The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued a press release announcing it is holding an Identity Theft Awareness Week between February 1-5, 2021. The week will be comprised of a series of events providing consumers with helpful information to reduce their risk of identity theft and discussing concrete steps consumers can take to recover if identity theft occurs.

Per the FTC’s press release, the event will “highlight what you can do to protect your personal information, red-flag warning signs of possible identity theft, and steps to take if identity theft happens to you.” The specific programs include:

• Monday, February 1, at 1 p.m. ET -Webinar: Ripple Effects of COVID-19 Related Identity Theft & Tips to Protect Yourself in 2021
  This webinar will discuss the identify theft during pandemic and steps consumers should take to secure their personal information.

• Wednesday, February 3, All Day -The FTC and Identity Theft Resource Center partner for a LinkedIn Story “takeover”
  The FTC will take over the Identity Theft Resource Center’s (ITRC’s) LinkedIn Story to provide insights into identify theft and proactive steps that consumers should adopt.

• Thursday, February 4, at 2 p.m. ET – Facebook Live: The FTC and AARP discuss identity theft
  The AARP Fraud Watch Network talks with the FTC’s Identity Theft program manager about COVID-19-related identity theft, current trends, and how to protect yourself.

• Friday, February 5, available beginning 8 a.m. ET – Podcast: The FTC and Identity Theft Resource Center talk about identity theft and COVID-19
  The FTC’s Identity Theft program manager and ITRC leaders discuss the evolving landscape of identity theft, the impact of COVID-19-related identity theft, and tips to help keep your personal information safe.

Through the third quarter of 2020, the FTC received 345,036 reports of identity theft and 480,214 reports of fraud (statistics from the FTC’s Consumer Sentinel Network available here), making identify theft and fraud concerns a top priority for the FTC.

Troutman Pepper will continue to monitor the priorities and initiatives of the FTC in this area.