Secretary of State, Robert J. Rodriguez says, “Children
should not have to give up their privacy rights to do their homework”
Follow key tips to protect your
child’s personal information and avoid back-to-school shopping scams
As summer winds down and parents
begin getting their students ready to go back to school, the NYS Division of
Consumer Protection (DCP) is providing targeted scam prevention and shopping
tips for parents and children ahead of the new school year.
“Back-to-school shopping is
the second largest spending event for parents, after the holidays, which
makes it critically important for parents to know how to safeguard against
scams to protect their privacy and finances,” said Secretary of State Robert J Rodriguez.
“And as more and more schools use technology as a teaching tool, parents
should know what information is being obtained from their student and how to
protect their children’s identity and privacy. Children should not have to
give up their privacy rights just to do their homework. I urge parents to use
these tips so students from elementary school to high school stay safe this
school year.”
Below is some guidance on how
to start the new school year safely.
Think About
Children’s Privacy:
Under
New York State’s Education Law, if you are a parent of a child in the New
York State schools, you have rights regarding the privacy and security of
your child’s personal information and data. NYS law requires each educational
agency to publish its Data Privacy and Security Policy to its website.
Technology has become a permanent fixture of the education experience. The
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently issued a policy statement that put
educational technology on notice about children’s privacy. In other words, educational
tech companies can’t require parents and schools to agree to the
comprehensive surveillance of children for kids to use those learning tools.
Thus, parents and guardians need to place close attention to the technology
children use, what information they collect, and how they use it.
Some highlights to know about
this law:
Other ways to pay close
attention to your child’s personal information:
- Protect
documents that contain a child’s personal information. Understand
where your child’s information is stored. Ask how after-school organizations
and sports clubs secure their records: Are digital records connected to
the internet and, if so, are they encrypted? Are physical records in
locked in filing cabinets? Who has access?
- Be
careful when providing identifying information to after-school
activities and sports clubs upon registration.
If asked for a Social Security number (SSN), inquire why it is needed
and insist on using another identifier. Oftentimes organizations include
the SSN request as a formality, and it may not be mandatory.
- Only
label books, backpacks and lunches with the student’s full name and any
other information on the inside! Using
initials on the outside is okay, but names, even just first names, on
the outside can create an unsafe situation.
- Discuss
internet safety tips with children and
remind them to be careful about opening attachments and suspicious
emails. For tips on how to stay safe online, please see information from
this January 2020 Consumer Alert.
- Both
parents and students should be careful on all social media platforms:
don’t overshare. Any information you post can
be seen and utilized by identity thieves. Avoid sharing personal
information including full names, addresses, phone numbers, Social
Security numbers, or even where they go to school. Social media posts
often reveal sensitive information unintentionally. Cybercriminals look
for content that can reveal answers to security questions used to reset
passwords, making accounts vulnerable to identity theft.
Avoid Back to School
Shopping Scams:
Back-to-school shopping is
the second largest spending event for parents (behind holiday shopping).
Often, a shopping scam starts with a fake website, mobile app or,
increasingly, a social media ad. This year, smartphone shopping is on
the rise as people are on the move again. DCP urges consumers to take note of
common scams while shopping. Scammers may try to exploit the back-to-school
rush through fraudulent ads or through other forms of solicitations.
- Protect
your identity when shopping online:
Ensure transactions are conducted over a secure connection. Make sure
the website is secure by identifying a padlock symbol by the URL or the
https and avoid using public Wi-Fi to log in to online accounts.
- Download
retail apps only from trusted sources. Cybercriminals
are now creating apps that look and might even function like legitimate
retail apps but are actually malware designed to steal your personal and
financial information, send text messages without your knowledge, or
even track your location using your phone’s GPS capabilities.
- Beware
of fake ads and websites: As fraudsters continue to
advance in sophistication, fake websites frequently resemble legitimate
sites with credible looking logos, pictures, and payment options. If the
website is advertising extremely low prices, or discounts beyond 50
percent, consumers should be wary and diligently verify the legitimacy
of the seller.
- Learn
how to spot phishing emails: Scammers
may send phishing emails to students and parents saying that they missed
a delivery of school supplies. These emails request that the recipients
click on a link to reschedule this delivery. That link either floods
victims’ computers with malware or sends them to fake websites that
request their personal and payment information.
- Ensure
you know who the seller is. Some major
retailers allow third party sellers to list items on their site, and
those items can be hard to distinguish from the rest. Read all the fine
print to ensure you are comfortable with the seller.
- Use
a credit card for online purchases,
if possible. Credit cards offer the most protection against fraud,
including the right to dispute charges if there are problems with your
purchase.
- Watch
out for fake coupons on social media:
If the coupon doesn’t come from a recognized coupon distributor, the
manufacturer, or a specific store, be wary.
The New York State Division
of Consumer Protection provides resources and education materials to
consumers on product safety, as well as voluntary mediation services between
consumers and businesses. The Consumer Assistance Helpline 1-800-697-1220 is
available Monday to Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, excluding State Holidays,
and consumer complaints can be filed at any time at www.dos.ny.gov/consumer-protection.
For more consumer protection tips, follow the Division on
social media at Twitter: @NYSConsumer and Facebook: www.facebook.com/nysconsumer.
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