What Clinicians Must Know About AI Usage in Healthcare in 2026

Why Healthcare AI Tools Aren’t “Plug and Play” 

A lot of AI tools are marketed as if you can just turn them on and start using them in healthcare—but it’s not that simple.

Many of these tools were built for other industries, not for patient care. The AI getting the most attention right now often isn’t ready to be used safely in clinical settings without serious work first.

Before you can rely on any AI tool, it needs to be carefully adapted, tested, and proven to work in real healthcare situations—especially when it involves patient outcomes or sensitive health information.

And here’s the key point: you’re the one responsible if something goes wrong. If an AI tool contributes to a mistake, the accountability falls on you—not the company that made it.

That’s why you need to ask tougher questions than you might for other business tools. Big promises like “100% accuracy” or “no errors” sound great, but they don’t hold up in real-world care. What really matters is knowing:

• When the tool might fail

• How it fails

• How often it fails

Why You Need AI You Can Actually Understand

In some industries, it’s fine to use AI that works like a “black box”—you put something in, get an answer out, and trust it. But in healthcare, that’s risky.

You can’t afford to rely on something you don’t understand when patient care is on the line.

When you’re evaluating AI tools, you should be able to get clear answers about:

• How accurate the tool really is (and how often it makes mistakes)

• How to spot and prevent errors

• Whether it actually fits into your daily workflow

• What’s being done to reduce bias across different patient groups

• Whether it will genuinely save you time—or just add more steps

No matter the size of your practice, you have the right to expect transparency. If a vendor can’t clearly explain how their tool works or when it shouldn’t be used, that’s a red flag.

Why Bias in AI Is a Real Risk for Patients

One of the biggest—and most overlooked—risks with AI in healthcare is bias.

AI models can look accurate overall but still perform worse for certain groups, like women or minority patients. When that happens, some patients may be misdiagnosed, overlooked, or not get the care they need.

That’s why it’s important to dig deeper than overall performance numbers. Ask vendors if they’ve tested their tools across different populations and whether the results are consistent.

What Happens If an AI Company Doesn’t Last

Many healthcare AI companies are still startups, which means not all of them will be around long-term.

If a company shuts down, it can leave you dealing with lost time, wasted money, and potential issues around patient data and workflows you’ve already integrated.

To protect yourself:

• Talk to real users—not just the references the company provides

• Connect with peers who have similar practices or patients

• Ask about how reliable and responsive the company is

The good news is that there are often multiple tools that do similar things, so you have options if one doesn’t meet your standards.

Why AI Can Be a Big Opportunity for Smaller Practices

For smaller practices, AI can actually be a huge advantage.

Large healthcare systems tend to move slowly, but smaller teams can adopt new tools more quickly and see immediate benefits—whether that’s saving time, improving patient experience, or growing the business.

In many cases, AI companies are starting to focus more on smaller practices because they’re more open to trying new solutions.

A Simple Way to Think About Using AI Safely

If you’re considering adding AI to your practice, a few basic guidelines can help you make smarter decisions:

• Work with companies that already understand healthcare

• Make sure patient data is protected and compliant

• Ask for clear, honest explanations of how the AI works

• Choose tools that make your job easier—not more complicated

When used thoughtfully, AI can make your work easier, reduce burnout, and help you deliver more personalized care. But it’s not something you can just plug in and trust right away—you need to approach it carefully to keep both you and your patients safe.

Common Malpractice Risks Clinicians Face in 2026 (and How to Prevent Them)

How Equipment Problems Can Lead to Injuries and Claims

If you’ve ever used a worn-out exercise bike in a hotel gym, you’ve probably noticed how equipment can loosen or break over time. Maybe the seat suddenly drops or something doesn’t feel secure. Usually, it’s just annoying—but in a physical therapy setting, that same kind of issue can lead to real injuries.

For example, one case involved a patient doing rehab exercises on a bench when a latch suddenly gave out. The patient fell and ended up with injuries to their arm, wrist, and head. Situations like this—simple slips or falls caused by equipment failure—are actually some of the most common claims in therapy settings.

What this means: Equipment like benches, tables, bikes, and adjustable seats naturally wear down with daily use. If something breaks, the big question becomes whether it was properly checked and maintained.

What you can do: Take a few minutes each day to visually inspect equipment. Keep records of those checks, and replace anything that’s getting worn before it fails.

