We liked our source for last week’s blog so much we revisited Fraud.org again. As a review, Fraud.org is operated by the National Consumers League, America’s oldest nonprofit consumer organization with the aim of protecting consumers in all matters.

Every day, millions of consumers turn to marketplaces like eBay, Craigslist, and other websites to sell products online. In the vast majority of transactions on such sites, the buying and selling of products happens without a hitch. However, Fraud.org has recently received a significant number of complaints from consumers reporting that they are being scammed when attempting to sell their products online.

The complaints indicate that after the seller and buyer contact each other to arrange payment via PayPal, the seller receives an email, allegedly from PayPal, confirming the payment. Once the confirmation email is received, the seller ships the items to the buyer — who is actually the perpetrator of the scam.

Although it appears to be a normal transaction in the world of online shopping, the twist is that the PayPal confirmation email is a fake. Eventually, the seller realizes the money they should have received through PayPal is not in their account. By the time the victim realizes they have been scammed, the con artist buyer has already walked away with the product.

Victims of this type of fraud have reported losing iPads, iPhones, Nike Air Jordan shoes, cameras, jewelry, wedding dresses, and even cars. These scammers are incredibly deceptive, and consumers should be on the look out for any signs of this type of scam. Here are some tips on how to spot the scam and avoid becoming a victim:

(1) When you receive the confirmation email from PayPal, log in to PayPal directly (not through the link in the confirmation email) to check the account and ensure that the funds arrived. Only ship the item when you have confirmed that the funds are in your PayPal account.
(2) Make sure you review the buyer’s profile on eBay. If there are negative or no comments, that may be cause for concern. Think twice before doing business with them.
(3) When applicable, finish the deal in the marketplace where you started it. When shopping or selling on eBay, for example, never finish the sale “offline” with a buyer or seller. Many such sites have protections built into them that no longer apply if users complete the transaction elsewhere.
(4) If a buyer is requesting that you wire them money for shipping, insurance, or courier fees, it is most likely a scam. DO NOT wire them money.
(5) Do not let the buyer pressure you into shipping your item directly after you receive the PayPal confirmation email. They are most likely trying to get you ship the item before checking PayPal for further confirmation.

If you suspect that the buyer is attempting to scam you, report them to the eBay Security Center, your local authorities, and Fraud.org.

For more information on identity theft best practices please visit www.hvshred.com

We use this blog to connect our community to valuable resources in the realm of identity theft protection. A recent find of ours is Fraud.org operated by the oldest not for profit consumer protection agency. A recent post on the website focused on making sure your charitable giving is legitimate.

We all want to help our favorite causes, but we also want to be sure our charitable donation isn’t simply going into a crook’s pocket. Here are some suggestions:

(1) If approached by an unfamiliar charity, check it out. Most states require charities to register with them and file annual reports showing how they use donations. Ask your state or local consumer protection agency how to get this information. The Better Business Bureau Wise (BBB) Giving Alliance also offers information about national charities. Call 703-276-0100 or go to Give.org.

(2) Ask for written information. Legitimate charities will be happy to provide details about what they do and will never insist that you act immediately.

(3) Be wary of sound-alikes. Some crooks try to fool people by using names that are very similar to those of legitimate, well-known charities. Ask about the caller’s relation to the charity. The caller may be a professional fundraiser, not an employee or a volunteer. Ask what percentage of donations goes to the charity and how much the fundraiser gets.

(4) Be wary of requests to support police or firefighters. Some fraudulent fundraisers claim that donations will benefit police or firefighters, when in fact little or no money goes to them. Contact your local police or fire department to find out if the claims are true and what percentage of donations, if any, they will receive.

(5) Be especially cautious after natural or other disasters. Fraudulent charities take advantage of those situations to trick people who want to aid the victims. If you’re not sure whether a charity is legitimate, check it out with your state charities regulator and the BBB before you donate.

For more information on identity theft best practices, please visit www.hvshred.com

Going back again to one of our favorite sources for identity theft news, today we reference the OnGuardOnLine blog inked by Lisa Weintraub Schifferle. We ourselves have been exposed to this latest scam so we want to make sure our community is aware. The target is E-Z Pass clients.

Here’s how it works: You get an email that appears to be from E-Z Pass. It has the E-Z Pass logo, and says you owe money for driving on a toll road. It also provides a link to click for your invoice.

The problem is the email isn’t from E-Z Pass. If you click on the link, the scammers running may put malware on your machine. And if you respond to the email with your personal information, they’re likely to steal your identity.

