I hope you've never fallen victim to identity theft. Unfortunately, there has been an increase in reported cases of identity theft. Sadly, many more cases go unreported due to the embarrassment victims feel after being taken advantage of.
As an investment advisor, I receive ongoing training in identifying potential cases in which clients may be victims of identity theft, even if they are unaware of it.
Ensuring you can recognize and defend against scams, particularly related to identity theft, is extremely important. For a wealth of knowledge on detecting, reporting, and securing yourself against identity theft, please visit www.usa.gov/identity-theft.
Second, consider adding a trusted contact to your investment accounts. I previously sent a blog post explaining what a trusted contact is and how it can help you. You can find the blog post by clicking here.
If you have been a victim of identity theft, you must take action to minimize the damages. Attached is a PDF from the FTC that will help you create your recovery plan.
Please call our office if you suspect that you are being targeted for a scam or if you have already fallen victim to one. We are here to help with the resources we have available.