Looking Up For You

Consumer Information: Beware Social Security e-mail scammers. The Social Security Administration is warning beneficiaries to ignore e-mails purporting to be from the agency. The bogus e-mails notify readers “that someone illegally is using your Social Security number and assuming your identity.” The agency never asks for credit card information, and consumers should never provide a Social Security number unless they know the source. Report suspicious e-mails to the Social Security’s Office of Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or www.socialsecurity.gov/oig.

The Laws on your Side: Taking out a loan? Leasing a car? Or maybe you just want to cancel that magazine contract you bought. Below are some online sources that explain some of your other financial rights:
· Borrowing money The Credit Practices Rule: www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/crdtrul.htm
· Understanding product warranties A Businessperson’s Guide to Federal Warranty Law: www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/buspubs/warranty.htm
· Canceling a purchase The Cooling-Off Rule: www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/buying/colling.htm
· Buying a used car A Dealer’s Guide to the Used Car Rule: www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/buspubs/usedcarc.htm
· Leasing a car www.federalreserve.gov/regulations/cg/regmcg.htm
· Disputing a credit rating www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/fcrasummary.pdf
· Canceling a home-equity-based loan www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/alerts/3dayalrt.htm
· Canceling private-mortgage insurance www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/alert/pmialrt.htm
· Mortgage discrimination The Equal Credit Opportunity Act: www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/homes/mortgdis.htm
· Dealing with a debt collector Fair Debt collection: www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/fdc.htm