Florida’s chief financial officer announced the launch of a study to see how gold and silver can be used as money in the state.

President-elect Donald Trump announced his endorsement of Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis for the 1st Congressional District seat, previously held by Rep. Matt Gaetz. Trump made the endorsement via Truth Social on Monday, praising Patronis as a loyal ally.

You may have money owed to you, but you don’t even know it! Now is your chance to claim it.

Florida State Fire Marshall Jimmy Patronis issued a warning about fire hazards with lithium-ion batteries and electric vehicles ahead of Hurricane Milton.

Florida CFO and State Fire Marshall Jimmy Patronis confirmed 16 lithium-ion battery fires related to storm surge from Hurricane Helene.

Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis deployed his Disaster Fraud Strike Teams to the counties impacted by Hurricane Helene on Monday.

Video shows an electric vehicle catching fire after being flooded in saltwater in a garage in Pinellas County on Saturday.

Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis announced Tuesday that the state will be seeking to double its funding to fight high rates of cancer among firefighters.

Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis shared storm recovery resources and flood insurance claims information ahead of Tropical Storm Helene, which is expected to hit the Florida Panhandle Thursday.

Florida’s Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis is issuing a warning to homeowners about ongoing roofing scams that are costing property owners thousands of dollars each year.

Florida’s Chief Financial Officer warns about scammers who try to exploit victims of natural disasters.

Big changes and big money are on the way for the State of Florida’s My Safe Florida Home Program. $200 million is available July 1 to help Floridians harden their homes to save money on their property insurance.

Former President Donald Trump is expected to speak at a news conference at 11 a.m. Friday at Trump Tower following Thursday’s guilty verdict in his New York criminal trial.

According to the Firefighter Cancer Support Network, firefighters have a 9% higher risk of being diagnosed with cancer and a 14% higher risk of dying from cancer compared to the general population in the United States.

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill into law on Thursday in Jacksonville that will give the state more authority to investigate derelict funeral homes.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis on Thursday are set to hold a news conference in Jacksonville.

The state is hoping to cut down on dangerous fires sparked by exploding lithium-ion batteries that burn hotter and longer.

The Florida Senate unanimously cleared a bill Wednesday to put $100 million into the “My Safe Florida Home” program, which could help people lower their home insurance costs.

A Northside funeral home director is wanted on multiple charges after the Florida Department of Financial Services (DFS) opened an investigation following complaints over the “mishandling of cremated remains” and allegedly “abandoning” the business.

Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis are hosting the Ringing of the Bell Ceremony to honor Florida’s fallen firefighters.

Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis urged Floridians to enroll in the My Safe Home Program to help save homeowners on insurance. The program has practically run out of money and state officials are trying to get it back running again.

A sprawling storm has hit the South with high winds and tornado warnings that blew roofs off homes, flipped over campers and tossed about furniture in Florida.

Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis wants to expand what he calls one of the state's best-kept secrets: The Division of Consumer Services.

You may have money owed to you, but you don’t even know it! Now is your chance to claim it.

Tune in Monday on The Morning Show starting at 7 a.m.

You may have money owed to you, but you don’t even know it! Now is your chance to claim it.

Hurricane Idalia's fast track over a sparsely populated region means Florida's insurance industry isn't expected to take nearly the hit it has with previous storms like last year's Ian.

The Florida insurance market took a hit Tuesday, as Farmers Insurance said it will end residential, auto and umbrella policies in the state, forcing tens of thousands of customers to look elsewhere for coverage.

The 2023 Hurricane Season begins Thursday, and it’s probably been a while since you’ve looked at your hurricane kit, so we'll help you finish up getting everything you need ready for a storm.

As many Floridians know, one hurricane can change your life forever with financial and property losses. But you might not be thinking of your cellphone as one of the tools to prepare ahead of the storm.

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a law Tuesday that’s designed to eliminate the consideration of environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards from government investment strategies, procurements, bond issuances and use of banks.

