Cybersecurity Help - Annika's Work From Home

Protect yourself from online scams with Annika's Work From Home cybersecurity resources. Learn to identify common scams, report fraud, and secure your data while exploring work from home opportunities. Check our Survey Blacklist, learn more about Annika's, or report scams via our contact form.

Recognizing and Reporting Scams

Online auctions top the National Consumer League's list of cybercrimes, but you can fight back. Stop blaming yourself and report scams to local police, FBI, Secret Service, banks, credit card companies, and consumer agencies. Below are trusted resources to report fraud and protect yourself.

Educational Awareness From Amy Lynn

These platforms provide ongoing cybersecurity education, awareness updates, and real-world examples.

• Cybersecurity & Awareness Articles - Articles with useful content written by Amy Lynn.
• Real-Time Updates & Scam Alerts - Amy Lynn's Voice-Overs Facebook Fan page shares content everyday to keep you safe and informed.
• The Geek and The Detective – Cybersecurity Podcast & Stories
• Common Scams You Need to Avoid – Educational Video
• Annika's Work From Home Computer Help: From virus to malware protection, to add on for your browser and more.
• 404 Media: Whoever sent you here thinks you'd like our journalist owned, fiercely independent tech reporting. We break industry leading news on AI, surveillance tech, weird internet communities, and lots more. Subscribe to get our journalism sent directly to your inbox.
• ByteSize: ByteSize Your Weekly Dose of IT Intelligence Newsletter.
• Kim Komando Newsletter: They sent you here, to get our unbiased tech newsletter. Every story is handpicked by experts, not AI. Join Join 900,000+ people who get smarter in just 5 minutes a day.
• The Morning Brew: the free business newsletter landing in your inbox every morning. It sorta goes like this: Wake up. Read the Brew. Have a chuckle. Be in the know.

General Fraud Reporting

• A Call For Action: Connecting consumers with solutions for over 60 years.
• AARP Fraud Watch Network: Articles on fraud prevention.
• ANA Center for Ethical Marketing: The ANA has additional information for consumers about compliance tools and best practices, you can also file a complaint, or email ethics@ana.net The ANA is interested in hearing from you if you believe a direct marketing promotion or practice is questionable and may warrant a formal review by staff or the ANA Ethics Review Committee. The ANA receives and investigates complaints against member and nonmember organizations.
• Angi: Report businesses like BBB.
• Better Business Bureau (BBB): File complaints against companies or charities. Note: BBB may mark cases resolved prematurely, so research thoroughly.
• Citizen: App that shares local news and other useful alerts to help protect users.
• Econsumer.gov: Report international complaints.
• ESOMAR: Market research directory (membership based, not a guarantee of legitimacy).
• FCC Consumer Complaint Center: File complaints for TV, phone, radio, internet, and more.
• Fraud Week: Promotes anti-fraud awareness via ACFE.
• Fraud Watch: Educates consumers and shuts down scam sites.
• FBI Internet Fraud: Tips and links (1-800-CALL FBI).
• Federal Trade Commission (FTC): File complaints to aid fraud investigations.
• Facebook Reviews: Leave reviews, but owners may hide them.
• Google Reviews: Leave company reviews.
• Internet Fraud Complaint Center (IC3): FBI and NW3C partnership addressing online fraud.
• Nextdoor: App & website where your neighbors come together and share experiences good and bad.
• Neighbors App by Ring: App & website where your neighbors come together and share experiences good and bad.
• National Fraud Information Center: Handles internet and telemarketing fraud (1-800-876-7060).
• National Consumers League (Fraud/Scam): Help us fight fraud by sharing your story. We collect complaints from consumers at our secure form and share it with our network of 100 law enforcement partners across the U.S. and Canada. Complaints to Fraud.org are also transmitted to the Federal Trade Commission.
• Rip Off Report: Share fraud reports publicly.
• Report a Page to Google Safe Browsing: If you believe you've encountered an unsafe page where Google Safe Browsing should be displaying a warning but isn't, or a legitimate page where Safe Browsing is incorrectly displaying a warning, please complete the following form to notify the Safe Browsing team.
• State Attorney General Offices: Handles various complaints.
• ScamWatch Australia: Covers financial scams, pyramid schemes, and more.
• Scam Survivors: Offers fraud support.
• Secret Service Cyber Fraud Task Force (CFTF): Report crimes to your local office.
• Scam Warners: Formerly Fraud Watchers.
• UK - City of London: You can make your reports at this website if you have problems in the UK, London England.
• USA.gov: Guides on U.S. based issues.
• Yelp: Businesses are left reviews here a lot like Google Reviews.
• Many states offer 311 for scam reports.

Protecting Children & Adults Online

• America's Cyber Defense Agency: Content to keep you safe online.
• Kid Safe Seal: Directory of child friendly websites and apps reviewed for safety and privacy.
• National Cybersecurity Alliance: Content for all ages to keep you safe online.

