Don’t Fear Fraud – Fight It!
by Dorian BurrGovernment Analyst I, Florida Department of Financial Services, Division of Consumer Services
With the 2017 Equifax data breach affecting 143 million Americans, the realities of cyber-crime and fraud can no longer be ignored. What some may consider “yesterday’s news” is becoming a common occurrence, and no one is immune. I have a personal stake in the fight against fraud, and I choose to fight it, rather than fear it.
While fraud is an international problem that can sometimes seem too big to fight on our own, we can begin on a personal level by being informed. We can be proactive by regularly checking in with local, state, and federal government agencies that post up-to-date, reliable information about frauds and scams.
The Florida Department of Financial Services’ Division of Consumer Services has a Consumer Alerts page that is updated regularly. Other online resources include the Federal Trade Commission Consumer Information, USA.gov, and the Florida Office of the Attorney General. Becoming more knowledgeable about fraud can keep you from falling victim to it and help you keep others safe.
Vigilance is an important aspect to remaining safe from fraudsters. The Division of Consumer Services has posted the following steps you can take:
- Actively monitor your credit report for any suspicious activity or new lines of credit opened in your name. Free credit reports can be obtained from each credit reporting bureau – Equifax, Experian and Transunion – at www.AnnualCreditReport.com. Download a credit report every four months so you can monitor them throughout the year.
- Dispute in writing any accounts that you deem unauthorized or suspicious. The FTC Consumer Information website gives you step-by-step instructions on how to do this.
- Monitor your bank accounts and credit card statements to ensure no fraudulent activity has occurred. If you see unauthorized charges, dispute them with the company immediately. Visit https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0219-disputing-credit-card-charges for assistance.
- Do not disclose any sensitive information to unsolicited callers claiming to represent your bank, credit card company, or the IRS. These legitimate organizations will not cold-call you and request personal or financial information over the phone. Hang up and call a phone number that you know to be associated with the company. If the person on the other end is legitimate, they will encourage you to do so.
- You may wish to place a credit freeze on your credit report, which will eliminate anyone from opening a new account in your name. You can also request a credit alert, which ensures you are contacted if anyone tries to open a new account in your name.
Fraud can happen to anyone, even after precautions are taken. It is our job to make it as difficult as possible for the bad guys to scheme us out of our hard-earned money and personal information.
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