#WORLDPASSWORDDAY - English

May 2021

#WORLDPASSWORDDAY
World Password Day is observed each year on the first Thursday
of May. This day serves as a reminder of the importance of strong
passwords and good password hygiene. That’s the degree to which we
select and manage our passwords according to secure best practices.

We use passwords to protect our personally identifying information
(PII), our finances, our health records, our emails, and our social
media accounts. Passwords are our first digital line of defense against
identity thieves. In observance of World Password Day, here are 7 tips
that are essential in setting up and protecting your passwords.

                            1. Never share your passwords. You wouldn’t pass out keys to your house or give
                               away your ATM card and PIN. Protecting the secrecy of your login credentials is
                               critical to protecting your online identity and individual accounts.

                            2. Go long. You should still shoot for complexity, but despite what all those
                               prompts for unique characters and uppercase letters might have you believe,
                               length matters more than complexity. If you use special characters, try not to
                               bunch them all together at the beginning or end. That’s what everyone else
                               does, which means that’s what bad guys are looking for. Instead, space them out
                               throughout your password to make the guesswork extra tricky.

3. Make them hard to guess but easy to remember. Use sentences or phrases,
   for example, “peanutbutterandjellyYUMMY!” or to make it more difficult,
  “PB&J!yummy!”. Hackers can run programs using dictionaries and commonly
   used passwords to guess your password, so avoid single words or a word
   preceded or followed by a single number, e.g. Password1. Don’t use information
   in your password that can be easily gleaned from your social media, like
   birthdays, anniversaries, children’s or pet’s, names, etc.

4. Single-serve only. Make sure that you do not reuse passwords across different
   accounts. If one account is compromised, at least the others will not be at risk.

5. Don’t trust your browser. A convenient shortcut to remembering all those
   passwords, or getting a paid password manager account, is letting your browser
   remember them for you. Don’t! The option is convenient, but the underpinning
   security is often undocumented, and it doesn’t require that your password be,
   you know, good.

6. Add two-factor, too. Two-factor authentication (2FA) is a security protocol
   where users provide two different authentication factors to verify their identity
   and access accounts. This provides a higher level of security than single-factor
   authentication where a user just provides either a password or PIN.

7. Use a password manager. A good password manager helps to organize and
   secure passwords. They can also help create strong, unique passwords for all of
   your accounts. That means that if one of your passwords does get caught up in a
   data breach, criminals won’t have the keys to the rest of your online services.

COMPUTER REPAIR
                 SCAMS
Perhaps more than ever before, computers have
been a lifeline to the outside world for many people
quarantining at home during the Covid-19 pandemic.
So, when huge “alert” signs pop up on our computers
warning of security breaches or cancelled accounts
or we get a call alerting us to serious problems with
our computers it is especially troubling, and we want
to fix the problem quickly. Tech support scammers
are taking advantage of people’s fears and fleecing
consumers out of millions of dollars. The elderly are
especially vulnerable to these scams.

Scammers often pose as employees of legitimate tech companies, like Microsoft, and request remote access to your
computer so they can run diagnostic tests. Then they try to sell you repair services or software you don’t need. Or
worse, they steal your credit card number or install malware that allows them to see everything on your computer,
including banking information. The best defense against such scams is to be aware of the various tactics they use.

 • Pop up warnings saying threats have been detected on your
   computer. This is a common ruse and usually includes a phone
   number for you to call to get help. Don’t call the number or click on
   any links in unsolicited pop-ups or emails. Real security warnings
   will not ask you to call a number.

 • Unsolicited calls, texts, or emails reporting a problem with your
   computer and requesting remote access to fox it. Scammers
   may try to sell you software you don’t need for a problem
   that doesn’t exist. If you get an unsolicited call, hang up!
   Legitimate tech companies will not call, email, or text
   you to tell you there is a problem with your computer.

 • A request that you pay by wire transfer, gift cards,
   prepaid cards, or a money transfer app. These types of
   transactions are difficult to reverse. Once your money is
   gone, there will be little chance of recovering it.

Remember the following and avoid being victimized.

 • Never give control of your computer or your
   password to someone who has contacted you unless
   you initiated the activity.

 • Do not use the telephone numbers or links provided
   in any unsolicited communications.