Identity and Data Protection

• BING Reverse Image Search: Check photo origins for romance scams.
• E-Verify: Track and confirm employment eligibility.
• E-Verify Self Lock: Create an account at e-verify.gov, answer three challenge questions, done. If someone tries to use your SSN for employment, it flags a mismatch. Second option: Block electronic access entirely through the SSA. Call 1-800-772-1213, or visit a local office. FYI, this blocks everyone, including you, until you verify yourself again.
• Google Results About You: Remove personal information from Google for free.
• Google Reverse Image Search: Check photo origins for romance scams.
• Google Alerts: Monitor your private information online for free.
• Remove Your House From The Internet: Guide to remove your house photos online. Google Maps, Bing Maps, Apple Maps and MORE!
• Talkwalker Alerts: Alternative to Google Alerts for monitoring personal data.
• Your Digital Rights: Request data deletion or copies from organizations.

Victim Support

• Identity Theft Resource Center and Identity Theft Recovery Steps: Steps to recover from identity theft.
• National Center for Victims of Crime: Support for fraud victims.
• Office for Victims of Crime: Resources for online crime victims.

Charity Verification

• BBB Charity Report: Check charity legitimacy.
• Nonprofit Locator: Amazing list, no idea how they keep it up to date!
• Charity Navigator: Check charity legitimacy.
• GuideStar: Verify charities.
• IRS Exempt Organization Search: Verify tax exempt charities.

Phone and Telemarketing Scams

• CyberSAFE Malaysia: Email cyber999@cybersecurity.my, call 24 hour helpline 019-266-5850, or hotline 1-300-88-2999.
• FCC Consumer Complaint Center: File complaints for TV, phone, radio, internet, and more.
• National Do Not Call Registry: Report unsolicited calls after 31 days (1-888-382-1222).
• 1-855-644-6277: Adult Protective Services for fraud or exploitation.
• 1-833-372-8311: National Elder Fraud Hotline for senior fraud support.
• 7726: Report Text Spam If you receive a text that you think breaks the FCC rules, report it by forwarding the text to "7726," which spells out the word "spam."

Email, Network, and Phishing Protection

Phishing emails trick users into sharing personal data. Forward suspicious emails to:

• US-CERT.gov: Report computer or network vulnerabilities to US-CERT.
• 1-888-282-0870: US-CERT Hotline.
• 7726: Report Text Spam If you receive a text that you think breaks the FCC rules, report it by forwarding the text to "7726," which spells out the word "spam." Many states offer 311 for scam reports.
• phishing@paypal.com: Fake PayPal emails.
• phishing-report@us-cert.gov: To report phishing attempts to US-CERT, forward phishing emails or websites to US-CERT.
• reportphishing@apwg.org: Anti-Phishing Working Group.
• report@phishing.gov.uk: Forward suspicious emails if you live in the UK to this email address.
• spam@uce.gov: Report spam to the FTC.
• SpamCop: Report spam and phishing.
• Spam.org: Report scam emails.
• Spam Education: Learn about email scams.

Credit and Banking Protection

Secure your financial accounts with these free tools:

• 1-800-680-7289: TransUnion fraud alerts. TransUnion Website
• 1-888-397-3742: Experian fraud alerts. Experian Website
• 1-800-525-6285: Equifax fraud alerts. Equifax Website
• Innovis: 1-800-540-2505, Security Freeze, or Security Freeze Index.
• Annual Credit Report: Free credit report access.
• ChexSystems: 1-800-428-9623, Security Freeze: Prevent unauthorized account approvals.
• CrossCheck: Check verification for specific sectors.
• Certegy: Request check writing history reports.
• Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: Help with credit card or bank issues.
• Experian Boost: Free fraud alerts.
• Experian ID Works: Free fraud alerts.
• Early Warning Services: Request banking reports (owns Zelle).
• Global Payments: Request debt related reports.
• FDIC: Email for FDIC related scams.
• Help With My Bank GOV: Report bank issues.
• Kroll: Provides identity monitoring services to help individuals monitor for indicators of potential fraud or identity theft.
• Mastercard ID Theft Protection: Free alerts for credit risks.
• Opt Out Prescreen: Remove yourself from prescreened offers (1-888-567-8688).
• TeleCheck Services: Request fraud focused bank reports.
• The Comptroller of the Currency: Ensures banking system safety.
• VISA Alerts: Fraud protection alerts.

Hacking and Data Breaches

Check if your data has been compromised and secure accounts with these tools:

• Avast: Check account compromises.
• AT&T Breach Scanner: Check AT&T breach exposure.
• Breach Directory: Check email or username compromises.
• DeHashed: Advanced breach search with regex.
• Data Breach: Scan for compromises.
• F-Secure: Check dark web data exposure.
• Google: Remove data from Google for free.
• Google Authenticator Android and iOS: Enable 2FA/MFA.
• Hudson Rock: Scan for compromises.
• Hack Check: Comprehensive breach search engine.
• HaveIBeenPwned: Check email breaches with alerts.
• HaveIBeenPwned Password Check: Verify password breaches.
• IntelligenceX: Free online data scan.
• Leak Check: Free credential compromise check.
• Leak Lookup: Search thousands of data breaches.
• Leak Peek: Free email breach check.
• My Data Removal: Scan for compromises.
• Microsoft Authenticator Android and iOS: Enable 2FA/MFA.
• Mozilla Monitor Support: Free monthly breach reports.
• Norton's Hack Check: Check email for dark web exposure.
• National Public Data Scanner: Check NPD breach exposure.

