How to Get Out of Debt With the Get Out of Debt Guy » facebook

Nobody LIKEs A Scam: Facebook Timeline Deactivation Scams On The Rise

Amanda Miller — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 00:21:38 +0000

I’d like to have a show of hands of how many of our readers use Facebook.

::slowly raises hand::

Ok, good. Now that we’re all sitting at our desk/couch/phone raising our hands to a screen, put them down, you look pathetic.

::slowly puts own hand down::

On a serious note, a LOT of us use Facebook and whether you shoot your nose up in disgust at the mere mention or idea of this social networking site or watch every Facebook keynotes (::raises hand again::), you know the site exists and what it’s all about.

If there’s one thing I’ve noticed about Facebook users it’s that users only show site loyalty when change is afoot. Facebook users fear change like the plague. It’s a fascinating sight (or perhaps site) to watch.

In September of 2011, Mark Zuckerberg and the team at Facebook up on their annual Facebook developers conference (F8) and announced probably the most new and intense changes to come to Facebook including the now buzzed about Facebook timeline (which I suspect was swiftly designed and implemented to keep up with Google+).

Personally, I love the timeline. It took me a good month to love it, because as a devout Facebook user site change strikes me like a bowling ball in the gut, but this was a change I was excited for. Change I could believe in? In summary, I was pumped for this.

Perhaps it had something to do with Andy Samberg impersonating Zuckerberg for the first 8 minutes of F8?

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Or perhaps because I’m so shamelessly self-involved that the idea of my Facebook page showcasing myself even more made me giddy inside.

As a developer on Facebook I was able to activate the new timeline feature back in the fall whereas most users are now getting the option to make the switch. The only thing is, once users make the switch, there’s no turning back. Soon, the switch will be made for all on a mass scale but for now, users are in control of making the switch themselves.

Since there’s no turning back to the old layout after making the switch many Facebook users are running around like chickens with their heads cut off in fury. Some have resorted to mindless bitching on news feeds and status updates (to which I’ve now blocked. Those updates and anything to do with Tim Tebow) and some are joining groups or “liking” pages that dislike the Timeline.

Nothing brings a community together quite like a common enemy. The common enemy: Facebook. The community: Facebook. Bring it together, folks. Walk it off. Or disable your account.

Before I go off on a rant about how easy it would be for users to just not use Facebook anymore if they don’t like the changes let me take a second to breathe. And maybe watch that Andy Samberg video one more time.

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Ok, we’re back. What many users need to be aware of is that scammers are taking advantage of this new timeline hatred and numerous pages are popping up all over Facebook that claim to deactivate the Timeline all together if you simply “like the page first.”

SCAM ALERT!

First off, if you like a page on Facebook and a box pops up in front of you asking permissions of you, you should know this is an app, and if you accept the conditions they sometimes have the ability to post on your page as you, access your information and even contact your friends. It still amazes me how many people opt into apps that they don’t know anything about. But, this is sweeping Facebook right now.

All these pages are doing are allowing scammers access to user data. You will NOT BE ABLE TO DEACTIVATE THE TIMELINE. Fact. Get used to it.

Inside Facebook says that they have spotted 16 Timeline-related scam pages totaling more than 71,000 likes. Many of these pages and apps appear on the first page of results for the phrase “timeline” – Source.

A scammer page may look something like this:

- Source.

Or maybe something as shady as this:

– Source.

Don’t put your (and your friends’) personal information in the hands of scammers just because you’re unhappy with the new Facebook changes (which in all fairness were announced and showcased MONTHS ago). If you don’t like the changes, don’t use the site, but most of all, just don’t get scammed.

FTC Settles Charges Against Children’s Social Media Network After Collecting Personal Information Without Parental Consent

Amanda Miller — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 18:58:45 +0000

From How to Get Out of Debt

The operator of SkidEKids.com has settled charges from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) after collecting children’s information without parental consent.

The website, SkidEKids.com, has been marketed and advertised as a website similar to Facebook or Myspace but for children, providing for them a safe and educational place on the internet. According to the FTC, Skid-e-kids is a social networking site targeted at children ages 7-14 that allows them to register, create and update profile information, create public posts, upload pictures and videos, and “friend” and send messages to other Skid-e-kids members.

