Recorded on May 7th 2025
Join Trend Micro’s Marike Kuyper in conversation with Eva Velasquez, CEO of the Identity Theft Resource Center, for an eye-opening discussion on how identity thieves operate, how victims are affected, and the practical steps you can take to protect yourself. Learn how the ITRC supports victims on their path to recovery and why prevention, education, and reporting matter now more than ever.
Key Insights
- The Big 3 to Protect Yourself: Discover the top three actions everyone should take today to reduce their risk of identity theft—freezing your credit, using strong and unique passwords, and enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA) or passkeys.
- Bridging the Support Gap: Explore how nonprofits like the ITRC are stepping in where commercial products and government programs fall short—offering free, one-on-one recovery support to identity theft victims.
- Scam Victimization Knows No Age: Learn why anyone—regardless of age, experience, or tech-savviness—can fall victim to identity theft.
- The Language We Use Matters: Understand how media and everyday language can unintentionally shame victims—and why using compassionate, blame-free communication is essential to encouraging people to come forward and get help.
About the Guest
Eva Velasquez is the CEO of the Identity Theft Resource Center. Eva previously served at the San Diego District Attorney’s Office for 21 years and as the Vice President of Operations for the San Diego Better Business Bureau. She is a recognized leader in the field of identity compromise and crime, cybercrime, and fraud, who has been featured on CBS Mornings, NBC Nightly News, CNBC’s American Greed, Fortune, The New York Times, NPR, The Associated Press and numerous other media outlets. Eva is a recipient of the National Crime Victim Service Award from the U.S. Department of Justice and the National Consumer League’s Florence Kelley Consumer Leadership Award. She is a published author, actively contributes to various advisory boards and working groups, and is regularly invited to speak at industry and policy events, including the Identity, Authentication, and the Road Ahead Policy Forum, the MRC Authentication Summit, and the IACP Annual Conference and Exposition. Eva has also participated in briefing events for the FTC, CFPB, IRS, DHS, PRAC, DoL and the U.S. House of Representatives. She is committed to driving the ITRC’s mission to assist victims, educate the public and advocate for change for those who do not have a voice.
Helpful Links
- Identity Theft Resource Center (IDTheftCenter.org) – A nonprofit organization providing free assistance, custom remediation plans, and resources to victims of identity theft. Call their toll-free number at 888-400-5530 to speak with an expert advisor.
- ReportFraud.ftc.gov – The US federal government’s website where you can report fraud, scams, and bad business practices.
Ready to Enhance Your Scam Awareness?
Try our Trend Micro ScamCheck to spot suspicious links and guard against online threats – even the savviest among us can use an extra layer of defense!.
At Trend, everything we do is about making the world a safer place for exchanging digital information. Thanks for joining us, and stay safe online!
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