 TITLE: What Is Familiar Fraud and How It Can Affect Your Family? CONTENT: It's easy to assume that con artists are unknown predators lurking in the shadows, but they can also be people close to you. According to Eva Velasquez, president and CEO of the nonprofit Identity Theft Resource Center, this can include a spouse, parent, friend, caregiver or anyone else who has access to your personally identifiable information (PII) or account information. If motivated to do so, they could do the following things in your name without your permission or knowledge:\n*   Open new accounts\n*   Make large purchases\n*   Receive medical care\n*   Commit other identity crimes\nWhen the person committing the fraud is a friend or family member, they may readily have access to your confidential information and devices. This makes it easier to verify your identity. END