Identity Theft Awareness Week: Keep Up with the Latest Scams

Identity Theft Awareness Week is January 26-30, 2026. Resolve to protect your identity this New Year by staying educated on the latest scams so you know what to look out for.

According to Experian, AI scams, imposter scams, phishing scams, and romance scams topped the list of scams in 2025. But the methods that fraudsters use are always evolving. Subscribe to alerts from trusted sites like the FTC and your bank so you know what’s trending on fraud.

Common ID Theft Scams

• Financial identity theft. This is the most common form of identity theft which occurs when personal information is stolen and used for a fraudster’s financial gain.
• Tax identity theft. This occurs when ID thieves use someone’s personal information to file a tax return to get a refund.
• Medical identity theft. Here, fraudsters use personal information to receive health care in someone else’s name.
• Employment identity theft. Identity thieves steal information to get a job or pass a background check.
• Child identity theft. This happens when fraudsters open credit accounts in the name of children who are under 16 who don’t yet have credit reports. Victims of this type of fraud might not realize it until they are older and go to apply for student loans or a job.
• Estate identity theft. Fraudsters will try to steal money or open accounts with the personal information of someone who is deceased.
• Criminal identity theft. Though all forms of identity theft are criminal, this kind occurs when someone gets arrested and provides someone else’s personal information to the police. This one is tricky because the victim won’t be able to detect the fraud until there are consequences, such as when a speeding ticket goes unpaid or a judge issues an order for the victim’s arrest.
• Synthetic identity theft. A combination of real and fake information is used to create new identities. For example, fraudsters can use a real Social Security number with a fake name. Those most at risk are people who don’t actively use their Social Security numbers, such as children or the deceased.

 Warning signs that could point to identity theft:

• Unauthorized purchases on your accounts
• Bills for products or services you did not purchase
• Debt collection calls about credit cards or other loans you do not have
• Unrecognizable inquiries or accounts on your credit report you didn’t initiate or open
• Denials for loans you apply for
• Mysterious or unexpected calls, texts, or emails
• Missing mail or payments you’ve sent that aren’t received by the payee
• Withdrawals from your bank accounts that you didn’t make
• Tax issues, including W2s and 1099s from companies you did not work for

Want to learn more about Identity Theft Prevention?  

This Identity Theft Awareness Week, we’re equipping you with the information you need to protect your personal information all year round. Watch for new content all week long. Visit our Identity Theft Awareness Week webpage to learn more or drop by any office to pick up a free Identity Theft brochure.

bankESB is here to protect you.

Your security is our priority. Remember, bankESB will NEVER contact you to ask you for personal or financial information. Contact 855.527.4111 or stop by your nearest office if you think you’ve been the victim of fraud.