Drama about verification on Twitter as Elon Musk makes big changes at the social media platform has identity protection on many people’s minds.
Just a few months ago, a truly disturbing example of identity theft made headlines when a Northern California man was charged with stealing via writing checks to himself from his roommate’s bank account. He had been living with the roommate’s dead body for four years.
This is an extreme example of an identity theft crime. However, with each new account someone opens and each time they repeat their password, they too become vulnerable to having their identity stolen.
“We’re so connected. We can use our credit cards, we can use payment apps, you know, the Zelle, Venmo, PayPal, all of these other options that we have to make payments that are digital, that once you’re authenticated, if someone has access to that account and that device, they can freely use it,” said Eva Velasquez of the Identity Theft Resource Center.
She joined host Mike Rogers on the “Something Offbeat” podcast to explain what makes people vulnerable to identity theft and how they can protect themselves.
Are you sure that your identity is safe?
Each week, “Something Offbeat” dives into unusual headlines to learn more about the stories that stick in our minds. If you have suggestions for stories the podcast should cover, send them to us at somethingoffbeat@audacy.com.
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