TDCI Highlights Consumer Protection Tips During Identity Theft Awareness Week (Jan. 26 – Jan. 30, 2026)
NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance’s (TDCI) Securities Division is highlighting the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC)’s Identity Theft Awareness Week (Jan. 26 - Jan. 30, 2026) in an effort to help Tennessee consumers fight identity theft and learn how to better protect themselves from scammers and thieves.
During Identity Theft Awareness Week, Tennesseans are encouraged to learn more about the growing problem of identity theft and how to spot its red flags. The FTC recently ranked Tennessee as 24th in the nation for reports of identity theft with over 14,000 reports according to their most recent report.
“A loved one’s credit and finances can be destroyed by a cybercriminal, who wants to steal investors’ hard-earned money or their valuable personal information,” said TDCI Assistant Commissioner for Securities Elizabeth Bowling. “During Identity Theft Awareness Week, I remind consumers to focus on identity theft detection and prevention methods this week and all year long. Investors should always feel free to contact the TDCI’s Securities team for assistance whenever they have a question about an investment or an investment adviser.”
During Identity Theft Awareness Week, the FTC is offering free consumers resources at this link including a podcast, webinars, and Facebook live events to help educate consumers about the dangers of identity theft.
To fight identity theft, TDCI’s Securities team reminds investors of these tips:
Establishing a Trusted Contact
To combat potential investment fraud from occurring, senior financial investors are urged to provide their financial firms with a trusted contact.
A trusted contact may be a family member, attorney, accountant, or another third party who you believe would respect your privacy and know how to handle that responsibility. One or more trusted contacts may be established.
A trusted contact may be asked to confirm your current contact information, health status, or the identity of any legal guardian, executor, trustee, or holder of a power of attorney. U.S. broker-dealers are required to provide a written disclosure that explains these details.
Using A Credit Freeze
A credit freeze, also known as a security freeze, is a free tool that allows consumers to restrict access to their credit reports, making it more difficult for identity thieves to open new accounts. In 2017, Tennessee lawmakers passed a law giving parents and guardians the right to freeze the credit of a minor under 16 years of age or an incapacitated person under the care of a guardian or conservator at no charge. A credit freeze does not affect your credit score. Even during a credit freeze, your credit report can be released to existing creditors or to debt collectors acting on their behalf.
Credit freezes do not prevent government agencies from accessing your credit report in response to a court or administrative order, subpoena, or a search warrant.
Avoiding Identity Theft Scams
Scammers frequently target seniors for identity theft. To prevent identity theft scams, remember:
- Never buy an insurance policy, make an investment, or give money to a stranger who contacts you or visits you unannounced.
- Shred all paperwork containing any identifying information, healthcare information, banking information, or passwords.
- Monitor bank and credit card statements.
- Monitor your credit report.
- Use direct deposit for benefit checks to prevent checks from being stolen.
- Never give your credit card, banking, Social Security number, Medicare number, or other personal information over the phone, unless you initiated the call.
- If someone calls you and threatens you with arrest or harm unless you pay them via wire transfer or a gift card, hang up immediately. You’re dealing with a scammer. Report the call to your local law enforcement agency.