Criminals Love the Holidays

by Brian Thompson | Nov 29, 2022 | General, Identity Theft

It is such an exciting time of year with holiday parties, buying presents for your favorite people, and enjoying family! But it is also important to keep in mind that online shoppers and the holidays are two things that cybercriminals enjoy during this exciting time. Because Criminals Love the Holidays!

It is wise to keep in mind that websites can be compromised or even spoofed at this time. There are already fake shipping notifications, fake holiday contests, and phishing and vishing scams out there looking for your information.

Threats during the holiday season should serve as a reminder of two crucial life lessons:

Your private information is not as private as you might believe.
and cyber thieves do not take the holidays off; in fact, they turn up the volume!

Below are 5 things to consider while you are out spreading holiday cheer!

Deal with businesses you know and trust.
And use a credit card instead of a debit card or checking account. We are often told to use debit for budgeting purposes, which makes sense, BUT your credit card is safer as it is protected under the Fair Credit Billing Act. It is far easier to recover funds from a stolen credit card than it is from a debit or bank account.
Watch out for fake website domains; they can easily fool you.
Make sure you are on the correct retailer’s website while shopping. Beware of “domain squatting” sites with an added hyphen or a misspelled or incorrect URL. These tricks can be easily overlooked.
Scams like phishing and vishing
Pay attention to emails requesting personal information from retailers, the Internal Revenue Service, and financial institutions. No reputable business or government organization will contact you by phone or email and ask for your personal information.
Fraudulent shipping alerts and notifications
Phishing emails are sent out by scammers and contain links that could allow unauthorized access to your personal data or download malware onto your device.
Holiday contests
Holiday contests are a great way for retailers to support branding and marketing. Fake contests are a great way for fraudsters to collect your personal information and install malware. Double check URLs to ensure they are truly connected to the company they say they are. When in doubt, don’t fill it out!

In short, think before you click, and if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Most importantly, cyber thieves love the holidays, but you can continue to love them too—just be careful!

BONUS:

Top 5 Personal Privacy Tips

Security software: regularly update the security software (antivirus, firewall, and anti-malware) on your devices.
Password management: Always create complex passwords using a combination of mixed-case letters, numbers, punctuation, and symbols with a minimum of 20 characters—typically an easy-to-remember sentence.
Privacy settings: understanding how your information is stored and used Read the privacy settings of the apps and social media sites you frequent.
Use multi-factor authentication to provide additional information beyond a login or password.
E-mails and attachments: To reduce your exposure, do not open e-mails and attachments from individuals or organizations that you do not know and trust.

Read more at this FBI Common Holiday Scams link.
Other holiday tips: 4 things to watch out for this holiday season!

Impersonating Medicare Agents…

by Brian Thompson | Nov 16, 2022 | healthcare, Identity Theft

If you or someone you love is on Medicare, or if you are an agent selling Medicare, you are likely reviewing and comparing options now. As you are shopping to select the plan that is right for you or your client, know that scammers are impersonating Medicare agents.

Scammers may appear credible, claim to be from Medicare, and possess your personal information. The truth is that they’re actually attempting to steal your identity, money, or Medicare information. Following are some tips on how to recognize potential scams:

The name displayed on your phone may be fake. Scammers can fake a caller ID.
If a caller requests your Medicare, Social Security, bank, or credit card information, hang up. Legitimate Medicare employees have your Medicare number on file.
Take your time; don’t be rushed into anything. Medicare doesn’t provide additional benefits for early enrollment, and you have until December 7 to complete the process.
Threats to take away your benefits are not legitimate. Benefits that you are eligible for cannot be terminated because you chose not to enroll in a plan.
Never engage in conversation with anyone who claims that Medicare prefers their plan. Medicare doesn’t endorse a specific plan.
Get help to deal with Medicare fraud and abuse at smpresource.org.

To report someone pretending to be affiliated with Medicare and other Medicare scams, call 1-800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227) and tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Or if you have a defend-id program, contact our team at 1-800-487-0160.

As the December 7th deadline approaches, take extra precautions to ensure that fraudsters impersonating medicare agents dont take advantage of you or your clients.

Elderly Identity Theft

by Brian Thompson | Nov 2, 2022 | General, Identity Theft

Over 92,000 victims lost $1.7 billion to elderly Identity theft and fraud in 2021, according to the 2021 FBI Elder Fraud Report. These losses increased by 74% compared to 2020.

Elders and seniors (those 60 years of age and older) were the targets of cybercrime and ID theft, with an average loss of $18,246 per senior victim. 3,133 elderly victims also suffered losses totaling more than $100,000 each.

