by the Better Business Bureau, http://central-northern-western-arizona.bbb.org/
The risk of becoming a victim of identity theft is everywhere. Criminals can gain access to personal information through various ways including mail, computer, credit cards, and even garbage cans. Your BBB has identified the top five scams seeking to steal your identity in 2010.
“ID theft prevention should always be on an individual’s mind,” said Matthew Fehling, President/CEO of BBB. “When it comes to protecting your identity, an ounce of prevention is worth far more than the amount of money, energy, and agony that goes into getting your life back to normal after your financial and personal information has been stolen.”
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) estimates that as many as 9 million Americans have had their identities stolen this year. Victims may not be aware about the theft until they review their credit card statements and credit reports, or are being contacted by a debt collector.
BBB recommends being on the lookout for the following identity theft scams:
1. Social-Networking Scam - With the rising use of social networks, ID thieves can hijack accounts and post worrisome status updates, urging friends to send money. Frequently, these messages and status updates revolve around being mugged overseas or being stranded out of state with no money. Friends who read the message immediately grow concerned and try to help by wiring over funds to identity thieves.
BBB Advice: Contact friends and family to speak with them personally about the message received. This will help determine if the message received is legitimately from a friend.
2. Telephone Denial of Service Attack Scam - Criminals will tie up a phone line with hundreds or even thousands of calls, while they loot bank accounts. As a result, the bank can’t contact consumers to verify the transactions being made because of the tied-up phone lines.
BBB Advice: Never give personal information to an unsolicited caller or via e-mail; change online banking and automated telephone system passwords frequently; check account balances often; and protect computers with the use of the latest virus protection and security software.
If you have been targeted by a telephone denial of service attack, contact your financial institution and telephone provider, and file a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center.
3. Renter’s Scam - The renter’s scam is also a rising trend. Criminals pose as homeowners listing the personal information of the “real” homeowner asking potential tenants to fill out applications that require personal and financial information, as well as money that is to be sent to an overseas address. The criminal then disappears, leaving victims out of their money and a home, as they realize they were not working with the “real” property owner.
BBB Advice: Always research the property owner thoroughly before providing any personal information and entering into any sort of financial agreement. Never wire money to an overseas address you are unfamiliar with since it will be virtually impossible to recover.
4. Charity Scam - Criminals pose as legitimate sounding charities seeking to collect money for a particular cause. Many set up fake websites and send e-mails to unsuspecting users requesting sensitive information such as social security numbers and passwords, allowing criminals to steal your identity.
BBB Advice: Before making a donation, remember to review any charity with BBB’s Wise Giving Alliance. Visit www.bbb.org/charity to verify that a charity meets the BBB’s 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.
5. Job Scam - Work-at-home scams are conducted by cybercriminals who recruit victims to engage in illegal activities such as money-laundering. Typical scams include e-mails that involve a “you are hired” subject line and specifically target job-seekers. The e-mail, supposedly from the human resources department, will forward new-hire forms that need to be filled out. These forms require the applicant to submit personal information such as one’s birthday, social security number, and bank account numbers which cybercriminals can use to steal one’s identity. The victim may also be instructed to deposit checks, which are usually fake, and then asked to wire funds.
BBB Advice: To avoid a job scam, research the company thoroughly and make sure you have legitimate contact information. Contact the company directly to verify they are requesting your personal information and never wire any funds.
If you have become a victim to any of these identity theft scams, file a complaint with your BBB by visiting arizonabbb.org or calling 602-264-1721.
Showing posts with label BBB. Show all posts
Showing posts with label BBB. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Top 5 Holiday Scams
From the Better Business Bureau website, 11/24/2010
The holidays are a happy time for food, family and friends, but they are also a time for fraud. Consumers can fall into any number of traps over the holidays and become victim to identity thieves, hackers and deceptive merchants online. The Better Business Bureau is warning holiday shoppers and donors to look out for five common scams this season.
“While the rest of us are pulling the decorations out of the attic, scammers are blowing the dust off of their old holiday scams,” said Matthew Fehling, BBB President/CEO. “We can all help make these holiday scams a ghost of Christmas’ past by not falling for them anymore.”
BBB recommends being on the lookout for the following scams this holiday season:
1. Scam shopping sites online
We’re all looking for a great deal online, but some sites offer electronics or luxury goods at prices that are too good to be true. Every holiday season BBB hears from holiday shoppers who paid for a supposedly great deal online, but received nothing in return.
BBB advice: Always look for the BBB seal when shopping online and click on the seal to confirm it is legitimate. When shopping on sites that you aren’t household names, check the business out with the BBB before you buy.
