Montgomery and Tuscaloosa ranked in the 25 worst cities for identity theft per capita in the first half of 2023 and Alabama ranked as the eighth worst state in the country. The year 2023 was the worst year on record thus far for identity theft, with more than 500,000 complaints filed in the first half of the year for the country. Identity theft takes different forms, including tax returns, government benefits like Social Security, medical insurance, credit cards, bank accounts, and other types of financial accounts.
Susan Moore of Moore Wealth Management, Inc. (MWM) in Montgomery, AL, conducts a free workshop/webinar every year in March on techniques to prevent identity theft. The workshop is updated every year to include new types of identity theft that are occurring and new measures to counteract them.
This year’s workshop will be conducted by webinar on Wednesday, March 26th, from noon to 1:30 p.m., and it is complimentary and without obligation. There will be both a live and recorded version. Please call the Moore Wealth Management office for further information or reservations at 334.270.1672 or email Sarah@moorewealthmanagement.com. If you miss the webinar, we also offer free consultations that are without obligation.
Webinar participants receive an action plan containing things to do to minimize the chances that they become victims of identity theft. Topics include methods to protect your credit rating, credit, and debit cards, as well as banking and brokerage accounts. We review how criminals use scanners to collect information on cards used at ATMs, gas pumps, and convenience stores. We cover how to protect your electronic exposure on the internet, your computer, and your cell phone, including passwords and logins, encryption, secure emails, computer hacking and viruses, spyware, and malware.
Some of the areas of identity theft that are growing the fastest are medical insurance fraud, fraudulent tax returns, and Social Security benefits. We discuss how to monitor and protect these areas where retirees are especially vulnerable.
Finally, we go over common-sense techniques to thwart some of the most common ways thieves get access to your identity. For example, you should never mail payments on your bills from your mailbox at home. You should shred your boarding passes from airline flights because they contain sensitive information hidden in the bar codes on the passes.
We conduct a variety of workshops and seminars at MWM. The mission statement of MWM is very simple: “and then some.” We attempt to do what is expected, what is required, “and then some.” The Identity Theft workshop is part of our monthly “and then some” workshops. In addition, MWM conducts monthly current events and market updates that attempt to explain what is going on in the financial world. If you would like to be on the mailing list or receive email notifications of upcoming seminars, please call 334.270.1672.
Susan Clayton Moore, J.D., is a financial advisor and wealth manager of Moore Wealth Management, Inc., with offices in Montgomery and Alexander City, AL. Susan has under advisement over $150 million (as of 9.1.24) in brokerage and advisory assets through Kestra Financial and has been a financial planner for over 40 years. Contact Susan at 334.270.1672. Email contact is susan@moorewealthmanagement.com.
The opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and may not necessarily reflect those held by Kestra Investment Services, LLC or Kestra Advisory Services, LLC. This is for general information only and is not intended to provide specific investment advice or recommendations for any individual. It is suggested that you consult your financial professional, attorney or tax advisor regarding your individual situation. Securities offered through Kestra Investment Services, LLC (Kestra IS), member FINRA/SIPC. Investment Advisory Services offered through Kestra Advisory Services, LLC (Kestra AS), an affiliate of Kestra IS. Kestra IS or Kestra AS are not affiliated with Moore Wealth Management, Inc. https://www.kestrafinancial.com/disclosures.