http://greensboro.bbb.org/WWWRoot//SitePage.aspx?site=54&id=a824b759-3137-43b5-aedf-a38056bcce73&debug=False 10 Mon, 08 Apr 2013 05:00:00 GMT During Financial Literacy Month in April, Better Business Bureau reminds consumers to keep track of their credit reports to help prevent identity theft. http://greensboro.bbb.org/article/credit-reports-are-an-identity-theft-protection-tool-41239 Fri, 22 Mar 2013 05:00:00 GMT The BBB has 9 tips on which records to retain, which to shred, to protect your identity. http://greensboro.bbb.org/article/bbbs-9-tips-to-safeguard-your-identity-keep-sensitive-records-safe-40929 Mon, 17 Dec 2012 06:00:00 GMT The Better Business Bureau (BBB) advises parents to check sites offering letters or or from Santa Claus carefully to avoid having their child’s privacy invaded or worse http://greensboro.bbb.org/article/bbb-advises-parents-to-check-privacy-policies-on-sites-offering-letters-from-santa-38139 Fri, 30 Nov 2012 06:00:00 GMT The Better Business Bureau (BBB) has received numerous calls from local consumers who appear to be the target of a Medicare scam. Consumers state that the caller offered to send them new Medicare cards, including ones that offered extra benefits, and then asked for the name of their bank. http://greensboro.bbb.org/article/beware-of-calls-that-appear-to-come-from-medicare-or-medicaid-38616 Tue, 02 Oct 2012 05:00:00 GMT Opt Out of Junk Mail to Reduce Shredding Piles http://greensboro.bbb.org/article/identity-theft-risks-lurk-in-the-mail-37249 Tue, 07 Aug 2012 05:00:00 GMT Headlines and Hot Issues May Be Bait http://greensboro.bbb.org/article/vote-for-a-scam-free-election-season-36230 Thu, 31 May 2012 05:00:00 GMT Better Business Bureau of Southern Arizona is warning consumers of a scam targeting the financial data of Facebook, Hotmail, Yahoo, and Gmail users. The scam infects its victim’s computers with a version of the Zeus Trojan virus- a malware program regularly used to commit bank fraud. http://greensboro.bbb.org/article/new-scam-steals-financial-information-from-facebook-gmail-yahoo-and-hotmail-users--34575 Thu, 26 Apr 2012 05:00:00 GMT The Consumer Fraud Task Force warns consumers to be alert for phishing scams, which may use the names of well-known businesses or government agencies to steal personal information and commit ID theft. http://greensboro.bbb.org/article/phishing-thieves-using-new-tricks-to-hook-unwary-consumers-task-force-warns-33944 Tue, 13 Dec 2011 06:00:00 GMT Consumers who let down their guard during the hectic holiday season can easily fall prey to scammers poised to pounce on careless or overburdened shoppers, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) warns. http://greensboro.bbb.org/article/bbb-alert-five-holiday-scams-to-avoid-31315 Mon, 28 Nov 2011 06:00:00 GMT Shop or donate online only on sites that use technology that encrypts your personal and financial information before sending it for payment processing. Encrypting sensitive information makes it inaccessible to anyone outside the system. Any page on a site that asks for personal or financial information should have a URL or Web address beginning with https:// as opposed to the usual http://. http://greensboro.bbb.org/article/holiday-help-from-your-bbb-of-western-michigan-30961 Thu, 06 Oct 2011 05:00:00 GMT Better Business Bureau warns Alaskans to be on alert for phony calls about viruses on their computers. http://greensboro.bbb.org/article/computer-virus-hoax-hits-alaska-29880 Thu, 21 Jul 2011 05:00:00 GMT The Better Business Bureau is warning consumers about a new email scam designed to steal your money. Be on the lookout for an email claiming to be from someone you know who is stuck in another country. They are asking you to give them a loan to pay for their hotel bills and airfare home and request that you respond via email. http://greensboro.bbb.org/article/scam-alert-bbb-warns-of-an-email-phishing-scam-28446 Thu, 30 Dec 2010 06:00:00 GMT The Better Business Bureau (BBB) has 10 suggested resolutions to help you fight scammers, prevent identity theft and save money in 2011. http://greensboro.bbb.org/article/bbb-offers-10-consumer-savvy-resolutions-for-a-safe-scam-free-new-year-24504 Fri, 17 Dec 2010 06:00:00 GMT Grand Rapids, MI – December 17, 2010 – More than 60 domain names have been registered in the name of Santa Claus, offering children a wide range of opportunities to persuade St. Nick via email that they were not at all naughty in 2010. Before allowing children to share any personal information with a “Letter to Santa” Website, the Better Business Bureau Children’s Advertising Review Unit (CARU) recommends that adults carefully review such sites to determine who is seeking the information, how it will be used and whether it will be shared with third parties. http://greensboro.bbb.org/article/dear-santa-websites-bbb-recommends-adults-check-the-privacy-policy-twice-24310 Tue, 16 Mar 2010 05:00:00 GMT The BBB is advising consumers to fill out