California Has Highest Number Of ID Theft Complaints; CALPIRG Offers Advice
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS)— Identity theft isn't just phishing anymore - even ATM and hotel or airport Wi-Fi can be prone to thieves, according to the California Public Interest Research Group.
CALPIRG has suggestions on what you need to do to protect yourself from some of the most common ways ID's are stolen.
Emails that appear to be from your bank have been one way in which consumers are warned to be on the lookout. Spammers attempt to obtain passwords and account information this way according to consumer advocate John Fox with CALPIRG.
Fox also said California has the highest number of ID theft complaints in the U.S.
The consumer advocate organization has released a 12-step list on how to protect yourself from having your identity stolen. It includes things as basic as signing up for fraud alerts from your financial institutions.
KCBS' Matt Bigler Reports:
"Keeping track of your banking or credit card activity really helps you identify when you become a victim early on so that you can minimize the damage," he said.
Fox is also calling upon lawmakers to enact policies requiring companies to security standards to better protect consumer's information.
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