NEW YORK, Jan. 21, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today's Marketplace (TMP) is proud to announce a featured interview with LifeLock’s (NYSE: LOCK) General Manager, Ian Bednowitz, and Dustin Ormond, PhD, Assoc. Professor of Business Intelligence Analytics at the Heider College of Business at Creighton University. The pair joined Today’s Marketplace host Jane King to discuss how AI is reshaping consumer identity and the greater security challenges it creates. The full interview can be viewed online here. The first ...

- I was born in South Korea. I read a lot and I was always drawing or painting. I really wasn't much of an outdoor kid.I'm not the girl who has ever dreamed of being part of an international spy ring or whatever it is. - 49-year-old Christina Chapman helped the North Korean government avoid sanctions. - Conspiring in a scheme to defraud the US.- Was running what they called a laptop farm. - Christina Chapman's laptop farm alone generated $17 million. - Computers started showing up at my house.I had no clue. ...

Legal & Compliance - Christina Chapman pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments [1] - The case involves North Koreans posing as American workers [1] - Chapman claims she was unaware of her employer's ties to North Korea and her involvement in an international scheme [1] Geopolitical Risk - The scheme is linked to North Korea [1] - The operation is described as an international scheme [1]

Core Insights - Identity theft, particularly when perpetrated by family members, leads to significant emotional and psychological distress for victims [1][4] - Victims of familial fraud often face substantial financial consequences, including debt and damage to their credit reports [2][4] Group 1: Victimization Statistics - A 2021 study indicates that one in 50 U.S. children are victims of identity theft annually, with over 70% of these cases involving someone known to the victim [5] - Familial fraud often targets children due to parents' access to their personal information, such as Social Security numbers [6] Group 2: Psychological Impact - Victims of family identity theft experience dual victimization: first by the family member and then by the system, which requires a police report for assistance [7] - The emotional toll of reporting a family member to authorities complicates the victim's response to the crime [7]

Fraud Tactics & Risks - Increased online shopping during heavy shopping seasons like Black Friday makes consumers more vulnerable to fraud and scams [1] - Scammers use AI to reverse engineer legitimate websites, create imposter social media accounts, and generate fake reviews, making scams more convincing [4][5] - Scammers exploit the desire for deals and bargains, especially during times of economic pressure [2] - Red flags include prices that are too good to be true (e.g., 70-90% off) [11] Prevention & Protection - Use website reputation checkers like Scam Advisor, URL Void, and Trustpilot to verify the legitimacy of websites [7] - Check the Better Business Bureau for information on domain names [8] - Use credit cards for online purchases due to their fraud protection [8] - Be wary of merchants who only accept payment methods like Venmo, Zelle, gift cards, or wire transfers [9][10] - Use VirusTotal dot com to evaluate URLs for potential scams [12] Response to Scams - Immediately contact the bank or payment provider to lock down accounts [13][14] - Report the incident to the FBI at IC3 dot gov and the FTC at FTC dot gov [14] - Utilize resources like the Identity Theft Resource Center for assistance and guidance [14]

Identity Theft Awareness - Timing is critical when identity theft is suspected [1] - Quick action is crucial to protect oneself from identity theft [1] - Individuals should know what to do before identity theft occurs [1] Resource - A resource link is provided for guidance on protecting oneself [1]

Core Insights - DoorDash has confirmed a significant data breach affecting personal information of users, Dashers, and merchants, marking the first major breach of the holiday season [1][2] Company Summary - The breach involved the theft of names, phone numbers, physical addresses, and email addresses, but not Social Security numbers or credit card information [2] - DoorDash has not disclosed the number of affected users but stated there is no current indication of data misuse for fraud or identity theft [2] - The breach was caused by an employee falling victim to a social engineering scam, which can include various fraudulent tactics [2][3] - An external firm has been hired by DoorDash to assist in the investigation, and affected users have been notified as required [3] Industry Summary - Experts suggest that while the breach may seem low-level, it poses risks as stolen data can be combined with other information to create synthetic identities [4][5] - The holiday season is particularly vulnerable to scams, with Experian reporting that 31% of consumers fear identity theft during this period [11] - Key concerns for consumers include identity theft (68%) and stolen credit card data (61%), with significant sources of fraud being credit card use at retail stores (26%) and online shopping (22%) [11]

Group 1 - Many individuals underestimate the importance of having a will and insurance, believing they do not have enough assets to warrant these protections [1] - The Ramsey Solutions team debunked seven myths about wills and life insurance, emphasizing that falling for these myths can jeopardize financial health [2] - Both young and single individuals, as well as older adults with families, require an estate plan, as ownership of any assets necessitates a will [3] Group 2 - Any adult who owns property should have a will to prevent the government from deciding the distribution of their assets, which is a responsible act for loved ones [4] - The misconception that wills are prohibitively expensive is addressed, with suggestions to utilize online services to create legally binding documents at a lower cost [4] - The Ramsey Solutions team recommends using Mama Bear Legal Forms for affordable and legitimate will creation, which meets the needs of 90% of individuals [5] Group 3 - Identity theft is a significant threat, with the FTC reporting 2.6 million fraud cases in 2023, including over 100,000 individuals who lost $10,000 or more [5] - Proactive measures, such as purchasing identity theft protection, are advised to mitigate risks associated with this type of fraud [5]

Core Insights - LifeLock is launching a new YouTube series called "Control Room" on October 22 to address the rising issue of identity theft in the U.S., which affected over 18 million Americans last year [1][2] - The series will feature discussions with cybersecurity experts, policy researchers, and consumer protection advocates to explore the causes and implications of identity theft and fraud [1][2] Group 1: Series Overview - "Control Room" aims to educate the public about the evolving threats of identity theft, including AI-driven scams and data breaches [1][2] - Hosted by Shawnee Delaney and Tyler Grey, the series will reveal insights into modern scams and the psychological impact of identity theft [2] Group 2: Featured Guests - The series will include notable guests such as Ted Harrington, James E. Lee, Caitlin Sarian, Josephine Wolff, and Renée DiResta, who are experts in cybersecurity and identity theft [3] Group 3: Release Information - New episodes of "Control Room" will be released every Wednesday on LifeLock's official YouTube channel, starting at 5 p.m. Eastern time on October 22 [4]

Risk Alert - Account selling scams pose significant risks, including legal issues, fund freezes, and identity theft [1] - Binance accounts and bank accounts are primary targets in account selling scams [1] Security Recommendations - Users should be vigilant and prioritize the security of their accounts [1] - It is crucial to avoid account selling to protect personal and financial information [1]