FTC Identity Theft Awareness Week

The Federal Trade Commission will mark its annual Identity Theft Awareness Week with a series of free events January 30 through February 3 focused on how identity theft affects people of every community and ways to reduce ID theft risk.

Identity theft happens when someone uses someone else's personal or financial information—such as their Social Security number or financial account information—without permission. This year’s events include webinars, podcasts and other activities. Participants will hear from experts from the FTC and its Identity Theft Awareness Week partners, including AARP, Consumer Action, the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC), the IRS, the Maryland Library for the Blind and Print Disabled, the Small Business Administration, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The week’s activities will formally kick off on January 30 with a webinar by the ITRC and FTC offering an overview of the financial, emotional, and physical impacts of identity theft, and a discussion of how identity theft happens and how to lower your risk. The week will end February 3 with a podcast discussion with college students about financial aid scams, job scams, and other tactics identity thieves use to steal personal information.

• Press release