Why Having a Second Person Present During Sensitive Care Matters

In areas like women’s health or physical therapy, claims don’t always come from wrongdoing—they often come from misunderstandings. When it’s just you and the patient in the room, there’s no one else to confirm what actually happened.

Sometimes patients may feel uncomfortable during hands-on treatment, even if everything was done appropriately. Without another staff member present, it can turn into one person’s word against another’s.

What this means: Having a second person in the room protects both you and the patient.

What you can do: Whenever possible, have another staff member present during sensitive exams or treatments. It helps patients feel more at ease and gives you a witness if questions ever come up later.

How Small Safety Oversights Can Turn Into Big Problems

Not every claim is about a medical mistake—sometimes it’s about simple judgment calls.

In one case, a patient had blood drawn while sitting on an exam table instead of a secure chair. When the provider stepped out briefly, the patient fainted, fell, and suffered a wrist fracture and head injury.

What this means: Small decisions—like where a patient sits or whether they’re left alone—can have serious consequences.

What you can do: Think ahead about how patients might react (for example, fainting during a blood draw), and never leave someone in a vulnerable position unattended. Good judgment is just as important as clinical skill.

The Growing Risk of Hiring and Supervision Issues

As healthcare services expand into areas like home care, newborn care, and elder care, practices are hiring more staff—and often quickly. This can increase the risk of bringing on people who aren’t fully vetted or properly supervised.

When staff work closely with families, especially in stressful situations, problems can arise if there are concerns about their behavior, emotional stability, or performance.

What this means: If something goes wrong, the responsibility may fall on the practice for not properly screening or supervising staff.

What you can do: Take the time to thoroughly vet new hires, clearly define their roles, and stay involved in supervising them—even in mobile or home-based settings. If issues come up, act quickly and appropriately.

Why Timely Documentation Can Make or Break a Case

One of the most common and damaging mistakes is waiting too long to document an incident. Notes written days later are often incomplete or inconsistent, which can hurt your credibility.

What this means: The longer you wait, the harder it is to defend your actions.

What you can do: Document events as soon as they happen, following your state and workplace guidelines. If needed, involve supervisors early and keep all related records.

Practical Steps to Reduce Risk

As practices grow and legal claims become more costly, staying proactive is key. Based on recent cases, here are some simple steps that can make a big difference:

• Check and document equipment regularly

• Have a second staff member present during sensitive care

• Make sure patients are secure and never left alone when vulnerable

• Carefully hire, train, and supervise staff

• Document incidents right away and follow proper procedures

Most claims don’t come from major mistakes—they come from everyday moments where something small was overlooked. Paying attention to those moments can help prevent bigger problems down the line.

Telemedicine’s Next Chapter: Emerging Trends and Risk Considerations

Although telemedicine may feel like a modern innovation, its roots extend back several decades. Early adoption was largely limited to imaging and radiology, functioning primarily as a business-to-business service between radiologists and referring physicians. Today, that narrow model has expanded dramatically. Advances in technology have transformed telemedicine into a broad ecosystem of digital specialties, ranging from tele-dermatology and remote neurological monitoring to fully virtual primary care practices. Providers now engage directly with patients through multiple digital platforms, fundamentally reshaping how care is delivered.

What’s Driving Telemedicine’s Rapid Growth?

Several key factors have accelerated the expansion of digital medicine and solidified its place in mainstream healthcare.

Legislative and Regulatory Momentum

The passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) placed a renewed emphasis on improving access to care while increasing efficiency across the healthcare system. Telemedicine aligns closely with these goals, and the ACA includes specific provisions recognizing its role in patient care delivery. While reimbursement challenges remain, many providers have embraced telemedicine as a strategic way to expand access, retain patients, and adapt to an evolving regulatory environment.

A More Mobile Patient Population

Telemedicine has proven especially valuable for patients in rural or underserved areas, offering access to care that may otherwise be unavailable. At the same time, it has become increasingly attractive to patients who prioritize convenience and mobility. In a culture shaped by instant communication and remote access, virtual healthcare fits naturally. A parent consulting a pediatrician while traveling or a patient checking in from a hotel room is no longer a novelty—it’s an expectation.

Increased Flexibility for Providers

Healthcare professionals are also capitalizing on the flexibility telemedicine provides. Virtual platforms allow providers to extend their reach beyond traditional geographic boundaries, connecting with broader patient populations while maintaining continuity of care. In some cases, telemedicine even enables physicians to continue practicing while traveling or working from secondary locations. It’s not uncommon for providers to deliver care remotely from vacation homes or temporary residences, blending professional responsibilities with personal flexibility.