Unfortunately, our prediction has come true. We wrote an article in September 2019 titled 2020 Prediction: Senior ID Theft to Get Significantly Worse.

So how does elder or senior fraud occur?

According to the FBI, “elder fraud takes many forms as criminals find ways to take advantage of this vulnerable and growing population.” “Seniors are a particularly vulnerable victim group and are often specifically targeted for financial fraud crimes.”

Additionally, according to the FBI, “seniors are often more polite and trusting, have difficulty saying no, maybe lonely or spend a great deal of time alone, may have diminished physical or mental capacity, are less likely to report the crime out of shame, and are often financially stable and own their homes.”

Elder fraud increased significantly in 2021 for a second reason: cybercriminals and ID theft offenders took advantage of the COVID-19 crisis’s fear and uncertainty by using phishing campaigns and other online scams to prey on seniors.

COVID-19 had a significant impact.

Consider that during the COVID-19 crisis, many seniors were engaging in our digital economy for the first time while the economy was shut down and businesses were compelled to close. The digital economy includes things like social media, online dating, online banking, online e-payments, online e-books, and online digital downloads, to name a few.

Home security networks

To make matters worse, the majority of seniors were not familiar with their home network security and still aren’t.

The majority of seniors were not (and are not) familiar with using strong passwords or passphrases, virtual private networks (VPNs), or changing the default passwords on IoT devices. This is specifically relevant to a senior’s home network security and the protection of their computers, smartphones, and the Internet of Things (IoT). devices, such as ring doorbells, smart refrigerators, smartwatches, smart door locks, and medical sensors.

Furthermore, scammers target seniors by using phishing (false emails), vishing (false phone calls and voice mails), and smishing (false text messages) techniques. It’s not just about safe online activity.

The FBI Elder Fraud Report said the top 2021 elder scam crime types included the following:

Tech Support Victims
Investment Victims
Non-payment/Non-Delivery Victims
Real Estate and Rental Victims
Identity theft victims
Overpayment Victims
Confidence Fraud/Romance Victims
Employment Victims
Personal Data Breach Victims
Advanced Fee Victims

You can safeguard your identity by

Identify fraud or scam attempts.
Avoid being pushed into taking immediate action by con artists who instill a sense of urgency to drive victims to act.
Be wary of offers for door-to-door services, unsolicited mail, and phone calls.
Never share your personally identifiable information (PII) to protect your identity when you can avoid it.
Ensure that the malware, security, and anti-virus software on your computer is up to date.

Lastly, and according to Phoenix, Arizona-based security consultant John Iannarelli (FBI Special Agent, Retired), “if you believe you or someone you know may have been a victim of elder fraud, contact your local FBI field office or submit a tip online. You can also file a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.”

Elderly Identity theft is an issue that we all need to be aware of, especially as our loved ones age. We can help educate and protect them with identity monitoring programs with fully managed recovery.

Emotional Impact of ID Fraud

by Brian Thompson | Oct 26, 2022 | General, Identity Theft

Identity fraud is a challenging and sensitive issue. It is typical for you and your family to experience emotional distress as a result of this crime. Give yourself time to work on mending the emotional impact of ID Fraud that you and your family experienced.

Be ready for a range of different feelings.

Few individuals are psychologically ready for the effects of identity theft.

Identity theft victims may at times experience overwhelming psychological pain from loss, helplessness, rage, loneliness, betrayal, and even embarrassment. Deep-seated worries about one’s ability to maintain financial security, keep family members safe, and regain trust are brought on by this crime. Another issue you might have to deal with is the possibility that the theft involved a person you know.

Finally, you might become irritated with the people you turn to for assistance. The justice system is still in need of some work, and identity theft is a challenging crime to solve. Be kind to both yourself and those who are trying to assist you.

It will take time to clean up the paper trail, but it’s critical that you get your emotional bearings back as soon as you can. Start by acknowledging and accepting your worries, anxieties, and frustrations.

Some people experience embarrassment as a result of identity theft. No one deserves to be the victim of identity theft, but they feel ashamed and as though they did something wrong, or perhaps deserved it to happen to them. Again, NO ONE deserves to be in this situation.

You don’t need to go through this experience alone.

The emotional harm and isolation you experience might feel worse if your family or friends don’t understand what you’re going through. And in reality, those who haven’t dealt with identity theft are unlikely aware of how long-lasting this crime can be or how stressful it is. Please know that if you are the main provider for the family, you have not failed them. You are a victim who is innocent. A portion of the burden is lifted when you are open and honest with your family. Allow your family and friends to support and encourage you, even if they do not fully understand.

Who did it?

