Tips for Consumer Protection Week: How to Avoid Online Scams

This week is officially National Consumer Protection Week, according to the Federal Trade Commission. But here at FindLaw's Common Law blog, we do consumer protection every day, year-round. So, we've rounded up some of our best posts on avoiding online scams and staying safe on the internet.

Here you go:

1. Tips for Spotting Online Scams

For whatever reason, the normal alarm bells that go off when you hear something that's too good to be true don't always apply to the internet. Too many of us trust what we see online to be true. So, how can you bring your real-world skepticism into the digital age? Here are some helpful hints.

2. 3 Tips to Protect Your Personal Information

Once a scammer has personal information like account numbers or your Social Security number, they may have access to all of your finances. Make sure you are careful about creating and keeping secret your passwords and be careful when storing or disposing of paperwork that lists that information. Also, it's worth monitoring your credit report and online accounts for any fraudulent activity or charges.

3. 5 Tips for Safety on Social Media Sites

Facebook, for most of us, is the front door to the internet. (And, sadly, many of us don't make it past the foyer.) So keep your sharing safe, i.e., to a minimum, when on Facebook and other social media sites.

4. Meeting Someone You Met Online? 7 Tips to Stay Safe

When taking your online relationships into the IRL world, make sure you understand the person you met on your computer might not be the same face-to-face. Making sure your friends know where you're going, or, better yet, bringing a friend with you, is a good start. It also helps to keep the meeting public and keep your phone on you at all times.

5. Online Job Scams on the Rise: 5 Tips to Protect Yourself

It never hurts to at least interview for a job, right? Maybe not. Some scammers are using fake job interviews to extract personal information, and in some cases "interview fees," cheating people who are just looking for employment.

If you think you've been the victim of an internet scam, contact an experienced consumer protection attorney as soon as possible.

Related Resources:

• Find Consumer Protection Lawyers Near You (FindLaw's Lawyer Directory)
• 10 Tips to Avoid Fake Reviews (FindLaw's Common Law)
• 3 Tips to Protect Your Privacy on Snapchat (FindLaw's Common Law)
• iPad Privacy Tips: 3 Ways to Protect Your Identity on Your Tablet (FindLaw's Common Law)