May 23, 2024 By Gary Boatman 3 min read

It is estimated that 33% of Americans are victims of identity theft during their lifetime. AARP says that in 2023, we lost more than $43 billion. These are obviously scary statistics, and you must take steps to avoid them.

These attacks come in many forms.

While I was writing this column, I received a telephone call from a number that showed up as a few random digits. The message gave me a file number and said I should call them for more information and then they hung up. I have received calls from this same group in the past where they threaten to take legal action such as attaching bank accounts or garnishing wages. They never name who they are calling. These calls are phishing expeditions to try and get you to give them information.

If you returned the call, they would try to get information out of you such as name, date of birth, Social Security number or bank information. Some people provide this information because they want to prove they do not owe someone money or to claim an inheritance or gift from someone they do not know. If you are a party to a legal proceeding, there is sufficient notification, and due process rules that must be followed.

Everyday, I receive phony emails thanking me for a purchase that I never made or saying something is about to renew. Ironically, they often say to call their fraud department if this billing is not correct. This false reassurance is designed for you to let your guard down. Often, these emails come from Gmail addresses. They might even sound like they are coming from companies that you actually deal with. Major companies have email addresses that have their corporate name in them. Sometimes, they will contain a logo to make the email appear real. You should log directly into a company website if you have a question about whether there is an issue with an actual order. When making online purchases, use a credit card and not a debit card. While most debit cards offer somewhat similar protections, on a credit card, it is the bank’s money that is tied up in a dispute instead of your own. It is also easier to replace a credit card number.

All ages are at risk of fraud, but seniors are often targeted. They tend to have more assets and are more trusting. Criminals use many different approaches to take advantage of that. Sometimes they are romance schemes where someone pretends to be romantically involved and then extorts money. Sometimes they are grandparent schemes where the caller pretends to be a grandchild in danger and is allegedly asking for help.

Crooks also try to steal the identity of children. Everyone is issued a Social Security card at birth. It is important to only expose information on secure sites and not use public Wi-Fi. Make sure you have anti-virus software on your devices, and use two step authentications. Do not click on links from unknown sources as this is how your computer can become infected.

Sometimes crooks try to gain control of your computer and then want you to pay a ransom for them to unfreeze it. Hospitals and other organizations have been charged tens of thousands of dollars to regain control. Be vigilant when using your device and you can avoid many of these dangers.