VIDEO CONSUMER ALERT: AG Moody Issues Tips for Floridians to Avoid Fraud During National Identity Theft Awareness Week

View PDF
Release Date
Jan 29, 2024
Contact
Kylie Mason
Phone
(850) 245-0150

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Ashley Moody is issuing a Consumer Alert during National Identity Theft Awareness Week with tips for Floridians to avoid fraud. The Federal Trade Commission received more than 1.1 million reports nationwide of identity theft in 2022. The FTC also reports that consumers lost nearly $8.8 billion to fraud in 2022, a 30% increase over the previous year. 

Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “Identity theft affects millions of Americans every year and can cause extreme hardship for victims. During National Identity Theft Awareness Week, I am issuing tips for Floridians to safeguard their information and avoid fraud.”

Attorney General Moody offers these tips to help Floridians avoid falling victim to identity theft:

  • Exercise Caution Online: Be cautious when sharing personal information online by ensuring websites are secure and reputable before providing any sensitive data. Create complex passwords and consider using two-factor authentication for added security on online accounts;
  • Secure Personal Information: Shred documents containing personal details like Social Security numbers and financial information before discarding;
  • Monitor Financial Statements: Regularly review bank statements, credit card bills and financial accounts for unauthorized transactions or suspicious activities; and
  • Consider Credit-Monitoring Services: Explore options for credit-monitoring services that can provide alerts for any suspicious activities related to your credit profile.

For more information on how to avoid identity thieves, or steps to take if personal information is stolen, view Attorney General Moody’s Scams at a Glance: Identity Theft resource by clicking here.

The FTC’s Consumer.gov website contains a comprehensive guide explaining what identity theft is, how to recognize when fraud occurs and what to do if fallen victim.

Anyone who encounters identity theft should report it to local law enforcement and to the FTC online at IdentityTheft.gov or by calling 1(877) 438-4338.

# # #

The Florida Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division issues Consumer Alerts to inform Floridians of emerging scams, new methods used to commit fraud, increased reports of common scams, or any other deceptive practice. Consumer Alerts are designed to notify Floridians about scams and available refunds in an effort to prevent financial losses or other harm caused by deceptive practices. Anyone encountering a scam should report the incident to the Florida Attorney General's Office by calling 1(866) 9NO-SCAM or visiting MyFloridaLegal.com.