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• September 13, 2021 How you pay the rent may help your mortgage application
• September 02, 2021 ‘El algoritmo me despidió’: un proyecto de ley de California apunta a cambiar la dura cultura laboral de Amazon
• August 30, 2021 How to block Facebook from snooping on you
• August 26, 2021 Fraud alert: Malicious QR codes
• August 24, 2021 Privacy of streaming apps and devices: Watching TV that watches us

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CA News & Special Reports

Consumer Action INSIDER - August 2021 The August 2021 issue of Consumer Action's INSIDER newsletter includes our regular features highlighting our recent work with advocacy allies, the latest activities of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and another class action settlement you may be eligible to join. This month, we also announce publication of three new fact sheets, on the Emergency Broadband Benefit and on vaccine hesitancy; offer advice for anyone who ends up with a "lemon" RV; and link to numerous articles and videos we've contributed to Spanish-language media outlets. (Monday, August 02, 2021)

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Five Recent Publications

What you need to know about how FinTech apps work (Chinese) 謹慎共享你的財務數據.

當今金融科技可以為那些希望將個人財務資料數字化的消費者提供吸引人的優越性。但是，就像所有建基於互聯網的工具和服務一樣，科技理財應用程式需要謹慎選擇和使用。這本刊物詳述各種科技理財工具的類型和運作方式，以及這些金融科技將對個人資料數據的隱私和安​​全會有什麼影響。（與本刊相關的另一本手冊，題為金融科技使用之隱私與安全性，提供實用可行的步驟，管理和保護個人數據的安全。）

Financial technology can offer attractive benefits for consumers who want to take their personal finances digital. But, like all internet-based tools and services, FinTech apps need to be chosen and used with care. This publication explains the types of FinTech tools available, how they work, and what that means for your data privacy and security. (Our companion guide, Privacy and security when using fintech apps, offers actionable tips for managing and protecting your data.)

Privacy and security when using FinTech apps (Chinese) 謹慎共享財務數據.

這份手冊為使用金融科技理財的消費者解釋，在選擇和使用相關應用程式時應如何做出明智的決定，採取哪些有效步驟來確保其財務帳戶數據的安全，一旦遇到問題時將會面臨什麼選擇。（與本刊相關的另一本手冊，題為金融科技程式的運作，概述了金融科技以及用戶在選擇和使用金融理財工具之前，應該注意哪些隱私和安全事項。）

This fact sheet gives FinTech users the knowledge to make wise decisions when choosing and using FinTech apps, take effective steps to keep their financial account data safe, and understand their options if something goes wrong. (Our companion guide, What you need to know about how FinTech apps work, offers an overview of financial technology and what privacy and security considerations users should be aware of before choosing and using digital financial tools.)

Avoid pandemic-related ID theft and account fraud (Korean) COVID-19에 대한 대응.

신원 도둑들과 사기꾼들은 팬데믹을 이용하여 소비자의 개인 식별 정보를 확보하고 이를 사용하여 피해자들의 계정에 접속하고 피해자 이름으로 새 계정을 개설하여 그들이 받아야할 혜택들을 갈취한다. 이 본행지는 소비자가 알아야 할 가장 눈에 띄는 팬데믹 관련 계획을 식별하고, 개인 및 계정 데이터를 보호하기위한 팁을 제공하며, 사기 및 ID 도용을 감지하는 방법을 설명하고, 피해자가 되지 않기위한 방법을 제시한다.

Identity thieves and fraudsters have taken advantage of the pandemic to get a hold of consumers’ personally identifying information and use it to steal their benefits, access their accounts and open new accounts in the victims’ names. This publication identifies some of the most prominent pandemic-related schemes consumers should be aware of, offers tips for safeguarding your personal and account data, explains how to detect fraud and ID theft, and outlines the steps to take if you discover you’re a victim.

Avoid pandemic-related ID theft and account fraud (Vietnamese) Đối Phó với COVID-19.

Các kẻ trộm danh tính cá nhân và gian lận lạm dụng đại dịch để cóp nhặt danh tính cá nhân của người tiêu thụ và dùng nó để trộm các phúc lợi, tiền trong trương mục của người tiêu thụ cũng như mở trương mục mới dưới tên của nạn nhân. Ấn bản này vạch ra một số trò lừa đảo phổ thông nhất trong đại dịch mà người tiêu thụ cần nên chú ý, ấn bản cũng cung cấp các mẹo nhỏ để bảo vệ trương mục cá nhân và trữ liệu trương mục của quý vị, các dẫn giải cách tìm ra vụ gian lận và trộm danh tính cá nhân, cũng như sơ lược các bước cần làm nếu quý vị khám phá ra mình là nạn nhân.

Identity thieves and fraudsters have taken advantage of the pandemic to get a hold of consumers’ personally identifying information and use it to steal their benefits, access their accounts and open new accounts in the victims’ names. This publication identifies some of the most prominent pandemic-related schemes consumers should be aware of, offers tips for safeguarding your personal and account data, explains how to detect fraud and ID theft, and outlines the steps to take if you discover you’re a victim.

Avoid pandemic-related ID theft and account fraud (Spanish) Cómo hacerle frente al COVID-19.

Los ladrones de identidad y estafadores se han aprovechado de la pandemia para obtener la información de identificación personal de consumidores. La usan para robarles beneficios, acceder a sus cuentas y abrir nuevas cuentas a nombre de las víctimas. Esta publicación enumera algunas de las estafas más comunes de las que el consumidor debe cuidarse durante la pandemia. También le ofrece consejos sobre cómo resguardar sus datos personales y de sus cuentas, explica cómo detectar fraude y robo de identidad, y describe los pasos que puede tomar si resulta como víctima.

Identity thieves and fraudsters have taken advantage of the pandemic to get a hold of consumers’ personally identifying information and use it to steal their benefits, access their accounts and open new accounts in the victims’ names. This publication identifies some of the most prominent pandemic-related schemes consumers should be aware of, offers tips for safeguarding your personal and account data, explains how to detect fraud and ID theft, and outlines the steps to take if you discover you’re a victim.

More publications »

Recommended Publications

Wednesday, January 13, 2021

Data Privacy Laws: What You Need to Know. There is no one comprehensive federal law that governs data privacy in the United States. Instead, there is a complex patchwork of sector-specific and medium-specific laws, including laws and regulations that address telecommunications, health information, credit information, financial institutions, and marketing.

Tuesday, October 13, 2020

Tech Support Scams and Tricks. Con artists behind tech support scams impersonate reputable technology companies to interact with would-be victims over telephone, via websites or by means of rogue software. The logic of such schemes is to persuade the user that their computer is infected with viruses, generating suspicious network activity or having system activation issues. The goal is to trick victims into paying for troubleshooting services they don’t need.

Sunday, April 19, 2020

Chronology of Data Breaches. Privacy Rights Clearinghouse has been tracking breaches since 2005 and publishes a Chronology of Data Breaches.

Tuesday, April 16, 2019

Patient’s Guide to HIPAA. This guide explains how you can use the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) to protect your medical privacy.

Thursday, January 29, 2015

Preparing Millennials to Lead in Cyberspace. Young adults, also known as millennials (ages 18 to 26), hold the key to close the cyber talent gap. Having grown up in a digital environment, millennials are well positioned for these cybersecurity careers, since they are at the stage when they need to choose a profession and will be in the workforce for several decades. This survey reviews U.S. millennials’ career interests, level of career preparedness and their online attitudes and behaviors.

More recommended publications »