Simple steps to take to avoid falling victim to identity theft

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The problem of identity is theft is not new.  Consumers are warned constantly about invisible scam artists ready to snatch their identity.  

So why do hundreds of Kansas and Missouri consumers fall victim to this crime each year? 

“As… commerce and data continues to grow, the opportunity for that data to be intercepted by old fashioned crooks and criminals also grows,” said Derek Schmidt, the Kansas Attorney General. 

Saturday marks National Data Privacy Day.  Schimdt’s office issued some easy steps for consumers to take to help avoid this crime.

1)    Phishing Scams:  An identity thief will send emails pretending to be a bank, a credit card company or other type of business.   Avoid this when you bank online by only going through the bank’s homepage to access an account. 

2)    Viruses:  Scam artists will attach viruses to your computer to monitor your every move, including capturing passwords and usernames.  To prevent this, keep antivirus software up-to-date.  Also be careful opening attachments and downloading files.

3)    Electronics:   Always keep your laptop and smartphone in a secure area.  Use strong passwords to lock up your computer and phones.

4)    Files:  When it comes to actual physical files like bank records and tax documents, the best way to get rid of them is to shred the documents.  Call For Action will host the annual Shred It event Saturday, April 7 ^th at six Commerce Bank locations this year. 

If you believe you have become the victim of identity theft, the Kansas Attorney General’s office recommends contacting them at 1-800-432-2310 or at www.ksag.org .