IDShield Blog

Identity theft is almost always a risk to look out for, but that risk grows greater in the wake of natural disasters. Victims of tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, and other horrible acts of nature are often susceptible to scammers who pose as agents of the Federal...

Election scams run rampant during voting season. No matter what candidate you support, chances are you will or have already received texts, phone calls, letters, or even knocks on your front door regarding the upcoming election. It’s safe to say that some of those...

Hackers like to target your holiday spirit by asking for donations, offering fake deals and more. Here’s how to stay safer.

Scammers love to take advantage of this hectic school season. They can easily slip under the radar and steal personal information. Then, they can use the identity and other private data to make purchases, sign up for services, or sell personal information to other bad...

Imagine: You purchase a television, a sofa, or some other expensive item, and all you have to do is quickly sign up for a Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) program to pay off the debt in bite-sized installments instead of handing over huge chunks of cash up front. Who wouldn’t...

By Steve Earls, a seasoned cybersecurity leader who has innovated cybersecurity and risk management strategies at the CIA, Verizon Wireless, and Trane Technologies, is the Chief Information Security Officer overseeing LegalShield’s cybersecurity programs and teams....

You’ve had an amazing vacation, and you just got back home with a fresh tan or some amazing new memories. A few days later, you get a phone call from the landlord who owns the rental property where you stayed. They claim that you damaged their property and they want...

Moving is a big deal! You want to make sure that all your papers are signed, keys handed over, belongings packed, and movers arranged. But a busy moving season can quickly turn into a nightmare if you fall prey to a moving scam. Yes, you read that right! What might...

Housing valuations continue to climb, which means home equity has soared for homeowners… unless someone commits identity theft to steal that equity. Home equity theft, deed theft and title theft are on the rise, and many real estate and government officials fear it...

In the rush to fill our homes with intelligent devices, we seem oblivious to the security risks. IDShield shares why having a smart home isn’t always safe.

Criminal identity theft occurs when someone uses your identity to commit fraud. Learn more about criminal identity theft.

Synthetic identity theft occurs when real and fake information is used to create an identity. Here’s everything you need to know.

Employment identity theft occurs when someone uses your identity to find employment. Learn more about employment fraud and ways to avoid it.

The rule “thou shalt not steal” is ignored by cybercriminals. Unfortunately, identity theft is a booming business - it’s up by over 400% since 2010. The most common form of identity theft is when people use someone’s Social Security numbers and other personal...

Identity theft is when someone steals your Personal Identifiable Information and uses it for criminal activity. It’s one of the fastest growing crimes in the world. Just how common is identity theft in the US? The answer: common indeed.  It’s increased by over 400%...

You should always file a police report for identity theft immediately. Here’s how to file a police report for identity theft online.

There are many different types of identity theft including: financial, medical & tax fraud. Here’s what to look for.

Personally identifiable information (PII), refers to information that directly identifies an individual. Learn more about PPI data and what it includes.

Recovering from identity theft can take anywhere from 300 hours to 6 months to fix. Learn more about the effects of identity theft.

Updated December 8, 2023 Why would another individual rent living space in your name? There are multiple answers to that question, and none of them bode well for anyone victimized by a scheme in which a scam artist holds their identity details and intends to maximize...

Candida Gutierrez. Stephen Echols. Marcus Calvillo. They aren't household names, but their experiences with identity theft were epic. Their "total" identity theft stories provide lessons we should study and heed. These abuses continued for decades. These three...

There are so many ways to defraud honest Americans. Unfortunately, quite a few of them are hard to detect before damage occurs. Payday loan fraud—when a scammer taps your identity to borrow cash they won't repay—is a prime example of how scammers work the system to...

IDShield has studied the issue of gamer tag theft & developed guidelines to protect your accounts. Check out our data monitoring services which scan 24/7.

Teenage identity theft is more common than you know. Learn the statistics & some easy prevention tactics along with IDShield’s teen ID theft protection.

An increase in gamer accounts has triggered increased hacks. Proactive steps you should take ASAP to prevent your gamer account from being compromised.

If your identity was stolen, learn how and why you need to file a police report.

Unemployment fraud is a rising crime in the wake of COVID-related employment problems. What to watch out for & how to fight the fraud.

Small business owners across the country are facing fraud after receiving aid. As a small business owner who faced the brutal financial hardships during the pandemic, you applied for some government aid to keep your business on its feet. Approved. Great! But then –...

Phone scammers are out to steal your info! You can stay safe from phone scammers by following these simple tips.

Identity theft is a common problem. But it’s simple to keep yourself a little safer. Follow these easy tips to enhance your security.

Home title theft is real and officials fear it’s on the rise. Learn how to protect yourself from home equity scams.

Your child may already be the victim of identity theft . IDShield can help!

Considering that identity theft remains prevalent in our society, Here are a few oversights that could lead to identity theft opportunities:   Phone conversations in public places should not include discussions of bank accounts or other financial information that...

Your medical records are private, but identity thieves won’t respect that. Here are some ways to protect yourself.

Ah, the holidays. While many of us are thinking about buying the perfect presents to place under the tree, decorating cookies and finding ways to make this season special despite the current pandemic, others have different plans. As unfortunate as it is, cozying up to...

Voice cloning is used for many good reasons, like giving people a new voice if they are losing their ability to speak. But criminals can also use them for illegal purposes.

Knowing how to protect yourself from common ID theft threats is crucial in this technological age. These 4 tips will help you stay safe.

In a time many of us are working and playing online, identity theft is a growing threat. If you are a victim of identity theft, IDShield is here to help.

It’s easy to overshare on social media. Consider these tips and tricks for keeping your social accounts private and safe from identity thieves.

Identity Theft This year, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will issue around $450 billion in refunds. Targets don't get much more tempting than this and, since identity thieves are all about the money, each February brings strong warnings about income tax-related ID...

Identity thieves don’t discriminate. Your child, teen, dad or grandmother could all be at risk. IDShield can protect you and your family.

There are several ways an identity thief can gain access to a college student’s identity. IDShield shares examples into what to look out for on campus.

The paperwork you fill out at the doctor can be a data goldmine for identity thieves. IDShield shares tips to protect yourself form medical identity theft.

ID thieves need a place to live too – and they will use your identity to rent it. These tips and resources will help you fight the theft.

Tips from IDShield you can use before, during & after your vacation to reduce your risk of becoming a victim of identity theft.

If you use an ATM often or on occasion, it’s wise to pay attention to a few things about the machine you’re using. According to an article from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), ATM skimming is a growing problem. An estimated one in five people have become victims of...

IDShield has seen identity theft victims face a variety of challenges to proving identity and residence address. Learn how to be prepared and what to do.

IDShield explains how identity thieves operate during tax season, and what you can do to protect yourself.