Identity theft has become more common in Tennessee.
Criminal Defense Attorney Gordon Byars said that it can come in all forms, from scam calls to physically getting your cards stolen. He said that the best way to prevent identity theft is to be vigilant.
“Be careful with your information,” Byars said.”We get really fast and loose these days with providing our personal information online and over the phone. It is okay to ask questions about why that information is needed, it is okay to be diligent with your information. And it is really a good idea to be more careful with your information online.”
This is is Identity Theft Awareness Week in Tennessee.
Byars said that if there is ever an instance where a call is trying to solicit personal information, a legitimate caller will be willing to meet in person. He said that one scam that has become more prevalent in the digital age is getting information through seemingly harmless Facebook posts.
“It looks like it’s just a standard ‘tell me about yourself’ post that you share,” Byars said. “Well if you notice, a lot of those questions also mirror the questions that you would see on what they call knowledge-based identification in banking. So your make and model of your first car, your mother’s maiden name, where you went to high school, and things like that.”
If you suspect your identity has been stolen, Byars said that you should report it to all parties you do business with, such as your banks. He said that typically banks have protections in place for credit card theft. When it comes to social security theft, Byars said you should report it as soon as possible to a social security administrator.
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