All posts tagged consumer protection

Becoming a Money Wise Woman

Becoming a Money Wise Woman

We have only to examine a few statistics to understand why it’s important to become educated on financial issues and begin planning our futures now. Between raising children and taking care of parents, women are losing an average of 14.7 years from the workplace. A woman who is out of the work force for one year must work five years to recover lost income, pension coverage and promotional opportunities.  In spite of our best intentions, between the 43% divorce rate and the fact that women tend to live seven to ten years longer than men, the reality is that if we aren’t already, most of us are going to be the sole person responsible for our financial security at some points in our lives.

Marcia Brixey

Women are by nature, caretakers. We take care of our children, husbands, partners, grandchildren and parents. We take care of everyone, but ourselves. But, ladies we need to be proactive and make an investment in ourselves. The investment we make now will determine our quality of life both financially and personally in the years ahead.

I wrote this in my first Kitsap Sun article – Becoming a Money Wise Woman in January 2003. Although 10 years later the statistics are still much the same, Money Wise Women has provided thousands of women with the tools and education to live financially healthy. More than 6,600 women have attended 70 Money Wise Women Conferences in Washington, California, Idaho and Oregon since November 2002.

Several years ago Money Wise Women joined forces with the Direct Selling Education Foundation (DSEF) to educate and empower women on their financial and business goals through the Money Wise Women Teleseminar Series. The free teleseminars (thanks to DSEF’s sponsorship) cover a variety of topics relating to finance and business. Topics include investing, credit reports, credit card debt, goal setting, time management and much more.

Each monthly listeners have the opportunity to listen live to my interview with powerful women who are experts in their field. We tape the teleseminar allowing women to listen and learn at their leisure in the comfort of their own home. Upcoming Money Wise Women Teleseminars include:

  • Treating Your Business Like a Professional with Deb Bixler
    May 7, 2013
  • A Single Woman’s Guide to Retirement with Jan Cullinane
    June 11, 2013
  • Calling All Super Complainers with Michele Corey
    July 9, 2013
  • A Man is Not a Financial Plan with Candace Bahr and Ginita Wall
    August 13, 2013
  • Business in the You Economy with Tara Gentile
    October 8, 2013
  • Communicating with Many Generations with Jennifer Fong
    November 12, 2013

If you’re ready to get financially healthy and/or take your business to the next level visit Money Wise Women Teleseminar website – www.moneywisewomengetsmart.com to listen to past teleseminars and sign up for upcoming teleseminars.

“Whatever you think you can do or believe you can, begin it. Action has magic, grace and power in it.” Goethe

About Marcia Brixey 

During her 26 years working for the Social Security Administration Marcia Brixey met thousands of women who experienced financial difficulties resulting from a personal crisis – husband’s death, divorce, illness or loss of a job. In August 2002 she founded Money Wise Women Educational Services to ensure every woman is financially articulate, confident, secure and independent. Today she hosts and speaks at Money Wi$e Women Conferences throughout the Western United States. Marcia also hosts the popular Money Wi$e Women Teleseminar Series. She is the author of The Money Therapist: A Woman’s Guide to Creating a Healthy Financial Life (Seal Press). Ms. Brixey regularly blogs for Money Wise Women and Forbes.com.

Ms. Brixey’s been the featured speaker at numerous conferences including the Women’s Money Conference in Reno and Las Vegas; Central California Women’s Conference in Fresno, CA; Prudential Financial Stepping Out Conference in Santa Clara, CA and Chicago IL; Choice Hotels Convention in Orlando, FL; Oklahoma Society of CPAs Invest in Herself: Journey to Financial Freedom Conference in Tulsa and Oklahoma City, OK; Washington State Employed Women in Vancouver, WA; Today’s Woman Expo in Boise, ID; Invest in Yourself Strategies for Women Conference in Costa Mesa, CA; and Northwest Women’s Show, Seattle WA and Portland OR. She’s also spoken at Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, MI.

