Today on Wednesday, October 17th, LifeLock is stepping up to donate $1 to the Pat Tillman Foundation for each Facebook like received on this day up to $25,000!
For anyone unfamiliar with this organization, “The Tillman Military Scholars program supports our nation’s active and veteran service members and their spouses by removing financial barriers to completing a degree program of choice. The scholarships cover not only direct study-related expenses such as tuition and fees, but also other needs, including housing and child care. Since the program’s inception, the Pat Tillman Foundation has invested over $3.2 million in financial support to 230 Scholars.”
College students often look forward to moving out of their parents’ home and living on their own – with their own rules. Occasionally these new experiences could include fake identification to purchase cigarettes or alcohol. While this is not only against the law in all 50 states, it also makes the underage student vulnerable to potential identity theft when they order the fraudulent ID.
Personal information, including but not limited to your name, date of birth, address, Social Security number or email address, can be compromised in many ways, including hackers gaining unlawful access to computer files containing student information (even SSNs). Since identity theft can strike at any stage in life, whether you knowingly hand over your personal information to a criminal or not, LifeLock recommends college students do the following to help better protect their identities:
Keep it Real: A recent report by the Arizona Republic has identified identity theft rings in China that offer underage students the opportunity to purchase a fake ID that looks like “the real thing” and is often undetectable as a fake. These fake ID shops are a cover for more elaborate identity theft rings. More frequently, these rings are targeting college campuses where students are willing to pay a small fee and willingly hand over personally identifiable information in order to get a fake ID. Follow the law and use your real identification. Creating a fake ID can cause more harm than good.
Wi-Fi! Why Not? – Many campuses offer free Wi-Fi services, which can be great for research or just surfing. When connected through a free Wi-Fi connection, understand that the connection is not always secure and identity thieves may have the ability to intercept wireless activity and see where you are going and what you are doing. Avoid social networking sites, online bill pay, checking your financial accounts and shopping online when connected via free Wi-Fi.
Credit – One Size Fits All – Consider relying on your credit card vs. your debit card. If you and your debit card are targeted by an identity thief, you could potentially lose the money you have in your checking or savings account. If your credit card is compromised by an unscrupulous thief, you have 60 days to notify your financial institution and you won’t be out your direct checking and savings account funds, instead your line of credit.
Here’s My Number – Some colleges/universities may still use your Social Security number as your student identification number. If this is the case at your school, request a unique identifier instead of your Social Security number. Keep your Social Security card locked in a safe place where no one, not even a new roommate, can access.
Weekend Getaways: As college students near the end of each semester, email offers frequently arise for long-weekend vacations. Identity thieves can pose as trusted sources offering you the “deal of the day” if you just follow their link. Verify all offers by opening a new Web browser and typing in the official web address to confirm the authenticity of the offer.
GOLD, SILVER AND BRONZE: During this summer’s international games in London, the potential for identity theft related scams could be heightened as travelers look to cross the Atlantic to support Team USA. Identity thieves can pose as trusted sources offering you the “deal of the century” if you just follow their link. Verify all offers by opening a new Web browser and typing in the Web address that you trust to confirm the authenticity of the offer.
LEAVE FACEBOOK AT HOME: Before departing and during your travels, consider avoiding Facebook status updates. By posting your travel plans, you are announcing to all of your friends (and even the world if your page isn’t marked to private) that you are away from home, leaving your unattended home vulnerable to invasion. Many Facebook users include their home address, mobile phone, home phone and other pieces of valuable personally identifiable information wide open for potential thieves. Consider posting your updates once you return home.
WORRIED ABOUT WI-FI?: Relax. Vacation is a time to relax so leave the laptop, tablet or smartphone at home. If you MUST take it with you, ensure that you have updated your passwords/pass-phrases and that you are not connecting to the Internet via free Wi-Fi connections. These free connections are not secure and can make the data you are transmitting (user names/passwords for accounts like Facebook, payment information for excursions) open for the right identity thief to capture.
4 C’s, Call your Credit Card Companies: Contact your credit card companies and your banks to let them know you will be travelling. Because you may be going out of state or leaving the country, the credit card company could assume that your card has been compromised and turn off access to that card. Take only what you need with you and consider leaving your retail credit cards at home.
TAG YOUR BAGS SMARTLY: When travelling by train or plane, tag your luggage smartly. Do not put your home address or the address to which you are travelling on your luggage tag. By providing your home address, you could direct thieves to your empty home. Instead, list a mobile phone number on your tag. This will allow airport officials to contact you when your luggage arrives.
Like anything else in life – you wouldnt go to a shady part of the hood and shout I’m leaving my keys on the dash… hope no one takes my car – before leaving on a two week vacation. Most importantly its make sure you dont use your debt cards while traveling – cause if those numbers get lifted you could be spending a whole lot of time without your savings and money while trying to get it sorted out (one reason I love American Express).
Want some more helpful hints and tips join the LifeLock Twitter party.
Party is on twitter with the #lifelock hashtag hosted by @LifeLock and co-hosted by @MommyPR.
When: 8/3 at 1:30 p.m. EDT.
