What are the most common scams targeting seniors right now?

Phone-based vishing and fake tech-support calls, romance scams, phishing texts and emails, SIM-swapping, fake Wi-Fi "evil twin" networks, check washing, and title or deed fraud by mail are among the most commonly reported.

How can I tell if a phone call is a scam?

A legitimate agency or business will never demand immediate payment by gift card or wire transfer, ask you to stay on the line while you go to the bank, or ask you to confirm your full Social Security number over the phone. Hang up and call the organization back on a number you look up yourself.

What is vishing, and how is it different from regular phishing?

Vishing is phishing carried out by voice call rather than email or text. A caller impersonates a bank, government agency or tech company to pressure you into revealing personal information or moving money quickly.

How do I protect against identity theft and SIM-swapping?

Freeze your credit with the three major bureaus, set up a PIN or passcode with your mobile carrier so a SIM cannot be transferred without it, and watch for your phone suddenly losing signal — that can be the first sign of a SIM swap in progress.

What should I do if I think I've been scammed?

Contact your bank or card issuer immediately, file a report at reportfraud.ftc.gov and with local police, and change any passwords that may have been exposed. Acting quickly gives you the best chance of stopping or reversing a transaction.

Does Fred Flamer speak publicly about senior scam prevention?

Yes — Fred gives talks on senior cybersecurity and fraud prevention for community groups, libraries and senior centers. Reach out through the contact links on this site to inquire about a speaking engagement.

Identity Theft · seniorsecured.org

Identity Theft

Information on Identity Theft and how to protect against it

Fred Flamer· August 23, 2026· 3 min read

By Fred Flamer

"Identity Theft" is definitely on the rise. And when you stop and think about it, why wouldn't it be?

We live in an increasingly digital society where more and more transactions can be conducted without ever being physically present. Criminals no longer need to steal your wallet to steal your identity. In many cases, they simply need enough personal information to pretend to be you. By obtaining usernames, passwords, Social Security numbers, dates of birth, driver's license numbers, and other sensitive information, criminals can open fraudulent accounts, apply for loans, make purchases, file false tax returns, or commit a variety of other crimes in your name.

What really pains me is realizing that, despite our best efforts, most of our personal information has likely been compromised to some degree already.

Over the years, there have been several massive data breaches involving major organizations. Some of the most notable include Equifax (a real biggie), Anthem, Yahoo, T-Mobile, Capital One, and many others. These breaches exposed the personal information of millions of Americans, including names, addresses, Social Security numbers, account information, and, in some cases, sensitive healthcare records.

So where does all of this stolen information go?

Much of it is packaged, bought, sold, and traded clandestinely on the dark web among criminal organizations, unethical data brokers, and malicious individuals. What is particularly unsettling is that criminals do not always use stolen information immediately. Sometimes they sit on it for months or even years, waiting for the right opportunity.

They may quietly monitor your digital footprint, gather additional information, and then strike when your guard is down.

This reality highlights the enormous responsibility that organizations, businesses, and institutions have when it comes to protecting the information entrusted to them. A criminal armed with your name, address, date of birth, driver's license number, and even the last four digits of your Social Security number can potentially cause significant financial and emotional damage.

While we cannot completely eliminate the risk of identity theft, there are several things we can do to make ourselves much harder targets.

Ways to Protect Yourself from Identity Theft

• Use strong, unique passwords for all sensitive accounts.

• Enable Multifactor Authentication (MFA) whenever available.

• Be cautious about sharing personally identifiable information (PII), whether online, over the phone, or in person.

• Monitor bank accounts, credit card statements, retirement accounts, and healthcare insurance statements regularly for suspicious activity.

• Review your credit reports periodically and consider placing a credit freeze with the major credit bureaus.

• Keep computers, smartphones, tablets, and software updated with the latest security patches.

• Limit the amount of personal information you share online, including birthdays, addresses, travel plans, pet names, family information, and other details that criminals can use to answer security questions.

• Secure sensitive documents and shred paperwork containing Social Security numbers, account numbers, medical information, or other confidential data before disposal.

• Store passports, tax records, identity documents, and other important paperwork in a secure location.

• Be suspicious of unsolicited emails, phone calls, text messages, and social media messages requesting personal information.

Identity theft can happen to anyone. The good news is that by practicing good security habits and remaining vigilant, you can dramatically reduce the chances of becoming a victim. In today's world, protecting your identity is just as important as protecting your home, your vehicle, or your bank account.

-Fin-

#IDThievery #SecurityAware #NotForGranted #SeniorSecured

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