According to a new report and consumer survey from the Federal Trade Commission, many Americans don’t know what they’re entitled to if someone steals their identity. FTC data shows that, for more than a decade, the top category …
Identity Theft
We’re Total Cheapskates When It Comes To Our Privacy
The value of consumers’ personal data online has been a hot topic lately. The astronomical $100 billion some analysts have suggested Facebook could be worth when it goes public stems from the fact that the social media powerhouse …
Background Check for the Digital Age: Employers, Colleges Insist on Full Facebook Access
For years we’ve been told to keep drunken Facebook photos and racy wall posts private to avoid the judging eye of a potential employer, but now, according to MSNBC’s Red Tape blog, even that might not be enough.
Don’t Get Your Identity Stolen During Tax Season
As if there’s not enough stress around tax time, cybersecurity experts are calling attention to a growing problem: Identity thieves are using this event to snag unsuspecting taxpayers’ personal information, and they’re constantly …
Zappos Breach a Teachable Moment for Shoe-Loving Kids
The Zappos breach showed us that passwords may be the weakest link to protecting your online information. It’s a teachable moment. Here’s how to talk to the kids.
Zappos Hacked: Expert Says You Need a Better Password
Zappos.com has taken pains to assure customers that their credit card information is safe after a data breach, which was reported over the weekend, compromised information of up to 24 million customers, including names, mailing …
Money Milestones: What Kids Should Know About Money and When
President Obama and his top financial advisers in November were handed a blueprint for what kids at certain ages should be expected to know about money. The document is still a work in progress. But it’s far enough along to …
Cybercrooks Targeted Subway Sandwich Shops
As many as 80,000 customers who used a credit or debit card to buy a Subway sandwich may have had their account information stolen by a ring of Eastern European crooks who tampered with the payment terminals in 150 different …
Hacker Is Selling Your Personal Data Online — Cheap!
Did you know there’s a virtual online marketplace where hackers gather to buy and sell the fruits of their criminal labors? Think of Amazon or eBay — except the items customers put into their virtual shopping carts are stolen credit card numbers rather than audiobooks or dusty collectibles. If this sounds infuriating, just wait until …
Financial Scams Target Boomers
Baby boomers are still looking out for their parents, even as they have fallen into the crosshairs of financial con artists themselves. It’s a bona fide boomer nightmare: they are becoming their mom or dad—at least as it …
Crooks Prey on Unsuspecting Credit Card Customers
Claims of lost or stolen credit cards go up by nearly 20% during the holiday season, according to PNC Bank. The reasons are twofold: We tend to use our cards more during this time of year, and thieves are smart enough to know that people tend to be rushed and distracted during this time of year. But some criminals don’t wait until the …
Are You Being Spied On While You Shop?
If you hit the mall on Black Friday, you could be under observation. Don’t look behind you, though; a signal emitted by your cell phone could be sending information to receivers that log your path from store to store. A pair of …
