Identity Theft Awareness Week events focus on how to reduce your risk

As unique as we each are, we all look the same to identity thieves: like good targets. To them, it’s all about our Social Security numbers, birth dates, account login credentials, and other personal information. But during Identity Theft Awareness Week (Jan. 30 to Feb. 3) we can all fight back against identity theft.

During Identity Theft Awareness Week 2023, join the Federal Trade Commission and learn how identity theft affects every community and also look at ways people of different communities — like veterans, students, older adults, and small business owners — might encounter identity thieves. We’ll examine common scams that target personal information and discuss how to detect identity theft, help protect against it, and recover if identity theft occurs.

The FTC will kick off with two back-to-basics events for everyone, in English and Spanish, along with the first of five short podcasts focused on college students. Throughout the week, we’ll talk with experts from AARP, the Identity Theft Resource Center, the Small Business Administration, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the IRS, the Maryland Library for the Blind and Print Disabled, and Consumer Action.

For details on events and how to participate, visit Identity Theft Awareness Week 2023.

We hope to see you, your friends, and your family during Identity Theft Awareness Week to share information about how identity thieves operate, and how to lower your risk. Keep up with events at ftc.gov/IDTheftWeek and follow along on social media: #IDTheftWeek and #IDTheft.

Learn more about identity theft at ftc.gov/IDTheft. And, if identity theft happens to you or someone you know, visit IdentityTheft.gov to report it and get a personalized recovery plan.