"The Trusted Scout": BBB Military Monthly Consumer News and Alerts.

March 2013 l Volume III l Issue 3

IN THIS MONTH'S EDITION:

FTC Releases Top 10 Complaint Categories for 2012

Scammers Hijack FTC's Name for Fake Complaint Emails

Picture of the Month

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Nickolas Alarcon observes a drop zone from the rear of a C-130 Hercules aircraft after deploying a light payload above Yokota Air Base, Japan, Feb. 21, 2013. Alarcon, a loadmaster, is assigned to the 36th Airlift Squadron. The C-130 aircrews demonstrated their airlift capabilities during a readiness week. U.S. Air Force photo by Osakabe Yasuo

BBB Military Line *SUSTAINING PARTNER* Spotlight

Congratulations to the Defense Credit Union Council (DCUC) for 50 years of Service and Advocacy on behalf of Military Consumers and their Families!

Special Thanks to Our Sponsors

SCAM ALERTS!

Army CID Warns of Email Phishing Scam

If you get an email that appears to come from "US-Army-Criminal-Investigation-Command@usa.com," it's a phishing scam.

The real Army Criminal Investigation Command, also known as CID, is warning the public that criminals are posing as Army law enforcement officials in an email that is making the rounds.

Sony Needs Testers for the New PlayStation 4 - Playstation Network Facebook Scam

This scam is hugely viral at the moment and being shared like crazy. The page has garnered almost 30 thousand likes, and the photo has been shared over 65 thousand times.

MILITARY CONSUMER

ISSUES & INITIATIVES

FTC Releases Top 10 Complaint Categories for 2012

Identity theft is once more the top complaint received by the Federal Trade Commission, which has released its 2012 annual report of complaints. 2012 marks the first year in which the FTC received more than 2 million complaints overall, and 369,132, or 18 percent, were related to identity theft. Of those, more than 43 percent related to tax- or wage-related fraud.

Seven Reasons the IRS Will Audit You

Filing taxes is on par with going to the dentist or arguing with the DMV. It's tedious, time-consuming and potentially expensive. As if fumbling with confusing numbers and complex forms weren't "taxing enough, submitting your 1040 is even more stressful when you're worried about an audit.

Unemployment Among Post-9/11 Veterans Still Running Heavy

The unemployment rate among younger veterans continues to outpace the share of out-of-work civilians with nearly one in 10 ex-service members from the Iraq and Afghanistan eras hunting for jobs, according to figures released Friday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Financial Survival Plan for Sequestration

Sequestration is now in place, and along with it came a good amount of uncertainty, causing many Americans to wonder how they will be impacted. By some estimates, more than one million employees of federal agencies may receive furlough notices.

FINRA Foundation Military Spouse Fellowship Program

The FINRA Foundation Military Spouse Fellowship Program gives military spouses the opportunity to earn a career-enhancing credential-the Accredited Financial Counselor^® certificate-while providing financial counseling and education to the military community. The fellowship covers the costs associated with completing the AFC^® training and testing.

WHO WE SERVE

Army medical personnel offload a simulated injured soldier from a HH-60L Black Hawk helicopter during aeromedical evacuation training on Fort Polk, La., Feb. 23, 2013. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. John R. Nimmo Sr.

SCAM ALERTS Continued...

Fake Webcam Footage Fools Online Daters into Falling for Scam Artists

When it comes to scams, never believe what you see. In a new online dating con, scammers are using recorded webcam footage and stolen photos to disguise themselves as attractive American or Canadian singles.

Scammers Hijack FTC's Name for Fake Complaint Emails

A new phishing scam is making the rounds disguised as a consumer complaint notification from the FTC. If you receive it, just hit "delete."

FBI Alert Scam Locks PCs

A new virus called the "FBI Green Dot Moneypack Virus" is surfacing on the internet. According to Wcop.com, this new type of online extortion, referred to as "ransomware," is known to lock up PC computer screens with the FBI logo. The falsified FBI alert will claim an illegal website has been visited via your computer, and as a result, the computer will remain locked until a fine of $200 is paid.

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