Knowing the imposter may exacerbate your feelings of betrayal, especially if they were a friend or relative. It might be very challenging to report this person to the police. To help you decide or to cope with the consequences, you might want to talk to someone who can help guide you.

Victims frequently describe feeling uneasy when the imposter is unknown, wondering if the person squatting next to them in the grocery store or passing them on the street might actually be the imposter.

Even though you might want the criminal to be punished, it’s possible and even likely that this won’t happen. It is crucial to concentrate on the crime and not the criminal. You must make sure that your identity is cleared as your top priority.

What can you do?

One way to recover or mitigate the emotional impact of identity theft is to become active in a program that monitors your credentials and, more importantly, provides expert recovery solutions. Some victims discover that having a monitoring solution and a resource recovery expert to turn to is extremely beneficial.

Should you consider professional help?

Some victims may lose their capacity to function and manage day-to-day tasks. Some signs of severe depression include exhaustion, overeating, anxiety, drinking, forgetfulness, and a refusal to leave the house or bed. Waiting until you feel lost at the bottom of a pit is not advisable. Even if you don’t feel overwhelmed, speaking with an expert who focuses on helping crime victims can be very beneficial. This might be a supporter of victims, a spiritual figure, a certified therapist, a psychologist, or a psychiatrist.

Identity fraud is a challenging and sensitive issue. As you can see victims may experience overwhelming emotional pain on many levels and even feel embarrassed. It will take time to clean up the paper trail, but it’s important to recognize the emotional impact of ID Fraud. If you are the victim, make your identity the top priority. If you feel overwhelmed, speaking with an expert who focuses on helping crime victims can be helpful. We at defend-id are always here to help.

defend-id blog

TikTok: A Parental Guide for Protecting Children

Feb 9, 2023 | General, Identity Theft, Uncategorized

As a parent, it's important to be aware of the potential dangers and harmful content on TikTok, a popular social media platform among children. This guide provides information on TikTok parental controls and the reasons why it may be best to keep children off the app....

Artificial Intelligence & Social Engineering: You Need to Know

Feb 8, 2023 | Breach, Identity Theft

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has come a long way, bringing numerous benefits. However, it also has the potential to be used for malicious purposes, especially in social engineering. This article will show you how AI can manipulate people and why it's crucial to be...

3rd Largest Economy – Cybercrime

Feb 2, 2023 | Breach

Cybercrime is the third largest economy in the world, with costs estimated at around $8 trillion globally. This staggering figure highlights the alarming reality of the current digital landscape and the importance of taking cybersecurity measures seriously. The United...

Protecting Employees & Securing Success

Feb 2, 2023 | Uncategorized

In today's fast-paced business world, small business owners face numerous challenges. Challenges include the cost of providing valuable employee benefits while also keeping expenses low. However, with the growing threat of identity theft, it's essential to find a way...

What’s Fully Managed Recovery for Identity Fraud

Jan 25, 2023 | Identity Theft

What is Fully Managed Recovery for identity fraud, and how does it improve the employee's experience? Fully managed identity theft recovery is a service offered by some companies that helps individuals who have been the victims of identity theft. The service typically...

Life Insurance Fraud?

Jan 20, 2023 | healthcare, Identity Theft

Life insurance fraud is a criminal act in which an individual or group of individuals intentionally deceives an insurance company in order to receive a financial benefit or payout from a life insurance policy. This can occur in a variety of ways, from exaggerating or...

« Older Entries

Next Entries »

What is identity theft?

by Brian Thompson | Oct 20, 2022 | General, Identity Theft

What is identity theft?… How common is it? How do identity thieves operate, and which online scams should you watch out for?

Identity theft continues to be the fastest growing crime in America. It’s consistently one of the top consumer complaints. If you are a college student or in the military, you are one of the most targeted populations by thieves.

It’s been known to cost the victim both time and money, as, on average, 100s of hours, many months, and thousands of dollars are spent to resolve each crime. Identity theft has increased because it’s so easy to do and the rewards are so large

Okay, now that we understand the seriousness of the crime, let’s get down to the business of beating it because it’s not going away, but it can be mitigated. Let’s start with a definition.

Identity theft takes many shapes and forms. We’ll condense it to this: Identity theft is when an unauthorized person uses your personal information to access your financial accounts, open new accounts, or commit a crime.

How can your identity be stolen?

From the theft of your personal information while you’re online, to a grab of data off your unattended paperwork, to the robbery of your credit card information, to breached personal information from companies you work with, identity thieves just need some basic information. The outcome can include fraudulent charges, damaged credit, and a drained checking account.

