Every 22 seconds, someone becomes a victim of identity theft in America. Seniors are disproportionately targeted because criminals believe they have more savings, better credit, and may be less familiar with digital scams. 🔒

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Identity theft isn't just about stolen credit cards anymore. Criminals can use your personal information to file fake tax returns, get medical care in your name, or even take out loans. The average victim spends 200+ hours and hundreds of dollars cleaning up the damage—time and money seniors shouldn't have to waste.

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The good news? Identity theft is largely preventable with the right habits. Most successful identity theft happens because of simple mistakes: unshredded documents in trash, oversharing on social media, or falling for phone scams. Learning to protect yourself is easier than dealing with the aftermath.

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1. Collect mail promptly and shred documents with personal information
2. Never give personal information to someone who calls you (hang up and call the official number yourself)
3. Check bank and credit card statements monthly for unfamiliar charges
4. Only enter personal information on secure websites that start with "https://"
5. When done, get your free annual credit report to monitor for new accounts

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Want Gil to help you set up credit monitoring and create a personalized identity protection plan? He knows the latest scam tactics targeting seniors. 💪

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