You work hard to protect your identity. You're cautious about sharing personal information, you regularly change your passwords, and you keep an eye on your credit report. But despite your diligence, there's a form of identity theft that's becoming increasingly prevalent and is notoriously difficult to detect -- synthetic identity theft. Understanding this growing [...]
With the internet, we can access vast amounts of information with only a click or tap. This year, the total number of internet users worldwide reached 5.18 billion, nearly two-thirds of the world’s population. And as immense as the internet is, so are the risks. To make sure that your time spent online is enjoyable [...]
Understanding the Importance of Your Social Security Number Social Security Numbers (SSNs) are unique identifying numbers assigned to U.S. citizens and eligible residents. Your SSN is used to identify you with a wide variety of third-party organizations, from government agencies to businesses. Criminals who gain access to your SSN may use it to steal your [...]
Child identity theft is a significant problem in the US. A recent report by Javelin Strategy & Research, sponsored by AARP, found that 915,000 children, or 1 in 80, were victims of identity theft in the past year. Additionally, 1 in 43 children were affected by a data breach from July 2021 to [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
Every day, criminals scour the internet for personal information they can use to commit fraud and identity theft. In this digital age, individuals need to take steps to protect their privacy and information from fraudsters. This is as true for children as it is for adults, as kids can be victims of identity theft well [...]
According to the Federal Reserve, synthetic identity theft is one of the fastest growing forms of identity theft in the country. Synthetic identity theft occurs when a criminal uses a combination of real and falsified data to create a fictional identity for financial gain and other fraud. Children are particularly appealing victims for synthetic [...]
Child identity theft is becoming a serious and costly problem that can affect families long after their children become adults. In fact, more than a million children were affected by identity theft and it cost families more than $540 million out of pocket in 2017 alone. Do you feel confident spotting the signs of child [...]
The internet is an amazing source of information, but it also contains many unique threats. One important concern in the digital age is online privacy; thieves, hackers, and other criminals may be trying to access your data and information for their own personal gain. Kids are just as vulnerable as adults (if not more so), [...]
Criminals with a lot of time on their hands are committing a con that can take years to pay off and sounds like something out of the future: Synthetic identity fraud. Instead of the traditional identity theft of stealing an existing identity from someone and posing as them, synthetic identity fraud criminals create a new [...]
The parental refrain “Do what I say and not what I do” isn’t a wise one in many respects, but especially when it comes to financial talks with your kids. Parents lead by example and if you’re racking up credit card debt you can’t afford, then you may be teaching them bad money habits. Such [...]
Children are just as vulnerable to identity theft as adults, but they don’t have access to the same system of checks and alerts. By falsifying birth dates, thieves can use your child’s Social Security number to open credit cards, take out loans, apply for government benefits, and more. When it’s done to a child, identity [...]