A Rapidly Evolving Digital Landscape

While telemedicine itself is not new—it has existed in some form since the 1970s—its growth over the past decade has been exponential. What began with phone calls and basic video conferencing has evolved into sophisticated, specialty-specific software platforms designed to support clinical decision-making, documentation, and patient monitoring. As innovation accelerates, organizations like the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) continue to update policies and best practices to keep pace with the changing risk and regulatory landscape.

As telemedicine continues to mature, its implications for medical professional liability will become increasingly complex. 

The Real Cost of Dropping Prior Acts Coverage for Non-Standard Physicians

Most non-standard physician risks are written on claims-made policy forms, which makes prior acts coverage a critical component of a physician’s professional liability protection. Yet it’s increasingly common for retail agents to ask about insuring a physician at renewal without prior acts coverage—often referred to as a retro date inception (RDI).

Sometimes these requests are purely educational. Retail partners want to understand pricing differences in case the topic comes up with their client. More often, however, the physician is actively considering dropping prior acts coverage as a way to reduce premium. While the short-term savings can be tempting, the long-term implications are frequently underestimated.

Before dropping the prior acts coverage (also called "cutting your tail") on a medmal policy, there are a couple important factors that should be carefully evaluated.

1. Uncovered Claims Are Only the Beginning

The most obvious risk of dropping prior acts without purchasing tail coverage is exposure to uncovered medical malpractice claims. A gap in coverage can leave both business and personal assets vulnerable if a claim arises from past services.

But uncovered claims aren’t the only concern. Physicians are routinely credentialed by hospitals and medical facilities, and continuous medical malpractice coverage is often a non-negotiable requirement. Gaps created by dropping prior acts can jeopardize a physician’s existing hospital privileges and can create serious obstacles when seeking credentials at new facilities in the future.

What may look like a smart financial move today can quickly evolve into a costly professional setback down the road.

2. Tail Coverage Isn’t a Simple Safety Net

Some physicians eventually realize that dropping prior acts was a mistake and attempt to fix the problem by purchasing a stand-alone tail policy. Unfortunately, that option is often expensive and, in some cases, unavailable.

If a significant amount of time has passed since prior acts were dropped, finding tail coverage can be challenging under even the best circumstances. If there has been claim activity related to services provided during the uninsured period, securing tail coverage may be virtually impossible.

Once a gap exists, reversing the decision isn’t always an option. The most effective way to avoid these issues is to maintain prior acts coverage from the outset.

A Conversation Worth Having

Before cutting your tail, talk to a specialist at CAPIA to weigh out your options but don't wait too long.  Carriers typically only allow for 30 days after the expiration date to get a tail policy bound.  Once that 30-day period has passed, it's virtually impossible to find a carrier who will offer coverage.  

Tail coverage can be quite pricey, and premiums are usually due in full and can be anywhere between 100% to 300% of the expiring premium, so the best bet would be to keep your prior acts.  

In the end, informed decisions—not just cheaper premiums—lead to better outcomes for everyone involved.  

Understanding Off-Label Use of Medications

Using medications “off-label” isn’t new—it’s actually been a common and accepted practice for many years. For example, Botox was originally approved in 1989 to treat certain eye conditions, but doctors used it for other purposes for about a decade before it was officially approved for cosmetic use. Another example is semaglutide medications, which are approved for diabetes but are sometimes used for weight loss.

What Does “Off-Label” Mean?
The FDA defines off-label use as using an approved medication or product in a way that isn’t specifically listed on its official label. This could mean using it for a different condition, at a different dose, in a different group of patients, or in another way not originally approved.

Even though the FDA approves drugs for specific uses, once a medication is approved, licensed healthcare providers can prescribe it however they believe is best for their patient. Their decisions are based on medical judgment and what other trained professionals would reasonably do—not just what the drug manufacturer recommends. The FDA allows this but does not guide or recommend individual treatments.

Why Is Off-Label Use Sometimes a Concern?
One challenge is that off-label medications are often used in groups that weren’t included in clinical trials, such as children, older adults, pregnant women, or people with complex health conditions. These groups are often excluded from studies for safety reasons, which means there’s sometimes less research available on how drugs affect them.

Because of this, Off-label uses of FDA-approved medications are not something carriers like to cover right now, and if they do, there will likely be a higher premium for that coverage.