Mail and Delivery Scams

Protect against mail based scams like fake lotteries or mystery shopping fraud:

• Contact Amazon: Report delivery issues. Make sure you have order number and TBA (delivery number) on hand.
• Call the Priority Mail Express Reporting Unit: If a package or envelope has "Priority Mail Express" on it: 1-800-ASK-USPS 1-800-275-8777.
• Deceased Do Not Contact Form: Stop mail for deceased individuals.
• Do Not Contact for Caretaker's Registration: Remove names from marketing lists.
• DMAchoice: Another link to reduce junk mail.
• FedEx: 1-800-463-3339
• FedEx Delivery Manager: Package alerts and instructions.
• Informed Delivery: Get mail photos before delivery.
• National Do Not Mail List: Reduce junk mail.
• Opt Out Prescreen: Remove yourself from prescreened offers (1-888-567-8688).
• Office of Inspector General: Postal inspector office.
• Postal Inspection Service: Report mail scams and mail fraud, you also may need to report identity theft if you are getting mail for someone who never lived at your address.
• US Customs and Border Protection: Packages may become stuck in customs. You may have to fill out a form or contact them.
• USPS: 1-800-275-8777
• UPS: 1-800-742-5877
• UPS My Choice: Package alerts and instructions.

Stock and Investment Scams

• 1-844-574-3577: FINRA's Securities Helpline for Seniors.
• Broker Complaint Registry: Report and check broker scams.
• Investor.gov: Investment resources.
• U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission: Check SEC's EDGAR database.

Cookies and Online Tracking

Manage cookies to protect your privacy:

• All About Cookies: Learn about cookies.
• AdChoices Opt-Out CA: Opt out for tailored ads.
• Info about Tracking: Free information to learn more.
• On iPhone, open Settings > Privacy & Security. Scroll down and tap Apple Advertising, then toggle off Personalized Ads.
• On Android, tap Settings > Google > Ads, and toggle off Opt out of Ads Personalization.
• Opt Out of Interest Based Advertising: Opt out for tailored ads.
• Opt Out: Additional opt out options.
• Your Online Choices: Guide to online behavioural advertising.
• WebChoices: Check and manage ad opt out status.

Travel Security

• Clear Me: Simplifies TSA and identity verification at airports.
• US Customs and Border Protection: It's a good idea to get educated on this before traveling to other countries. Items you have to claim etc.

Browser Protection

Blocking as much as possible with your browser resources: The following links are for Firefox which is the most secure broswer.

• ClearURLs: Removes trackers from links.
• Cover Your Tracks: Test your browser to see how well you are protected from tracking and fingerprinting.
• Decentraleyes: Blocks data requests from third party networks.
• Disconnect: Blocks trackers from "thousands" of third party sites.
• Firefox Multi-Account Containers: Separates your browsing into siloed "containers" to isolate each session from one another.
• Mozilla Monitor: Find where your private info is exposed and take it back. We scan to see if your phone number, passwords or home address have been leaked, and help you make it private again.
• PopUpOFF: Blocks pop-ups, overlays, and cookie alerts.
• Privacy Badger: Blocks invisible trackers.
• Proton VPN: Proton's Firefox add-on for its VPN.
• uBlock Origin: Popular content blocker.

International Scam Reporting

For scams originating outside the U.S., use these resources:

• ActionFraud UK: UK fraud and cybercrime reporting.
• Cybercrime Coordination Unit Switzerland: Swiss Justice and Police.
• Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre: Canadian scam reporting.
• Cyber Crime India: If you live in India this is where you want to start.
• Royal Canadian Mounted Police: Canadian fraud resources.
• Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner (FDPIC) CH: Swiss data protection.
• European Commission: EEA/UK data protection complaints.
• Economic and Financial Crimes Commission-Nigeria: Nigerian fraud reporting.
• eSafety Commissioner Australia: Online safety support.
• GOV UK: UK fraud and cybercrime reporting.
• Hong Kong Police: Fraud reporting.
• Interpol Canada: Cybercrime reporting.
• MCMC Malaysia: Malaysian fraud complaints.
• Ontario Provincial Police: Report crimes online.
• Philippine Centre on Transnational Crime: INTERPOL cooperation.
• Scamwatch New Zealand: Covers various scams.

Unreliable Reporting Sites

Avoid sites like GPTBoycott, Web of Trust, Notascam, Scambook, Scamadvisor, SiteJabber, and Survey Police, which may collect data for market research or allow paid manipulation. Stick to trusted resources above.

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