U.S. Census forms but to verify the identity of anyone asking for information by phone, e-mail or in person. http://greensboro.bbb.org/article/bbb-advises-consumers-to-get-census-facts-before-giving-out-personal-information-18242 Thu, 11 Mar 2010 06:00:00 GMT The BBB is partnering with the census and advises: The 2010 Census may have you wondering whom you can trust. The census is easy, important and safe – just fill out your form and mail it back – but if you don’t mail it back, a census taker will knock on your door. Here are tips to help you identify a census taker. They will have an official badge, shoulder bag, and confidentiality document. If you ask, they will give you a phone number to their local census office. They will ask just 10 questions, but they will never ask for social security, bank account, or credit card numbers. Learn more at 2010census.gov. http://greensboro.bbb.org/article/bbb-tip-how-to-identify-a-census-taker-18153 Wed, 30 Dec 2009 06:00:00 GMT The New Year is here and, because of the rough economy, it’s more important that ever to resolve to be a savvy consumer. Better Business Bureau offers the following ten New Year’s resolutions to fight scammers, prevent identity theft and save money in 2010. http://greensboro.bbb.org/article/bbbs-top-ten-new-years-resolutions-for-a-consumer-savvy-2010-14334 Thu, 29 Oct 2009 05:00:00 GMT The Better Business Bureau is issuing an alert about a widespread scam that involves phony debt collectors who have an alarming amount of private information about their victims. http://greensboro.bbb.org/article/phony-debt-collectors-target-pay-day-loan-borrowers-13226 Mon, 01 Jan 2007 06:00:00 GMT It’s your lucky day! You just won a foreign lottery! The letter says so. And the cashier’s check to cover the taxes and fees is included. All you have to do to get your winnings is deposit the check and wire the money to the sender to pay the taxes and fees. You’re guaranteed that when they get your payment, you’ll get your prize. http://greensboro.bbb.org/article/ftc-giving-the-bounce-to-counterfeit-check-scams--4661 Wed, 01 Nov 2006 05:00:00 GMT The Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 launched a new era: With limited exceptions, people who plan to file for bankruptcy protection must get credit counseling from a government-approved organization within 180 days before they file. They also must complete a debtor education course to have their debts discharged. http://greensboro.bbb.org/article/ftc-before-you-file-for-personal-bankruptcy-information-about-credit-counseling-and-debtor-education--4723 Wed, 01 Nov 2006 05:00:00 GMT The next time you write a check to your local merchant, the cashier may hand it back to you after the payment has been processed – electronically. Or maybe you’re mailing a check as payment to a company. That payment, too, may be processed electronically. Why? More merchants and companies are using electronic check conversion, which converts information from your paper check into an electronic payment from your bank account. In fact, NACHA – the Electronic Payments Association – estimates that more than 1.7 billion paper checks were converted through in-store and mail-in transactions in 2005. http://greensboro.bbb.org/article/ftc-electronic-check-conversion-4647 Mon, 01 May 2006 05:00:00 GMT The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) spells out rights for victims of identity theft, as well as responsibilities for businesses. Identity theft victims are entitled to ask businesses for a copy of transaction records — such as applications for credit — relating to the theft of their identity. http://greensboro.bbb.org/article/ftc-businesses-must-provide-victims-and-law-enforcement-with-transaction-records-relating-to-identity-theft-4465 Mon, 01 May 2006 05:00:00 GMT COMMON WAYS ID THEFT HAPPENS: Skilled identity thieves use a variety of methods to steal your personal information, including: http://greensboro.bbb.org/article/ftc-fighting-back-against-identity-theft-4683 Sat, 01 Apr 2006 05:00:00 GMT Many companies collect personal information from their customers, including names, addresses, and phone numbers; bank and credit card account numbers; income and credit histories; and Social Security numbers. The Gramm-Leach-Bliley (GLB) Act requires companies defined under the law as “financial institutions” to ensure the security and confidentiality of this type of information. http://greensboro.bbb.org/article/ftc-financial-institutions-and-customer-information-complying-with-the-safeguards-rule-4477 Wed, 01 Feb 2006 06:00:00 GMT When you think of your own personal assets, chances are your home, car, and savings and investments come to mind. But what about your Social Security number (SSN), telephone records and your bank and credit card account numbers? To people known as “pretexters,” that information is a personal asset, too. http://greensboro.bbb.org/article/ftc-pretexting-your-personal-information-revealed-4699