The weekend before Tropical Storm Ian is anticipated to come toward Florida is a great time to start double-checking your hurricane kits -- or creating one.

The battle against TikTok continues as federal lawmakers introduce legislation that would ban the social media app in the United States.

It’s time for Florida's Holiday Money Hunt! News4JAX is officially launching the yearly campaign with Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis to help you put extra cash in your pocket -- at a time when all of us could really use the extra money.

The Florida Cabinet returned to an all-Republican lineup Tuesday as outgoing Senate President Wilton Simpson was elected agriculture commissioner and Attorney General Ashley Moody and state Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis won second terms.

Florida’s Chief Financial Officer is calling for a major overhaul in the way insurance is handled to prevent fraud in wake of Hurricane Ian.

As residents all over Florida begin the process of recovery after disasters like Hurricane Ian, Florida officials are warning them of potential scammers trying to take advantage of their situations.

Homeowners in the state of Florida who were already paying nearly triple the national average for property insurance, will be forced to pay even more after Hurricane Ian.

Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis on Friday warned people and businesses to beware of charity scams related to Hurricane Ian.

Hurricane Ian is threatening to further destabilize Florida’s home insurance market.

The weekend before Tropical Storm Ian is anticipated to come toward Florida is a great time to start double-checking your hurricane kits -- or creating one.

As Tropical Storm Ian strengthens with a path toward Florida as a major hurricane, state officials are urging Floridians to prepare for possible post-storm insurance claims.

The most significant race in Florida's primary election Tuesday is between the two Democratic gubernatorial candidates seeking to go against Gov. Ron DeSantis, who's unopposed in the Republican primary.

Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis on Wednesday warned of a cryptocurrency scam known as “pig butchering” or ”pig slaughtering.”

A ratings agency has plans to downgrade more than two dozen Florida-based property insurance companies in a move that could cost more money for homeowners with loans.

A Jacksonville firefighter battling for PTSD benefits is getting support from a state leader.

Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry and Florida’s Chief Financial Officer have called on Elon Musk to bring his business ventures to the River City.

In Jacksonville Monday, firefighters and first responders were honored along with teams needed in disaster areas after catastrophic storms.

Starting this summer, the home hardening incentive removes sales tax from storm resistant windows, exterior doors and garage doors.

A day after it was announced that Elon Musk had purchased Twitter for $44 billion, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry joined a chorus of elected officials looking to convince Musk to move Twitter headquarters to their state.

The state’s chief financial officer on Monday cautioned Floridians about a major rise in fraud losses across the nation and offered tips to prevent scams.

In a stop in Jacksonville Monday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said he'll address the property insurance crisis in a special legislative session in May.

Florida homeowners are seeing their insurance rates go through the roof. It's the roof that's causing the huge increase.

Jimmy Patronis, Florida’s state fire marshal and chief financial officer, visited Jacksonville on Thursday to thank the Urban Search and Rescue team that’s made up of firefighters from a number of agencies in the area.

According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), there were more than 101,000 reports of identity theft in Florida in 2020, making it the most reported category of fraud.

Edward Waters University warned students via social media early Tuesday morning that it had received “an anonymous bomb and threat of violence to the EWU campus this morning.”

If you haven’t checked your name yet in the Holiday Money Hunt, you could be missing out on cash that could be in your pocket in two weeks or less.

If you want some money – no strings attached – then you’re in luck.

Momentum is growing behind the possibility of the West Coast chain In-N-Out Burger expanding to the Sunshine State.

A nor'easter blew through northeast Florida leaving Floridians in need of insurance help.

In-N-Out Burger could become the next Florida convert as a result of the state’s COVID-19 policies, or at least that’s what Florida’s Chief Financial Officer hopes.

Tuesday was “National Savings Day,” a day when spending less and saving more are emphasized.

Among the 18 firefighters honored in this year’s ceremony, we’re told three died from COVID infections, acquired in the line of duty.