Apparently the website collected personal information from around 5,600 children without acquiring proper and prior parental consent which violated the Commission’s Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (“COPPA”) Rule. The FTC’s complaint also charges the operator, Jones O. Godwin, with making deceptive claims in Skid-e-kids’ privacy policy about the site’s information collection practices. The proposed settlement will bar future violations of COPPA and misrepresentations about the collection, use and disclosure of children’s information.

The FTC’s COPPA Rule requires that website operators notify parents and obtain their consent before they collect, use or disclose personal information from children under 13. The Rule also requires that website operators post a privacy policy that is clear, understandable and complete.

The FTC alleges that the Skid-e-kids’ online privacy policy claimed that the site “requires child users to provide a parent’s valid email address in order to register on the website. We use this information to send the parent a message that can be used to activate the Skid-e-kids account, to notify the parent about our privacy practices, to send the parent communications either about the parent’s and child’s Skid-e-kids accounts or about features of our Web site…”

The complaint alleges that the defendant registered children on the website without collecting a parent’s email address or obtaining permission for their children to participate. Children who registered were able to provide personal information, including their date of birth, email address, first and last name, and city. In addition to violating the COPPA Rule by collecting kids’ personal information without parental permission, the FTC alleged that the Skid-e-kids’ false privacy policy claims violated the FTC Act.

In addition to barring future violations of COPPA and misrepresentations about the collection and use of children’s information, the settlement order also requires Godwin to destroy information he collected from children in violation of the Rule, and, for a period of time, link to online educational material and retain an online privacy professional or join a Commission-approved safe harbor program to oversee any COPPA-covered website he may run. Finally, the proposed order imposes a $100,000 civil penalty, all but $1,000 of which will be suspended if Godwin provided truthful information about his financial condition and complies with the order’s oversight provision – Source.

While this is a novel idea for children I can’t help but have reservations about any website social media network targeted towards children. The risk we potentially put children’s information in with these types of sites scares me. Not only does this type of site raise a red flag for information getting into criminal hands but also the hands of scammers that may use children’s information to take out credit. Mid-October I wrote of a warning put out by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) that told parents to take notice to their children’s credit reports well before the age of the child being able to use credit to make sure their identity hasn’t been stolen as it is an increasing crime and scam in the United States.

I am in no way shape or form saying that SkidEKids.com would do this sort of action but rather putting out a warning to parents to be wary of the sites your children are using on the internet and to always make sure you kids’ information is safe and secure.

What are your thoughts on the matter? Leave a comment below!

Second Annual Small Business Saturday Could Mean Deal For American Express Cardholders

Amanda Miller — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 13:00:50 +0000

From How to Get Out of Debt

November hosts Small Business Saturday! Never heard of it? Me either. But apparently in honor of the day which is dedicated to small businesses on the busiest shopping weekend of the year the Better Business Bureau (BBB) is urging consumers to support the day and attempting to spread awareness.

“For the second year in a row, American Express OPEN has declared November 26th, the Saturday after Thanksgiving, to be Small Business Saturday. Sandwiched between black Friday and cyber Monday, Small Business Saturday is a perfect way to support the small businesses that you love” – Source.

Personally, I’m a huge fan of small and local businesses alike. There’s no greater feeling than getting what you need and/or want and supporting your small/local businesses that usually desperately need to business to stay afloat.

The BBB is teaming up with American Express OPEN this year to spread word about the day and to share information on why small businesses are just so great.

“It’s great to have a day that’s completely dedicated to the success of our small businesses and it’s even better to think that the success of this day could lead to the growth and prosper of the small businesses in the days and years to follow,” said Stephen A. Cox, president and CEO of the Council of Better Business Bureaus. “We’d like to encourage our consumers to take advantage of this day and show support to the small businesses in their community” – Source.

In preparation FedEX will be giving away 40,000 $25 American Express gift cards to lucky customers. 75% of these gift cards will go to those who register via the FedEx Facebook page as of November 1st, 2011.

What’s super cool is that if you’re an American Express user you’ll be privy to getting a $25 statement credit to card members who spend $25 or more on Small Business Saturday at qualifying independent merchants that accept AmEx.