Prizes: 1 Grand Prize: A LifeLock branded iPad & (1) one 1-year LifeLock Ultimate Membership
(6) Six First Prizes: A $100 Visa gift card & 1-year LifeLock Membership
Crooks use clever schemes to defraud millions of people around the globe every year. They often combine sophisticated technology with age-old tricks to get people to send money or give out personal information. Many scammers insist that you wire money, or pressure you to make an important decision on the spot. Don’t fall for such tactics. Use these tips to help you avoid common scams. If you get unsolicited email offers or spam, send the messages to [email protected].
What To Do
Know who you’re dealing with.
Try to find a seller’s physical address (not just a P.O. Box) and phone number. With internet phone services and other web-based technologies, it’s tough to tell where someone is calling from. Do an internet search for the company name and website, and look for negative reviews. If you find them, you’ll have to decide if the offer is worth the risk. After all, it’s only a good deal if you actually get a product that works.
Understand that wiring money is like sending cash.
Con artists often insist that people wire money, especially overseas, because it’s nearly impossible to reverse the transaction or trace the money. Don’t wire money to strangers, to sellers who insist on wire transfers for payment, or to anyone who claims to be a relative or family friend in an emergency who wants to keep the request a secret.
Read your monthly statements.
Scammers steal account information and then run up charges or commit crimes in your name. Dishonest merchants bill you for monthly “membership fees” and other goods or services without your authorization. If you see charges you don’t recognize or didn’t okay, contact your bank, card issuer, or other creditor immediately.
Give only to established charities after a disaster.
In the aftermath of a disaster, give to established charities, rather than one that has sprung up overnight. Pop-up charities probably don’t have the infrastructure to get help to the affected areas or people, and they could be collecting the money to finance illegal activity. For more donating tips, check out ftc.gov/charityfraud.
Talk to your doctor before you buy health products or treatments.
Ask about research that supports a product’s claims — and possible risks or side effects. Buy prescription drugs only from licensed U.S. pharmacies. Otherwise, you could end up with products that are fake, expired, or mislabeled — in short, products that could be dangerous to your health. Learn more about buying health products online.
When investing, remember there’s no sure thing.
If someone contacts you with low-risk, high-return investment opportunities, stay away. When you hear pitches that insist you act now, that guarantee big profits, that promise little or no financial risk, or that demand that you send cash immediately, report them at ftc.gov.
What Not To Do
Don’t send money to someone you don’t know.
Not an online seller you’ve never heard of — nor an online love interest who asks for money. It’s best to do business with sites you know and trust. If you buy items through an online auction, consider using an option that provides protection, like a credit card.
If you think you’ve found a good deal, but you aren’t familiar with the company, do some research. Type the company or product name into your favorite search engine with terms like “review,” “complaint” or “scam.” See what comes up – on the first page of results as well as on the later pages.
Never pay fees now for the promise of a big pay-off later — whether it’s for a loan, a job, or a so-called prize.
Don’t agree to deposit a check and wire money back.
No matter how convincing the story. By law, banks have to make funds from deposited checks available within days, but uncovering a fake check can take weeks. You’re responsible for the checks you deposit: If a check turns out to be a fake, you’re responsible for paying back the bank.
Don’t reply to messages asking for personal or financial information.
That goes whether the message comes as an email, a phone call, a text message, or an ad. Don’t click on links or call phone numbers included in the message, either. It’s called phishing. The crooks behind these messages are trying to trick you into revealing sensitive information. If you got a message like this and you are concerned about your account status, call the number on your credit or debit card — or your statement — and check on it.
Don’t play a foreign lottery.
It’s illegal to play a foreign lottery. And yet messages that tout your chances of winning a foreign lottery, or messages that claim you’ve already won can be so tempting. Inevitably, you’re asked to pay “taxes,” “fees,” or “customs duties” to collect your prize. If you send money to collect, you haven’t won anything. Indeed, you’ve lost whatever money you sent. You won’t get any money back, either, regardless of the promises.
Where to Learn More
U.S. Federal Trade Commission — The FTC works to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint or get free information on consumer issues, visit ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. Watch a video, How to File a Complaint, at ftc.gov/video to learn more. The FTC enters consumer complaints into the Consumer Sentinel Network, a secure online database and investigative tool used by hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.
The Internet Crime Complaint Center – IC3 was established as a partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C) to serve as a means to receive Internet related criminal complaints and to further research, develop, and refer the criminal complaints to federal, state, local, or international law enforcement and/or regulatory agencies for any investigation they deem to be appropriate. Visit www.ic3.gov.
U.S. Department of State — The Department of State’s mission is to create a more secure, democratic, and prosperous world for the benefit of the American people and the international community. As part of that mission, the Department of State seeks to minimize the impact of international crime, including cross-border internet scams, on the United States and its citizens. To get free information, visit www.state.gov.
what is Phishing: These days, that email from your bank in your inbox could be real—or a phishing attempt. Today’s thieves are busy impersonating legitimate businesses via email and websites in order to acquire your personal information like PINs, credit card or bank account numbers, or Social Security number information.
what is SMSishing: Thieves are employing a sneaky new trend to get your personal info—sending text messages to your mobile device that impersonate a reputable contact and then direct you to a dangerous website with the goal of stealing your identity.
what is Vishing: Email, texting, and websites are not the only way thieves are phishing for personal information. Vishing—voice calls made to your landline or mobile phone—is an effective way for thieves to get your personal information.
