Medical Identity Theft During COVID-19: 3 Key Prevention Tips

Here are 3 things you can do right now to help guard yourself against becoming a victim of medical identity theft during COVID-19. No matter where you live across the globe, news headlines are flooded by updates and advisories regarding the Coronavirus pandemic. While staying indoors, practicing social distancing and maintaining cleanliness are all of extreme importance, there is also an emerging threat taking shape in the form of identity theft as this novel virus continues to plague communities.

Medical identity theft is the use of stolen personal information for a crime. From unlawful use of information for medical treatments to purchasing drugs or even to falsely bill insurance companies – there are so many ways thieves are perpetrating crimes during these uncertain times.

These violations can have long-lasting negative effects on the financial future of victims and impact can the public as well as private companies.

Here are 3 things you can do right now to help guard yourself against becoming a victim of medical identity theft during COVID-19.

Stay Informed

Many people have started to reduce the time they are reading updates and news reports each day to calm anxieties and fears around the pandemic but it is critical that you know what is happening and the potential fraud already exposed. A number of email scams, phone calls and even fake websites for COVID-19 vaccines, stimulus checks and other attempts have already been uncovered.

Navigate All Online Communications with Caution

In addition to being very careful about the information you share online in emails and even on social media, it is key that you are always protecting your vital information such as your social security number. You should avoid writing out the full number on documents, and be careful when responding to and clicking on links, even from authorized companies you do business with. Be sure to hover over email addresses and links to uncover the source. Phishing is common and an email that appears to be from a friend or coworker could actually be a thief.

Work with Professional Shredding Company

We couldn’t leave out this very critical step in your protection. Shredding documents, hard drives and anything containing sensitive information is the only way to know for sure that it has been destroyed and cannot get into the hands of fraudsters.

We would like to remind Legal Shred customers and the public about the role you can play in protecting yourself and others from scams during these uncertain times. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or a pick-up needed. We are an essential service and are open for business!

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