This edition includes all of our announcements, content from our Consumer Watch Team. Read more on the Equifax Data Breach Settlement, Tips from the BBB on what to do after a data breach and more on Timeshare Scams.
Contact us for questions on any of these topics.
Data Breach:
8 Tips from BBB: What To Do After a Data Breach.
The Better Business Bureau has some suggestions for consumers concerned that their credit or debit cards may have been compromised by a data breach.
Equifax Settlement with the Federal Trade Commission.
Equifax Inc. has agreed to pay at least $575 million, and potentially up to $700 million, as part of a global settlement with the Federal Trade Commission, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), and 50 U.S. states and territories, which alleged that the credit reporting company’s failure to take reasonable steps to secure its network led to a data breach in 2017 that affected approximately 147 million people. Read the full article here.
For more information on the settlement, go to FTC.gov/Equifax.
The FTC is urging consumers to consider opting for the free credit monitoring, versus the cash settlement.
To claim your benefits from the settlement, go to equifaxbreachsettlement.com/file-a-claim
For more information from BBB on what to do after a data breach, go to BBB.org/breach.
Vacation Scams:
VACATION DISASTER: BBB warns of uptick in fake rentals.
There’s a new scam on the rise. From vacation rentals to college apartments, savvy scammers are stealing big deposits and leaving renters with no place to stay!
Two AG’s suing to stop deceptive and hidden fees at resorts and hotels that do not reveal the full price of a stay upfront.
“Marriott reaped hundreds of millions of dollars in profit by deceiving consumers about the true price of its hotel rooms,” A.G. Racine said in the article here.
Timeshare Pitfalls
Watch the Video on WBRC Channel 6
More Consumer Protection Topics:
Senators Introduce Privacy Bill of Rights to Protect Consumer Data
