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Typical identity theft scams targeting the elderly Identity thieves target seniors over the telephone, looking to gain their trust to gain personal and financial data that can be used to commit fraud.
What is the largest age group targeted for identity theft?
In 2020, the most targeted age group for identity theft were 30 to 39 year olds, among whom 306,090 cases were reported to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in the United States. The second most targeted age group were those aged 40 to 49, with 302,678 cases of identity theft reported.
Who is a target for identity theft?
Consumers between the ages of 40 and 69 are reporting identity theft at higher rates, suggesting a growing awareness of this crime—and vulnerability.
Is identity theft mainly a problem for senior citizens?
Seniors are vulnerable to identity theft scams because often they are more trusting, have more savings and home equity built up, and are less likely to closely monitor their credit and financial accounts.
Why do fraudsters often target the elderly?
Unfortunately, elderly individuals are the most frequent targets of fraud scams. Fraudsters target the elderly, as they may be lonely, willing to listen and are more trusting than younger individuals. Many fraud schemes against the elderly are performed over the telephone, door-to-door or through advertisements.
What puts you at risk for identity theft?
You use the same simple password for multiple online accounts. Security experts agree that using weak passwords is one of the most common bad habits that puts consumers at high risk for identity theft. Shockingly, “password” and “123456” are still among the most popular passcodes.
What populations are most impacted by identity theft?
Overall, 33 percent of U.S. adults have experienced identity theft, which is more than twice the global average. More than one in four older adults, aged 55 and over, have experienced identity theft. One in five victims of identity theft have experienced it more than once.
How can I check to see if someone is using my Social Security number?
To see if your Social Security number is being used by someone else for employment purposes, review your Social Security Statement at www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount to look for suspicious activity. Finally, you’ll want to use additional scrutiny by regularly checking your bank and credit card accounts online.
Who are the victims of identity theft?
Who are the victims of Identity Theft? Victims of identity theft include people of all ages, societal, educational, and economic backgrounds.
Who gets their identity stolen?
Potential Victims of ID Theft Anyone can experience identity theft. Children and seniors are both vulnerable to ID theft. Child ID theft may go undetected for many years. Victims may not know until they’re adults, applying for their own loans.
What would keep an elderly person from reporting identity theft?
In fact, many senior victims of identity theft either don’t know how to report the crime or don’t do so out of embarrassment. They also might refrain from reporting the crime because the thief could be someone they know (and trusted), like a relative or a medical professional.
How can the elderly protect from identity theft?
How to Prevent Senior Identity Theft Add contact information of family members, close friends, health providers or anyone who might call regularly. If you don’t recognize a phone number, let it go to voicemail. Don’t be afraid to hang up. Remember that government agencies send letters about important information.
Why do people steal from elderly?
“They steal to ease fears about their financial status in the future and fear of impending doom. They may escape getting caught but they may punish themselves with high levels of guilt.” For older people who feel neglected by their children, stealing may be a way of getting attention.
How many seniors get scammed a year?
A total of 105,301 people over the age of 65 were scammed, with an average loss of $9,175, and almost 2,000 older Americans lost more than $100,000, the report said. By far, the elderly were being extorted the most, with just over 23,000 victims, the FBI found.
What happens if I get scammed?
If you’ve been scammed, consider reporting the fraud to the police to see if they can take any action, as well as to your state consumer protection office. You can also report scams to the FTC. File a report online with the FTC, or by phone at (877) 382-4357.
When should I worry about identity theft?
Other things that could be warning signs that your identity has been stolen include: Statements or bills for accounts you never opened arriving in the mail. Statements or bills for legitimate accounts not showing up. You’re unexpectedly denied credit.
What are the signs of identity theft?
9 warning signs of identity theft Unfamiliar login alerts. Unable to access your Apple ID. Mysterious changes in your credit score. Suspicious activity on your financial records. Being billed for strange medical procedures. Denial of health coverage. Denial for a loan or credit. Denial of a tax refund.
What are the four types of identity theft?
The four types of identity theft include medical, criminal, financial and child identity theft.
What is the most common method used to steal your identity?
The most common way an identity thief can acquire information from a person is from stealing their purse or wallet and an identity thief may take a person’s personal information from the internet.
What are five things that you should do to protect your identity?
The Top 10 Ways to Protect Your Identity Keep your mail safe. Read your account statements. Check your credit reports. Shred! Store personal documents at home. Be wary of unknown phone calls and emails. Create difficult logins and passwords. Use one credit card for online shopping.
How often are identity thieves caught?
5. Are identity thieves ever caught? Identity theft statistics for 2020 are not available yet; however, 2006 research showed that federal authorities arrest only 0.14% of the criminals (one person in 700 identity theft suspects). In contrast, nearly 45% of violent crime and 16% of property crime suspects were arrested.
