11.5 - Identity Theft

Which of the following is TRUE about identity theft trends in the U.S.?

• The number of reported identity thefts has been declining over the past decade

• Identity theft occurs to people of all ages, even children

• The most common type of identity theft is bank fraud

• Identity theft most often targets the elderly

What is the #1 type of identity theft?

• Credit card fraud

• Bank fraud

• Real Estate Fraud

• Utility Fraud

Choose the strategies that will NOT help you protect yourself from identity theft

• Shred any documents that contain personal or financial information before throwing them away

• Passcode protect or install safety apps on your cell phone

• Use the same password for all of your accounts

• Never conduct banking or online shopping on a public wifi network

Phishing is the fraudulent attempt to obtain sensitive information such as usernames, passwords and credit card details through an electronic format. What is a precaution you can take against phishing scams?

• Never include your first and last name in an email

• Always check the sender's email address for accuracy

• Send personal or financial information via email

• Use the same email address for 6 months and then delete it and signup for a new one

Which of these is the BEST step to take after realizing your financial information may have been exposed while out shopping?

• Dial 911 and report an emergency with the police department

• Cancel all your credit cards and close your bank accounts

• Call all the stores you visited to ask if they saw anyone or anything suspicious

• Put a freeze on your credit and file an identity theft report with the FTC

Which financial document/item should you NOT worry about shredding before throwing away?

• An expired credit or debit card

• Your monthly bank statement

• A receipt from a cash transaction

• A credit card bill with your full name and address

Before putting personal or financial information online, how do you know if a website is secure?

• All websites are secure so it is always okay to put your personal and financial information online

• A pop up will appear stating "SECURE WEBSITE"

• The URL will change to https://

• A secure website always requires you to login with a username and password