June 2016 Protecting FROM PAGE 1 “Encourage your young person


to be selective with his or her ‘friends’ online, just as he or she would in real life,” said Bobbie Gray, an FDIC supervisory community affairs specialist. “Discuss how not everything they see on the Internet is true, and that some criminals may pretend to be friends or relatives in order to obtain personal information or worse.”


Consider agreeing on a short list


of what your child can and cannot do online. For more information, read our tips for young adults in the Fall 2012 FDIC Consumer News.


Help your child learn to analyze


advertisements, some of which may be fraudulent. “Explain that advertising, even in an online video clip, is intended to get people to make purchases or otherwise act on things they might not usually do,” said Luke W. Reynolds, chief of the FDIC’s Outreach and Program Development Section. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has an online game called Admongo to help youngsters age 8-12 think critically about advertising and make smarter decisions as consumers.


Explain why keeping money in a


financial institution is safe. Checking, savings or other deposit accounts at a federally insured financial institution carry protections related to theft and fraud (see How Federal Laws and Industry Practices Limit Losses From Cyber attacks), making them a safe place for your money. If your child doesn't already have a deposit account, consider opening one. Learn about federal deposit insurance if a bank fails, including how to verify that a bank is FDIC-insured by going to www. fdic.gov/deposit/deposits/. And, to find age-appropriate information and activities for kids plus FDIC “Money Smart” guides that help parents and caregivers talk with their children about key financial topics, visit a website developed by the FDIC and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.


Secure electronic equipment.


Make sure your child’s devices are configured to download the latest updates from the manufacturer because they usually include security-related enhancements. Almost all video game equipment connects to the Internet and may link to information such as credit


Tell us about your


Church programs Churches@hamptonroadsmessenger.com


www.hamptonroadsmessenger.com


or debit card numbers. If a company wants to collect


data on your child, find out why. Controlling access to a child’s information is one of the best ways to protect him or her from identity theft. Under a federal law called the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), websites and online services (including apps) that are directed to children under 13 must notify parents directly and get their approval before they collect, use or disclose a child’s personal information. When notifying you, the company must disclose how it plans to use your child’s information. The company also may ask for your approval of different options for using information it wants to collect, such as whether it can share the information with others or use it for marketing purposes. To learn more, start at the FTC’s Web page “Protecting Your Child's Privacy Online.”


Be aware of possible signs that


a child is the victim of identity theft. Criminals may steal the identity of children to file claims for government benefits or apply for a loan online. “While not necessarily a sign of identity theft, your child receiving unsolicited mail or phone calls from marketers can indicate that personal information has been shared somehow. It’s best to take the time to understand why,” Reynolds noted.


Consider asking the three major


nationwide credit reporting agencies — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — to check if your minor child has a credit report. If the answer is “yes,” review the report to find out if a thief has misused your child’s name. For additional guidance, go to the FTC’s “Child Identity Theft” page, which has contact information for the credit reporting agencies and tips if a child’s identity has been stolen, including how to place a fraud alert in a credit report that can minimize future damage.


The FTC adds that it is generally


a good idea for parents to conduct this review of credit reports close to a child’s 16th birthday. Doing so allows time to fix errors or other problems before he or she might want to apply for a loan or a job.


For more information and tips on


how to protect kids online, visit the federal government’s OnGuardOnline. The FDIC also has Money Smart guides that offer exercises, activities and


conversation


starters for parents and caregivers to help young people of all ages to learn about money.


Request for Bids: SWaM, and Veteran Owned Businesses Vanessa Chase


Serving sellers and buyers in the Hampton Roads community


SB Ballard Construction would like to invite you to bid the Suffolk Elementary and Middle School project on June 6, 2016 at 2:00PM and the Virginia Beach Housing Resource Center on June 9, 2016 at 3:00PM.


S.B. Ballard Construction Company is soliciting bids from certified Small, Women,


Minority, and Veteran Owned Businesses to


SB Ballard will be holding an Open House for the Grove Baptist Church on June 1st at 3:00PM.


Please contact Candy Hennig with any question or access to the bid documents at chennig@sbballard.com.


participate as subcontractors and/or suppliers for the NSU Brown Hall, Norfolk, VA - Building package on 3/18/2015 at 2:00PM. S. B. Ballard at 2828 Shipps Corner Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23453, 1-800-296-0209, or fax quotes or request for drawings to 757-451-2873 or chennig@sbballard.com. SBBCC is an Equal Opportunity Employer.


Direct Line: 757-472-2740


Email: vanessa.chase757@gmail.com Licensed in VA


BY HARRIETTE COLE WASHINGTON – This week,


the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) kicks off National Homeownership Month by recognizing how homeownership enhances lives and contributes to thriving communities we call home. “Dare to Own the Dream” is the theme of this month-long recognition, reinforcing the long-held belief that owning a home remains one of the cornerstones of the American Dream.


When President Obama took


office nearly eight years ago, the nation’s housing market was in free-fall, unemployment was rising and many families were left feeling trapped and anxious about their mortgages. He immediately took action to address these issues and to protect the middle class. The steps he took helped millions of Americans stay in their homes, save money on their mortgages and turn their communities around.


“Homeownership Month is a


good time to reflect on the progress the Obama Administration has made to ensure that owning a home is always within the grasp of the average American family. A home is the place where we raise our children, establish roots in a community and plan our future,” said HUD Secretary Julián Castro. “The opportunity to be a homeowner should be open to those ready and able to buy a home. As the housing market continues its recovery we must ensure that responsible homeowners have access to credit to


make their dreams of homeownership a reality.”


Over the course of its 82-year


history, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) stimulated nearly $4 trillion in mortgage capital into our economy and helped more than 44 million Americans to become homeowners. Today, FHA continues to build the middle class and open doors for underserved families.


Since its roots during the Great


Depression, FHA is leveling the playing field for all Americans who can reasonably purchase a home by ensuring affordable access to credit for underserved borrowers. In January 2015, FHA lowered its mortgage insurance premiums (MIP) because too many families were priced out of homeownership. As of March 31, 2016, FHA has endorsed approximately 1.3 million loans under the new reduced MIP. This price reduction is projected to save more than two million FHA homeowners an average of $900 annually and spur 250,000 new homebuyers to purchase their first home.


Throughout the month of June,


HUD will host a series of Twitter chats to discuss three important topics surrounding homeownership and FHA. Follow these chats with #OwntheDream:


• Are you ready for homeownership? • How to know if an FHA loan is right for you.


• Is housing counseling for you? hud.gov


The Hampton Roads Messenger 3


HUD Kicks Off National Homeownership Month


'Dare to Own the Dream' is theme for month-long recognition


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