Treat Dad to Phish & Tips for Fathers Day

Dad may always be ready to share his wisdom and advice with you, but this Father’s Day the Federal Trade Commission has information you can share with him. The new Father’s Day e-card, available from the FTC in English and Spanish at http://www.ftc.gov/dad and http://www.ftc.gov/padre, offers dads advice on keeping their personal information secure.

When Internet fraudsters go “phishing,” they send spam or pop-up messages asking for personal information such as credit card numbers, bank account information, Social Security numbers, or passwords. Often, they pose as a trusted source like a bank, an Internet Service Provider, or a government agency. The e-card shares tips to “school” dads on how not to get “hooked,” along with wishes for a “fintastic” Father’s Day!

Copies of the e-card are available from the FTC’s website at http://www.ftc.gov/dad and http://www.ftc.gov/padre. The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint in English or Spanish (bilingual counselors are available to take complaints), or to get free information on any of 150 consumer topics, call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357), or use the complaint form at http://www.ftc.gov. The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft, and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.