Beware! Identity Theft is a Real Threat to Those in NJ

Identity theft in our country has reached epic proportions.

You can take every possible precaution and still end up a victim.

Last year alone, Americans lost over 12.5 billion dollars.

According to a report on cloudwards.net, New Jersey ranks 12th in the country at risk of stealing your identity.

NJ Residents Among Most Victimized in the Country

The report says that last year in New Jersey there were, on average, 283 reports of identity theft per 100,000 people.

While that's down 9% from the previous year, it is still very high.

By comparison, the state where people have the least risk of becoming a victim of identity theft, Tennessee has a rate of 185 reports per 100,000 people.

The state with the highest risk of identity theft is the District of Columbia with 478 reports per 100,000 people.

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If you become a victim of identity theft, it isn't just a pain in the neck, it could have devasting financial consequences.

While there's no foolproof way to protect yourself, there are things you can do to reduce your risk.

Sadly, many times the scammers target elderly people who are less likely to understand how they can be victimized online.  It's important to have that talk with them to help keep them safe.

Ways to Prevent Becoming a Victim of Identity Theft

• Never respond or click on anything in your inbox from people or companies you don't know.  These emails can look like legit messages from companies you normally do business with.  Clicking a link is akin to opening your door to burglars and letting them empty your home.
• Be aware of your surroundings when using your debit card.  Danger is lurking everywhere.  Scammers will peek at your password.  Also, use a debit card with tap technology.  This helps protect against card readers.
• Be careful what you share on social.  We all share too much and you'd be surprised how much that information helps those looking to scam you.
• Shred important documents and cards when you are done with them.
• Scammers will call you pretending to have official business.  They're good at what they do. NEVER give information over the phone to people calling you.

I can't stress this enough, talk to your parents and warn them.

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If you want to witness how some of these insidious schemes work, I suggest you check out the Scammer Payback videos on YouTube.  It will blow your mind.

Source:  Identity Theft by State: Most & Least Dangerous in 2024 (cloudwards.net)