An insurance agent was arrested and charged with fraud after state investigators said he submitted fraudulent life insurance policy applications without the knowledge or consent of the named policyholders in order to obtain commissions.

A 19-year-old man was arrested Friday and charged with arson hours after Jacksonville Fire-Rescue put out a fire at a Southside mobile home.

At an 8 a.m. briefing Wednesday, Gov. Ron DeSantis was breathing a sigh of relief that the effects of Tropical Storm Elsa hadn’t been worse, but he cautioned that dangers might still lie ahead.

Better Business Bureau urges both consumers and businesses to take precautions when responding to unsolicited offers in the wake of Tropical Storm Elsa.

As more human remains emerge from the rubble of the collapsed Florida condo tower, the dead now include the first children.

State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis said two peer team members will be assigned to each unit.

Officials say there are still 159 people unaccounted for after the partial collapse of a beachside building in Florida.

Authorities say nearly 100 people are still unaccounted for after part of a 12-story beachfront condo building collapsed in a town outside Miami.

President Joe Biden will visit FEMA headquarters in Washington D.C. on Monday for a briefing on the Atlantic hurricane outlook and preparedness efforts. Florida is also expected to release new information on storm resources Monday.

Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis announced Wednesday that the most recent Florida Unclaimed Property Online Auction brought in an impressive $899,000, with 59,000 items sold.

Registration begins Friday for the 2021 Florida Unclaimed Property Auction, which will be held online for the first time in the program’s history.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida businesses, governments and healthcare providers will be protected from coronavirus lawsuits if they made a good effort to follow guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19 under a bill signed by Republican Gov. The legislation was the first bill to go to the governor during the 60-day legislative session that began March 2. In order for a lawsuit to move ahead, a plaintiff would have to show that the defendant deliberately ignored guidelines. DeSantis had a live band playing a cover version of The Beatles “With a Little Help from My Friends” in the Cabinet meeting room before he signed the bill. They said the language in the bill and need to prove gross negligence will make it difficult to bring a case forward.

The Associated Press interviewed each of the Cabinet members to discuss their 2021 legislative priorities:CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER JIMMY PATRONISOne of Patronis's top priorities reflects an issue supported by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis and Republican legislative leaders: Passing a bill to shield businesses from lawsuits related to COVID-19. He said he was inspired by a California law that went into affect last year in that state. A wide ranging food insecurity bill would create a tax credit of up to $5,000 for farmers who donate food to charities. “It makes sure that we can go after those folks like guardians and other fiduciaries that are exceeding their scope and taking advantage and exploiting seniors,” Moody said.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – On this edition of “This Week in Jacksonville,” Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis weighs in on what can be accomplished during Florida’s 2021 legislative session. Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried shares her thoughts on Gov. Ron DeSantis’ State of the State address. And University of North Florida Public Opinion Research Lab Director Dr. Michael Binder explains recent poll results.

Members of House and Senate panels have expressed concerns that workers who allege they contracted COVID-19 on the job aren’t getting workers’ compensation benefits. A state report shows that 29,400 coronavirus-related workers’ compensation claims were filed as of Dec. 31, including 13,409 claims filed by health care workers and educators. Claims related to COVID-19 accounted for 31 percent of the 93,228 workers’ compensation claims filed in 2020. Bill Herrle, executive director of the National Federation of Independent Business Florida, said it’s insurers, not employers, that determine whether workers’ compensation claims lead to payments. “Insurers licensed to provide workers’ compensation coverage in Florida are reminded of this statutory requirement, which must be applied on a non-discriminatory basis,” Altmaier’s memo said.