While this is encouraging credit use it is also encouraging small/local business use – this has me stuck at a moral cross road! If you feel you can responsibly and effectively take use of this $25 credit offer then by all means, go for it! If you struggle with sticking to a budget and often spend beyond your means I’d suggest not being tempted by this deal to use credit.

You must register to receive the credit. Registration is available in early November at facebook.com/smallbusinesssaturday. For small businesses, $100 in free Facebook ads will be awarded to the first 10,000 businesses that sign up at facebook.com/smallbusinesssaturday – Source.

Do You “Like” To Travel? Southwest Ticket Scam Hits Facebook Again

Amanda Miller — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 19:03:48 +0000

From How to Get Out of Debt

I always know that a year has passed, not by the months on a calendar or the weeks in a year but by when the “Two Free Southerwest Airline Tickets” scam hits Facebook.

I believe it was this time last year when the scam circulated via a mass tag of names on a photo advertising the “deal.” They’re at it again, this time taking advantage of Facebook pages, links or applications that users can “like.”

“This version says something along the lines of “TWO FREE Southwest Airline Tickets” followed by a link to a fraudulent website. It also has the following description…SW is currently giving away 2 tickets to any destination within the United States, only to a few select people” – Source.

The scam requires you to “like” the page and share it with your friends in order to be eligible to win the free tickets. In this country right now it’s no secret that money is tight and for many when they see this shared on a friend’s Facebook wall it may seem enticing for them to score two free tickets to any destination!

Do not click, like or share this information!

“After sharing, you are then immediately told you have won an iPad 2 Color, a free cruise, or a free trip to somewhere in the Mediterranean.The scammers’ goal is to drive more traffic towards certain sites. This is how the scammer earns his or her money: a commission for every survey completed, every product purchased, and/or every account compromised. They also use them to spread malware and obtain personal information” – Source.

If you’re a Facebook user that has ever used an application through the site before, or had to authorize a site to be able to access your information, you are well aware of the “Terms and Conditions” that flash up on your screen asking for access to your individual page and sometimes friends’ information. All too often when hastily clicking “yes” to an application users give the app approval for posting on their walls. It’s always important to not just breeze through these agreements and actually consciously think about who you’re giving your most personal information away to.

If you have been scammed and would like to file a scam report, please click here.

Could Your Distant Cousin Sue Be A Nigerian Scammer On Facebook or Google+?

Amanda Miller — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 18:04:57 +0000

From How to Get Out of Debt

Last year an independent movie by the name of Catfish hit select theaters across the country. While I will keep my opinions of the movie to myself the basic premise of the movie gave a new buzzword to the internet community: “Catfish.” Catfish is defined by UrbanDictionary.com as being “someone who pretends to be someone they’re not using Facebook or other social media to create false identities, particularly to pursue deceptive online romances.”

The internet is now faced with an entirely new breed of “Catfish” — those who create false identities particularly to pursue deceptive online transactions. That’s right, scammers are hitting social media sites.

To many of you, you may be reading this thinking, “no duh, Miller!” scammers have always been on social media sites! However, what many do not know is that some scammers are going as far as to impersonate your own friends and family to gain trust from you before asking for money.

John C. Dvorak of PCmag.com reported yesterday in his article The Nigerian Scammers Invade Facebook that through third parties he has heard of a new scam in which Nigerian scammers have impersonated Facebook users’ family members to try and get them to send them money.

So many users of social media websites “follow”, “friend” and “circle” people they don’t know. But what do they do when they “follow”, “friend” and “circle” someone they think is a longtime, legitimate friend or family member and they turn out to try and scam them?

You’re a loyal Facebook user. All your privacy settings are as secure as possible. You’re connected with all your friends and your whole family, except for a couple of laggards like Aunt Susie and Uncle Bob, whom you have encouraged to join over the years.

Finally, Uncle Bob joins, but his wife Susie still refuses to join. You chat about this for a couple of months online until Uncle Bob gives up on her, saying she is just not interested. A few weeks later, Uncle Bob is telling you that he met someone, or knows someone who just died. And guess what? The guy is worth $35 million. His wife, Uncle Bob’s friend, needs to move his money out of …3…2…1…. Nigeria! – Source.