Marcia is a former columnist for The Kitsap Sun newspaper, which serves the Kitsap Peninsula in Western Washington. She has been a guest on Northwest Afternoon (Seattle, KOMO TV), View from the Bay (San Francisco, ABC affiliate), Good Day Sacramento, About the Money (Seattle, PBS affiliate) and Sonoran Living Live (Phoenix, ABC15 TV). Marcia’s been interviewed on numerous radio shows and featured on CBS Report of the Week with Brian Banmiller. Marcia’s print media appearances include Quick and Simple, Redbook, Family Circle, Reader’s Digest, Ladies Home Journal, Puget Sound Business Journal, Seattle Woman Magazine, and US News and World Report. She is a member of the My Own Business Institute Advisory Panel. Ms. Brixey received the 2006 YWCA Woman of Achievement award in Kitsap County.

Marcia was inspired to take early retirement from her public relations job with the Social Security Administration in August 2002 after reading the quote “Our purpose in life is to find our gift, perfect it and give it back to others”. Ms. Brixey’s experience with the Social Security Administration includes District Manager, Supervisor, and Public Relations Specialist. She graduated from California State University, East Bay with a B.S. degree in Business Administration.

 

10 Tips for Reducing Financial Stress

10 Tips for Reducing Financial Stress

10 Tips for Reducing Financial Stress from http://dsef.orgFinancial stress is never a comfortable feeling. Worrying about how a bill will be paid or if you’ll have enough money at the end of the month can cause pressure in relationships and take the fun out of what you do each day. Fortunately, there are some specific things you can do to reduce financial stress and enjoy life more. Here are some tips:

