Desert Messenger

"The beautiful spring came; and when Nature resumes her loveliness, the human soul is apt to revive also. ~ Harriet Ann Jacobs February 17, 2021 www.DesertMessenger.com 19 FREE ADS! 928-916-4235 Here's the small print: Items for sale under $1000. Private Party Only. 1 per month. Yard/Garage/Craft Sales, Wanted, Give-a-ways, Free, Lost & Found. Email: Editor@DesertMessenger.com Desert Messenger Phoenix - Identity fraud is a rampant issue and scammers continue to re- vamp their tactics. During the week of February 1-5, 2021, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recognizes Identity Theft Awareness Week with steps consumers can take to help re- duce their risk of identity theft and how to recover from it. With enough personal information, a scammer can steal your identity to commit fraud and other crimes. But identity theft may take a long time to detect and consumers may not notice what's happening until the scam- mer has already infl icted substantial damage to their assets, credit and reputation. In 2020, Better Business Bureau Serving the Pacifi c South- west (BBB) Scam Tracker reported 40 identity theft frauds and over $1.2 million in monetary loss. BBB pro- vides free seminars for consumers and businesses to take preventative actions against identity theft. How to Avoid Identity Theft Scams: Look for unexplained account with- drawals and charges. Review bank account and credit card statements regularly. Know when bills are due and set up automatic alerts on ac- counts so notifi cation is received ev- ery time a transaction is made. Check credit reports regularly for unauthorized inquiries and fraudu- lent accounts. In the U.S., free an- nual credit reports from each of the three major credit bureaus are avail- able at annualcreditreport.com. Be careful with personal informa- tion. Treat personal information like a valuable commodity. Make sure any document with bank account information, a social security num- ber or other private information is kept in a safe and secure place, and shredded after use. Be alert to phishing attempts. Scam- mers are sophisticated and phishing attempts may come via email, text, social media messaging, but the number one reported method of con- tact is the telephone. Be suspicious of any unsolicited communication asking for personal information. Visit ftc.gov/idtheft to fi nd addi- tional resources and report scams to the BBB Scam Tracker. To learn more about how consumers and businesses can protect themselves from identity theft, visit BBB's Scam Tip Page. BBB encourages businesses to op- erate with integrity, and helps con- sumers make wise marketplace de- cisions. Our innovative approach to business growth provides the tools that companies and entrepreneurs need to build better businesses. By working side by side with industry experts, we unite with a common goal. Become BBB Accredited and join our mission to create a commu- nity of trust. BBB warns of Identity fraud

• Cover