computer.  I use the 1Password app. These allow you to save and retrieve passwords for all your accounts. They also create passwords difficult to steal and allow you to copy and paste them when needed. Also be sure to change your passwords every so often and have a two part verification which may include a pin number, a text code or an e-mail verification code, this is especially important with bank or investments.

Below are Various Links to Articles and Videos 

Forward it along to Family and Friends

Federal Identity theft website

What steps should you take it your identity has been stolen

How to Lock Your Social Security Number: (Toll Free 1-800-772-1213 

 Check your Social Security Personal Earnings and Benefit Statement. You can get a copy by calling 1-800-772-1213

LifeLock (for an annual fee)

What Is Identity Theft in Depth Video

How To Defend Yourself From Identity Theft Video

How To Freeze Your Credit

The Three Credit Agencies

Equifax

Experian

Transunion

Protect Seniors from Fraud and Scams

Elder fraud is an expensive crime. Scams targeting individuals aged 60 and older caused over $3.4 billion in losses in 2023—an increase of approximately 11% from the year prior. The average victim of elder fraud lost $33,915 due to these crimes in 2023.

FBI Senior Fraud Risks

Five Top Financial Fraud Targeting Seniors

National Senior Fraud Hotline

Senior Identity Theft Risks

Protect Seniors from Fraud

Resources If You Are a Victim of Senior Fraud

Stop Senior Scams