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Identity Theft Awareness Week starts next Monday but if you’re an early bird, check out a special free webinar tomorrow and get a jump on the week’s events.

Experts from the Department of Veterans Affairs, United States Postal Inspection Service, and Federal Trade Commission will discuss privacy and identity theft issues important to all of us, and also issues that directly impact veterans and their families. The virtual panel discussion, Evolving Identity Theft Tactics & Protections, is set for Tuesday, January 25, at 1-2 p.m. ET. Join us using this link.

We hope you’ll also join us for Identity Theft Awareness Week, January 31-Februray 4, as the FTC and its partners host free webinars, podcasts, and other events. You’ll learn how to detect identity theft, help protect against it, and recover if identity theft occurs. And every day next week you’ll find a blog post here, covering a trending identity theft topic.

Identity theft can happen to anyone — but tell your friends and family that, next week, they can join the FTC and its partners to spot, avoid, and protect themselves. And if identity theft happens to you, please visit IdentityTheft.gov, the government’s one-stop resource for reporting and recovering from identity theft.

We hope to see you during Identity Theft Awareness Week to share information about how identity thieves operate, and how to lower your risk. Keep up with the events at ftc.gov/idtheftweek and follow along on social media: #idtheftweek.

Topics
Identity Theft and Online Security
Identity Theft
JLPump
January 24, 2022
I was a victim of identity theft that I discovered after bank accounts were opened in my name at a bank I do not have a relationship with and intro checks for that account were sent to me. Due to some other suspicious activity around the same time, believe the accounts were opened as part of a fraudulent attempt to apply for government unemployment and other benefits under my identity and have the funds deposited in the fraudulent banking accounts. I reported to the FTC and filed a police report and notified one of the credit bureaus (Experian) with documents so an extended seven year fraud alert could be placed on my file. Experian put the seven year alert on my file but Equifax did not and I have no idea if Transunion did or not although notifying one bureau is supposed to be adequate for a fraud alert on my file at all three credit bureaus. Instead of just placing the alert based on the Experian notification, Equifax is demanding all kinds of documentation and time consuming work on my part. As far as Transunion goes, I have been unable to get through their recorded phone barriers to find out if these is an alert on my file or not.
FTC Staff
January 28, 2022

In reply to by JLPump

You can report a problem with a credit reporting company to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), a government agency that helps people banks, lenders, and other financial companies.

After you contact the businesses where the theft occured, you can report identity theft at IdentityTheft.gov and create an Identity Theft Report. The Report shows businesses that the theft occured, and gives you certain rights. 

Willyr60
January 24, 2022
Yes I will defiteley attend! this topic and everything about this has happened to me several times but I'd like to know more and learn more ways to protect myself from identity theft as well as credit/debit card fraud!
Shari
January 25, 2022
Today I received a call from someone concerning my "bank account", She asked if I was who I was then asked me what my account number was, I said "no, I'm not giving you that information". Then she asked for my social security number I said " no, I'm not giving you that information either". Then she asked for my birthday, I told her what it was and she wanted to know who was my bank. I said "my pocket and you're trying to get in there which you have no business in it...Happy new year" I hung up. I refuse to give out any personal business other than my birthday. You never know who/what's calling you. Never give personal info to anyone!
DeeDee
January 25, 2022
Well I just texted most of my family, emailed others, then put it on my Twitter. This is a really good thing! To have people hear how identity theft happens, and what to do to prevent it, or at least reduce the possibility, is priceless. I hope everybody I told about this takes the hour to pay attention to it. Thank you FTC! I work a job where I'm serving the public. We have many elderly, and I worry about them. For the 14 years I've worked there, I've come to love so many of them, and it scares me to think they could fall victim. I often tell as many people about being careful regarding ID theft as I can. I don't care how crazy I sound either. It's real, it's horrible, and it destroys lives. I'm a huge advocate for keeping the vulnerable safe from being ripped off.
FTC Staff
January 25, 2022

In reply to by DeeDee

DeeDee -- Thanks so much for telling your friends and family about the panel discussion and warning people about identity theft.

The FTC has free bookmarks and brochures about identity theft - and many other topics - at ftc.gov/bulkorder. We count on advocates like you to share the advice and help protect people in their communities. We also have a series of fact sheets about frauds that affect older adults in the Pass It On campaign. There are many choices!

Laura
January 27, 2022
I am so glad that I saw this Identity Theft Awareness that is scheduled for next week! I will join in and obtain as much information as possible! For the first time today I was alerted by my credit card company who monitors my social security number that my social security number was found on the dark web. I have been already freezing my credit on all three credit bureau’s as I here that fraudulent activity has been on the rise, however, I feel so violated and I want to do everything I can do to protect myself from identity theft or any other theft! Is there anything you recommend I do right away? Thank you so much!
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