SAN ANTONIO – Recent arrests by San Antonio police have shed light on the growing issue of identity theft in Texas. In April, Cassandra Trevino, 42, was arrested on multiple charges including fraud and exploitation of the elderly. According to police records, Trevino stole the identity of an 87-year-old victim to go car shopping, obtaining a driver’s license with the victim’s name and an altered birth date.
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) reports that such cases are becoming increasingly common across the country. “We saw close to a million instances of identity theft reported just in a year from 2023-2024,” said Jason Meza, senior director for the BBB. “That’s too many.”
In Texas alone, there were over 6,500 identity fraud reports in 2024, with statistics showing a continued rise in such cases. Meza emphasized that while older individuals are often targeted, anyone can fall victim to identity theft. “Our younger consumers tend to overshare personal information through various means, and data goes out the door quickly with technology,” Meza explained. “I would tell you that everybody is at risk.”
Bank officials in San Antonio stress that protecting oneself from identity theft begins with keeping personal information private. Tricia Richardson, consumer operations vice president for Frost Bank, advised customers to regularly review their bank and credit card statements for unusual activity. “If you see something you don’t recognize, call the company to question the charge,” she said.
To protect against identity theft, experts recommend not oversharing personal information and keeping important documents secure. Victims can report concerns and file claims with the Better Business Bureau or the Federal Trade Commission.
The issue of identity theft is particularly concerning as it can take years for victims to recover their identities and financial security. As Meza noted, “We’ve seen so many instances of South Texans losing not just money but their identity. It’s a heartbreaking process.”
