topic Re: PSA - New Identity Theft Tactic in Among Friends

PSA - New Identity Theft Tactic

Marp — Fri, 12 Sep 2025 12:24:04 GMT

Received this information from my bank this morning.

There’s a new fraud method that uses phishing and fake websites to trick you into installing info-stealing malware on your device.

How it works

Appearing on fake websites or embedded in real websites that have been compromised, this new tactic mimics the “Verify You Are Human” tests like CAPTCHA and tricks you into performing a series of keyboard entries, such as: Win + R -> CTRL + V -> Enter.

This installs a malware program designed to steal your usernames, passwords, and other personal information or to gain access to your device.

What you can do

Perform regular anti-virus and malware scans on your devices.

Never click on unexpected messages or pop-ups.

Programs to prove you are not a robot would not ask you to input a series of keystrokes.

Regularly check your credit report for unusual activity, such as an account you didn’t open.

Re: PSA - New Identity Theft Tactic

TheMemphisVette — Fri, 12 Sep 2025 12:28:20 GMT

Freeze your credit to prevent identity thieves from opening new accounts in your name, which is a strong measure against identity theft and potential fraud following data breaches. A credit freeze restricts access to your credit report, blocking lenders from checking your credit and approving any new fraudulent or legitimate accounts opened with your stolen information. You can place or lift the freeze at any time, and it's free to do so.

How it protects you:

Prevents new accounts:
A freeze blocks creditors from accessing your credit report to open new accounts, even if a scammer has your personal information.

Protects against data breaches:
If your information was compromised in a data breach, a freeze can prevent new accounts from being opened with your stolen data.

Stops misuse of identity:
It can help prevent someone from continuing to misuse your identity if it was stolen.

Key facts about credit freezes:

Free: You can place, temporarily lift, or remove a credit freeze at no cost.

Affects your report: A freeze restricts access to your credit report from anyone other than approved entities, like government agencies or creditors of your existing accounts.

Doesn't affect existing accounts: It does not impact your existing credit cards or other accounts.

You must request it: To unfreeze your credit, you will need to contact the credit bureau to provide a temporary or permanent "thaw" of the freeze.

Contact all three bureaus: To be effective, you must contact each of the three main credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) individually to place a freeze.

Re: PSA - New Identity Theft Tactic

haddon9 — Fri, 12 Sep 2025 12:36:47 GMT

@TheMemphisVette @Marp

Thank you! Great information!

Re: PSA - New Identity Theft Tactic

San Antonio Gal — Fri, 12 Sep 2025 12:43:49 GMT

My credit is frozen with the 3 credit reporting agencies: Trans Union, Exquifax, and Experian.

Re: PSA - New Identity Theft Tactic

Estellee — Fri, 12 Sep 2025 12:47:45 GMT

Mine is too!

Re: PSA - New Identity Theft Tactic

KittySoftPaws — Fri, 12 Sep 2025 12:52:21 GMT

@Marp @TheMemphisVette Thank you both for this very valuable info. It seems scammers are getting more and more savvy especially with AI in place now. So keeping ahead of it all is critical.

Re: PSA - New Identity Theft Tactic

JYWilliams — Fri, 12 Sep 2025 14:06:48 GMT

I also froze my credit with the 3 credit reporting agencies over 15 years ago.

Re: PSA - New Identity Theft Tactic

They CallMe MRWILKES — Fri, 12 Sep 2025 15:01:24 GMT

I also froze my credit across the board after my bank had a hacking years ago. No problems whatsoever.

I check every account 2-3 times a week: bank, investment, retirement accounts.

Check Credit Score from 2 different places.

You need to be vigilant and highly PRO-active since you have no control over the data and information everyone has and can be breached.

You can't wait to be informed about an issue. You need to go looking for potential problems. Fortunately, we all now have these tools.

Re: PSA - New Identity Theft Tactic

RescueLover — Fri, 12 Sep 2025 14:42:44 GMT

@TheMemphisVette 🌻

Thanks for all that detailed information to help those that do not know !

One of the newest scams - someone buys land in an area they don’t live (but planning on living there) and they find out the land has been sold using their identity (scammer grabs photo of them off of social media) and then someone is building a home on their property ! 2 Victims here (the actual land owner and the land buyer who wants to build their home)

Can you imagine !

Meanwhile someone in another country is long gone with the money!

Re: PSA - New Identity Theft Tactic

roeroe1005 — Fri, 12 Sep 2025 15:00:46 GMT

Great advice here! Thank you for the reminders.

I also have alerts on my credit cards. If $1+ is charged, I get an alert, even when I use it. I know that scammers will charge a crazy amount like 67 cents, to start with.

I also look at my accounts every day or 2 to try to stay on top of it.

Re: PSA - New Identity Theft Tactic

Kachina624 — Fri, 12 Sep 2025 16:10:52 GMT

In my town yesterday, we had dozens of people receiving calls from "the cartel" claiming to have kidnapped children/grandchildren and asking for ransom. Horrible child-like screaming and begging in the background. Spoofed number on called ID.

Police are investigating.

Re: PSA - New Identity Theft Tactic

RescueLover — Fri, 12 Sep 2025 16:48:05 GMT

Sure is a Scary World !

It was on the news the other day NOT to have pics posted of your children on social media holding their signs on their 1st day back to school showing how old they are, what school they attended, etc etc.

Re: PSA - New Identity Theft Tactic

Shelbelle — Fri, 12 Sep 2025 18:25:54 GMT

I see a small issue with freezing your credit. For example last year I was shopping in Nord. for a gown for a special event, I bought one and the sales person said if I opened a Nord. credit card I could earn quite a bit in Rewards, so I opened one right there in the store, had my credit been frozen this could not have happened.

Re: PSA - New Identity Theft Tactic

They CallMe MRWILKES — Fri, 12 Sep 2025 18:37:24 GMT

Yes, if you know you are going to apply for new credit you need to defrost one of the frozen credit lines.

Re: PSA - New Identity Theft Tactic

KittySoftPaws — Fri, 12 Sep 2025 18:42:56 GMT

@Kachina624 This one has been going on for years.

Re: PSA - New Identity Theft Tactic

RescueLover — Fri, 12 Sep 2025 18:43:22 GMT

I was told you need to wait 3 days after you unfreeze your credit before applying somewhere.

PRICELESS for the protection you get by freezing it !! ⭐️

Re: PSA - New Identity Theft Tactic

Kachina624 — Fri, 12 Sep 2025 18:50:39 GMT

@KittySoftPaws wrote:
@Kachina624 This one has been going on for years.

@KittySoftPaws. Yes, I know but it's gotten more sophisticated and believable.

Re: PSA - New Identity Theft Tactic

tansy — Fri, 12 Sep 2025 18:53:59 GMT

@RescueLover wrote:

Sure is a Scary World !

It was on the news the other day NOT to have pics posted of your children on social media holding their signs on their 1st day back to school showing how old they are, what school they attended, etc etc.

Ugh. Every year I get those pics.