This Identity Theft Prevention and Awareness Month, state Attorney General Ashley Moody issued a Consumer Alert to help Floridians protect personal information.
The Federal Trade Commission reports that identity theft is the leading source of fraud in Florida, accounting for 27 percent of all fraud reports in 2022. Moody offered the following tips and resources to help Floridians avoid falling victim.
Moody said, “Identity theft can have devastating effects on individuals causing financial troubles that can last years. During Identity Theft Prevention and Awareness Month, we are providing Floridians with resources and information to help them secure their sensitive data and stay one step ahead of fraudsters.”
An investigation by the FTC showed that Florida fraud losses totaled more than $331 million in 2021. The average amount of money lost to a Florida victim of identity theft or fraud that year equated to more than $530 per person.
The most common types of identity theft affecting Floridians are:
Credit Card Fraud: When a third party takes credit information and makes purchases or steals funds;
Loan or Lease Fraud: Involving the production of false documentation to purchase assets and financing the purchases with monies obtained under falsified finance application documents;
Government Documents or Benefits Fraud: Where a scammer intentionally claims benefits they are not entitled to; and
Bank Fraud: A thief using a financial institution or its services for personal gain.
Moody offered these tips to help Floridians prevent identity theft:
Guard Personal Information: Be cautious about sharing sensitive information online or over the phone, and only provide such information if absolutely necessary;
Monitor Financial Statements: Regularly review bank statements, credit card statements and other financial records for any unauthorized or suspicious transactions;
Use Strong Passwords: Create unique passwords for online accounts and update them regularly—consider two-factor authentication;
Be Wary of Phishing: Avoid clicking on links of unsolicited emails, calls or messages—verify the legitimacy of a request before providing any information; and
Shred Sensitive Documents: Shred documents containing personal information before disposal.
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