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In honor of National Consumer Protection Week, this week’s roundup features a bunch of great links that will hopefully educate and help you make better-informed decisions. Happy reading!

Tips for Using Public Wi-Fi Networks “Wi-Fi hotspots in coffee shops, libraries, airports, hotels, universities, and other public places are convenient, but they’re often not secure. When using a hotspot, it’s best to send information only to websites that are fully encrypted.” OnGuardOnline

Watch Out for These Four Tax Scams “Tis the season for tax scams. As always, scammers are out in full force, looking for ways to get their hands on some of your hard-earned cash. Before you trust someone with your tax information, stop and ask yourself whether or not it’s too good to be true. Also, be on the alert for scams that involve stealing your identity.” Moolanomy

How to Deal with Identity Theft “Identity theft happens when someone steals your personal information and uses it without your permission. It’s a serious crime that can wreak havoc with your finances, credit history, and reputation — and can take time, money, and patience to resolve.” Federal Trade Commission

Learn How to File a Credit Dispute “If you have ever been asked to pay for a credit report, then you probably didn’t realize that the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) demands that all of the 3 nationwide consumer reporting companies, which are Experian, Equifax and Trans Union, are obliged to provide you with a copy of your credit report free of charge. You can request your free credit report at Annualcreditreport.com.” Joe Taxpayer

11 Hidden Hotel Fees and How to Avoid Them “I have discovered great ways to save on a hotel room throughout my travels. But nothing is worse than thinking you got a fantastic deal, enjoying your evening (or multiple evenings), only to check-out and realize that there was a hidden fee (or hidden fees) and you are paying well over what you thought. If you wisely created a budget for your trip, this can throw the entire thing out of whack. Before you book your next hotel room, double check to see if these hidden fees and costs are not included in the price.” My Dollar Plan

How to Handle Unexpected Expenses and Financial Emergencies at Home “Life is unpredictable and anything can happen at any time. We don’t realize how fragile the financial environment is. It can take a turn for the worse at any time. Unexpected emergencies can arise out of nowhere but the key thing is learning how to deal with them. Anyone who can survive adversity will come out stronger. Here are a few tips to help you deal with unexpected financial problems.” Grad Money Matters

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