 • Don’t rely on caller ID to verify where the person
   is calling from because criminals can disguise the
   number and make it appear they are calling from a
   certain location or business.

 • Maintain your anti-virus software and update it
   regularly.

If you think you have been scammed, act quickly. If you paid by credit card, contact the credit card company
immediately and ask that they stop the transaction. Unfortunately, many other payment methods are irreversible.
Run a security scan of your computer and change your password if you gave it to the scammer.

INTRASTATE MOVERS
May is National Moving Month. It kicks off the busiest moving season of the year as the number of home sales
begin to rise over the summer months. Very few events in life create more stress than moving, and many consumers
turn to professional movers to help relieve some of that stress.

Florida law requires intrastate moving companies and moving
brokers to register with the Florida Department of Agriculture and
Consumer Services prior to conducting business. In addition to
being registered, intrastate movers in Florida are required to do the
following:
 • Provide a written estimate covering the total costs of the move.

 • Provide a written contract before performing any services.

 • Disclose limitation of liability in writing at the time the estimate or
   contract for services are rendered.

 • Accept a minimum of two of the following three forms of payment:
     ○ Cash, cashier’s check, money order, traveler’s check
     ○ Valid personal check
     ○ Valid credit card

Consumers who decide to use a professional mover should do some planning and research to protect themselves
from loss or unnecessary expense. Here are some tips to help make your move as smooth as possible:
 • Plan Ahead When Possible – Have at least three companies provide estimates with an on-site visit. Avoid companies
   that are only willing to do an estimate over the phone or internet.

 • Do Your Homework– Research whether the company is registered and if any complaints have been filed against them.
   This information can be found using the “Business Search” at FloridaConsumerHelp.com or by calling 1-800-HELP-FLA
   or 1-800-FL-AYUDA en Español.

 • Read Before You Sign – Remember, the contract and estimate must be signed and dated by both parties; your signature
   indicates that you acknowledge and accept its terms. Read the entire contract and estimate thoroughly, ask questions,
   and do not sign it if you have doubts about anything.

 • Be Aware of Scams - Scams can occur whether you are dealing directly with a moving company or using a broker. One
   such scam occurs when a moving company quotes a low price in order to secure your business, then increases the cost
   substantially after loading your household goods onto the truck. Keep a copy of your contract with you during the move
   to be able to show law enforcement if necessary.

 • Make complaints in writing - Consumers who are not satisfied should make the mover aware of their claim, in writing,
   as quickly as possible. If the company does not handle your claim satisfactorily, you may also file a complaint with the
   Division of Consumer Services.

For additional information or to file a complaint, visit FloridaConsumerHelp.com or call 1-800-HELP-FLA (435-
7352) or 1-800-FL-AYUDA (352- 9832) en Español.

COVID VACCINES ARE FREE!
               by Colleen Tressler, Division of Consumer and Business Education, FTC

Scammers are doubling down on their efforts to scam people out of their
money and personal information. That’s why the FTC and the National
Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) are teaming up to remind you:
No matter what anyone tells you, you can’t buy COVID-19 vaccines online
and there’s no out-of-pocket cost to get the shots.

Here are some ways to avoid a vaccine-related scam:
 • Ignore online ads, social media posts, or phone calls from people offering to sell you the COVID-19 vaccine. You
   can’t buy it — anywhere. The vaccine is only available at federal- and state-approved locations.

 • Don’t pay to sign up for the vaccine. Anyone who asks for a payment to put you on a list, make an appointment for you,
   or reserve a spot in line is a scammer.

 • Don’t pay out of pocket for a vaccine — not before, during, or after your appointment. That’s either a scam or a mistake.
   If you’re insured, the vaccination site might bill your insurance company for an administration fee. If you’re not insured,
   there’s a fund set up with the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA — part of U.S. Department of Health
   and Human Services) where sites can recover their administrative costs. Either way, though, they’re not supposed to bill
   you or charge a co-pay.

 • Never share your personal, financial, or health information with people you don’t know. No one from a vaccine
   distribution site, health care provider’s office, pharmacy, or health care payer, like a private insurance company or
   Medicare, will call, text, or email you asking for your credit card or bank account number to sign you up to get the
   vaccine. And remember, you’re not required to give your Social Security number to a vaccination site. You shouldn’t be
   turned away.