I know this sounds like such a stretch. When I first read this article I thought, “who wouldn’t know this isn’t their family member?” “How could someone be so easily duped?” But when I sat down to really think about my Facebook family members I realized I do have some that do not update, that I do not speak to for years at a time and some that I have never even met. It actually wouldn’t be hard if a scammer got hold of one of my family member’s names and pictures to create an account and friend my large family on Facebook. Surely with a family my size they might be able to get someone to send them some money. Although, you can be sure that if I had one of these “distant” relatives ask me for money I’d go complaining to mommy and daddy about why their relative is asking me for money. The nerve!

Dvorak advises social media users “to find a way to verify your friends, if that is even possible. At least confirm your close friends or relatives. The victim seemed more humiliated by the fact that he was spilling his guts to a dear relative who in reality was some felonious Nigerian creep.” – Source.

Personally, I don’t see any feasible way to actually confirm or verify your relatives on your social networking sites unless when they first join you pick up the phone and call them to ask how they are enjoying Facebook…???

I would extend the warning to the ever-growing Google+ network as it does parallel in many aspects to Facebook. Twitter poses as a threat too since it’s a leading social media network – however I’m uncertain how much money one can con out of you in 140 characters or less.

So now not only to I have to worry about Mom seeing me “planking” in various public places, Grandma having a heart attack if I drop the word “crap” in a status update but now Nigerian scammers?! Hey, remember when Facebook was only for college kids? ::sigh:: Those were the days…

Footnote: The reference to planking was strictly for comedic purposes. Planking is stupid. Don’t do it.

If you have been scammed and would like to file a scam report, please click here.

New Facebook Fan Page Replaces My Big Mistake Last One

Steve Rhode — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 19:08:20 +0000

From How to Get Out of Debt

For quite some time I had a Facebook fan page linked to the site. But when I created it I really screwed up the page name and typed in this long description, not knowing that’s what the page name would become. My fault. Totally my fault.

After trying very unsuccessfully to get some sort of help from Facebook to either transfer my 458 friends from the old page to the new one, or rename the old page, I gave up. Is there a secret to Facebook tech support? Is there any?

So I finally just tossed in the towel and created a new Facebook page for the GetOutOfDebt.org site. The page can be found here.

If you Like that page you’ll be able to see the latest feeds from the site plus I promise to post more pictures and updates there from my travels. It’s a good way to stay connected with me.

So please accept my apologies for my technical brain fart the first time around and take a moment to “like” the new and improved Get Out of Debt Guy fan page.

@GetOutOfDebtGuy

Caught In The Web : Debt Collectors Find Fleeting Debtors Via Social Networking Websites

Amanda Miller — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 18:27:38 +0000

From How to Get Out of Debt

I feel the personal need to thank a one, Vanessa Romo, a reporter at NPR for her most recent and compelling article “Elusive Debtors Foiled By Their Social Media Sites“.

This article delved into a world I had never considered existed. No not Pandora, but a realm of debt collectors using social media and networking sits to collect debts owed.

A social network can be a great tool for you to connect with friends but likewise if you publicize your profile it is a tremendous apparatus for debt collectors looking to collect on delinquent debts you may be avoiding.

Facebook. Myspace. LinkedIn. Twitter.

To name a few of the increasingly popular and well known social networking sites out on the internet today. Sites where you can join networks, and create a profile in order to catch up with friends, get connected with colleagues or where you can simply practice the art of being shamelessly self involved. Whichever way you look at it, these types of sites are growing by the hundreds of thousands sometimes millions of users each month.

Granted the Facebook craze appears to be starting to die off, at least here in the States; the actual growth of the site slowed in June 2010, dropping to 320,800 new monthly uses verses the 7.8 million users from May. Source.

Perhaps the diminish in new Facebook members might not be such a bad thing, especially if you’re a debtor on the run from your monetary obligations.

Romo reported yesterday about debtor, Issac Vicknair, who had been on the run from his debts for over 10 years years only to be busted a day after joining Facebook to network with other professionals in his field.

