2016 was a record-breaking year for data breaches in the United States. An estimated 1,093 companies and government agencies were breached, exposing everything from passwords to Social Security numbers. As we enter 2017, data privacy begins to play a major role in building trust between businesses and consumers. Data security policies are crucial to companies who value the protection of their data and the privacy of their clients' information.

Did you receive a gift card during the holiday season?  If so, it’s important that you understand your rights.  While most gift cards cannot be redeemed for cash, federal law does provide you with some consumer protections.  Many states offer you additional rights. 

Federal law provides the following consumer protections:

The holiday season is a time of joy for families everywhere.  Or, at least it is supposed to be.  While people are scurrying around looking for gifts to fill the empty space under their Christmas trees, hackers and scammers are lying in wait planning how to make it a very Merry Christmas…for them. 

 

The Scam

For this entry, we will be taking a look at AB 1580, the California bill that gives children (and other protected individuals) the ability to use a credit freeze to as a tool to help protect against identity theft.