A new school year usually means filling out paperwork like registration forms, health forms, and emergency contact forms, to name a few.
The Federal Trade Commission wants parents to know that many school forms require personal and sensitive information that, in the wrong hands, could be used to commit fraud in your child's name.
A criminal can use a child's social security number to get government benefits, open bank and credit card accounts, or rent a place to live.
Most parents and guardians don't expect their child to have a credit file, and rarely order or monitor a child's credit report.
The F-T-C advises you find out who has access to your child's personal information, pay attention to material sent home that ask for personal information and consider programs that take place at the school but not sponsored by the school; like sports and music where children are named and pictured on websites.
Updated: 05/07/13 - Detectives in the east say the calls come from a number that tracks back to Washington DC, but the concern for some is that scammers are calling your friends from your contact list. Read More
Posted: 05/07/13 - The North Carolina Attorney General says just requesting information online for a payday loan can put your information and your money at risk. Read More
Updated: 03/12/13 - Federal officials have helped the family of a Raleigh woman recover $45,000 of the nearly $200,000 that she lost to Jamaican scammers who told her that she had won a lottery prize. Read More
Posted: 01/15/13 - The N.C. Attorney General's Office says they received more than 600 calls in 2012 about getting telemarketing calls pitching alarm systems. Read More
Updated: 12/14/12 - Wayne County deputies have charged two men and a woman for scamming people into donating to Toys for Tots and local fire departments. Read More
Updated: 11/15/12 - A startling message is popping up on computers everywhere claiming to be from the FBI saying your computer is locked and you're under investigation. Read More
Updated: 11/08/12 - As you get started on your holiday shopping list, online shopping can be a great way to snag a great deal. However, not all internet merchants are created equal, and low prices can blind consumers from spotting counterfeit items. Read More
Posted: 08/23/12 - With less than three months until the election in November, election-related scams are popping up. Here's one to avoid. Read More
Updated: 08/17/12 - The Federal Trade Commission wants parents to know that many school forms require personal and sensitive information that, in the wrong hands, could be used to commit fraud in your child's name Read More
Updated: 08/01/12 - The Pitt County Board of Elections says if a woman claiming to work for the agency knocks on your door, you're asked to call the board. Read More