Florida’s Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis sent a letter to the International Olympic Committee on Monday encouraging them to consider relocating the 2021 Olympics from Tokyo to the United States and, more specifically, to Florida. “The state of Florida has successfully allowed sports to take place during the pandemic,” Patronis wrote to Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee. Additionally, our international tourist destinations, like Disney parks have been open and operating safely in Florida for some time. Japan was awarded the 2020 Summer Games in 2013 and has spent at least $25 billion preparing for the Olympics. Publicly, the International Olympic Committee and organizers in Japan are adamant that the games will happen and are planning for the four-month torch relay across Japan to begin March 25.

Bill sponsor Lawrence McClure, R-Dover, said “fewer than 10” lawsuits have been filed against business owners related to COVID-19. The other proposed amendments were offered by Rep. Ben Diamond, a St. Petersburg Democrat who is an attorney. “I think that idea, candidly, jeopardizes the bill,” Diamond said. The committee shot down the two amendments by Diamond, including one that would have deleted the provision from the bill. Diamond called the withdrawn amendment “a first attempt at this issue” of providing greater protections to employees.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, whose job includes the role of state fire marshal, cautioned Floridians to follow fire-safety guidelines ahead of the first New Year’s holiday with a law bolstering the availability of fireworks. Ron DeSantis signed a measure (SB 140) that allows people 18 and older to buy fireworks to use on New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day and Independence Day. Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, called the state’s prior fireworks rules “one of the craziest laws we have on the books.” The old fireworks law prohibited explosives, such as firecrackers, torpedoes and roman candles, while allowing relatively innocuous devices such as sparklers. “You’re basically perjuring yourself every time you purchase fireworks, because you’re signing a paper that most people, I would say everyone, doesn’t use for that purpose,” Rodriguez said in February. The new law eliminated the need for people to declare why they are buying fireworks if they use the fireworks during the three holidays listed in the bill.

Ron DeSantis’ handling of the coronavirus pandemic Thursday, as first-time unemployment claims in Florida were up last week from the holiday-shortened previous week. The U.S. Department of Labor estimated 25,012 initial jobless claims were submitted in Florida during the week that ended Dec. 5, up from 23,063 claims during the previous week, which included Thanksgiving. Last week’s Florida total was among the lowest for a seven-day period since pandemic-related unemployment exploded across the state and nation in March. Since the start of November, the state has averaged just over 26,000 new claims a week. The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity has paid out nearly $19.1 billion, mostly in federal money, to almost 2.13 million unemployment claimants since March 15.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – As Florida prepares for the first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to be distributed, there’s a push to get firefighters who deal with medical calls to the front of the line. Right now firefighters who are also EMTs are not in Phase 1 of the vaccine plan like hospital workers are. All we’re saying is treat them the same way you treat our doctors and nurses.”News4Jax also reached out to Randy Wyse with the Jacksonville Firefighter’s Union. He said all Jacksonville firefighters who are on the street are trained EMTs. A CDC spokeswoman issued an emailed statement:“ACIP, CDC’s independent vaccine advisory committee, traditionally develops vaccine recommendations that go to the CDC director for approval before becoming official CDC policy.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody on Wednesday joined 16 other states in backing a last-chance effort by Texas to get the U.S. Supreme Court to block election results in four swing states where the vote went in favor of President-elect Joe Biden. “The integrity and resolution of the 2020 election is of paramount importance,” Moody wrote in a statement as Florida joined a friend-of-the-court brief urging the Supreme Court to allow Texas to move forward with the case. The other states are Missouri, Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, and West Virginia. On Tuesday, the Supreme Court declined, without comment, to hear a challenge to Pennsylvania’s election results. Also, state Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis backed Trump’s efforts in an interview Wednesday with The News Service of Florida.

News4Jax teamed up with the Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis’ office to find people that money. Twenty-four hours after the Holiday Money Hunt began, 3,441 people in Jacksonville had claimed $610,587.92. In News4Jax’s original story on the Holiday Money Hunt, we broke down how much money was available in more than 100 ZIP codes across Northeast Florida. The message says “Notification of Required Maintenace.” The CFO’s office says the website performs routine maintenance at different times of the day. Finally, if you don’t find any money for yourself, make sure to check for friends, family and neighbors.