But you can take steps to avoid being a victim. We’re going to list some of the most common scams and how you can take steps to stop an identity thief.

You’ll want to watch out for phishing, pharming, vishing, and smishing. These are the strangely named and commonly used tools for identity thieves. Phishing is an attempt to steal your personal information through email by pretending to be a trustworthy source.
1. For example, say an identity thief sends you an email pretending to be your bank. Your bank’s logo is on the email, and it looks legitimate. The thief asks you to respond with personal information. The best way to avoid being caught in this scam is to never share personal information via email.
Pharming is another type of scam where a hacker installs malicious code on a personal computer or server. This code then redirects clicks you make on a website to another fraudulent website without your knowledge. To avoid pharming before you submit any personal information on a website, look for a padlock symbol on the website and https in the website address.
Vishing attempts to get you to provide personal information over the phone. The thief again pretends to be a legitimate business in need of your personal information to solve a problem for you. You might receive a voice mail asking for your immediate attention. The number provided leads to an automated service asking you to enter personal information. Before you ever give personal information over the phone, make sure you know this is a trusted source.
Smishing uses cell phone text messages to get you to provide personal information. Often, the text will contain a URL or phone number. And again, just like vishing, the smishing message usually asks for your immediate attention. If something is vitally important, it’s unlikely to be sent via text message. Do not respond to smishing messages.
Although these types of identity theft are frequently discussed, the most common way your identity can be stolen is through theft. When we say theft, we mean physically stealing something that belongs to you from right under your nose. This includes stealing your mail or searching through your recycling or trash for statements or documents containing personal information. It can also mean stealing your wallet or purse, and, sometimes, you might not even know that your information has been stolen. Take, for example, skimming.
1. Skimming occurs when a device records your credit card information and sends it to the thief to make unauthorized purchases. It can happen at an ATM or a retail store, anytime someone gets a moment alone with your credit card.
2. Help prevent physical theft by shredding any documents with personal information when they are no longer needed and locking away personal documents. If you’re in a dorm or share housing with other people, consider bringing these personal documents home where they are safer. Also, frequently check your credit and debit card accounts for fraudulent charges. Items with your full social security number, like a social security card, should not be carried in your wallet or purse but instead stored and transported safely.

It may seem like identity theft is everywhere, but if you protect yourself online, on your mobile device, at your mailbox, and always be on-guard for theft, you’ll start fighting the battle against identity theft. And, because identity theft can happen to anyone, everyone should take a few precautions to avoid becoming a victim. Identity Theft Protection is always an option as well. At defend-id we mitigate the risks of identity theft, insure against loss and help you recover fully if it happens to you!

Learn more about identity theft protection:

Preying on People after Hurricane Ian

by Brian Thompson | Oct 11, 2022 | General, Identity Theft

The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) provides tips on how to stay away from con artists who prey on people after natural disasters like Hurricane Ian. Preying on people after hurricane Ian is something we should all be aware of as with any natural disaster.

Disaster victims and those attempting to donate to charities are both targets of scammers.

“First, understand that officials with government disaster assistance agencies do not call or text asking for financial account information and that there is no fee required to apply for or receive disaster assistance from FEMA or the Small Business Administration,” according to the FCC. “Anyone posing as a federal official and asking for money is an imposter.”

Always be suspicious of phone calls that ask for information!

“Remember that phone scams often use spoofing techniques to deliberately falsify the information transmitted to your caller ID display to disguise their identity or make the call appear to be official,” the alert says. “If someone calls claiming to be a government official, hang up and call the number listed on that government agency’s official website. Never reveal any personal information unless you’ve confirmed you’re dealing with a legitimate official. Workers and agents who knock on doors of residences are required to carry official identification and show it upon request, and they may not ask for or accept money.”

You should also speak with your insurance companies directly rather than relying on opportunistic calls, emails, or texts.

“If you get a phone call about an insurance claim or policy, don’t give out any personal information or agree to any payment until you can independently verify that the call is legitimate,” the alert says. “If the caller says they’re from your insurance company, hang up and contact your agent or the company directly using the number on your account statement… Contractors and home improvement companies may also call claiming to be partners with your insurance provider,” the FCC says. “Never give policy numbers, coverage details, or other personal information out to companies with whom you have not entered into a contract. If your state requires licensing, verify that any contractor you are considering is licensed and carries adequate insurance. Many states have online databases you can check.”

Disasters victims and those attempting to donate to charities are both targets of scammers. Never reveal any personal information unless you’ve confirmed you’re dealing with a legitimate official. Preying on people after hurricane Ian is something we should all be aware of as with any natural disaster.

Related: Avoid Ukraine Relief Scams