You’ve probably come across the term identity theft. But what about criminal identity theft? What does it mean? Criminal identity theft refers to a crime where a thief impersonates another person when caught committing a crime. The thief uses an individual's personally identifiable information, including full name, driver's license number, Social Security number and [...]
Internet protocol address, aka an IP address, is a unique number assigned to every computer and device that connects to the web so they can communicate with each other and share information. You can think of your IP address as a unique identifying label for your computer or device on the internet. It’s important [...]
If you’re planning a vacation around the country, traveling has never been easier, especially with so many rideshare opportunities available to make it easy to get around. Apps like Uber and LYFT are highly accessible and easy to use. Many people rely on them, but it’s important to know that ride sharing apps are associated [...]
If attending the biggest sporting events, festivals and concerts is a big part of your vacation plans, it can be a bummer to find out that the ticket deal you scored is a scam. After all, you are making a hefty investment to be there, which you know after budgeting out your vacation. And it [...]
Pretty much everyone uses email. It’s part of your daily life. But what do you do if your email address is found on the dark web? People might be trying to access your accounts. Unfortunately, the dark web is where you can find a number of criminals and cybercriminals trying to break into your accounts [...]
It's natural to feel sleepless, worried and anxious once you realize you've become a victim of identity theft. You might wonder what to do. You might also wonder if you should report the identity theft to police. Here’s help in finding out if you should report identity theft to your local police department. When Should [...]
Everyone has a lot on their plates these days, so it’s understandably easier now more than ever to misplace things – and to have a moment of panic when you think you’ve misplaced something important. Many people might experience that clutch of anxiety over the feeling that they’ve lost their wallets. If you’re lucky, you [...]
Home title theft is a kind of crime that involves stealing the legal right to a property, such as your home. This can happen when someone steals your identity and uses it to fraudulently take over the title on your property. It's a growing problem that can have devastating effects on homeowners and their financial [...]
When it comes to identity theft, young adults are a primary target. Students are four times more likely to be targets of fraud that can go undetected for years compared to other consumers. In fact, 15% of students deal with severe or moderate impacts from fraud, according to a report from Tulane University. Criminals can [...]
Your iPhone is ancient, your laptop is malfunctioning, and your tablet is due for an upgrade. Of course, there comes a time for everyone to toss their old tech and level up to the latest version. But before trashing your old tech, make sure you don’t leave your personal information out there for the taking. [...]
Employees are a company’s most valuable asset. According to Consumer Affairs, between 2019 and 2020, there was a 311% rise in identity theft victims. An employer can help keep their employees safe by providing identity theft protection. Identity theft protection as an employee benefit protects employees and protects the employer. Here’s why identity theft monitoring [...]
Have you ever had a delivery guy knock on your door and wonder if there's yet another package you impulsively added to the cart and then forgot about? Well, you might be receiving a product you never ordered. Instead of it being the delivery website's fault, it's likely that you might be a part of [...]
Times of tragedy often bring out acts of charity. But unfortunately, they also bring out scammers hell-bent on exploiting the situation. And the Russian-Ukraine War is no different. As Russia continues to invade Ukraine, more and more Ukrainians are getting displaced, and millions are fleeing the country. So, it makes sense for people to [...]
A boss scam is a phishing (email) or smishing (text messages) scam used by hackers. Hackers send fraudulent emails or texts in the boss scam, impersonating your boss or another executive. Information gathered through such scams can then be used for illegal activities and identity theft. The Better Business Bureau has warned the public [...]
According to recent reports, identity theft is on the rise. Javelin Strategy reported identity theft resulted in an annual loss of $56 million in a mixed result of different criminal and fraudulent activities last year. When it comes to keeping your business database secure, there can be numerous challenges. If you are worried about your [...]
SIM swapping, also called SIM splitting or hijacking, is a technique employed by online fraudsters to gain access to, seize and control a victim's phone number and SIM information. They gain access to the victim’s identity and information through their phone company and use the information to conduct theft and other fraudulent activities online. Recently, [...]
As annoying as software updates are on your phone, they are necessary to help protect you. With every update that you get, your phone's performance can improve. On the other hand, ignoring these updates can make your phone slow, hang frequently and be incompatible with different apps and software. It can also make your [...]
Tax season is here, and it’s essential to watch out for common tax scams. The IRS reports that in the last nine years tax scams have cost victims more than $23 million. Here are two scams to be aware of and a few tips for how you can help avoid them. Phone Scams A phone [...]
If you have browsed the internet recently, you know about the cookie notifications that websites are now required to show. These notifications show up due to the General Data Protection Regulation, which was passed as part of the European Data Protection and Privacy Law. With the increased number of websites showing these notifications, you may [...]
Ransomware is one of the most common types of cyberattacks. With how vastly the internet has become embedded in our day-to-day lives, cyberattacks such as ransomware can cause costly disruptions. According to the Harvard Business Review, the amount of money paid to ransomware hackers increased by 300% from 2020 to 2021. This is after ransomware [...]
Your driver’s license has your personal information. So, that means it can be the perfect tool for identity thieves. The Identity Theft Resource Center states that the driver’s licenses of more than 150 million U.S. citizens have been compromised in the last four years. Unfortunately, the threat of identity fraud through your driver’s license is [...]
Have you ever received a call to update your car warranty, but you have no car? Did the message sound like a recording? Well, that’s a robocall or an automated call. A robocall is a pre-recorded message delivered by a computerized dialer. These calls are often associated with telemarketing companies and political parties. But, scammers [...]
Gift cards can make for great gifts. They show your loved ones that you know their interests and give them the option to pick something of their own choice. They're an ideal gift for the upcoming holiday celebrations because they're an excellent way to work around product shortages and shipping delays. Problems with the supply [...]
Would you believe that incidents of identity fraud increased by more than 40% from 2019 to 2020? A report created by GIACT titled U.S. Identity Theft: The Stark Reality found financial loss related to identity theft rose by approximately 42% in 2020. With that huge increase, how can you protect yourself? The answer is education [...]
If you thought fake check scams were a thing of the past, think again. It’s true that many people no longer write checks or do so infrequently. However, that hasn’t stopped criminals from using fake checks to separate victims from their hard-earned money. According to a recent Better Business Bureau report, the average loss in [...]
