credit freeze

A user reported receiving numerous unsolicited texts and emails from loan application companies like Borrowly, GoChecks, and Cash On You, despite not applying for any loans. The user is unsure whether to ignore the messages or contact the companies, noting their credit is frozen.

An adult son received fraudulent emails in the user's name confirming an Old Navy order and Afterpay account. The user is concerned about potential identity theft and is considering a credit freeze. Afterpay confirmed no SSN was provided, but the user suspects their SSN may be compromised.

The user receives frequent scam calls daily claiming to be from a 'personal loan' department, alleging the user applied for loans. Despite having a frozen credit file and reporting calls as spam, the scams persist. The user seeks to understand why they are targeted and how to stop the calls.

The user received a threatening phone call from someone claiming to be from Citi Card Fraud Department, accusing them of an unauthorized illegal gun purchase. The caller threatened to involve homeland security and the FBI if the user did not respond within two hours. The user later contacted Citi directly, who denied any involvement with homeland security.

The article discusses risks of personal information being on the dark web due to data breaches and advises solutions like using unique passwords, multifactor authentication (MFA), credit freezes, and securing phone lines to prevent identity theft. It emphasizes that while exposure is common, proactive measures can mitigate harm from automated password attacks and SIM-swapping.

Americans 60 and older filed 201,266 complaints with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center in 2025, reporting $7.7 billion in losses, the highest of any age group. Scammers exploit outdated verification methods like date of birth and Social Security numbers, while AI voice cloning enables fraudulent phone calls. The article recommends steps like credit freezes and two-factor authentication to protect seniors.