As more Floridians than ever turn to online shopping, it’s more important than ever to protect yourself from fraud and scams. 4 Tips to Protect Yourself from Black Friday ScamsIf it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is. Be careful of unfamiliar merchants and be extra wary of items listed at prices well below those of other shops. Credit cards offer consumer protection if things go wrong with a purchase. To report fraud or learn about ways to protect yourself from scams, visit FraudFreeFlorida.com.

(Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – As legal battles and vote counts continue in other states, Gov. Ron DeSantis, Attorney General Ashley Moody and Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis on Tuesday quickly certified the results of Florida’s Nov. 3 general election. DeSantis and the two Cabinet members, acting as the state Elections Canvassing Commission, did not comment before agreeing in a conference call to certify the results. More than 11.14 million Floridians cast ballots in the election.

Amazon’s Prime Day is a two-day long event that promising some of the best deals of the year. Never ones to pass on an opportunity to deceive, scammers are trying to cash in, too. “Do not click links in emails,” Freedman said. How do you know the email that looks like it came from Amazon is from an imposter instead? The Better Business Bureau warns of scammers calling people to day there’s an issue with their Amazon account.

The controversy comes after former Democratic Presidential Candidate Michael Bloomberg pledged to donate at least $16 million to the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition. “It doesn’t smell good, it doesn’t look good,” said Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, a Republican. Florida Rights Restoration Coalition Deputy Director Neil Volz said the organization doesn’t ask about the race or political leanings of the felons whose fines they pay. The coalition told us it has so far spent $5 million to pay the fines and fees of 5,000 felons. There are estimated to be about 750,000 felons in Florida currently blocked from voting because of outstanding costs related to their sentence.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – After his bid for a pardon was blocked Wednesday, Florida felons' voting-rights leader Desmond Meade said the decision made him even more committed to continuing his work. The decision to defer Meade’s pardon request came the same day he announced that he was receiving a $100,000 grant from an unidentified foundation for his advocacy. The 2019 law requiring felons to pay outstanding fines and fees could prevent hundreds of thousands of felons from registering to vote. There’s a backlog of 24,000 felons seeking rights restoration with or without hearings. “If restoring and protecting Floridians' constitutional rights were a priority for this governor, it would happen — but it’s not, so it won’t.

Attorney General Ashley Moody sent letters to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the FBI saying that further investigation is warranted. Ron DeSantis had asked Moody to review allegations that Bloomberg and the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition had violated the law by offering incentives for voting. The Florida Rights Restitution Coalition had raised about $5 million before Bloomberg made calls to raise almost $17 million more, according to Bloomberg staffers. Neil Volz, the group's executive director, has also had his voting rights restored and the clemency board restored his other civil rights Wednesday. “It just seems like, then what is enough?”The question of satisfying financial obligations before voting rights are restored continues to be battled in court.

DeSantis and Patronis on Wednesday blocked Meade’s request for a pardon, with DeSantis saying the panel should take the issue “under advisement” until it can gather more information. The state’s labyrinthine and years-long clemency process prompted Meade and other advocates to initiate the constitutional amendment, which enabled Meade to cast a ballot in last month’s primary elections. Meade said his focus is on getting his rights restored in Florida, as a pardon would restore rights such as being able to serve on juries and have firearms. Critics have condemned the state’s clemency process as a remnant of Jim Crow-era laws designed to keep Black people from voting. The number is a stark contrast to more than 155,000 felons who had their rights restored under an “automatic” process initiated by Scott’s predecessor, former Gov.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – With Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried calling for a coordinated response by statewide elected officials to the coronavirus pandemic, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday defended the actions of agencies under his control. DeSantis and the Cabinet also held a conference call on May 28. Fried, the lone statewide elected Democrat, has repeatedly called for Cabinet meetings and more coordination amid the pandemic. “When you talk to like a hospital or all these places, it’s not only that we’re there to help, they’ll say that, but we’re there very quickly when someone needs something,” DeSantis told reporters after the Cabinet meeting.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – More than $39 million was returned to the rightful owners in August, Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis announced Thursday. It was the second-highest monthly amount of unclaimed property recovered and returned to Floridians in the Division of Unclaimed Property’s 59-year history. The most common types of unclaimed property are dormant bank accounts, unclaimed insurance proceeds, stocks, dividends, uncashed checks, deposits, credit balances and refunds. Unclaimed property assets are held by business or government entities for a set period of time, usually five years. RELATED: How to find out if forgotten treasure is waiting for youAugust 2020 unclaimed property returns by region