  1. Get Educated on Finance – Far too many people have not received a proper financial education, and are unacquainted with how to properly manage their finances. This causes stress, because we often fear what we do not understand. Fortunately, it really isn’t complicated, and there are many good resources out there, including books, conferences, websites and more, that you can use to learn about topics such as how to create a household budget, get out of debt, and live free of financial stress. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is one good site to check out: http://www.consumerfinance.gov/askcfpb/, as is the Women’s Money organization: http://www.womensmoney.org/ 
  2. Keep a Spending Journal – Often we spend money throughout the week without really having a clear picture of where it goes. So record every single purchase in a small notebook you keep with you, or on your smartphone (there are a number of apps out there for this purpose.) Take a look at what you’ve spent your money on, and decide what you can cut out. You may find you can significantly reduce your expenses just by keeping track of what you spend.
  3. Get a Clear Picture of Your Current Finances – Knowing what you spend while out and about is only part of the picture. Sit down and write out what you earn each month, as well as all the places your money goes. Write down your payments for rent and utilities, debt and interest, activities for your children, donations, etc. Be sure you know where every cent is coming in and where it’s going out. Once it’s all written down, you will know exactly how much you earn and how much you’re spending. Are you spending more than you earn? Then you have two choices: Reduce what you spend, or make more money. It’s really that simple.
  4. Create a Budget (and Stick to It!) – Now that you know what the current state of your finances is, you’re ready to create a budget. We talked about creating a budget for your small business last week. You also need a household budget. Include your income, along with your expected expenses. Aim to spend no more than 90% of your income on a regular basis, so you can begin to accumulate some savings. This free Money 101 online course from CNN Money has information on creating a household budget, along with many other tips to using and growing your money wisely.
  5. Pay Off Debt – It’s important to pay off debt to reduce your financial stress. After all, every interest payment means the thing you initially bought is costing you more and more money. Was that thing really worth it? So for example, if you have credit card debt, call your creditors and see if they are willing to reduce interest rates. If you’ve got good credit, they may be willing to work with you. Then focus on one card at a time, and pay more than the minimum each month. Set yourself a time limit, and work to eliminate that debt as quickly as you can, so you can keep more of the money you earn and stop spending money on interest instead of things that your family can use and enjoy.
  6. Reduce What You Spend – In addition to getting rid of debt, look for ways you can spend less. Some of this is simply related to making daily choices based on your spending journal. But you may also be able to reduce payments on things you use. Call your television, phone and utility companies and see if they have a lower rate you qualify for. Maybe you can reduce your television package or switch to another provider offering a better deal. Also consider changing some of the things you’ve taken for granted. For example, if you’ve always sent your kids to a certain camp for the summer, look around and see if there might be a less expensive…but still fun!…option. You might even take a week or two off from camp and create your own home “camp” that helps you build family memories your kids will never forget.
  7. Create an Emergency Fund – Many families fall into financial stress due to unexpected expenses. One of the best ways to combat this is by having an emergency fund. If you’re focusing on spending only 90% or less of your income, take the other 10% and put it into an emergency fund that you set aside for unexpected expenses. Keep it in a savings account which you can access when the funds are needed. But remind yourself that this savings is ONLY for emergencies. Resist the urge to dip in for a vacation or other luxury. If you want to go on vacation or redo your kitchen, add a separate budget line item to your household budget, keep a separate savings account, and put money away for what you want there.
  8. Add Extra Income – Sometimes you’ll look at your budget, reduce what you spend, and still find that you aren’t making enough. At that point, it’s a good idea to find a way to add extra income to your budget. You could start a home-based business or get a second job. Take a good look at your schedule and carve out the times you could spend on another job. A new stream of income can be a great way to reduce stress, pay off debt, and reach your financial goals. And it can also be a way to add something you love to your life. Don’t just settle! Since you’re cutting into your free time to do this, look for an income opportunity that will be something you enjoy. For example, if you love cooking, you might look for a direct sales company opportunity that allows you to do cooking shows.
  9. Sell Things You Don’t Need or Use Anymore – In addition to working an additional job, you may find that there are things you have around your home that you don’t need or use anymore. Considering selling these things through consignment or online. While this won’t bring long-term income, it can be a way to pay off some immediate debt or start an emergency fund. Plus, reducing the clutter in your home can be a stress reducer!
  10. Realize There is More to Life than Finances – Taking control of your finances is exceptionally important. Every family should keep track of what they are earning and spending, and pass this knowledge on to the next generation. But keep in mind, too, that there is more to life than finances. Take time to be with your loved ones and appreciate the moments that pass far too quickly, but add joy to life. Don’t let finances keep you from embracing the wonderful gifts you have in your life, because they are things that money can’t buy.

How do you reduce financial stress? What tips would you give? We’d love to read them in the comments.
Nevada Women's Money Conference Flyer from http://dsef.org

As part of National Financial Literacy Month, we at DSEF are proud to sponsor the Nevada Women’s Money Conference. This important event helps women learn the skills they need to create a secure financial future for themselves and their families. While Reno is sold out, there is still room in the Las Vegas session on April 27, 2013. Best of all, we’re providing full scholarships to the conference for women in DSA member companies! For more information, visit this page: http://dsef.org/what-we-do/womens-entrepreneurship/nevada-womens-money-conference-a-new-vision-for-women-and-money/ And please, pass this along to the women you love in Nevada. This is an amazing opportunity that can make a HUGE difference in a woman’s life! Thanks for helping us spread the word!

 

DSEF & BBB: Understanding Your Credit Score

DSEF & BBB: Understanding Your Credit Score

blue_with_website-225x30022According to Experian’s 2012 State of Credit study, the national average credit score increased from 749 to 750. In addition, the average credit scores of Pennsylvania residents are above the national average, ranging from 758-773 depending on the city.

Your credit score can help lenders measure your financial risk when applying for credit cards, credit lines and loans. Higher scores generally equate to higher credit worthiness.

