Dr. Alex del Carmen, associate dean and professor with the School of Criminology at Texas State University, recently sat down to discuss ways to protect individuals from becoming victims of fraud during the holiday season. During the interview, Dr. del Carmen emphasized the dangerous nature of public internet networks and the importance of utilizing a virtual private network (VPN) for maximum protection.
“I have it on all the time on my phone,” Dr. del Carmen said. “So all you have to do is every once in a while make sure the app is working, make sure the app is updated, and make sure that it says VPN is on.”
Dr. del Carmen also discussed ways to avoid target theft in parking lots and stores, warning that “every gift that you’re going to return or exchange is just like cash, right to the bad guy.” He suggested that people should be mindful of their belongings, even if they are only planning to be away from them for a few seconds.
Finally, Dr. del Carmen acknowledged that while technology has improved in recent years, there is still a shortage of people who want to work in the industry, resulting in a lack of manpower to stop criminals from stealing goods.
Dr. del Carmen concluded with a reminder to be mindful when returning or exchanging gifts during the holidays and to ensure that their virtual private network (VPN) is activated and up-to-date for maximum protection against identity theft.