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Get Tips to Stay Safe this Black Friday #Lifelock

November 21, 2012 by The Mom Jen 1 Comment

This week, turkey and pie isn’t the only thing on people’s minds. Many families dash from Thanksgiving dinner to start taking advantage of early deals for Black Friday one of the busiest shopping days of the year. I’ve watched news reports of people camping out at stores as early as last week! Lifelock wants you to be safe and to protect your identity while shopping Black Friday as well as Cyber Monday!

BE SAFE

1. Contrary to popular belief, don’t shred your receipts, save them. Keep receipts in order to compare them against your credit card statement. If anything fishy appears, you are better equipped to fight it.

2. If a company or store calls and asks for your PIN or SSN over the phone, it may be phishing. If this happens, the most secure way is to find an official retail contact number and contact them yourself.

3. Smartphones are not foolproof shopping devices. In 2011, a 76% increase in malware targeted at Android devices was cited. This made Android smartphones the most targeted smartphone platform. Malware has also been reported via holiday themed applications and QR codes.

4. Unfamiliar sites selling the “IT” items of the year can be fake. Scammers start setting up websites “selling” the “IT” gift each year, despite not actually having any supply to sell. Users can wind up paying for an item, giving credit card information, and never receiving the item, giving scammer access to your credit card information.

5. Online auction sites selling gift cards are more likely to be counterfeit or obtained through fraudulent means, according to the National Retail Federation. Best to buy them in a store and getting the authorization slip with your receipt.

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Mom Central Founder and CEO, author of four best-selling parenting books and mom expert, Stacy DeBroff, has developed a survival kit for families to avoid “sticky situations” when shopping for awesome deals on Black Friday:

BE PREPARED

Decide Before You Leave the House– Amid the adrenaline rush of deals, it’s easy to get swept up into buying items in retrospect you regret. Make a shopping list of key items you’re on the hunt for, and save all receipts in one place in case you want to return some impulse purchases and get a full refund.

Deals and Steals Online –Follow your favorite brands on Twitter, Facebook and other social media channels to see what they’re offering in special Black Friday discounts. Many retailers will be “leaking” their ads and specials a week beforehand. Also, the deals and prices online often prove better than those in the stores especially factoring in free or reduced shipping.

Map Out your Mall Shop–Based on which stores have special deals for items you want to purchase, plan out your shopping trip to save time searching. Plus find out stores hours as they often open earlier or stay open late on Black Friday to accommodate the crowds.

Beware of Shopping Germ Hot Spots–As you check out the newest mini-iPad or grab an electronic pen to sign a credit card receipt be mindful of germs lurking about in this start to the cold and flu season. Germs congregate on handle bars of shopping carts, escalator railings and display toys and gadgets ‹all touched by hundreds of shoppers. Throw into your purse an antibacterial travel pack such as the one from Wet Ones to wipe germs off hands.

Staying Fine while Waiting in Line–You can sometimes be waiting in line for hours on Black Friday. Go for comfort shoes over style, and take along a bottle of water, a protein snack such as bars, nuts and trail mix to keep your energy up. Best of all, find a new app to play on your phone to keep you entertained instead of frustrated.

Double Duty at the Mall for your Haul–Go shopping along with a friend or relative who can trade off with you taking the kids to the mall playground, arcade or another side excursion while you both finish picking up the Black Friday deals on your list.

Information provided to me as a Lifelock Ambassador, I am compensated for my time.

Donating Safely Online

October 31, 2012 by The Mom Jen 1 Comment

Almost every day, our Facebook news feeds are flooded with requests to donate to an organization, or sponsor participation in a walk / run / ride for charity. And it won’t be long before we get dozens of requests to make a holiday donation to our favorite causes!

Have you experienced any trouble when donating online, or been referred to a site that didn’t appear legitimate? I’m always very skeptical. Lifelock and I think it’s a great time to talk about some of the ways to protect yourself when using your credit card for an online charity transaction. If you’ve logged into the LifeLock for Life game you may have seen some of these questions…check them out and let me know how many you got right (or wrong).

