The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) provides valuable advice on safeguarding personal information during natural disasters, especially as incidents of identity theft increase.
Following these tips is crucial to avoid unauthorized use of sensitive data. Identity theft is rising in the United States, with more than 1.1 million Americans reporting it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in 2022.
Protecting Personal Information: A Guide for Business | Federal Trade Commission (ftc.gov)
After monitoring consumer issues, including identity theft, for over three decades, senior project manager Colleen Tressler found that fraud and scams frequently arise during specific emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and climate-related catastrophes, taking advantage of human vulnerability.
According to Tressler, impostors will try to obtain your personal and financial information in any way they can. They use various tactics, such as relating it to topics like COVID or the weather. Tressler advises caution, especially for those who are emotional after experiencing a wildfire or hurricane, as impostors may try to ask for identifying details. Scammers may pose as utility companies or FEMA employees and ask to “verify information.”
When someone uses that phrase, demand an explanation of your need and immediately contact the company or agency for verification,”
Tressler strongly recommended.
.llllllñ-.-An example of such information is your Federal Student Aid ID or password, which neither your student loan servicer nor the Department of Education will ever request. Stay alert and protect your data. You don’t have to pay a third party to contact your administrator. The Federal Student Aid website guides how to avoid online identity theft.
It is also pervasive for identity theft to occur during tax season or when re-enrolling in Medicare.
“Your money and your identity, which is just as valuable, are being targeted by scammers,”
she warned.
If you suspect your personal information has been compromised, do not wait to see the consequences and go to Dapango.tech Not only do we have services that guarantee you comply with federal regulations, but we also have an efficient disaster recovery plan and security services. Cybersecurity prevents this situation from happening again.
