See my CTV News interview about retailer Home Depot sharing details from electronic receipts with Facebook-operated Meta without the knowledge or consent of customers. A federal privacy watchdog has found the data included encoded email addresses and in-store purchase information.
The investigation discovered that the information sent to Meta was used to see whether a customer had a Facebook account.
The report recommends that customers be allowed to opt in instead of leaving it up to the consumer to seek out the company’s privacy policy and online information-collection practices. Those opt-in options should be unchecked by default so that customers can actively check the option if they consent to share personal data and what they buy.
Here are a few ways to avoid this trap
- One way to avoid this from happening is to not give them your information in the first place.
- Another way is to not sign up for newsletters that promise to share information about deals and discounts.
- Create a habit of reading the privacy policies of the websites and apps a retailer uses
- it’s always a good idea to ensure your computer, smartphone, and other mobile devices are password protected.
Stay on top of security with FRAUDSTER
When it comes down to it, following cyber-safe best practices like monitoring and avoidance tips is important. You can download our mobile app, FRAUDSTER, available on Apple and Android, to learn more about consumer concerns and other scams and stay up to date with the latest news. You can learn more at www.FraudsterApp.com
If you’ve already downloaded the FraudsterApp, click the training icon on the home screen to learn more about protecting yourself.
