Cybercriminals are taking Americans for billions of dollars every year, through a variety of identity theft schemes. Those who attended Friday’s Middle Peninsula League of Voters’ “Lunch with the League” program received some valuable tips in fighting this growing crime epidemic.

Kitty Simon, director of member education for Langley Federal Credit Union, provided some insight into how cybercriminals operate at the program, which was held at First Presbyterian Church, Gloucester. She also addressed a particular problem with ATM machines, with fake card readers being used to get access to victims’ bank accounts.

According to Simon, types of identity theft are ever-changing as thieves are adapting to evolving technology.

Americans lost $54 billion in 2008 due to identity theft, with the average amount of fraud per victim totaling $5,000, Simon said.

In addition to the loss of money, victims of cybercrime are also ...