Your BBB offers the following tips for understanding and boosting your credit score:

  • Pay bills on time. On average, more than one-third of your credit score is based on payment history. Bills that end up going to a collection agency can drop a credit score as much as 100 points. Consider activating an automatic electronic payment schedule with your bank so payments won’t be late. Pay credit cards before they’re due. Promptly pay traffic or parking tickets and library fines and keep all payment records.
  • Maintain low credit card balances. Generally, another one-third of your credit score is based on the amounts you owe; often expressed as a “credit utilization ratio,” it is the percentage of the credit limit used. Keep purchases down to less than 25% of the credit limit at any time, even if the bill is paid off in full every month.
  • Limit your number of credit cards, including retail store cards. Typically, the length of credit history accounts for 15% of your credit score. Opening several new cards within a short period of time can hurt your score by lowering the average age of open accounts. Lenders worry about those who borrow more money than they can repay.

In order to detect fraud and fix potential errors that can affect your credit score, monitor your credit reports for free on a consistent basis by usingwww.annualcreditreport.com. Free reports through this site from Equifax, Experian and TransUnion show credit transactions, but not your actual credit score, which you can pay a fee to receive. For more helpful tips on managing credit, visit www.bbb.org.

DSEF and the Council of Better Business Bureaus (CBBB) foster honest and responsive relationships between businesses and consumers—instilling consumer confidence and advancing a trustworthy marketplace for all.

About the Better Business Bureaus
As the leader in advancing marketplace trust, Better Business Bureau is an unbiased non-profit organization that sets and upholds high standards for fair and honest business behavior. Every year, more than 87 million consumers rely on BBB Business Reviews® and BBB Wise Giving Reports® to help them find trustworthy businesses and charities across North America. Visit www.bbb.org/us for more information.

NCPW 2013 Contest Winners

NCPW 2013 Contest Winners

NCPW2013_285x285A big thank you to everyone who participated to make National Consumer Protection Week 2013 our best celebration yet! From folks that put together amazing, free consumer protection resources, to the companies that donated prizes, to all of you who entered, it’s been a great week dedicated to helping people make better decisions as consumers and business owners.

Comments from You

We’ve had comments from you like:

“I love the Wifi protection article. I don’t think many people realize how easy it is for hackers to get into your wifi devices.” ~ Sunny Downes

“I found the Five Tips for Safe Mobile Banking interesting – it is something I have been thinking of starting to use!” ~ Traci Rasmussen

“I found the article about the 4% charge on credit/ debit cards. I never noticed till last week when I was in at KFC that I was charged a different price. When asked she pointed to a sign smaller than a business card. WOW” ~ Lindsey Duprel

“I love the Money Wi$e portion and the Free Ebook…that I share with everyone I know! lol…

Thanks for being there…I really love everything about the DSEF so many great tips and tricks that I share on a daily basis with my team!!

xo” ~ DivaVal

Donating Companies

A big thank you to all the direct selling companies that provided prizes this week. They clearly demonstrated the commitment the direct sales industry has for consumer protection:

Winners

Congratulations to our winners this week! We gave away a collection of more than 20 products each day from the companies above. Our winners are:

  • Monday: Sue Williams
  • Tuesday: Dawn Mulvey
  • Wednesday: Jennifer Hartman
  • Thursday: Kimberly Allar
  • Friday: Lindsey Pierce
iPad Mini donated by Nu Skin for our National Consumer Protection Week 2013 contest at http://dsef.org

iPad Mini donated by Nu Skin for our National Consumer Protection Week 2013 contest at http://dsef.org

And thanks to Nu Skin, we also gave away an iPad Mini this week. The winner was selected at random from the nearly 1,000 entries we received this week.

And the winner of the iPad Mini is…

  • Alice Andreat

Congratulations to everyone who won. And please continue to take advantage of the consumer protection resources we’ve provided on this page. There are a ton of them! We are committed to making sure you can find the consumer protection information you need to make the best possible choices for your business and family.

National Consumer Protection Week 2013, and a Contest (Day 5)!

National Consumer Protection Week 2013, and a Contest (Day 5)!

