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WEBVTT THIS IS QUITE FRIGHTENINGSTATISTICS.KRISTEN: IT SURE IS.I DONATE THAT IS A HUGE PROBLEMBUT ESPECIALLY HERE INCALIFORNIA WHERE WE RANK 7TH OUTOF 50 STATES WHEN IT COMES TORESIDENTS MOST VULNERABLE TOIDENTITY THEFT.THIS IS ACCORDING TO THEPERSONAL FINANCE WEB SITE SMARTASSET THAT LOOKED AT THE NUMBEROF CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND FRAUDCASES IN 2015.THEY SAY THE REASON CALIFORNIARANKS SO HIGH, IN LARGE PART,IT'S DUE TO THE FACT THATCONSUMERS HERE HAVE THE HIGHESTDEBT-TO-INCOME RATIO OF ANYSTATE IN THE NATION.MANY PEOPLE HAVE MULTIPLE CREDITCARDS AND OPEN ACCOUNTS, WHICHMEANS MORE OPPORTUNITIES FORSCAMMERS TO ACCESS YOUR MONETHE LARGEST POPULATION AFFECTEDBY ID THEFT -- SENIORS AND THEDISABLED COMMUNITY.EXPERTS SAY THEY'RE OFTENTARGETED BECAUSE THEY CAN BEMORE TRUSTING OF AUTHORITIES ANDLESS TECHNOLOGICALLY SAVVY.EXPERTS WARN THAT SCAMS COME INMANY WAYS, THE MOST COMMON BEINGBY PHONE OR EMAIL WITH SOMEONEISSUING A VERY URGENT WARNINGTHAT YOU HAVE TO ACT NOW WITHPERSONAL INFORMATION>> ANY BONAFIDE GOVERNMENTAGENCY, BANK, FINANCIALINSTITUTION IS NOT GOING TOCONTACT YOU BY PHONE OR BY EMAILASKING FOR INFORMATION LIKE YOURDATE OF BIRTH, YOUR SOCIALSECURITY NUMBER, YOUR ACCOUNTNUMBERS.ANYONE THAT'S DOING THAT IS MOSTLIKELY TRYING TO SCAM YOU.KRISTEN: EXPERTS SAY IF YOU DOGET AN EMAIL OR A CALL THAT YOUFIND SUSPICIOUS, YOUR BEST BETIS TO PULL AN OLD STATEMENT,CALL THE NUMBER ON YOUR ACCOUNT,OR GO TO YOUR LOCAL BRANCH ANDVERIFY THE INFORMATION INPERSON.SENIOR HEALTH AND FINANCIALADVOCATES ALSO WORRY ABOUT NEWMEDICARE CARDS THAT WILL BEISSUED THIS FALLTHEY'RE EXPECTING FRAUDULENTTELEMARKETERS AND CREATIVESCAMMERS TO TAKE ADVANTANGE, SOONCE AGAIN, CONSUMERS SHOULDKNOW TO NEVER RESPOND TO PHONECALLS OR EMAILS FROM MEDICAREREQUESTING PERSONAL INFORMATION.IF YOU'VE EVER FALLEN VICTIM TOIDENTITY THEFT, YOU LIKELY KNOWHOW HE IS IT IS FOR THE SCAMMERSTO GET A HOLD OF YOUR MONEY ANDHOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO RECOVERFROM.YOUR BEST DEFENSE IS TO BE VERYCAUTIOUS WITH YOUR CREDIT, YOURACCOUNT NUMBERS YOUR PIN, NUMBERS, AND ANYONE ASKING FOR