Despite this, off-label use is often appropriate and even considered standard practice in some areas. For example, many medications used in pediatrics, cancer treatment, and HIV care are commonly prescribed off-label.

What Healthcare Providers Need to Consider
If a clinician is thinking about prescribing a medication off-label, they should:

• Make sure the drug is already FDA-approved for some use (not experimental)

• Be especially careful with medications that carry serious warnings

• Fully understand both the approved and off-label uses, including risks and side effects

• Check whether the off-label use is widely accepted in their field

• Review the patient’s medical history to avoid harmful interactions

• Clearly explain everything to the patient, including risks, benefits, and alternatives

• Get informed consent in writing and make sure to include the following key points:

• An off-label use is when a drug or device is used differently from its FDA-approved label, so not all side effects and complications are known.

• The use involves a different route, dose, or condition, and may change the risk profile of the drug.

• The details of the treatment have been fully explained and the patient’s understanding was verified and contemporaneously noted in the patient record.

• The patient was not given guarantees about the potential results of the medication or device.

• The patient is not required to take the medication or use the device as a condition of continued treatment by the practitioner.

• The patient received written instructions about the types of conditions, signs, or symptoms that could indicate a possible adverse reaction with directions on what to do and who to contact in the event a reaction occurs.

• Consider costs and whether insurance will cover the treatment

• Monitor the patient closely for any unexpected

Off-label use has proved beneficial to patients. When approached in a manner consistent with patient safety, it can provide avenues for treatment and optimum clinical results not otherwise available.

The Growing Role of Ketamine and TMS in Mental Health Care

Not long ago, ketamine therapy and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) were seen as unconventional options—something you’d only hear about on the fringes of mental health treatment. Today, that’s changed in a big way. These therapies are becoming a regular part of outpatient care across the U.S., showing up in both specialized clinics and traditional psychiatry practices. Recent reporting suggests there are now hundreds of ketamine clinics operating nationwide—likely somewhere between 500 and 700. At the same time, many behavioral health providers are investing in TMS technology and FDA-approved esketamine (Spravato) programs.

Ketamine’s New Role in Mental Health

Ketamine has actually been around for decades. It was approved back in 1970 as an anesthetic and has long been used in hospitals and emergency settings. But over the past 15–20 years, researchers discovered something important: in low doses, ketamine can quickly reduce symptoms of depression—even in patients who haven’t responded to other treatments. Most of its use in mental health today is considered “off-label.” That means while ketamine itself is approved, using it for depression (typically through IV or IM treatments) isn’t specifically FDA-approved. Still, it’s legal and widely practiced. Patients usually go through a series of treatments over several weeks, sometimes followed by ongoing maintenance sessions. A major turning point came in 2019, when the FDA approved a nasal spray version called Spravato. Unlike traditional ketamine treatments, Spravato must be given in a certified clinical setting under strict safety guidelines. The big difference? It’s often covered by insurance, including Medicare.

What Is TMS, and Why Is It Growing?

TMS is a completely different approach. Instead of medication, it uses magnetic pulses to stimulate specific areas of the brain. A device is placed on the scalp, and patients remain fully awake during treatment. The FDA first cleared TMS in 2008 for patients with depression who didn’t respond to antidepressants. Since then, it’s also been approved for conditions like OCD. Treatment typically involves frequent sessions—about five times a week for four to six weeks. Side effects are usually mild, like scalp discomfort or headaches. While seizures are a known risk, they’re rare when proper protocols are followed. Because TMS is FDA-cleared and follows standardized guidelines, insurance companies are generally more comfortable covering it. Many psychiatry practices now rely on TMS and Spravato as key revenue drivers. From an insurance perspective, this also means something important: many mental health practices are no longer “low-risk” operations. They now use advanced equipment and treat more complex cases.

Who’s Offering These Services?

There’s a wide range of providers in this space, and each comes with its own risks and considerations.

Standalone ketamine clinics

Often run by anesthesiologists, psychiatrists, or nurse practitioners, these clinics tend to focus only on ketamine treatments. Many operate on a cash-pay model and may have smaller teams or limited operating history.

Psychiatry practices with interventional services
More traditional practices are adding TMS, Spravato, and sometimes ketamine into their offerings. These tend to combine insurance-based care with ongoing psychiatric treatment.

Hospitals and academic centers
Larger health systems are building formal programs with structured protocols and multidisciplinary teams. While they often have stronger oversight, the potential severity of claims can be higher.

