Social Networking Deception Leads to ID Theft?

So, first of all, Classmates.com agrees to a proposed settlement of $9.5 million to users who complained about its false advertising – you know the email – “hey, someone’s been looking for you…and if you just upgrade from the free to the subscription membership, we’ll tell you who it is…”

And just about the time you realize you’ve been duped and no one’s looking for you, you’ve already enrolled with your credit card online…

But then you find your personal information on the site may have gone inappropriately public and there are unexplained charges on your credit cards?! Whoa.

It’s no wonder Classmates.com’s problems have now snowballed into a class action lawsuit for invasion of privacy, the above-referenced consumer settlement offer awaiting court approval, and congressional inquiries into the unexplained charges, according to a socialnetworkinglawblog.com article.

Juxtapose that with my nearly 12 year-old daughter asking today whether or not she ought to accept any of the Facebook and similar social networking type invitations to join which she receives on a daily basis. Hmmm. What so often begins as an innocent interest in connecting with friends, classmates, business colleagues, etc., can too often now digress to identity theft, fraud or criminal consequences.

Us social networkers need beware, but so do the site sponsors.

Sue B Martines, J.D.