Consumer Alert: Add Identity Theft Protection to Your Next “Admin Night”

HARTFORD - The Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) and the Department of Banking (DOB) are advising consumers to be proactive about protecting their identity, as part of Identity Theft Awareness Week.

A recent social media trend, dubbed "admin night",motivates adults to complete mandatory tasks such as paying bills and scheduling appointments. Including identity protection steps in your daily routine, or adding tasks such as updating your passwords to your next "admin night" can help protect your identity.

"In a digital world, our personal and financial information is constantly at risk of being hacked, stolen, or used," said DCP Commissioner Bryan T. Cafferelli. "But there are proactive steps that we can take to help mitigate these risks. So, we encourage all consumers, regardless of age, to learn the steps they can take to prevent identity theft, and add those tasks to your routines and regular household 'administrative' task lists to help prevent identity theft."

"Scammers use a variety of methods to commit identity theft," said Banking Commissioner Jorge Perez. "From telephone imposter scams to emails that appear to be from a friend or colleague, to fraudulent texts that seem to be legitimate, these methods attempt to trick us into providing our personal financial information. Chances are, if you are feeling pressured to provide this information, it is a scam. Always take the time to verify who has contacted you to avoid sharing personal information."

Proactive steps to help protect your identity

• Examine your credit card statements: Read your credit card statements as soon as you receive them.
  • Check for any unauthorized charges or withdrawals. If something looks off, contact your bank immediately.
• Create my Social Security account: The U.S. Social Security Administration offers a free and secure service for consumers to view their online statement, which includes current earnings and future benefits.
• Shred old documents: Keep a box of old receipts, credit offers, loan applications, bank statements, and medical bills. Use a shredder at home or keep an eye out for shred events in your community.
• Review your health insurance plan: Closely read through your health insurance plan statements to verify that the services paid match the treatment you received.
• Assess your credit report: Obtain a free annual credit reportto help detect early signs of identity theft. An accurate credit report impacts several financial outcomes (mortgage rates, rent applications, and credit card approvals).
• Sign up for banking alerts: Many banks offer real-time text or email notifications related to your account. This includes large or unusual charges, low balance alerts, or sign-in attempts from a different device.
  • To sign up, visit Settings in your bank's app or website and click on "Alerts" or a related tab. Call the bank's customer service number for assistance.
• Keep track of your bills: If an anticipated bill never arrived in the mail or via email, be sure to contact the company. Scammers may alter someone's mailing or billing address to conceal fraudulent charges.

Consumers should report fraud to the FTC by visiting IdentityTheft.gov.