Telehealth and hybrid models
Some companies now combine virtual care with at-home ketamine treatments. This model introduces additional regulatory and compliance challenges, especially as rules continue to evolve.

What Comes Next

There’s a lot more to understand about how these treatments work, how they’re regulated, and how to properly insure them.  If you are considering offering ketamine or TMS services, a specialist at CAPIA can help educate and guide you to the right medical professional liability coverage for your needs. 

MedSpas and Medical MalPractice: Key Exposures Underwriters Scrutinize

Medspas (also known as medispa facilities) have become a rapidly growing segment within the medical malpractice marketplace. Driven by society’s increasing focus on aesthetic enhancement, these operations range from mobile Botox providers to large-scale facilities that closely resemble outpatient surgery centers.

From a professional liability perspective, many medspas appear relatively straightforward to insure. However, certain treatments, practices, and operational nuances can introduce exposures that fall outside standard coverage parameters. When these risks are not properly identified and underwritten, medical malpractice coverage can quickly break down. In many cases, insurers may extend coverage through endorsements—but often only after additional underwriting review and, frequently, at an increased premium to reflect heightened risk.

Below are four common medspa exposures that typically require closer underwriter evaluation.

1. Non–FDA-Approved Treatments or Uses

Medspas often offer treatments that are either not FDA approved or are used in a manner not approved by the FDA. A common example is Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG), which is frequently promoted for weight loss in conjunction with calorie-restricted diets. While HCG is FDA approved as a fertility medication, it is not approved for weight-loss treatment.

This distinction is critical because many medical malpractice policies include exclusions for non–FDA-approved treatments or off-label uses. Without proper disclosure and underwriting review, providers may mistakenly assume coverage applies when it does not. As a result, insurers typically require additional information—and sometimes specific endorsements—to extend coverage appropriately.

2. Specialized or Variable Treatment Formulations

Treatments that involve multiple formulations or varying concentrations often draw increased scrutiny from underwriters. Mesotherapy is a common example. While it is generally considered an acceptable medspa procedure, certain formulations fall outside what many carriers are willing to cover.

Specifically, mesotherapy mixtures containing phosphatidylcholine and deoxycholate (PCDC) for lipolysis raise red flags due to their increased risk profile. Once formulations exceed accepted underwriting parameters, coverage may be restricted or declined altogether unless properly endorsed.

3. Procedure Volume and Mix

Underwriters expect procedure volumes to align with industry norms based on a facility’s size, staffing, and operational capacity. When a medspa performs an unusually high number of procedures—especially higher-risk treatments—this can prompt additional underwriting review and premium adjustments.

Insurers also assess whether procedure counts are reasonable given the number of providers and support staff on site. Disproportionate volumes may signal operational strain or increased exposure, both of which influence underwriting decisions.

4. Provider Training and Supervision

Because medspas frequently employ non-physician providers, such as nurses or aestheticians, training and supervision are key underwriting considerations. While acceptable provider roles generally follow state statutes, some insurance markets impose stricter requirements regarding education, certifications, and physician oversight.

Underwriters often require detailed information about who performs each procedure, the training they have completed, and the level of physician supervision involved. Failure to clearly outline these details can lead to coverage limitations or declinations.

Final Thoughts

Given the growing number of medspa facilities in the professional liability space, it is easy to underestimate the complexity of their risk profiles. These accounts often carry modest premiums, which can cause them to be overlooked during placement or renewal. However, small premiums do not equate to small exposure.

In the end, medspas may look simple on the surface—but they demand the same diligence as any other healthcare risk.

Understanding Medical Director Liability: Why One Size Coverage Doesn't Fit All

Recently, there has been a noticeable increase in requests for medical director coverage—and with it, a growing concern that many medical directors are underinsured. While the title “medical director” may sound primarily administrative, the reality is that the role often carries broader professional liability exposure than expected.

Medical director responsibilities generally fall into three categories, each requiring a different approach to professional liability coverage.

1. Medical Director with Administrative Duties Only

This is the most straightforward form of medical directorship and typically involves non-clinical responsibilities such as developing protocols, overseeing compliance, and managing operational procedures. Because there is no direct patient interaction, coverage is usually limited to administrative errors and omissions.

In many cases, facility policies automatically include this exposure under their definition of “insured.” However, some medical directors choose to carry their own individual policies to maintain control over coverage terms, prior acts, or to meet employment or contracting requirements across multiple facilities.

One common issue with administrative-only coverage is ambiguity. The term “administrative duties” is not always clearly defined, which can leave gaps when responsibilities extend beyond what the policy contemplates.

