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Summary of Consumer Protection against Fraud

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Summary of Consumer Protection against Fraud

Fraud is a never-ending, always-changing crime. Just when you think the law is ahead of it, it takes on a new form. And being an educated, commonsense kind of person doesn’t always exempt you from its reaches, because many scammers know how to find your weak points and exploit them.

It may seem that guarding yourself is a big job, covering everything from your phone to your papers to your computer and even your friends. These days, even social media sites are ripe grounds for scammers and identity thieves. Such frauds are among the unfortunate downsides of being connected in various ways with so many other people.

Things to do

  • Find your state securities regulator and keep its contact information handy.
  • If you are questioning a business or investment opportunity, contact the Better Business Bureau or the Federal Trade Commission to make sure it is legitimate.
  • Learn the signs that scammers use to trap unsuspecting victims.
  • Get a copy of your credit report once a year and check it for errors or signs of fraud.
  • Shred any documents that have identifying information on them.
  • Make sure that the addresses on product-ordering Websites begin with https.
  • Secure the information on your computer and phone.
  • Keep track of all of your usernames and passwords. Change the passwords periodically.

What you have learned

  1. What Is Fraud?
  2. How to Resist Fraud
  3. What Protections against Fraud Are You Entitled To?
  4. What Is Identity Theft and What Forms Does It Take?
  5. How Can Your Identity Be Stolen?
  6. Preventing Identity Theft
  7. What to Do if Your Identity Has Been Stolen

Find out what you have learned