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(Miami-Dade County, FL) -- With the ink barely dry on the economic stimulus bill signed by the President to get consumers back on solid financial footing, criminals are already launching cyber schemes to defraud them of their money. The Miami-Dade Consumer Services Department is reminding consumers to keep their personal information confidential, refrain from responding to communications originating from unknown contacts and report any fraud to the Federal Trade Commission.
Advertisements on the Web, on social networking sites, and other sources are promising to help consumers tap into some of the $787 billion dollars set aside by the government to kick-start the economy. Some ask you to pay a small fee in advance, with your credit card, to provide you with information about accessing government grants. The culprits then rack up hundreds to thousands of dollars in charges on your account, leaving you to foot the bill. Other fraudulent sites and emails ask you to enter personal information online, open attachments or click on links - all of which could make you vulnerable to identity theft.
"What is so frustrating about the individuals who are running these fraudulent operations is that they are taking advantage of people under a particularly difficult economic climate. They are preying on people who may be living paycheck to paycheck," said Miami-Dade Consumer Services Department Director Cathy Grimes Peel. "Anyone who is struggling to make ends meet may fall victim to these schemes."
If you receive communications such as the ones described, file a complaint with the FTC at www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov or call 877-FTC-Help (877-382-4357). If you receive an email from someone claiming to be from the IRS asking for your personal information, forward it to phishing@irs.gov and delete it without opening attachments or clicking on links.
Tips on protecting yourself from identity theft:
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Never give out your social security number, bank account or other personal information.
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Reconcile your bank account monthly, and notify your bank of discrepancies immediately.
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Report unauthorized financial transactions to your bank, credit card company and the police as soon as you detect them.
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Obtain a free credit report from each of the three credit bureaus once a year. The reports for the bureaus, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion, are available online at www.annualcreditreport.com or by phone (877) 322-8228.
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Notify the credit bureau in writing of any questionable entries and follow through until they are explained or removed.
About CSD
The Miami-Dade Consumer Services Department (CSD) investigates and mediates consumer complaints, enforces the County's consumer protection laws and business regulations, and licenses certain businesses. In addition, the department's Cooperative Extension Division provides technical assistance to commercial agricultural growers, backyard gardeners, homeowners, and manages youth and family development programs. The department also educates consumers on issues that affect them and provides resources to the public to improve their quality of life.
About CSD
The Miami-Dade Consumer Services Department (CSD) investigates and mediates consumer complaints, enforces the County's consumer protection laws and business regulations, and licenses certain businesses. In addition, the department's Cooperative Extension Division provides technical assistance to commercial agricultural growers, backyard gardeners, homeowners, and manages youth and family development programs. The department also educates consumers on issues that affect them and provides resources to the public to improve their quality of life.
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