COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Identity theft can happen to anyone at any time. 

“It’s, oftentimes, it’s a long-term process,” President of the Better Business Bureau of Central Ohio Judy Dollison said. “So, you don’t even know that they’ve had access to your information and that they’ve started taking out credit in your name until a lot of damage has been done.” 

Better Call 4 has worked to get the word out about the importance of spotting the signs and stopping the scammers before it’s too late. But some local, state and federal agencies are also working to educate and protect consumers during Identity Theft Awareness Week. 

From Jan. 27-31, the Federal Trade Commission, Better Business Bureau, Social Security Administration and other organizations will hold virtual and in-person events focused on teaching you what identity theft looks like, how to protect your personal and financial information from it, and what to do if you become a victim.  

According to the FTC, it’s often as simple as someone getting hold of and using your credit card or bank account details from a data breach, through phishing emails and text messages, or from card skimming devices.

“Know when your bills are due,” Dollison said. “Sometimes, if someone has stolen your identity, they may have changed your address because they don’t want your credit card bill going to you. So, really you want to stay vigilant and monitor your accounts on a regular basis. Look at your credit card statements and make sure there’s no charges that don’t sound right to you, you don’t recognize the name and you always want to check your credit reports. You can access your credit reports annually for no charge. So, it’s a good annual review, just to make sure there’s been no additional accounts set up in your name.”