 • Contact a trusted source for information. Check with state or local health departments to learn when and how to get
   the COVID-19 vaccine. You can also talk with your health care provider or pharmacist.

 • Don’t post your vaccination card to your social media account.
   Your vaccination card has information on it including your full
   name, date of birth, where you got your vaccine, and the dates you
   got it. When you post it to Facebook, Instagram, or to some other
   social media platform, you may be handing valuable information
   over to someone who could use it for identity theft.

Please share these tips with others and stay connected to stay
informed.

SCAMMERS TARGET LOVED
      ONES OF COVID-19 VICTIMS
           by Seena Gressin, Attorney, Division of Consumer & Business Education, FTC

Government imposters may have hit a new low with a scheme that targets the grieving survivors of people who
died of COVID-19 by offering them help paying for their loved one’s funeral expenses.

A real government relief program will pay up to $9,000 for funeral expenses that people have paid since January 20,
2020, for loved ones who died of COVID-19. Survivors can apply for benefits by contacting the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) at 844-684-6333. The number is toll-free and multi-lingual services are available.

The program is open to American citizens, nationals of U.S. territories, and non-citizens legally admitted to
the United States, regardless of income. If you apply, you’ll need to show documents including receipts for your
expenses and a death certificate that says the death happened in the United States or its territories and was likely
caused by COVID-19.

The program just began in mid-April, but even before it started, FEMA said it had reports of scammers contacting
people and “offering” to register them for assistance.

Here’s what you need to know:

 • FEMA will not contact you until you have called FEMA or have
   applied for assistance. Anyone who contacts you out of the blue
   and claims to be a federal employee or from FEMA is a scammer.

 • The government won’t ask you to pay anything to get this
   financial help. Anyone who does is a scammer.

 • The government won’t call, text, email, or contact you on social
   media and ask for your Social Security, bank account, or credit
   card number. Anyone who does is a scammer.

 • Don’t give your own or your deceased loved one’s personal or
   financial information to anyone who contacts you out of the
   blue. Anyone who does that and asks for that information is a
   scammer.

FEMA’s Funeral Assistance FAQs have information about the documents you need to apply for funeral expenses.
The FAQs also tell you what to do if the death certificate didn’t identify COVID-19 as the likely cause of death, as
sometimes happened early in the pandemic.

If you doubt a caller claiming to be from FEMA is telling the truth, hang up and report it to the FEMA Helpline
at 800-621-3362 or the National Center for Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721. Tell us too, at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

ABOUT THE FDACS DIVISION OF
     CONSUMER SERVICES
FDACS is Florida’s state consumer protection agency responsible for regulating charities and
handling consumer complaints. FDACS handles more than 400,000 consumer complaints and
inquiries, oversees more than 500,000 regulated devices, entities, and products like gas pumps
and grocery scales, performs over 61,000 lab analyses on products like gasoline and brake flu-
id, performs nearly 9,000 fair ride inspections, and returned over $2.8 million to consumers
through mediations with businesses.

The Division of Food Safety monitors food from the point          The Consumer Product Safety Commission provides
of manufacturing and distribution through wholesale and            consumer product recall information as part of the
retail sales to ensure the public of safe, wholesome and        agency’s mission to protect consumers and families from
           properly represented food products.                                    hazardous products.
   CLICK THE ICON ABOVE TO SEE THE LATEST RECALLS,                 CLICK THE ICON ABOVE TO SEE THE LATEST RECALLS,
       MARKET WITHDRAWALS, & SAFETY ALERTS.                            MARKET WITHDRAWALS, & SAFETY ALERTS.
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is the state’s clearinghouse for consumer complaints,
protection and information. Consumers who would like information about filing a complaint against a business or
who believe fraud has taken place can visit us online at FloridaConsumerHelp.com or contact the department’s
consumer protection and information hotline by calling 1-800-HELP-FLA (435-7352) or 1-800-FL-AYUDA (352-9832)
for Spanish speakers.

Follow us on Twitter - @FDACS and @NikkiFriedFL                                        FDACS-P-00030 Rev. 5/2021