This E-Z Pass email is the latest in a long line of phishing scams, where fraudsters pretend to be legitimate businesses as a way to get access to people’s personal information. But adopting a few online security habits can help you avoid phishing scams:
Never click on links in emails unless you’re sure who sent you the message.
Don’t respond to any emails that ask for personal or financial information. Email isn’t a secure way to send that information.
Type an organization’s URL yourself, and don’t send personal or financial information unless the URL begins with https (the “s” stands for secure).
If an email looks like it is from E-Z Pass, contact E-Z Pass customer service to confirm that it is really from them.
Keep your computer security software current.
If you might have been tricked by a phishing email:
Forward it to spam@uce.gov and to the company impersonated in the email.
File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at ftc.gov/complaint.

For more on identity theft best practices, please visit www.hvshred.com

This week we take a moment to go over the basics of how and why on-site shredding makes sense.

Regardless of the kind of business you run, shredding important documents is vital in preventing ID theft. As a business owner, it should be a number one priority to keep the personal information of your clients and customers safe. Not only do you need to safeguard your clients’ documents, but your corporation also needs to be protected from fraud. So, how do you go about making certain that everyone’s private information is protected? PROPER PAPER SHREDDING. Here are some ways to make certain you are complying with the law and keeping yourself, your employees and customers safe from fraud.

First, paper shredding cannot be taken lightly, as there are legal ramifications to you as a business owner if you do not have a paper shredding policy in place. It is recommended that you use a professional shredding company for disposing of vital information.  Still, it is key to establish a paper shredding policy or system.

As vital component of the system is to train employees what types of paperwork need to be shredded rather than disposed of casually in the garbage.  Encourage staff to err on the conservative.  Clearly labeling where the papers need to be place, giving specific guidelines of what must be shredded, and implementing expectations of your employees is very important in the success of complying with paper shredding mandates.

A quick and not nearly comprehensive list of what needs to be shredded includes:

-Cancelled checks of any form

-Receipts from ATM and Credit Cards

-Bank Statements That Are Old

-Bills That Have Been Paid

-Tax Records and Receipts That Are Older Than 7 Years

-Credit Cards That Are Expired

-Any Document With a Social Security Number on it

-Any Form That Has Private Information Listed

-Documents With Contact Information for Employees and Clients

Summing it up:  we encourage you to implement a records management system that includes training employees thoroughly on proper document handling procedures.  The most secure and efficient method of disposing confidential papework is engaging an on-site shredding service.

When in doubt—shred!  Using an on-site shredding service has the added benefit of recycling, since most on-site shredding services will also recycled the shredded paper.

Protect yourself, your business, and your clients from FRAUD and FINES!

Let us help keep you compliant and lessen the burden when handling consumers’ sensitive information. Contact HV Shred Inc. today!

The date is now fixed on the calendar for the 2nd Annual Poughkeepsie Arlington Rotary Community Shred Event hosted by LaGrange Pharmacy and Bridgeway Federal Credit at the new plaza at the junction of Routes 82 and 55 in LaGrangeville, NY. That leaves 10 weeks to gather your confidential paperwork to take advantage of this great opportunity to securely dispose of your paperwork as well as support a great cause.

On-site shredding service will be provided by HV Shred, Inc from 9am-noon. 100% of the suggested $10 per box/bag donation will go to the community improvement projects run by the Poughkeepsie Arlington Rotary.

No need to worry about staples, paperclips, spiral notebooks, or even bank books. HV Shred’s high tech shredding knives can easily shred through all that. In addition, all the shredded paper is recycled helping to preserve and protect our local and global environment.

For more information, please contact Judith a (845) 705-7279

We’re looking forward to a big crowd so we can fully fund all the Poughkeepsie Arlington Rotary programs in the upcoming year.

Help us make it a success–and protect your identity and the earth as well!

See you Saturday, September 27th 9am-2pm at 1520 Route 55 in LaGrangeville NY 12540

As it is vacation season, here are some scams to keep top of mind.  Once again, we credit OnGuardOnLine.gov as our source for valuable id theft information.

A first tip is to be wary of the late-night call from the front desk telling you there’s a problem with your credit card.  The caller will ask to verify the number.  Keep in mind, it may really be a scammer on the line. If a hotel really had an issue with your card, they would ask you to come to the front desk.  Best practice, if you get a call like this, go to the front desk to do the verification in person.

Likewise, hotel guests are finding a pizza delivery flyer slipped under their hotel door. When you call to order, they take your credit card number over the phone. Unfortunately, the flyer is a fake, and a scammer now has your info. Before you order, make sure you check out the business, or get recommendations from the front desk.

Lastly for this week’s blog, the good old “Wi-Fi” network scam is one to be mindful of.  Just because it has the hotel’s name, it may not be secure.  By using it, you could give a scammer access to your information. Check with the hotel to make sure you’re using the authorized network before you connect.

We hope everyone is getting out and enjoying a summer vacation.  Keep these tips in mind to optimize the fun and minimize the stress.

For more information on best practices for identity theft protection, please visit www.hvshred.com