Post by Category : International

Bleeping Computer: Freecycle confirms massive data breach

Freecycle, an online forum dedicated to exchanging used items rather than trashing them, confirmed a massive data breach that affected more than 7 million users

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/freecycle-confirms-massive-data-breach-impacting-7-million-users/

Graham Cluley: Freecycle users told to change passwords after data breach

Freecycle, an online community that encourages sharing unwanted items with eachother than chucking them in the bin or taking them to landfill, has told users to change their passwords after it suffered a data breach.

https://grahamcluley.com/freecycle-users-told-to-change-passwords-after-data-breach/

Freecycle Data Breach

On August 30th The Freecycle Network / Freecycle.org became aware of a data breach on Freecycle.org. As a result we are reaching out to to members to ask that you change your Freecycle.org password as soon as possible. We very much apologize for the inconvenience. 

Further information on the breach and on how to change your password may be found here:

https://freecycle.helpscoutdocs.com/article/319-data-breach-august-2023

   [and there is a “?” icon on that page if you have further questions for our Help Team]

The breach of data includes usernames, User IDs, email addresses and hashed passwords. Because of the exposure of personal passwords we are taking every measure to quickly inform members about the need to change their passwords. If you have used the same password elsewhere, you are well advised to change the password there as well. No other personal information was compromised and the breach has been closed and is being reported to the respective privacy authorities. 

While most email providers do a good job at filtering out spam, you may notice that you receive more spam than usual. As always, please remain vigilant of phishing emails, avoid clicking on links in emails, and don’t download attachments unless you are expecting them. 

Here are some useful links to help keep you safe:

https://haveibeenpwned.com/ Find out what past data breaches have involved your personal information. 

https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-recognize-and-avoid-phishing-scams#report (U.S.) Learn how to recognize phishing emails.

https://www.gov.uk/report-suspicious-emails-websites-phishing#:~:text=Forward%20suspicious%20emails%20to%20report,(%20NCSC%20)%20will%20investigate%20it. Learn how to recognize and report phishing scams in the UK

Again, we thank you for your generous gifting locally and apologize for the hassle.

Sincerely yours,

Deron Beal, Executive Director

AVOIDING SCAMS ON FREECYCLE

Don’t be a victim. Never pay for delivery of a Freecycle item.

The incidence of scams is on the increase, on Freecycle and elsewhere. Here’s how you can identify a likely scam:

  • The offering member claims to have recently moved or posted to the wrong Town group and they need money to send the item to you.
  • The post contains a photo of an email address.
  • The subject of the post uses unusual punctuation or odd symbols, such as ~.ṀusicaĮ Įnstruments~
  • The offer seems too good to be true, especially if the member has recently joined Freecycle or posted the item to multiple towns that aren’t near each other. 

Any time you find a suspicious post, or are asked to pay for an item or delivery of an item, please use the “Report” button on the post detail page, or send a message to your town moderators. Please don’t become a victim of another delivery scam!

Thanks for helping keep scammers out of Freecycle!

YouTube: Inside the ‘buying nothing’ movement

Freecycle and buy nothing groups are gaining popularity online and through new apps as consumers find new ways to save money on everyday items as inflation soars.

AVOIDING SCAMS ON FREECYCLE

Don’t be a victim. Never pay for delivery of a Freecycle item.

The incidence of scams is on the increase, on Freecycle and elsewhere. Here’s how you can identify a likely scam:

  • The offering member claims to have recently moved or posted to the wrong Town group and they need money to send the item to you.
  • The post contains a photo of an email address.
  • The subject of the post uses unusual punctuation or odd symbols, such as ~.ṀusicaĮ Įnstruments~
  • The offer seems too good to be true, especially if the member has recently joined Freecycle or posted the item to multiple towns that aren’t near each other. 

Any time you find a suspicious post, or are asked to pay for an item or delivery of an item, please use the “Report” button on the post detail page, or send a message to your town moderators. Please don’t become a victim of another delivery scam!

Thanks for helping keep scammers out of Freecycle!

DON’T BE A VICTIM: NEVER PAY FOR DELIVERY OF A FREECYCLE ITEM

Don’t be a victim. Never pay for delivery of a Freecycle item.

The incidence of scams is on the increase, on Freecycle and elsewhere. Here’s how you can identify a likely scam:

  • The offering member claims to have recently moved or posted to the wrong Town group and they need money to send the item to you.
  • The post contains a photo of an email address.
  • The subject of the post uses unusual punctuation or odd symbols, such as ~.ṀusicaĮ Įnstruments~
  • The offer seems too good to be true, especially if the member has recently joined Freecycle or posted the item to multiple towns that aren’t near each other. 

Any time you find a suspicious post, or are asked to pay for an item or delivery of an item, please use the “Report” button on the post detail page, or send a message to your town moderators. Please don’t become a victim of another delivery scam!

Thanks for helping keep scammers out of Freecycle!

Pubwise: The Freecycle Network Case Study

The Company

The Freecycle Network launched in the US market in 2003. They are the world’s largest international gifting community, with over 9.8 million members in over 5,000 worldwide communities covering over a hundred countries and 12 languages. The Freecycle Network is a private, nonprofit organization incorporated in the State of Arizona.

HarperJames.co.uk: Meet the client: Deron Beal, Founder of The Freecycle Network

Our popular Meet the client series reveals the inside story on the organisations we support with legal services. This time, we caught up with Deron Beal, Founder and Executive Director of The Freecycle Network. He shares his inspirational story of building the largest nonprofit international gifting community and keeping over a thousand tons out of landfills and incinerators each day.

https://harperjames.co.uk/news/meet-the-client-deron-beal-the-freecycle-network/

MSN Money: 6 Easy Ways to Buy, Sell, Get and Give Stuff Away Online

1. Freecycle.org

Freecycle.org is a great resource started by people interested in keeping stuff out of landfills. There are more than 5,000 groups (usually community-based) around the world. Chances are there are one or more groups near you.

I belong to the one for my town as well as two nearby communities. This gives me more opportunities to get things for free and give stuff away. As a mom of two young kids, it’s been an invaluable way to get rid of outgrown toys.

Before you jump into the world of Freecycle, though, brush up on these rules of Freecycle etiquette.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/personalfinance/6-easy-ways-to-buy-sell-get-and-give-stuff-away-online/ss-AASW0x1#image=2