Consumer Credit Safety

 

A recent Federal Reserve report states that the total U.S. consumer debt is $2.5 trillion. This confirms that millions of consumers depend on credit to preserve a desired standard of living. Thieves are taking advantage of these statistics. The Federal Trade Commission estimates that 9 million Americans have their identities stolen each year. Safeguarding personal information is essential for consumer credit safety.

Identity Protection

It’s important for consumers to protect their identities. Thieves use stolen information to open credit card accounts, rent apartments and even obtain employment. Identity fraud can result in devastating consequences for consumers. It can take years to repair damaged credit.

Shop Safely Online

Verify a website’s security when shopping online. The “s” after “http” in the address indicates that a website is secure. A closed padlock icon at the bottom of the screen also signifies a site’s safety.

Shop on familiar sites only or research a company before making an online purchase. Reliable online companies list physical addresses and phone number on their sites. Call the company if in doubt.

Read the website’s privacy and security policy. This states whether the online merchant shares customer information with third parties or not.

Safeguard Credit and Debit Cards at ATMs

Avoid using credit and debit cards at unfamiliar ATMs. Skimmers install surveillance equipment on ATMs to record customer account and pin information. Inspect ATMs for loose or damaged card readers before using. Block the keyboard when entering a pin. Use interior ATMs when possible. Stay away from ATMs in tourist areas as these are popular targets for skimming scams.

 

Order and Verify Credit Report Information

Federal law permits consumers access to one free credit report per year. A credit report summarizes a consumer’s borrowing and repayment history.  Credit reports contain a great deal of credit history and personal information. These include payment history, credit card and loan balances, age of accounts and any new credit activities. Read the credit report carefully and verify that the information is accurate. Report any errors or suspicious activity immediately by filing a dispute either online or by mail.

USPS Warns of New Email Scam

Why can't scammers use their powers for good instead of evil? The USPS has issued a warning to consumers regarding a new email scam that can have devastating consequences should you fall for it. Apparently scammers are sending emails alerting consumers regarding undeliverable packages or postage owed. The emails contain a link that, if clicked on, uploads spyware to the user's computer to immediately capture login info for financial and other online accounts. The USPS warns consumers to delete any suspicious looking emails and DO NOT click on any links. Here is the USPS scam warning in its entirety.

Zappos Security Breach

I've purchased shoes from Zappos in the past and heard on the news about the recent security breach. I wanted to pass along the following email I received from Zappos so that past and present Zappos customers can take appropriate action. Here's the email:

First, the bad news:

We are writing to let you know that there may have been illegal and unauthorized access to some of your customer account information on Zappos.com, including one or more of the following: your name, e-mail address, billing and shipping addresses, phone number, the last four digits of your credit card number (the standard information you find on receipts), and/or your cryptographically scrambled password (but not your actual password).

THE BETTER NEWS:

The database that stores your critical credit card and other payment data was NOT affected or accessed.

SECURITY PRECAUTIONS:

For your protection and to prevent unauthorized access, we have expired and reset your password so you can create a new password. Please follow the instructions below to create a new password.

We also recommend that you change your password on any other web site where you use the same or a similar password. As always, please remember that Zappos.com will never ask you for personal or account information in an e-mail. Please exercise caution if you receive any emails or phone calls that ask for personal information or direct you to a web site where you are asked to provide personal information.

PLEASE CREATE A NEW PASSWORD:

We have expired and reset your password so you can create a new password. Please create a new password by visiting Zappos.com and clicking on the "Create a New Password" link in the upper right corner of the web site and follow the steps from there.

We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. If you have any additional questions about this process, please email us at passwordchange@zappos.com.