NCPW2013_285x285It’s the 5th and final day of our National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) celebration! We’ve already given away four gorgeous Initials, Inc. bags stuffed full of amazing products from direct selling companies, and today we’re giving away one more! We’ve also been highlighting some of the amazing resources available on the web to help you make informed choices as a consumer and business owner.

Each day this week, we’ve posted a question. Use the NCPW resources we’ve provided to answer the question, and you’ll be entered to win an amazing (and gorgeous!) bag full of products from a number of companies in the direct sales industry. We’ve provided some bonus entry options as well.

You can win this iPad at http://dsef.orgAnd thanks to a generous donation from Nu Skin, we’ll also be drawing the name of one winner from among all entries this week to win an iPad mini!

 

Prize Details

Win this bag full of products from direct selling companies in today’s NCPW contest! (Prizes may be slightly different than those pictured, and there are more than those shown!)

Win this bag full of products from direct selling companies in today’s NCPW contest! (Prizes may be slightly different than those pictured, and there are more than those shown!)

Today’s winner will receive a beautiful bag full of products, including:

How to Enter

Simply leave a comment answering today’s question: We’d love to know…which of the resources on our NCPW Resources Page was your favorite? (Here’s the link to our NCPW resources page – Opens in a separate window)

p.s. Please be sure you actually leave a comment in the comment box below the Rafflecopter widget (don’t just click the button on the widget!). If we can’t find your comment, you can’t win!

Congratulations to Friday’s gift basket winner, Lindsey Pierce!

Our iPad winner is Alice Andreat. Congratulations!

Thanks to everyone for playing! We hope you had fun, and found some great resources!

Click here to see all of this week’s winners: http://dsef.org/2013/03/09/ncpw-2013-contest-winners/

* Contest is open to residents of the US and Canada, ages 18 and older. Final winners will be announced tomorrow (Saturday) morning at 9am!

Good luck, and don’t forget to tell your friends!

National Consumer Protection Week, and a Contest (Day 4)!

National Consumer Protection Week, and a Contest (Day 4)!

NCPW2013_285x285It’s day 4 of National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW), and the fun continues! We’ve already given away three gorgeous Initials, Inc. bags stuffed full of amazing products from direct selling companies, and today we’re giving away another one! We’ve also been highlighting some of the amazing resources available on the web to help you make informed choices as a consumer and business owner.

Each day this week, we’ll post a question. Use the NCPW resources we’ve provided to answer the question, and you’ll be entered to win an amazing (and gorgeous!) bag full of products from a number of companies in the direct sales industry. We’ve provided some bonus entry options as well. We’re giving away a bag stuffed full of amazing products each day, so be sure to come back each day to enter!

You can win this iPad at http://dsef.orgUPDATE! This Just In!

Thanks to a generous donation from Nu Skin, on Friday we are going to draw one name from all of this week’s entries to win an iPad mini!!! You can enter each day, so the more days you enter, the more chances you have to win!

 

Prize Details

Today’s winner will receive a beautiful bag full of products, including:

All entries will also be entered into the drawing on Friday to win an iPad mini, donated by Nu Skin.

How to Enter

Simply leave a comment answering today’s question: What’s the difference between an extended warranty and a service contract? (Find the link to the answer on our NCPW resources page! – Opens in a separate window)

p.s. Please be sure you actually leave a comment in the comment box below the Rafflecopter widget (don’t just click the button on the widget!). If we can’t find your comment, you can’t win!

UPDATE: Congratulations to Kimberly Allar, the winner of Thursday’s drawing!

Click here to see all of this week’s winners: http://dsef.org/2013/03/09/ncpw-2013-contest-winners/

* Contest is open to residents of the US and Canada, ages 18 and older.

Good luck, and don’t forget to tell your friends!

National Consumer Protection Week 2013, and a Contest (Day 3)!

National Consumer Protection Week 2013, and a Contest (Day 3)!