Vicknair, 35, owes the Department of Education around $15,000 in student loans and has been dodging payments for more than a decade. Vicknair explained that since his credit is so bad he purchases things in cash to remain untraceable.

“I’ve always had jobs as waiters, or jobs that last summers or a couple years — a bit of a gypsy,” Vicknair says. “So it’s really impossible to track me down. And there’s even been times in my life where they’ve found me, and I just quit the job so that I didn’t have to deal with it. And then I just found a new job.”

His avoidance’s demise came when his employer suggested he join Facebook to connect with other professionals in his field. Just one day after creating his account and releasing his contact information the phone rang for Vicknair. He knew the jig was up when the voice on the other line from a bureau of the Treasury Department butchered the pronunciation of his name. “‘Oh, I’ve heard this call before.’ Lots of times,” he stated.

Employers have been known to review prospective employee’s social pages before reaching a decision about employment, so it shouldn’t come as too much of a shock that collection agencies are now utilizing social networking sites to find people of interest.

What is surprising is how some companies are using these sites in order to collect on a debt. Romo spoke to Gary Nitzkin, an attorney from Nitzkin and Associates, who shed some light on the practice of social networking tracking.

Nitzkin remarked that Vicknair got off easy compared to the acts some of his employees practice to collect a debt via social networking sites.

“My collectors and skip tracers will put their name in to be a friend to the debtor,” he says. “And then they can get into their inner circle and talk to their other friends. Find out what they’re doing. Are they going boating today — on their new sailboat? Well, guess what? We just found an asset that we can take.”

But hang on just a second. Isn’t there that little thing called the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (FDCPA) that, “protects debtors from being harassed, and also prohibits collectors from doing or saying anything that’s false or misleading”?

Granted, the FDCPA was written and implemented 32 years ago, therefore social networking websites was a topic left undiscussed (and unfathomed for that matter), the Federal Trade Commission still stands by the act. When asked if it was legal to “friend” a debtor without mentioning the debt the response was as follows….

“FDCPA mandates that collectors must disclose that they are attempting to collect on a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose. It also requires that collectors state in subsequent communications with the debtor that they are a debt collector. A collector’s failure to make these disclosures would violate Section 807(11).”

For Nitzkin he believes it’s still a gray area. When asked if it was legal to deceive debtors via Facebook the way he explained some of his associates have done, he chuckled and said, “You know that’s a very interesting question. On the surface of it, I can tell you there’s nothing illegal about it”.

He agrees that defense attorneys will most likely look at him and his ‘techniques’, for lack of a better word, as sneaky and uncalled for but that he and the plaintiff attorneys laugh about the situation and “think it’s a wonderful thing”.

In Vicknair’s case he could not run any longer. He has since worked out a payment plan with the Treasury Department. However, he is waiting now for his other creditors to find him now, either via Facebook or via the attention this article will bring. He simply states, “It will be interesting.”

To read more about this story click here.

Listen to the original story:

click here

Debt Collectors Using Facebook to Gather Debtor Addresses

Steve Rhode — Wed, 26 May 2010 14:00:50 +0000

From How to Get Out of Debt

Several debt collectors at ANZ Bank in Australia are alleged to have created a fake Facebook accounts to friend people that were in collection in an attempt to gather addresses, phone numbers and emails of people in collections.

If it is happening in Australia there is no reason why we should not expect it to be happening in the U.S. as well.

Just another reason to check your Facebook privacy settings to limit access and not friend anyone you don’t recognize.

@GetOutOfDebtGuy

Is The Government’s Financial Bailout Going To Help You Get Out Of … – WebWire

Steve Rhode — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 22:39:39 +0000

From How to Get Out of Debt

Blaine, Washington – Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock or stranded on a deserted island for the last month, you’ve no doubt been hearing all the talk about the big financial bailout that the US Government is giving to the banking system and …

Click Here for Credit Card Debt Help

Source: Is The Government’s Financial Bailout Going To Help You Get Out Of … – WebWire

How to Get Out of Debt With the Get Out of Debt Guy » facebook

Nobody LIKEs A Scam: Facebook Timeline Deactivation Scams On The Rise

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