Identity Theft Awareness Week takes place Jan. 29 through Feb. 2, and FBI Springfield is putting a spotlight on protecting personally identifiable information, or PII.
Compromised credentials can be sold when a business or organization is breached online, leading to perpetrators taking out loans in your name, opening financial accounts and lines of credit, or filing fraudulent health care claims – amongst the many possibilities.
Officials say that even something as simple as your phone number can lead to enough information to steal your identity.
Do not give out personal information unless you have initiated the contact first, and are certain to be dealing with a trusted organization or individual.
