How To Guard Against Cyber Fraud: Essential Steps to Protect Your Identity

Explore how to protect yourself from identity fraud, understand its emotional toll and learn fraud recovery steps.

How can you protect yourself from identity theft and fraud? 

What steps should you take if you become a victim of financial fraud? 

Hosts Sean Pyles and Sara Rathner delve into the unsettling world of identity theft and fraud prevention to help listeners safeguard their finances and wellbeing. They begin with a discussion on the various facets of identity theft, with tips and tricks on identifying fraudulent activity, enhancing personal banking security and dealing with the aftermath of having your identity compromised. Then, they discuss the differences between identity fraud and scams, the importance of good cyber hygiene, and the steps to take immediately if your personal information is breached.

Sean also speaks with John Breyault, Vice President of Public Policy, Telecommunications and Fraud at the National Consumers League, about the current trends in identity theft and the forms of fraud that are on the rise in 2024. They cover topics such as new account fraud, the impact of zero-day vulnerabilities on personal data security and the necessity for consumers to stay vigilant with software updates and report incidents promptly. They also explore how victims can navigate the process of recovering from fraud, including freezing credit reports, changing passwords, and engaging with financial institutions and law enforcement to document the crime and seek restitution.

In their conversation, the Nerds discuss: identity theft, fraud prevention, financial fraud, cyber security, bank account fraud, scams, identity fraud, data breach, zero-day vulnerabilities, credit report freeze, two-factor authentication, artificial intelligence, online banking security, phishing, cyber criminals, emotional impact of fraud, credit card fraud, fraud alerts, financial wellbeing, scam awareness, cyber hygiene, consumer protection, financial predators, cyber theft, financial crime, financial education, cyber vigilance, fraud recovery, financial security, scam prevention, identity protection, personal finance, cyber fraud, bank fraud, fraud detection, identity theft awareness, and fraud restitution.

To send the Nerds your money questions, call or text the Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373 or email podcast@nerdwallet.com.

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