Identity Theft Awareness

Identity theft can happen to anyone, but staying informed and vigilant can help reduce the chances of it happening to you.

The Federal Trade Commission received more than 1.1 million complaints of identity theft through its IdentityTheft.gov website in 2022. Identity theft occurs when a criminal steals your personal or financial information and uses it to impersonate you, looking to steal your money, data, and other assets. Here are the top 6 types of identity theft and steps you can take to protect yourself.

Types of Identity Theft

Financial Identity Theft:  An identity thief uses your personal information to make purchases, open accounts, or steal your money. Tip: Monitor your credit card and account statements carefully and frequently for unauthorized charges.

Credit Identity Theft: A fraudster uses your personal information (birthdate and social security number) to apply for a loan. Tip: Review your credit report often for unexpected changes in your credit score or accounts you don’t recognize. 

Child Identity Theft:  A scammer can steal a child’s identity to open new accounts, create fake IDs, or make purchases. Most often, it is not discovered until the victim applies for college loans or other credit. Tip: Parents and guardians can freeze credit for children younger than 16. Sixteen and older can request credit freezes themselves.

Tax Identity Theft:  A criminal will use a social security number to file a tax return and steal that person’s tax refund or tax credit. Tip: Filing early can help beat criminals to filing in your name.

Medical Identity Theft:  A fraudster uses someone else’s identity to get health care services or prescriptions. This can result in mixed medical histories, giving healthcare providers wrong information as they make healthcare decisions. Tip: Monitor health insurance claims to ensure the information matches the care received. 

Elder Fraud: Elder financial abuse occurs when someone takes another person's money or property for the benefit of someone other than that person. Tip: Protect older adults from abuse by educating yourself about the red flags and becoming their advocate.

If you think you are a victim of identity theft, it is important to take action right away!

• Contact the companies where you know the fraud occurred.
• Place a fraud alert and get your credit reports.
• Report the identity theft to the FTC.
• File a report with your local police department.

Check out our Identity Theft and Fraud Resource Library for additional resources.

Watch this video to learn more about identity theft.