NCPW2013_285x285It’s day 3 of National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) and we’ve already given away two gorgeous Initials, Inc. bags stuffed full of amazing products from direct selling companies! We’ve also been highlighting some of the amazing resources available on the web to help you make informed choices as a consumer and business owner.

Each day this week, we’ll post a question. Use the NCPW resources we’ve provided to answer the question, and you’ll be entered to win an amazing (and gorgeous!) bag full of products from a number of companies in the direct sales industry. We’ve provided some bonus entry options as well.

We’re giving away a bag stuffed full of amazing products each day, so be sure to come back each day to enter!

ipad_TransparentUPDATE! This Just In!

Thanks to a generous donation from Nu Skin, on Friday we are going to draw one name from all of this week’s entries to win an iPad!!! You can enter each day, so the more days you enter, the more chances you have to win!

Prize Details

Today’s winner will receive a beautiful bag full of products, including:

All entries will also be entered into the drawing on Friday to win an iPad, donated by NuSkin.

How to Enter

Simply leave a comment answering today’s question: What is one way you can keep yourself safe when using mobile banking services? (Find the link to the answer on our NCPW resources page! – Opens in a separate window)

UPDATE: Congratulations to Jennifer Hartman, who won Wednesday’s drawing!

Click here to see all of this week’s winners: http://dsef.org/2013/03/09/ncpw-2013-contest-winners/

* Contest is open to residents of the US and Canada, ages 18 and older.

Good luck, and don’t forget to tell your friends!

National Consumer Protection Week 2013, and a Contest (Day 2)!

National Consumer Protection Week 2013, and a Contest (Day 2)!

NCPW2013_285x285It’s day 2 of National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) and we are having a BLAST! We’ve been highlighting some of the amazing resources available on the web to help you make informed choices as a consumer and business owner. And you also have the opportunity to win some fantastic products in our NCPW contest!

Each day this week, we’ll post a question. Use the NCPW resources we’ve provided to answer the question, and you’ll be entered to win an amazing gift bag full of products from a number of companies in the direct sales industry. We’ve provided some bonus entry options as well.

We’re giving away a bag stuffed full of amazing products each day, so be sure to come back each day to enter!

Prize Details

Today’s winner will receive a gift bag of products, including:

How to Enter

Simply leave a comment answering today’s question: What is the “Buy Back” Policy that all DSA Members agree to? (Find the link to the answer on our NCPW resources page! – Opens in a separate window)

UPDATE: Congratulations to our Tuesday winner, Dawn Mulvey!

Click here to see all of this week’s winners: http://dsef.org/2013/03/09/ncpw-2013-contest-winners/

* Contest is open to residents of the US and Canada, ages 18 and older.

Good luck, and don’t forget to tell your friends!

National Consumer Protection Week 2013, and a Contest (Day 1)!

National Consumer Protection Week 2013, and a Contest (Day 1)!

NCPW2013_285x285It’s one of our favorite weeks of the year…National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW)! It’s a time to highlight some of the amazing resources available on the web to help you make informed choices as a consumer and business owner. And since we love this week so much, we decided to make it even MORE fun with a contest!

Each day this week, we’ll post a question. Use the NCPW resources we’ve provided to answer the question, and you’ll be entered to win an amazing gift tote full of products from a number of companies in the direct sales industry. We’ve provided some bonus entry options as well.

We’re giving away a bag stuffed full of amazing products each day, so be sure to come back each day to enter!

Prize Details

Today’s winner will receive a gift bag of products, including:

How to Enter

Simply leave a comment answering today’s question: What’s one way you can protect your computer from hackers? (Find the link to the answer on our NCPW resources page! – Opens in a separate window)

UPDATE: Congratulations to Sue Williams, the winner of our 1st prize bag! Her answer was: “Use a strong password and change it often.”

Click here to see all of this week’s winners: http://dsef.org/2013/03/09/ncpw-2013-contest-winners/

* Contest is open to residents of the US and Canada, ages 18 and older.

