'This Is the Worst I've Ever Seen': ITRC CEO Eva Velasquez On the State of Identity Fraud

On this episode of ID Talk, hosts Alex Perala and Tony Bitzionis sit down with Eva Velasquez to discuss the rapidly evolving world of identity theft, scams, cybercrime, and digital identity. Drawing on decades of experience investigating economic crime and supporting victims, Velasquez explains why identity fraud has become more personal, more scalable, and more difficult to contain in the digital era. The conversation explores how the pandemic accelerated the shift toward digital-only transactions, why fraudsters now operate within a sophisticated “fraud ecosystem,” and how AI is simultaneously empowering criminals and becoming essential to fighting them.The episode also examines the growing role of passkeys, biometrics, and digital identity systems in securing online interactions, alongside the public trust and transparency challenges surrounding those technologies. Velasquez argues that there is no “silver bullet” solution to identity crime, and calls for a more holistic approach that treats scams, fraud, cybersecurity, and identity misuse as interconnected problems rather than isolated threats. Along the way, the discussion touches on organized cybercrime, deepfake technology, consumer education, and why “identity is deeply personal” in an increasingly digital world. To learn more about the ITRC and how to help visit https://www.idtheftcenter.org/