EverSafe Newsletter

Data Breach of the Month

GRUBHUB ANNOUNCES SECURITY INCIDENT

There has been an alarming increase in the number of data breaches in recent years. The Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) released a report analyzing  breach incidents in 2024 and found there was a 490% rise in data breach victims compared to 2023. Since the Equifax data breach of 2017, there has been a continuous escalation in the number of breaches across industries in this country and around the world. Grubhub, a popular US food delivery platform, is one of the latest companies to inform customers about the compromise of their personal data by scammers who breached the company’s internal systems. The breach affected an undisclosed number of diners, merchants, and drivers who interacted with the company. Accessed information included names, email addresses, phone numbers, partial payment card information and other data. If you were affected, please call Customer Care at EverSafe to inquire about steps you should take to protect yourself.

Do Allergy Pills Increase Dementia Risk?

EXPERTS FIND POTENTIAL LINK

Spring is around the corner, which means that seasonal allergies will affect many of us. Dr. Anthony L. Komaroff, a Harvard professor and editor in chief of the Harvard Health Letter, believes that individuals who suffer from allergies should consider alternatives to antihistamines. He is one of a number of scientists that have studied the issue and found that cold and allergy medications like Benadryl block a protective chemical in the brain that works to ward off dementia. Noting that his conclusion is still theoretical and that the question is somewhat unsettled among scientists, Komaroff points to other significant research, including a 2024 study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, which also revealed a link between antihistamines and dementia. Another study involving 700,000 people looked at data from Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database from 2011 to 2017 and concluded that there was a dose-dependent increase in dementia risk when antihistamines were used regularly.

GOVERNMENT / LEGISLATIVE  UPDATE

TAX SEASON BRINGS NEW RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE IRS

Tax season is upon us, which means that scammers are working overtime, trying out new ways to steal personal information and filing false returns to obtain phony refunds. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Security Summit (includes the IRS, state tax agencies, financial institutions, and other industry players) made a new recommendation in December. They are now recommending that all taxpayer protect their tax returns by requesting an identity protection personal identification number (IP PIN) in 2025. In the past, this step was recommended if the taxpayer was the victim of identity theft or a financial crime.

Getting this number is simple:

1. Create an IRS Online Account.
2. Sign in and then navigate to your profile information, scroll down and follow the prompts to enroll in the IP PIN program and learn their unique 6-digit number.
3. Parents or guardians with custody of minor children and other dependents can secure IP PINs on their behalf but must complete Form 15227, Application for an Identity Protection Personal Identification Number (IP PIN) PDF, and mail the paperwork to the IRS rather than registering online.

Keep in mind that IP PINS are only valid for one year, and taxpayers using this program should make sure they receive a new PIN annually.

SCAM WATCH

AI SCAMS ARE ON THE RISE

Unsurprisingly, scammers are using new technologies related to artificial intelligence (AI) to commit fraud, identity theft, and financial crimes. AI – enabled scams include “Generative AI,” which is a form of artificial intelligence that can imitate text, images, voice, and videos. It can also “learn” from past data to generate new content. Phishing and smishing scams involving AI make emails and text messages appear to be genuine. The fraudulent communication often contains a link to a seemingly legitimate site or form that directs the recipient to type in their username, password, financial account numbers, or other personal identifying information. This data is sent directly to scammers. In December of last year, the FBI posted a public service announcement listing some of the other ways that scammers are using generative AI. They include social media advertisements for fake products and deepfake videos and recordings that exploit genuine photos or recordings found on social media platforms like Facebook. The potential for creating phony or misleading content, images, videos and voice recordings present a myriad of new opportunities for scammers. You can reduce your risk by making sure your social media accounts and “friends” list are private and help loved ones do the same. Refrain from posting videos and voice recordings. Never open emails or text messages from unknown senders. Do not click on links or attachments from individuals or vendors unless you’re confident they’re legitimate. Eyeball the spelling on email addresses to make sure they belong to the sender. And if you have any doubts about suspicious emails, texts, or voicemails, feel free to send them to Hotline@eversafe.com or to 240.630.1990.

Watching the Oscars?

“GROWNUPS” ARE FRONT AND CENTER THIS YEAR

Are you a fan of the Oscars? Some of us like to watch the show to see how many of the over-50 crowd are nominated or receive “best-in-category” awards. Apparently, AARP did that for us this year. As they noted in a recent piece: Nine out of 20 nominations in the acting categories went to actors over 50, compared to just eight last year. Current nominations include Demi Moore, 62, Adrien Brody, 51, Edward Norton, 55, Isabella Rossellini, 72, Ralph Fiennes, 62, Colman Domingo, 55, and Fernanda Torres, 59. Even the host, Conan O’Brien, is 61. A number of these actors are receiving their first Oscar nomination nod, proving that it’s never too late to pursue your passions. We’ll be rooting for them!