{"id":429,"date":"2024-11-24T17:00:16","date_gmt":"2024-11-24T18:00:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/webphotoclinic.com\/?p=429"},"modified":"2025-06-11T13:18:22","modified_gmt":"2025-06-11T13:18:22","slug":"so-you-fell-prey-to-a-scam-5-steps-to-take-when-your-personal-information-is-compromised","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/webphotoclinic.com\/index.php\/2024\/11\/24\/so-you-fell-prey-to-a-scam-5-steps-to-take-when-your-personal-information-is-compromised\/","title":{"rendered":"So you fell prey to a scam: 5 steps to take when your personal information is compromised"},"content":{"rendered":"

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information.<\/em><\/p>\n

These days, most of us know a thing or two about avoiding scams<\/a>. We scoff at emails from foreign princes soliciting Western Union money transfers \u2014 if the messages even make it through our spam filters, of course \u2014 and even our phones can detect if an incoming call from an unknown number is likely spam, telemarketing or a scam call.<\/p>\n

Yet scams and schemes have also become more sophisticated \u2014 and they’re on the rise<\/a>. A few years ago, it took me several minutes to realize the Chinese-speaking caller on the other end wasn\u2019t actually calling from FedEx with a package from my mother in Taiwan. And when I Google \u201cpay car registration online,\u201d the first few links don\u2019t go to my county tax office website; they all go to third-party agencies eager to \u201chelp\u201d me pay my dues for a generous fee.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve fallen prey to a scam lately, don\u2019t be embarrassed: You\u2019re not alone.<\/p>\n

\u201cIdentity theft is not one of those things that \u2018happens to someone else,’\u201d Michael Bruemmer, Experian\u2019s VP of consumer protection, told TPG.<\/p>\n

The Federal Trade Commission<\/a> received more than 2.6 million scam reports in 2023 alone. According to the FTC, imposter scams are at the top of the fraud report list, accounting for more than $2.7 billion stolen from consumers.<\/p>\n

One scheme targeting travelers, in particular, is the Global Entry<\/a> enrollment scam. The Better Business Bureau reported<\/a> the agency\u2019s ScamTracker website had received multiple accounts of \u201cmisleading websites that fool people into handing over money and sensitive personal information.\u201d<\/p>\n

Related: There\u2019s a new way to skip the wait for your Global Entry interview<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

How the Global Entry scam works<\/h2>\n

You search for the Global Entry application online, according to the BBB<\/a>, and the official U.S. Customs and Border Protection<\/a> website appears \u2014 as does another website that\u2019s built specifically to imitate the official page.<\/p>\n

If you follow that imposter link, you\u2019re brought to a third-party company that offers to complete all the requisite paperwork on your behalf \u2014 just provide your personal information, such as your full name, passport number and home address. You\u2019ll be prompted to pay the standard $120 government fee, plus an additional fee for the service.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s just happened? According to the BBB, \u201cscammers have tricked you into paying extra money to complete the form on the official government website. Also, they now have access to your personal information and credit card details.\u201d<\/p>\n

Curious, I tested this Google search for myself. Here are my results for \u201crenew Global Entry<\/a>\u201c:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
GOOGLE<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

You\u2019ll see that the Google search box shows me a preview of the steps I need to take, straight from the official CBP website. The very first link at the top, however, goes to an ad for a third-party site with all the right buzzwords.<\/p>\n

In incognito mode, which doesn\u2019t take into account the hundreds of travel sites I search every day, the official CPB page under \u201cGlobal Entry enroll\u201d appears even lower down the page beneath two ads with very legitimate-sounding URLs:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
GOOGLE<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

But none of these companies are CBP-approved.<\/p>\n

CBoarding Group<\/a> did a bit of sleuthing and discovered that the listed address for one of these so-called \u201cexpediting agencies\u201d actually went to a shady-looking warehouse in Houston<\/a>, according to Google Maps.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is only one Trusted Traveler Programs website<\/a>,\u201d a CBP spokesperson told TPG. \u201cThird-party companies that charge fees to process Trusted Traveler Program applications are not endorsed by, associated with or affiliated in any way with U.S. Customs and Border Protection or the U.S. government.\u201d<\/p>\n

Related: Simple steps to avoid credit card fraud<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

What to do if you\u2019ve been scammed<\/h2>\n

A reader reached out to TPG for guidance after falling prey to one such site, wondering what next steps they should take to avoid having their personal and financial information further compromised.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow bad is this, really?\u201d the reader asked, explaining how they\u2019d applied for Global Entry<\/a> through a third-party site.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
THE POINTS GUY<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Unfortunately, it\u2019s always bad news when your credit card details<\/a>, home address and personal information such as full name, date of birth, driver\u2019s license number and passport information have all been compromised.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have just opened up the gateway to becoming a victim of identity crime,\u201d said Eva Velasquez, president and CEO of Identity Theft Resource Center, who suggests people such as this TPG reader act quickly if they accidentally give out personal information on a suspicious website.<\/p>\n

Even if nothing happens to your data immediately, it\u2019s no fun finding out the hard way that unscrupulous strangers have so much access to your private information. \u201cA passport in the wrong hands could lead to various forms of fraud,\u201d security awareness expert and Safr.Me<\/a> CEO Robert Siciliano told TPG.<\/p>\n

And just because data breaches are widely prevalent doesn\u2019t mean the risks are mitigated in any way. \u201cRecovering from identity theft<\/a> can be a long and frustrating struggle,\u201d said Michael Bruemmer, Experian\u2019s VP of consumer protection. \u201cMany people think it can only happen once, or that risks fluctuate. To the contrary, identity theft often carries with it lifelong consequences.\u201d<\/p>\n

The good news? A few simple safety steps can reduce the risk of identity theft and help current victims monitor for possible fraud. Victims can do damage control by reporting financial and identification documents stolen, keeping a close eye on physical security at their homes and subscribing to online data reports.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Security experts suggest taking certain following steps when your personal information is compromised.<\/p>\n

Report your credit card as stolen<\/h3>\n

Block any subsequent transactions and request a new card with different numbers. (If you have a credit card with a “pause” button<\/a>, this is a good time to use that feature.)<\/p>\n

Lock down your credit file<\/h3>\n

Secure your credit file with all three major consumer credit bureaus until your card has been reissued. (Note that a credit lock<\/a> is not the same thing as a credit freeze<\/a>, which takes longer to lift than a temporary lock.)<\/p>\n