TALLAHASSEE, Fla.— Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis has directed his fraud detectives to begin investigating the dark web to find criminals buying and selling sensitive insurance information, which could include personal financial and health-related data. This will boost the efforts of CFO Patronis’ Fraud Free Florida, a new initiative aimed at better coordinating collective investigative efforts to protect Florida’s large population, especially seniors, from scam artists.

 

CFO Jimmy Patronis said, “Hackers attack victims on average every 39 seconds. Even absent a data breach, your medical or financial information is vulnerable and can easily end up on the shady side of the internet—the dark web. These data predators aim to steal your identity and leave you in financial ruin. I’ve directed my office to begin hunting down these criminals to help keep your protected information safe. I’m on a mission to continue tackling identity theft and fraud in Florida with every resource available.”

 

In 2016, an estimated 26 million Americans lost approximately $17.5 billion through identity theft. Cybercrime is at an all-time high, and it is best to remain vigilant in protecting your data from breaches. You can order a free report from each credit bureau by going to www.annualcreditreport.com once every 12 months.

 
Visit www.FraudFreeFlorida.com to report fraud and learn about ways to protect yourself from scams.