2. Finding the season’s hottest toys and gadgets online
Every year, holiday shoppers fight over the “must have” toy or gadget of the season. When the item is sold out in stores, you can often find it online through sites like Craigslist or eBay—for a much steeper price, however some sellers will take your money and run.
BBB Advice: If you shop on Craigslist, consider conducting the transaction in person when applicable -never wire money as payment to someone you don’t know. When purchasing items on auctions such as eBay, research the seller extensively and always listen to your doubts if the deal doesn’t sound legit.
3. Identity theft at the mall
While you’re struggling at the mall with bags of presents, identity thieves see an opportunity to steal your wallet and debit or credit card numbers.
BBB Advice: Don’t let yourself get bogged down in purchases and lose track of your wallet. Know where your credit and debit cards are at all times and cover the keypad when entering your PIN while purchasing items or getting money from the ATM.
4. Bogus charitable pleas
The holidays are a time of giving which creates a great opportunity for scammers to solicit donations to line their own pockets. Also beware of solicitations from charities that don’t necessarily deliver on their promises or are ill-equipped to carry through on their plans.
BBB Advice: Always research a charity with the BBB Wise Giving Alliance before you give to see if the charity meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.
5. Phishing e-mails
Phishing e-mails are a common way for hackers to break into your computer to access your personal information. Common phishing e-mails around the holidays include e-cards and messages pretending to be from companies like UPS or FedEx that include links to package tracking information.
BBB Advice: Don’t click on any links or open any attachments to e-mails until you have confirmed that they are not malicious. E-mail addresses that don’t match up, typos and grammatical mistakes are common red flags of a malicious phishing e-mail. Also beware of unsolicited e-mails from companies with which you are not associated. Make sure you have current antivirus software and that all security patches have been installed on the computer.
The holidays are a happy time for food, family and friends, but they are also a time for fraud. Consumers can fall into any number of traps over the holidays and become victim to identity thieves, hackers and deceptive merchants online. The Better Business Bureau is warning holiday shoppers and donors to look out for five common scams this season.
“While the rest of us are pulling the decorations out of the attic, scammers are blowing the dust off of their old holiday scams,” said Matthew Fehling, BBB President/CEO. “We can all help make these holiday scams a ghost of Christmas’ past by not falling for them anymore.”
BBB recommends being on the lookout for the following scams this holiday season:
1. Scam shopping sites online
We’re all looking for a great deal online, but some sites offer electronics or luxury goods at prices that are too good to be true. Every holiday season BBB hears from holiday shoppers who paid for a supposedly great deal online, but received nothing in return.
BBB advice: Always look for the BBB seal when shopping online and click on the seal to confirm it is legitimate. When shopping on sites that you aren’t household names, check the business out with the BBB before you buy.
2. Finding the season’s hottest toys and gadgets online
Every year, holiday shoppers fight over the “must have” toy or gadget of the season. When the item is sold out in stores, you can often find it online through sites like Craigslist or eBay—for a much steeper price, however some sellers will take your money and run.
BBB Advice: If you shop on Craigslist, consider conducting the transaction in person when applicable -never wire money as payment to someone you don’t know. When purchasing items on auctions such as eBay, research the seller extensively and always listen to your doubts if the deal doesn’t sound legit.
3. Identity theft at the mall
While you’re struggling at the mall with bags of presents, identity thieves see an opportunity to steal your wallet and debit or credit card numbers.
BBB Advice: Don’t let yourself get bogged down in purchases and lose track of your wallet. Know where your credit and debit cards are at all times and cover the keypad when entering your PIN while purchasing items or getting money from the ATM.
4. Bogus charitable pleas
The holidays are a time of giving which creates a great opportunity for scammers to solicit donations to line their own pockets. Also beware of solicitations from charities that don’t necessarily deliver on their promises or are ill-equipped to carry through on their plans.
BBB Advice: Always research a charity with the BBB Wise Giving Alliance before you give to see if the charity meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.
5. Phishing e-mails
Phishing e-mails are a common way for hackers to break into your computer to access your personal information. Common phishing e-mails around the holidays include e-cards and messages pretending to be from companies like UPS or FedEx that include links to package tracking information.
BBB Advice: Don’t click on any links or open any attachments to e-mails until you have confirmed that they are not malicious. E-mail addresses that don’t match up, typos and grammatical mistakes are common red flags of a malicious phishing e-mail. Also beware of unsolicited e-mails from companies with which you are not associated. Make sure you have current antivirus software and that all security patches have been installed on the computer.
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