- Font Size:
- Default font size
- Larger font size
BY JAMES PELLICCIOTTI | Saturday, March 22, 2008 | (No comments posted.)
The Federal Trade Commission is warning consumers who are expecting government rebate checks this year to be careful of rebate scams designed to steal their identities.
According to the agency, the scams involve people falsely claiming to be from the Social Security Administration or the Internal Revenue Service.
These individuals contact consumers and tell them they need personal information to directly deposit the rebate checks for the consumers. They request information regarding checking account number, Social Security number, or other pieces of personal information -- the kind they can use to commit identity theft.
Neither the Social Security Administration nor the IRS gathers information for government rebates by unsolicited telephone or e-mail messages.
To protect yourself from identity theft, you should not give out financial or other personal information in response to unsolicited telephone or email contacts.
Be wary of the links in e-mail solicitations, too.
E-mail links may take you to official-looking, but phony Internet sites that actually are "phishing" for information. Links also can take you to legitimate sites, but on the way plant spyware or other malware on your computer.
Information regarding these computer threats is available at www.OnGuardOnline.gov. The "OnGuardOnline" site offers other useful tips to help you protect yourself from Internet fraud and secure your computer.
For additional information on the rebate check warning, read the FTC's February, 2008 Consumer Alert, "Extra! Extra! Count on Scammers and Schemers to Follow the News," available at www.ftc.gov.
Opinions expressed solely are those of the writer. Joseph Pellicciotti is a lawyer, professor and associate vice chancellor at Indiana University Northwest.
Back to story No comments posted.
- It wasn't clear, concise or focused on the topic in the story.
- It was a personal attack, vulgar, explicit or degrading, used actual or implied profanity or contained potentially libelous statements.
- It accused someone of being guilty of a crime.
- It promoted violence or illegal acts.
- It contained telephone numbers or street addresses, or e-mail addresses and links to Web sites other than nwi.com or government agencies.
In no way do these comments represent the views of The Times or Lee Enterprises.
Passionate views, pointed criticism and critical thinking are welcome. Name-calling, crude and profane language and personal abuse are not welcome.
Reader comments will not be edited - they will be approved or declined. They may be used in the print edition of the newspaper.
If you feel a posted comment has violated these guidelines, please email our New Media team the commenter's name, the comment and a link to the article.
For more information please read our Terms of Service.
Post a comment Once your comments are approved, they will appear here.
» More Business Stories
- BUSINESS AT LARGE column: Some business thoughts, at large
- Severstal buys U.S. Sparrows Point steel mill
- CONSUMER AFFAIRS column: Addressing tax and rebate scams
- Skybus flight canceled
- Ford takes over Romanian carmaker
- FUTURES FILE column: Commodities sell off; speculators lose risk appetite
- Turboprops back in flight