1. True or False: You should be suspicious about online donation sites that ask about your full address.

answer: false

2. If you receive an email that urges you to donate for a good cause, you must be cautious that:
A) You don’t download a virus from an attachment
B) The link they provide doesn’t send you to a “clone” site
C) The email isn’t a “Phishing” scheme
D) All of the above
answer: D
If you aren’t positive that you are clear of all of these warning signs, it may be best to just ignore the email all together.

3. Clone sites are a benefit to online donating…
answer: false
On the contrary they are a detriment. Clone sites mimic real sites in order to get your personal and financial information while you think you are donating.

4. Where are identity thieves most likely to get key personal data when I donate?
A) Unsolicited e-mails requesting personal data
B) Personal and financial information found in the trash
C) Pre-approved credit card mail offers
D) All of the above
answer: D

5. What is the safest way to respond to a suspicious email from a charity requesting personal information?
A) Respond, and ask the sender to validate their authenticity
B) Open any attachments to read further details
C) Immediately delete the suspicious email
answer: C
If you do not personally know the sender, immediately delete a suspicious email. If the email appears to be sent by a real charity, call the publicly available phone number to donate or speak directly to the charity.

6. Who should be most cautious about protecting secure information while donating?
A) Young Adults
B) Adults
C) Elderly
D) All of the Above
answer: D
All of these groups have unique challenges in protecting themselves. Every person should take the utmost caution while offering their personal financial information to organizations.

7. True or False: Financial theft is only possible in “one fail swoop”?
answer: false
A thief can steal from you by charging small increments month to month, opening new accounts in your name or requesting you “donate” small sums. These small sums over time add up to big gains for thieves.

8. Where are identity thieves most likely to get key personal data when I donate?
A) Unsolicited e-mails requesting personal data
B) Personal and financial information found in the trash
C) Pre-approved credit card mail offers
D) All of the above
answer: D

9. How do you know that a website is at lower risk of a security breach when donating:
answer: The URL begins with a “https” . This is a way to show the lowered risk of security breaches on a website.

How did you do? I got about 70% correct, so it’s important everyone pays close attention when you’re giving your important information online, even if it’s for a special cause!

I’m a Lifelock ambassador and am paid for my time, all thoughts are my own.

What Identity Thieves Don’t Want College Students to Know #LifeLock

August 14, 2012 by The Mom Jen 2 Comments

It’s been over 20 years since I’ve started college, but I completely remember how I felt entering a place 150 miles from home on my own. Vulnerable. 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, I never had fake identification, but knew many that did. 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.

Another thing about college I remember is that there were offers to sign up for credit cards left and right. They knew these students were fresh out of high school, desperate and broke, and without bad credit (hopefully) so credit card companies prey on college kids. 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.

I’m a Lifelock Ambassador. This information is provided to me, compensation does not influence my honest opinions.

Summer Travel Creates Opportunities for Identity Theft

July 16, 2012 by The Mom Jen 19 Comments

Summer travel is huge for many families including my own and sharing your trips with family and friends is easier than ever thanks to smart phones and the internet! Being a social media fanatic and travel blogger I find myself sharing photo and checking in to Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Foursquare at every locale, often finding rewards and discounts for food and fun. What I tend to forget is that many of my accounts are public information, and while my posts do help market for brands, they are also an invitation for identity thieves.

Is there a happy medium for me and other bloggers who take all our electronics with us each trip to document each step of the way? Are you heading to BlogHer ’12? Take into consideration the followingLifelock advice for travelers who want to avoid becoming victims of identity theft:

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. Paige Hanson, manager of educational programs at LifeLock, has one answer for travelers who can’t live without their devices, “Get a wireless card.” This will ensure a secure Web connection.”

4 C’s, Call your Credit Card Companies: Contact your credit card companies and your banks to let them know you will be traveling. 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 traveling by train or plane, tag your luggage smartly. Do not put your home address or the address to which you are traveling 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.

Thanks to these tips as well as my Lifelock family membership, I feel protected.

I’m a Lifelock Ambassador and am compensated for my participation. All opinions are my own.

Questions about #Lifelock Answered via Video

June 27, 2012 by The Mom Jen Leave a Comment

Many people I talk to about Lifelock have questions about identity theft, what to do with their old and current documents, and if indeed their credit card is safe. Lifelock has put together some very short yet concise videos to answers these questions!