Press Release
☷FBI Springfield Highlights Identity Theft Awareness Week January 29 February 2
Federal Bureau of Investigation ( By Press Release office)
Jan 27,2024
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[SPRINGFIELD]—Your personal information is highly valued by criminals . The FBI calls this PII , or Personally Identifiable Information . During Identity Theft Awareness Week , FBI Springfield is reminding people of the importance of protecting your personal information . PII theft can occur through phone calls , emails , malicious websites , text messages , social media or accidentally exposing your information in a public place . Even something as simple as your phone number in the hands of a bad actor can be enough to piece together enough information to steal your identity . When a business or organization experiences a breach ( albeit one that is beyond your control ) , these stolen credentials can be sold online . This information allows criminals to take out loans , open financial accounts and lines of credit , or file fraudulent health care claims in your name . “Stay strong in protecting your personal information , ” said FBI Springfield Special Agent in Charge David Nanz . "Taking extra steps to keep personal information private can be the difference between gaining power or feeling threatened . " Victims in Illinois lost $4 . 8 million to identity theft in 2022 , according to the FBI ' s Internet Crime Complaint Center . Here are steps to protect yourself from identity theft: Do not disclose personal information over the phone , mail , or over the Internet/email unless you proactively contact and are sure you are dealing with a trustworthy organization or individual . To verify requests for personal information from any business or financial institution , contact them via the primary contact information on their official website . Do not open , respond to , or click on links contained in unsolicited emails or texts . Use strong and different passwords to protect bank accounts , credit accounts , and other accounts that contain anything of value . Change passwords and check accounts regularly . Limit personal information shared publicly on social networking sites . Obtain and check your credit reports from the three credit bureaus regularly to make sure you identify all accounts . If your PII is lost or exposed , the following steps can help mitigate the damage: Check your credit report at www . annualcreditreport . com . You can order a free report each year from these three credit reporting companies . Consider placing a credit freeze or fraud alert on your credit report . If the company responsible for disclosing your information offers you free credit monitoring , take advantage of it . Monitor all bank , credit card and insurance statements for fraudulent transactions . If you suspect or discover fraudulent activity , please contact your bank or insurance provider , report the crime to law enforcement , and file a complaint with www . IC3 . gov .
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