Good luck, and don’t forget to tell your friends!

DSEF & BBB: Tips for Securing Your Mobile Device

DSEF & BBB: Tips for Securing Your Mobile Device

blue_with_website-225x30022By Amy Fowler

Better Business Bureau is urging consumers to take steps to secure their mobile devices in order to protect themselves from identity theft and malware.

According to a survey released by The Pew Research Center in January, almost half of all American adults now own smartphones. The same survey found that 17 percent of all consumers use their mobile device as their primary means of accessing the internet.

Smartphones can be a treasure trove for hackers. Through apps and mobile browsers, people store personal information like passwords, bank account information and credit card numbers in addition to their contacts and other information.

However, a survey conducted in part by the National Cyber Security Alliance, found that more than one quarter of cell phone users are not aware of common security threats to smartphones and more than half do not know enough about mobile phone security to decide whether or not they need it.

BBB urges consumers to remember that a smart phone is no different than a desktop or laptop computer, in that it is vulnerable to the same hackers, malware, spyware and viruses.

Here are a few practical tips from BBB to secure your mobile devices:

  • Lock your phone. If your phone is lost or stolen, your personal information is at risk. Add a security code to your phone to prevent thieves from accessing your data. Then set your device to lock automatically when not in use for  a specified time.
  • Update your operating system. Those alerts on your smart phone that tell you to update your apps and operating system are more than just a minor annoyance. These updates close security loopholes and other backdoors hackers can use to access your phone without your knowledge.
  • Beware of unknown apps and links. Do not download any apps or click on links in your email or social media pages without first researching their source. They may contain viruses, malware or spyware that can compromise your personal data.
  • Avoid unsecured Wi-Fi. If you choose to connect to an unsecured or public Wi-Fi network, do not enter any passwords or access any personal data. Bad guys can use such networks as an easy means to hack your device.
  • Turn off Bluetooth. Bluetooth creates a wireless connection between your phone and other devices or phones. If you are not actively using an enabled device, such as a headset, make sure your Bluetooth is turned off.
  • Check your permissions. Check all of your apps to see what data they are accessing and revoke permissions for information those apps don’t need to properly operate. Check your phone’s owner’s manual or contact your wireless provider for directions on how to do so.
  • Report missing devices. If your phone is lost or stolen, immediately report it to your wireless carrier and have the device disabled.
  • Back up your data. Make sure you have a backup of all the apps and information — especially important photos or other irreplaceable items — stored on your phone in case it’s lost, stolen, hacked or damaged.
  • Pay close attention to your phone bills. Unanticipated, sudden increases in data usage can indicate a problem. In addition, third-party content providers sometimes add erroneous charges to bills for apps or services the consumer never authorized. In addition, keep an eye out for strange texts and disrupted service. They can be red flags that indicate your phone has been hacked.
  • Erase old phones completely. If you’re selling, donating or recycling your old phone, ensure all your data is completely erased and the phone is returned to factory settings before letting it out of your possession. There are online tutorials to teach you how to do this, or your wireless provider can walk you through the steps.
  • Shop with caution. When shopping online with your mobile device, take the same precautions you would with a desktop or laptop. Look for the “s” in the “https://” in the address bar and research sites at bbb.org before providing any personal information or credit card numbers.
  • Consider mobile security. Many sources offer antivirus or other security apps for your phone. Research them thoroughly before choosing which is right for you.

DSEF and the Council of Better Business Bureaus (CBBB) foster honest and responsive relationships between businesses and consumers—instilling consumer confidence and advancing a trustworthy marketplace for all.

About the Better Business Bureaus
As the leader in advancing marketplace trust, Better Business Bureau is an unbiased non-profit organization that sets and upholds high standards for fair and honest business behavior. Every year, more than 87 million consumers rely on BBB Business Reviews® and BBB Wise Giving Reports® to help them find trustworthy businesses and charities across North America. Visit www.bbb.org/us for more information.