Consumer Alert
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What do the model of your first car, your favorite hobby, and the high school you attended have in common? If you said they’re questions commonly used for online account security and online quizzes, you’re correct! Before you take a quiz to find out which Marvel character you are, ask yourself: Do I know who’s gathering this information about me — or what they plan to do with it?
Personality tests, quick surveys, and other types of online quizzes ask seemingly harmless questions, but the more information you share, the more you risk it being misused. Scammers could do a lot of damage with just a few answers that give away your personal information. We’ve heard about scammers phishing for answers to security question data through quizzes. They use your quiz answers to try and reset your accounts, letting them steal your bank and other account information. Some scammers hack social media accounts and send malware links to friends of the hacked account holder under the guise of sharing a quiz.
One major way to protect your personal information — in addition to maintaining strong passwords and using multi-factor authentication — is to steer clear of online quizzes…or just don’t answer them truthfully. As for accounts that require actual security questions, treat them like additional passwords and use random answers, preferably long ones, for those too. Asked to enter your mother’s maiden name? Say it’s something else: Parmesan or another word you’ll remember. Or use a password manager to store a unique answer. This way, scammers won’t be able to use information they find to steal your identity.
If you suspect that an online quiz is a phishing scam, tell a friend. Then, report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
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The purpose of this blog and its comments section is to inform readers about Federal Trade Commission activity, and share information to help them avoid, report, and recover from fraud, scams, and bad business practices. Your thoughts, ideas, and concerns are welcome, and we encourage comments. But keep in mind, this is a moderated blog. We review all comments before they are posted, and we won’t post comments that don’t comply with our commenting policy. We expect commenters to treat each other and the blog writers with respect.
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January 11, 2023
What about surveys from Organizations that you belong to? and come from Survey Monkey? Are these safe?
March 06, 2023
In reply to What about surveys from… by Ann Joseph
I've been dealing with one particular survey that seems to have infiltrated Branded Surveys. Any time you open a survey - company identified providing survey - DKR1 Surveys hijacks the site. I have reported this to Branded Surveys with screenshots and copies of the URL. I have yet to hear anything back and DKR1 is still hijacking every single survey on the site.
February 01, 2023
You provide good and solid information that can be used by your readers. I tried to also do your survey, but it goes into details I couldn't possibly provide.
February 01, 2023
Why aren’t these platforms being charged for aiding criminals and scammers. They know what they are doing and have been charged with corruption for censorship with the fake president and his administration
January 11, 2023
I am victim Phishing scams identity theft online security and privacy fraud exploitation racism discrimination by media social media crown corporation CIA FBI FCC IRS DND DHS DOS SUPREME COURT FEDERAL COURT GENERAL POLICE POLICE CONGRESS
January 11, 2023
We keep getting several telephone surveys every month asking for information also! We tell them that we DO NOT give surveys over the phone, and then we just hang up on them!
January 11, 2023
thanks for the information, what should I do if I have already done this quiz issue?
January 11, 2023
The Social Security Administration uses these trite questions in its log-in requirements. So does each of the Big 4 Credit companies like Equifax. Why doesn't the Administration get them to change those uses and requirements? The password manager company LastPass gave away its entire vault backup of customer data to hackers because it did not keep that data encrypted. Which federal agencies, like the FTC and CFPC regulate that category of business, if any? If new legislation is required to give those agencies jurisdiction and enforcement power, ask Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Sen. Ron Widen to write it.
January 11, 2023
GOOD INFO WILL HEEED!!!
January 11, 2023
Haven't there been reports of password managers being hacked?
January 12, 2023
Who'd have know something that seems innocent can be something that could be so dangerous!
January 13, 2023
The F.T.C. needs to investigate Facebook which is my primary source of attempts to scam me. Imposters hack accounts and ask to accept them as friends (often imposing as friends I am already on my friend list). The most recent attempt was hacking an elderly lady and replacing her profile photo(s) with a young HOT woman showing a lot of skin. Not long after one accepts one of these requests you get a message from them "Hello! How are you doing? Have you heard the good news?" The good news is typically about some government grant, etc. GO AFTER THESE CROOKS MOSTLY BASED OUT OF NIGERIA!!!!!!!!
January 13, 2023
In reply to The F.T.C. needs to… by Howard Pritchartt
If you suspect a phishing scam, tell a friend. Then, report it to the FTC at www.ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
March 16, 2023
In reply to The F.T.C. needs to… by Howard Pritchartt
This is great useful information above but you also are so completely right. Someone was actually able to get into my Experian account due to all automated systems to answer questions. Most answers could have come off my Facebook profile and anyone could answer. I still have not gotten through to Experian to this day!
January 18, 2023
Thank you
January 17, 2023
Thank you for opening my eyes! I had no clue scammers could do this with seemingly innocent quizzes! Good to know!
January 18, 2023
Thanks the warning.
I noticed that on my phone I message that says citi bank alert. I am afraid everything talikg about bank.
I don't do online banking.. I am afraid of security breach... thanks this educational warning . I will read it again.
January 31, 2023
TIK TOK, a social media app owned by China was asking me my full birth date before I could use it. It stated that they would not publish it publicly. I decided I do not need to use that app, I was only curious so immediately deleted it from my iPad. Do not use your real birthdate in any app. It is just one more step to get closer to your financial information.
February 07, 2023
I did send to many complaints about compans fraud and i didn't received any answer only the case number when a i tried to check nothing appear... last complain was if they know about identity theft happened me in a clinic a received al information to how request the refund it was programmed to january but dont see any refund . i call to the and they say the case was stopped dont tellme why
i did sent to the ftc request if they know about and way this case is stoped.. and i still waiting for the answer
February 14, 2023
To the ftc.gov admin, Your posts are always well presented.
February 24, 2023
Hi ftc.gov administrator, Your posts are always well-received and appreciated.
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