Harper Highlights Smart Consumer Practices at Cybersecurity Seminar

CHICAGO – To provide consumers with information about how to protect their identity and maintain their financial security during the holiday shopping season, state Rep. Sonya Harper, D-Chicago, hosted a free cybersecurity seminar with the Illinois Attorney General’s office on Thursday last week.

“With the holiday season right around the corner, more and more people will be using their credit and debit cards to buy gifts and other items for their loved ones both at stores and online,” Harper said. “What people may be unaware of is that one swipe of your card puts your information out there for hackers to potentially compromise.”

Harper welcomed an expert from the Illinois Attorney General’s office to discuss tips to help residents protect themselves against criminals seeking to extract their personal information, including how to request a credit and debit card with an embedded the security chip, how to detect online phishing scams and prevent identity theft attempts.

“No should ever take for granted the sensitivity of their personal information and how it can be targeted by hackers and online criminals for their personal use and gain,” Harper said. “I want people to know the measures they can take at all times to prevent a financial catastrophe from crippling their lives.”