2. Medical Director with Indirect Patient Care

When a medical director’s role expands beyond protocols into supervision of clinical staff or detailed chart review, indirect patient care exposure comes into play. Although the medical director may not be treating patients directly, their oversight and decision-making can still impact patient outcomes.

Policies for this category must go beyond administrative coverage to include supervision and indirect patient care. This distinction is critical, as standard administrative-only policies may not respond to claims arising from supervisory responsibilities.

3. Medical Director with Direct Patient Care

In some cases, medical directors maintain an active clinical role, providing direct care to patients in addition to administrative oversight. This creates the highest level of exposure and requires malpractice coverage that addresses both professional services and administrative errors.

These combination policies are more complex and carrier options are often limited, as they blend multiple lines of coverage into a single form. Ensuring the policy aligns with both clinical duties and administrative responsibilities is essential.

Final Thoughts

As medical director roles continue to evolve, so do the associated risks. Securing professional liability coverage that accurately reflects the duties being performed—and complies with employment or contractual obligations—is critical to avoiding uncovered exposures.

If you have questions about the type og coverage you need, CAPIA is available to help guide you through the process.

3 Things You Need to Know About Physician Medical Board Issues

Medical board investigations are one of the most stressful challenges a physician can face. Understanding what triggers these investigations and how they can end helps physicians (and those who support them) navigate the process more confidently.

1. Common Triggers for Medical Board Investigations

State medical boards are responsible for overseeing physician licensure and competence. While many issues can trigger scrutiny, three main categories are highlighted:

• Personal issues — Physicians are required to report certain personal challenges or lapses in judgment that may affect their professional duties.  Examples include things like DUI convictions, addiction issues, chronic medical conditions like kidney failure or Parkinson's, or even bankruptcy.

• Record-keeping lapses — Poor or inaccurate documentation — or altering records after the fact — can raise red flags.

• Claims activity — Frequency and severity of malpractice claims may attract board attention and prompt an investigation.

2. Possible Outcomes After an Investigation

Once a medical board completes its review, there are two primary results:

• No formal action — If no violation is found, the case is closed. Sometimes boards charge fines to cover investigation costs.

• Formal or public action — If a violation is established, actions can range from license restrictions or suspensions to full revocation. In some cases, physicians may choose to surrender their license voluntarily.  It also seems to be more common for lawyers to advise their physician clients to just pay the fine and "settle" with the medical board, and just fulfill any requirements they put forth.  Even after fighting tooth and nail with the medical board to defend their position, many physicians still end up having to pay the fines and comply with the board's orders, so more and more lawyers advise against fighting the medical board. 

3. What This Means for Physicians

Board investigations deeply affect a physician’s career and reputation. Even if no formal action is taken, the process can be costly and stressful.  Proper documentation, transparency, and early reporting of concerns help reduce risk and demonstrate professionalism.  Some malpractice carriers offer sublimits on their policies that can assist with reimbursement of board costs or even legal assistance on how to navigate these complicated situations.  

Understanding these key issues empowers physicians and their advisors to respond proactively and effectively if a board inquiry arises.

Our Identities are Under Threat!

Due to deception tactics fueled by artificial intelligence (AI), the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) has reported astonishing data about identity-related crimes.  Of the 9,000+ crimes that were reported between 2024 and 2025, 52% involved the misuse of personal information and 35% involved data compromises. 

It also turns out that 51% of scammers often impersonate businesses, with 32% of cases involving the impersonation of government agencies, and 21% impersonating financial institutions.  These types of scams often involve spoofed emails, fake websites, and fraudulent customer service lines where sensitive information like social security numbers, payment details, and driver's license numbers are illegally collected.  

If you get a call from your bank asking for money, and you are unsure of the validity of the call, hang up and call your bank to ask if the request is a valid one.  This would also allow you the opportunity to let your bank know this is an issue they have to address to protect their clients. 

If it's an email, never click on a link if you do not know who the email is from.  Furthermore, many scam emails will show the name of a person you might know as the sender, but the email address will be a funky email address so always double check the email addresss the message is coming from!

To spot a fake website, check the URL for misspellings, look for HTTPS and a padlock, examine the design for poor quality or grammar, verify contact info and policies (Privacy, Returns), research reviews and domain age (using Whois), and be suspicious of deals that seem too good to be true or urgent language.

Let's make sure we are doing what we can to protect what is ours!