Do you want to learn how to protect your computer from viruses and other threats, but don't know where to look? October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month, and it might be a good time to take a look at some of the tips and facts offered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT).

Apparently hackers have been busy. According to US-CERT, if you're connecting a new computer to the Internet, nowadays it can take only minutes for a hacker to exploit the security on some networks. See the Tech Tip for how to protect your new computer before connecting it to the Internet.

Some tips to keep your computer secure:

• Maintain up-to-date antivirus software. 
• Download software programs and updates directly from the vendor's website.
• Don't follow unsolicited links or open unsolicited e-mail messages (pdf).
• Use caution when visiting websites you don't trust. Ditto for downloading and installing programs.
• Protect your privacy and avoid social engineering and phishing attacks (when an attacker contacts you under false pretenses and tries to trick you into providing your private information).
• Sign up for cyber security alerts and cyber security tips.

And if the security of your computer has been compromised, see how to recover from a Trojan horse or virus (pdf), report a phishing site, or notify federal law enforcement if you're a victim of Internet fraud.

For more information on common online threats, protecting your privacy and maintaining your security, and reporting Internet fraud and Internet-related crime, visit USA.gov's FAQ and the Federal Citizen Information Center's publications.

Last week I got a rather panicky call from a friend of mine.

"I think I just got scammed on Craigslist," she said. "How can I report it?"

I asked her to give me some more details so I could tell her the best place to report.

Here's the gist of the story.

My friend and her roommate are moving at the end of next month so they have been searching Craigslist for apartment listings. They'd responded to several ads and found one apartment that sounded extremely promising -- good location, reasonable price, utilities included. When they contacted the poster, he sent them back an application form to fill out.

One part of the form required them to supply their credit score. That sounded a little odd. When I moved, my landlord ran the credit check himself, but I figured maybe this guy wanted a ballpark figure and then he would run it himself too. My friend went to Annualcreditreport.com to find her report.

Both girls filled out their forms and were getting ready to turn them in when they noticed something in the email said it was mandatory that they use a Web site he provided to find their credit score because supposedly the guy had been scammed too many times by other sites. They both thought that was very strange.

Turns out the whole thing was a giant phishing scam. The link for his "safe" site looks like the apartment complex's real site, but instead it steals personal information, like names and social security numbers. Thank goodness my friend and her roommate hadn't noticed that link until later or that guy would have gotten all of their personal information.

I directed my friend to scam resources on the Federal Citizen Information Center Web site and told her to check out the links for the Internet Crime Complaint Center and the Federal Trade Commission. USA.gov also provides information on Internet fraud.

Do you know of any other resources for reporting online scams?

My mom admits to being paranoid about ATMs, online banking, and shopping on the internet, so she won’t use them.  She says she feels safer doing things the old-fashioned way.  Mom may be paranoid about these "new technologies," but when it comes to dealing with people she is very open and trusting. That is why I worry that someone will take advantage of her.  I don’t want to scare her, but there is a whole bunch of other stuff out there to be paranoid about!

Lately, there are more stories in the news about the elderly being scammed out of part, or all, of their savings.  According to the FBI, the elderly are often seen as good targets because they often have a savings or a "nest egg", they usually own their homes, and often have good credit.  All of these things are appealing to a con-man looking for a mark.  Many elderly grew up in an era where being polite and trusting were the norms.  Con-men look to exploit these characteristics in people.  Con-men also may target the elderly because they feel they can physically bully and intimidate them more easily.

The FBI also reports that some elderly victims are less likely to report a fraud because they are too ashamed at having been scammed.  Some may not realize that they have been scammed.  In some instances elderly victims may not report the incident because they do not want to be seen as unable to take care of their financial affairs.  Often when the elderly do report crime, they have trouble remembering the details of what happened.  Con-men count on the fact that elderly victims may not be able to provide detailed information to investigators.

We all have loved ones that are elderly and we will all be elderly one day, so it is important to educate our loved ones and ourselves about scams being perpetrated on the elderly.  Perhaps something you read in the resources below will prevent you or your loved ones from being scammed.

• Affinity Fraud
• Fighting Fraud 101: Tips for Older Investors
• Living Trust Offers – How to Make Sure They’re Trustworthy
• Identity Theft And Your Social Security Number
• FCIC Scams and Frauds
• Fraud: Recognize It. Report It. Stop It.
• Who’s Calling?  Can You Recognize a Phone Scam?
• FTC’s List of Telemarketing Scams
• Home Equity Loans- Borrowers Beware
• How to Avoid Internet Investment Scams
• Fraud Target: Senior Citizens
• Home Improvement Scam Alerts
• USA.gov search results on scams committed on the elderly
• Consumer Protection for Seniors on USA.gov

Have you or a loved one experienced elder fraud?  Does anyone have any good tips to tell my mom to protect her from scams?

After a natural disaster, it's not uncommon to receive e-mails or phone calls soliciting donations for disaster relief. Unfortunately, these e-mails and phone calls could be scams that could leave you needing financial relief.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Computer Emergency Readiness Team warns everyone to be wary of phishing scams during hurricane season. They warn that many scam e-mails link to legitimate-looking websites that ask for personal financial information. Once you submit your financial information you put yourself at risk for all kinds of problems, like identity theft.

U.S. CERT lists a number of ways you can avoid these phishing scams any time of year:

• Do not follow unsolicited web links received in e-mail message

• Review the Federal Trade Commission's Charity Checklist

• Verify the legitimacy of the e-mail by contacting the organization directly through a trusted contact number. Trusted contact information can be found on the Better Business Bureau National Charity Report Index

• If you encounter fraud, you can report it to the Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or e-mail it to disaster-AT-leo-DOT-gov

If you want to donate money for natural disaster recovery efforts, you should check out USAFreedomCorps.gov, a federal web site with a list of approved non-profit organizations active in recovery efforts. If you have an itching to get involved, you can also find volunteer opportunities there.

A few weeks ago, I wrote a post about avoiding mortgage foreclosure. I know that topic resonated with a lot of folks. In addition to other worries, homeowners must now be more guarded than ever against foreclosure rescue scams. The fear of losing their homes can make even the savviest consumers susceptible.

The Federal Trade Commission and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency both provide general descriptions of the most common foreclosure rescue scams:

• Lease-back or repurchase scams happen when someone offers to pay your mortgage and rent your home back to you. This scheme often involves signing over your deed to a con artist.
• Refinance Fraud occurs when people pose as mortgage brokers and offer to refinance your loan so you can afford the payments. Con artists may trick you into signing over the ownership of your home by saying that you are signing documents for a new loan.
• Bankruptcy Schemes attempt to abuse the bankruptcy laws. The con artist may even file a bankruptcy case in your name, without your knowledge.

Here are some general tips to help you avoid these scams:

• Read and understand everything you sign.
• Don’t sign blank or partially completed documents.
• Make payments directly to your lender or mortgage provider.
• Contact your lender directly to discuss payments and options.
• Never sign over the deed to your house without consulting a lawyer.
• Report suspicious activity to the FTC or your state consumer protection office.

For more information about housing, visit the USA.gov Homes and Housing Page. Do you have any other tips for avoiding foreclosure scams?