Markets Wired

The Federal Trade Commission’s Father’s Day e-card is the perfect gift for the man who already has enough ties. But even more important, it can save your dad a whole lot of headaches. Available from the FTC in English and Spanish at http://www.ftc.gov/dad and http://www.ftc.gov/padre, the cards offer dads advice on keeping their personal information secure. To see the You Tube video version of this card, go to http://www.youtube.com/ftcvideos.

Help your dad figure out how to spot fraud on the Internet. When Internet scam artists go “phishing,” they send spam e-mails or pop-up messages asking for personal information, Social Security numbers, and/or passwords. To gain the trust of those they wish to con, these hustlers often pose as representatives of a bank or credit union, an e-commerce site, or a government agency.

Send your dad this card, and keep him from getting hooked by Internet con artists.

The Federal Trade Commission works for consumers to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint in English or Spanish, visit the FTC’s online Complaint Assistant or call 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). The FTC enters complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to more than 1,500 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad. The FTC’s Web site provides free information on a variety of consumer topics.

(FYI FD Phishing 09)