Privacy Tips, Tools and Resources

Image via Wikipedia

Below are links to online tools and resources that will help you learn more about consumer privacy issues and take steps to protect your privacy.

• ID Watchdog: http://www.IDWatchdog.com
• Equifax Credit Reporting: http://www.equifax.com
• FTC Do Not Call Registry: http://www.donotcall.gov
• FTC’s ID Theft Resource Center: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/
• BBB Online’s Privacy Tips: http://www.bbbonline.org/understandingprivacy/toolbox/tips.asp
• Network Advertising Initiative: http://www.networkadvertising.org/index.asp

Related articles by Zemanta

• Buyer Beware: Top 15 Scams, Annoyances (abcnews.go.com)
• Identity Theft Protections Put Off Until Tomorrow – Again (technologizer.com)
• ID theft up, and 20somethings suffer most (news.cnet.com)
• Google Docs Breach Leads to FTC Investigation (blippitt.com)
• FTC Warns FreeCreditReport.com is NOT FREE (mt-soft.com.ar)
• 2008 = A Banner Year for ID Theft (pindebit.blogspot.com)
• Privacy groups to FTC: Investigate Gmail, Picasa (arstechnica.com)
• Advertising Age: Obama to Name Jon Leibowitz FTC Chairman (boxofmeat.net)

Don’t let the urgency of the Job Hunt make you fall into a scammer’s trap.

With 2 million layoffs recently, the employment websites are busier than ever. And it’s not just jobseekers who are making these sites so popular. Consumer-protection and law-enforcement groups and better-business bureaus are reporting that a whole new breed of scammers and “phishers” are also logging on to get your personal information to steal your identity.

If you, or someone you know, are using the Internet to get a new job, protect yourself. Never supply Social Security numbers or bank account numbers over the phone or on your resume. Also, be wary of “work-at-home” or business opportunities which cost money or fees upfront for supplies, background checks, and other phony charges. The Wall Street Journal reported recently that many of these scam opportunities involve “medical billing, rebate processing, and mystery shopping.” The Federal Trade Commission says some of these “jobs” are even illegal, and you could be held responsible. Finally, watch out for phony executive-search firms and recruiters. Capitalizing on desperate jobseekers, these scammers have reportedly charged thousands of dollars for positions that never existed.

Finding a job in today’s economy can be hard, but be persistent, patient, and protect your identity. Don’t let the urgency of your situation lead you into a scammer’s trap.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Look Out For These Check Scams [Bad Check Scams] (consumerist.com)
• ConsumerMan: Fake check scams spread (msnbc.msn.com)
• How Not to Get Duped by Stimulus Scams (abcnews.go.com)