Comptroller Susana Mendoza is marking Identity Theft Awareness Week, which runs from January 26 to 30, by providing guidance on how consumers can protect themselves against identity theft.
“One of the most important things to remember is that ID theft can happen to anyone, even your children,” Comptroller Mendoza said. “That’s why it’s so important to safeguard personal information and keep an eye on bank accounts and credit cards.”
Identity theft involves someone using another person’s personal or financial information without permission. This can include making purchases with stolen credit card details, opening new credit cards in someone else’s name, stealing tax refunds, obtaining jobs or medical care fraudulently, or opening phone or utility accounts under false identities.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) received more than 1.1 million complaints about identity theft in 2024, a rise from the previous year. The most common form reported was credit card fraud. Fraudsters also frequently use stolen identities to obtain loans or leases. According to the FTC, Illinois residents filed over 43,000 identity theft reports in 2024.
Warning signs of identity theft may include unauthorized purchases on debit or credit statements, receiving bills for items not purchased, unexpected loan denials due to bad credit history, unfamiliar accounts appearing under one’s name, unexplained medical bills from providers never used, and notifications from the IRS regarding multiple tax returns filed under a single name.
To reduce risk of identity theft:
– Regularly monitor bank account and credit card activity for suspicious transactions.
– Use strong passwords and enable multifactor authentication when possible.
– Avoid sharing full birth dates, email addresses and family members’ names on social media.
– Carry only necessary identification and payment cards; do not carry a Social Security card.
– Shred documents containing personal data before disposal.
– Be cautious when asked for personal information by companies or individuals you do not regularly interact with.
– Check your credit history annually through Equifax (www.Equifax.com), Experian (www.Experian.com), or TransUnion (www.TransUnion.com). Each offers one free report per year.
Mendoza emphasized protecting children’s personal data as well: parents should consider requesting a free credit freeze for minors under age 16 to prevent fraudulent account openings in their names. Child identity theft often goes undetected until adulthood.
Credit freezes restrict access to your credit report so no new lines of credit can be opened unless lifted. You do not have to be a victim of identity theft to request this service. A fraud alert can also be placed on your report at no cost; both actions make it harder for criminals to misuse your information.
If you suspect your identity has been compromised:
– Contact the company or bank where you believe fraud occurred.
– Call the Illinois Attorney General’s Identity Theft Hotline at 1-866-999-5630 for assistance.
– Report the incident to the FTC for help creating a recovery plan.
– Place a fraud alert on your credit reports.
– Consider filing a police report with local authorities.
“Identity theft isn’t just an inconvenience; it can potentially cause very serious problems,” Comptroller Mendoza said. “This can include ruining your credit or a thief giving YOUR name to the police if they are arrested.”
The Illinois Office of Comptroller also provides Smart Consumer workshops focused on topics such as identity theft and fraud prevention for interested communities and organizations.
