Tips and Advice on Privacy, Identity, and Online Security

To date, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has sued hundreds of companies and individuals who were responsible for placing unwanted calls, and has obtained over a billion dollars in judgments against violators. In addition, the FTC has sponsored a series of robocall contests challenging the tech savvy public to design tools that block robocalls and help investigators track down and stop robocallers. The FTC also is encouraging industry efforts to combat caller ID spoofing.
Tips and Advice

For Identity Theft please visit IdentityTheft.gov. It is the federal government’s one-stop resource for identity theft victims. The site provides streamlined checklists and sample letters to guide you through the recovery process, see some examples below. For a printable checklist click here.

Step 1: Call the companies where you know fraud occurred.

Step 2: Place a fraud alert and get your credit reports.

Step 3: Report identity theft to the FTC.

You may choose to file a report with your local police department.

Close new accounts opened in your name.

Remove bogus charges from your accounts.

Correct your credit report.

Consider adding an extended fraud alert or credit freeze.

How to Keep Your Personal Information Secure Online and Offline

Protecting your personal information can help reduce your risk of identity theft. There are four main ways to do it: know who you share information with; store and dispose of your personal information securely, especially your Social Security number; ask questions before deciding to share your personal information; and maintain appropriate security on your computers and other electronic devices.

For Online Security click here

Limiting Unwanted Calls and Emails

Privacy Choices

Federal law provides you the right to stop some sharing of your financial information

Robocalls

You are allowed to block unwanted calls. Telemarketing sales calls with recorded messages are generally illegal unless you have given the company written permission to call you. See how to below.

Do Not Call

Learn:

How to put your cell phone number on the National Do Not Call Registry. They provide tips to help you stop unwanted calls. Visit donotcall.gov to register your number or calling 1-888-382-1222 from the phone you want to register.
How to hang up on phone scammers and hold onto your money. Follow up by filing a complaint with the FTC.
About your rights when it comes to telemarketing calls including pre-recorded messages.

Spam

You can reduce unwanted commercial emails. Text message spam is a triple threat: It often uses the promise of free gifts or product offers to get you to reveal personal information; it can lead to unwanted charges on your cell phone bill; and it can slow cell phone performance.

Text message Spam is illegal.

It’s illegal to send unsolicited commercial email messages to wireless devices, including cell phones and pagers, unless the sender gets your permission first. It’s also illegal to send unsolicited text messages from an auto-dialer — equipment that stores and dials phone numbers using a random or sequential number generator.

Exceptions to the law:

Transactional or relationship types of messages. If a company has a relationship with you, it can send you things like statements or warranty information.
Non-commercial messages. This includes political surveys or fundraising messages.

Good News

Those who violate the National Do Not Call Registry or place an illegal robocall can be fined up to $41,484 per call.