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Identity theft awareness week: protect yourself from scams and fraud

Identity Theft Awareness
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Identity Theft Awareness Week, Jan. 26-30, is a reminder that scams and identity theft can affect anyone, including homeowners in Pittsford. The Town of Pittsford encourages residents to stay alert as scammers increasingly target personal, financial and property records.

Below are common types of identity theft and ways to protect yourself.

Property and deed fraud

Scammers may file fraudulent documents to transfer a property deed or take out loans using stolen information, often without the homeowner’s knowledge.

How to protect yourself

  • Periodically review property records on Monroe County's Clerk's online database: https://searchiqs.com/nymonr/.
    You can search records as a guest.
  • Watch for a new deed or quitclaim deed you did not authorize, unexpected changes to the owner name, or a new mortgage or lien you did not apply for.
  • If you notice anything suspicious, contact the Monroe County clerk, file a police report and consult a real estate attorney. Early detection matters because correcting a fraudulent deed in New York generally requires legal action.

Government impersonation scams

Scammers may pose as Town, county, state or federal officials, claiming you owe money or must verify personal information.

How to protect yourself

  • The Town of Pittsford will not demand payment or request sensitive information through an unsolicited call, email or text.
  • Be cautious of threats, urgent deadlines and requests for gift cards, wire transfers or cryptocurrency.
  • When in doubt, contact the Town directly using official contact information on the Town website: townofpittsford.org.

Phishing emails, texts and calls

Messages may look legitimate but are designed to steal personal or financial information.

How to protect yourself

  • Do not click links or open attachments from unknown or unexpected senders.
  • Set up bank alerts for withdrawals, purchases and account changes.
  • Watch for red flags such as misspellings, generic greetings, unusual phone numbers or unusual email addresses.
  • Verify requests by contacting the organization directly, not through the contact information provided in the message.

Financial identity theft

This can include unauthorized credit card charges, new accounts opened in your name or a fraudulent tax filing.

How to protect yourself

  • Review bank and credit card statements regularly.
  • Check your credit report at AnnualCreditReport.com.
  • Use strong, unique passwords and enable multifactor authentication when available.

If you think you’ve been targeted

  • Contact your financial institution right away. Do not use phone numbers, links or email addresses provided in a suspicious message.
  • Report identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission at IdentityTheft.gov.
  • Notify local law enforcement when appropriate.