This week is International Fraud Awareness Week, and the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office is doing their part to educate the public on the wide variety of scams they encounter regularly. Authorities say most people are aware of identify theft, but many are not aware of how to detect it or what to do when it occurs. Identify theft begins when your Social Security, credit card, bank account or Medicare numbers are used to take out loans in your name or make purchases. It can be difficult to detect identify theft, but best practice is to regularly monitor your bank accounts and credit score for unusual transactions or movement. Avoid potential loss by shredding all documents with sensitive information on them, changing your online passwords on a regular basis and never provide personal information during an unsolicited phone call. Suspected identity theft should be reported to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) by calling 1-877-438-4338 or online at www.IdentityTheft.gov.