In the rush to fill our homes with intelligent devices ranging from voice-activated assistants to connected coffee cups to smart TVs, we seem oblivious to the security risks. These smart devices could be used as spy tools, opening doors for cybercriminals to steal...
IDShield Blog
Explore our blog for the latest news, advice, and more across the world of identity theft protection.
Identity Theft
What is Criminal Identity Theft?
Criminal identity theft happens when someone who is cited or arrested for a crime uses someone else’s personal information as ID. The result: a criminal record now exists in the name of the person whose ID was hijacked. This can have all sorts of repercussions, and...
What is Synthetic Identity Theft?
Synthetic identity theft occurs when a fraudster combines real and fake personal information to create a new identity—as opposed to stealing an existing one. A thief can use a real Social Security number combined with a fake name and date of birth to ‘Frankenstein’...
The Tax Identity Theft Description You Need to Stay Safe
Updated Dec. 7, 2023 According to the FTC, since the pandemic, tax-related identity theft has risen 45% since the pre-pandemic years. And by May of 2023, the IRS had already flagged more than 1 million returns for potential identity theft. Imagine this: You work hard...
Employment-Related Identity Theft
What is employment identity theft? Employment identity theft is when someone steals another person’s identity and uses it to get a job or pass a background check. Some experts say that it’s the most prevalent form of identity theft out there. When it comes to scams,...
How to Report Identity Theft to Credit Bureaus
The rule “thou shalt not steal” is ignored by cybercriminals. Unfortunately, identity theft is a booming business - it’s up by over 400% since 2010. The most common form of identity theft is when people use someone’s Social Security numbers and other personal...
How Common is Identity Theft?
Identity theft is when someone steals your Personal Identifiable Information and uses it for criminal activity. It’s one of the fastest growing crimes in the world. Just how common is identity theft in the US? The answer: common indeed. It’s increased by over 400%...
How to Report Identity Theft to the Police
If you have been the victim of identity theft, you will undoubtedly want to report it as soon as possible to prevent further damage to your credit and good name. But to who? Your first stop should be the Federal Trade Commission, which is the primary law enforcement...
What Are the Types of Identity Theft?
Identity theft is a serious business, and business is booming. Nearly 42 million Americans were victims of identity fraud in 2021, up a staggering 79% over 2020. As every aspect of your life goes digital, your personal information lives on hundreds, if not thousands...
What is PII and What Does PII Include?
Personally Identifiable Information (PII) is unique information that can be used to link to an individual’s identity. In some cases, stolen PII can help identity thieves fraudulently access someone else’s identity. PII can include your full name, date of birth, and...
How Long Does it Take to Fix Identity Theft?
Identity theft can take up to 18 months to resolve on your own. The most recent statistics are alarming. 23 million people, or about 9% of U.S. residents over 16, have been identity theft victims. For 90% of them, the most recent incident involved the misuse, or...
Be Aware, Be Prepared: Prevent An Identity Thief From Renting Housing Using Your Name
Updated December 8, 2023 Why would another individual rent living space in your name? There are multiple answers to that question, and none of them bode well for anyone victimized by a scheme in which a scam artist holds their identity details and intends to maximize...
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