On the heels of updates to eConsumer.gov – the website for sharing consumer complaints across national borders – comes news that eight countries are taking the sharing of information one step further. Global Privacy Enforcement Network (GPEN) Alert users have signed a Memorandum of Understanding, in which they agree to share investigative and enforcement data.
About GPEN Alert
As reported by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), this new information sharing system uses the same technology as that of eConsumer.gov’s Consumer Sentinel database. This database houses consumer complaints collected from people all over the world who suspect they have been victims of scams crossing national borders.
What the GPEN Alert does is take this cooperative approach to the next level, going beyond the sharing of consumer complaints themselves to the confidential sharing of information gathered during the investigation and enforcement process.
In addition to the U.S. FTC, countries with participating agencies include:
- Australia
- Canada
- Ireland
- The Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Norway
- United Kingdom
Members of the participating agencies signed the Memorandum of Understanding this week at the 37th International Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners in Amsterdam.
“Today, data is increasingly crossing borders, and our privacy investigations and enforcement must do the same,” says GPEN Chairwoman Ramirez.
“GPEN Alert is an important, practical cooperation tool that will help GPEN authorities protect consumer privacy across the globe.”
Protecting Yourself
While there is no guarantee you can protect yourself from scammers, there are plenty of precautions you can take toward that end.
More Ways to Protect Your Identity Than You’ve Probably Ever Imagined is a good place start, providing tips on:
- Protecting your debit and credit card information
- Being smart about who you share it with
- Shopping smart online
- Creating strong passwords
- Managing documents with personal information
If and when you think you are a victim of a scam, report it to the FTC. If it’s involving a financial product or service, report it to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. And if you believe it crosses national borders, report it to eConsumer.gov as well.