The Trusted Scout: Top 10 Ranked Military Friendly Employers

November 2012 l Volume II l Issue 21

IN THIS MONTH'S EDITION

65% of Internet Users Are Cybercrime Victims

Top 10 Ranked Military Friendly Employers

Scam Harasses Victims into Repaying Fake Loans

Picture of the Month

A UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter assigned to Task Force Guardian flies over New York's storm-damaged coast on a mission from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., to Floyd Bennett Field, N.Y., Nov. 4, 2012. The helicopter is assisting National Urban Search and Rescue teams from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst to storm-damaged areas of New York and New Jersey. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Parker Gyokeres.

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT

BBB Military Line greatly appreciates support from the PenFed Foundation, without whom, our efforts on behalf of military consumers would not be possible.

Special Thanks to Our Sponsors

SCAM ALERTS!

Free iPad Mini Offer On Facebook Sounds Too Good To Be True...For A Reason

The excitement over a brand new Apple product and mention of something free can cause consumers to let their curiosity get the best of them. Unfortunately, Facebook users are being targeted by a new scam involving the newly developed iPad Mini.

Tips on Hurricane Relief Donations

In the wake of Hurricane Sandy threatening the northeastern regions of the U.S., BBB Wise Giving Alliance offers the following tips to help donors decide where to direct donations to assist hurricane victims:

Be cautious when giving online.

Internet Crime Complaint Center's (IC3)

Scam Alerts

This report, which is based upon information from law enforcement and complaints submitted to the IC3, details recent cyber crime trends and new twists to previously-existing cyber scams.

MILITARY CONSUMER

ISSUES & INITIATIVES

65% of Internet Users Are Cybercrime Victims

Cybersecurity is a rising concern globally - for individuals, businesses and nations. Unfortunately, many either don't take the threat seriously or aren't doing enough to protect themselves from cybercrime.

Top 10 Ranked Military Friendly Employers

G.I. Jobs 2013 Top 100 Military Friendly Employers®. This list ranks the best military friendly employers in order from 1 to 100.

Layaway Plans Could Create A Shopping Headache This Holiday Season

AUSTIN, Texas - Many retailers rolled out their layaway plans for the holidays a month earlier than last year. Some are even offering additional incentives to use the layaway option, such as cutting fees and increasing the number of items eligible for layaway. But Better Business Bureau is warning that putting an item on layaway could result in some costly shopping blunders.

5 Tips to Avoid Damaging Your Credit Score

A good credit score will not only facilitate your ability to get financing for a car, a home and many other things at favorable interest rates, but it can also help you get a job and obtain or keep your security clearance. Your credit score is a very important number. So, how do you build and maintain a good one -- and, over time, even improve your score?

Confessions of a Con Artist

My name is Jim, and I have spent most of my adult life swindling people out of money - big money. I worked in 30 fraudulent business operations over a 10-year period, pitching everything from gold coins to time-shares to oil and gas leases and other business opportunities. These scams took in millions of dollars. No matter how much money we made or how far-fetched the deal was, I never got caught. That is, until Sept. 30, 2004.

WHO WE SERVE

A New York crowd waves flags and cheers for Marines as they march in the annual Veterans Day parade in New York, Nov. 11, 2012. Since November 11, 1919, the parade has provided an opportunity for Americans and international visitors in the nation's largest city to honor those who have served. The Marines are assigned to the 6th Communications Battalion, Marine Forces Reserve. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl.

SCAM ALERTS Continued...

Scam Harasses Victims into Repaying Fake Loans

More people than ever are being harassed by collection calls at home and work about payday loans they either never received or already repaid. The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center recently released a new alert about the disturbing rise in these scams.

Child Identity Theft

Imagine learning that a thief has stolen your child's identity and used it to get a job, government benefits, medical care, utilities, a car loan - even a mortgage. You can do a lot to protect your kids' personal information - and to minimize the damage that child identity theft can cause.

As a partner in the Joining Forces Initiative and DOD Financial Readiness Campaign, BBB Military Line^® brings BBB consumer education and services to military personnel (including Reservists and National Guard), retirees, DoD civilians, and their families.