Not surprisingly, first responders and health care workers have filed the most workers compensation indemnity claims related to COVID-19. Meanwhile private self-insured funds and government self-insured funds denied or partially denied 30 percent and 31 percent of claims, respectively. Miami-Dade County leads the state in the number of COVID-19 infections and in workers compensation claims. In addition to having claims information, the report also contains data on indemnity claims paid. Workers compensation indemnity claims had been filed in every county, with the exception of DeSoto County, according to the data.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A Florida emergency management search-and-rescue team is heading to Louisiana in anticipation of the landfall of Hurricane Laura. The team is expected to spend about two weeks, or however long it is needed, working after the storm, Division of Emergency Management spokesman Jason Mahon said Wednesday. The Florida Division of Emergency Management on Tuesday sent three staff members to help Mississippi set up shelters that comply with coronavirus health regulations. Florida utilities also have sent crews to help restore electricity in the region. Also, the Florida Municipal Electric Association said Wednesday that crews from public utilities in various parts of the state will help with restoration in Louisiana.

It’s called Florida’s unclaimed property. On FLTreasureHunt.gov, you can do a free search in about 30 seconds to see if you have any unclaimed property. RELATED: Treasure hunt: Unclaimed property may be waiting for you | There could be money waiting for you to claim itAccording to a private startup out of Gainesville called ClaimFound, there are hundreds of thousands of dollars unclaimed in Jacksonville alone. The only difference is they charge a percentage fee or a commission to help people find that money,” Prompovitch said. Say your name doesn’t show that you have any unclaimed property, that doesn’t mean there’s not something there.

You or your business may be struggling financially because of COVID-19, but there could be money just waiting for you to claim it. Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis says an estimated one in five Floridians have unclaimed property just waiting, and it doesn’t cost you a dime to get it back. “This is another amazing milestone for our Unclaimed Property Team, especially since our staff has been teleworking since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The most common types of unclaimed property are dormant bank accounts, unclaimed insurance proceeds, stocks, dividends, uncashed checks, deposits, credit balances and refunds. Unclaimed property assets are held by business or government entities (holders) for a set period of time, usually five years.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. State Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis asked law-enforcement officials Monday to determine potential economic risks to Florida from hacks of social-media accounts after a high-profile Twitter hack last week. Twitter rightfully called the breach embarrassing, but I would also characterize it as dangerous; Twitter has clearly been culpably negligent in allowing this infiltration to occur, Patronis wrote. The attack represents a threat beyond that to all users privacy and data security, though those are credible threats given that Florida is experiencing an ongoing fraud epidemic, Patronis wrote. This coordinated attack threatens the underpinnings of how the State of Florida shares important information about elections, disasters and other emergencies, and consumer services. One tweet could cause conflicts or send our states economy into a tailspin.Questions linger about who was responsible for last weeks attack.

Patronis says Floridians who use Android devices need to know the signs of identity theft, fraud and scams. The Federal Trade Commission ranks Florida second in the nation for fraud and ID theft reports and estimates that Florida fraud losses totaled nearly $90 million in 2019. Identity theft and imposter scams are the top two forms of fraud reported. Monitor credit reports. Credit reports are available free of charge from each of the three national credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) every 12 months.