Identity Theft

Identity Theft

Weekly Tip: Protect your smartphone with a password.

Most people have smartphones these days. And most people have personal information on those smartphones - phone contacts, emails, social media accounts, maybe even credit card numbers... It’s no question that you want to keep that information protected from the wrong people. The most obvious way to do this is by having a password- protected lock. That way, if your phone is stolen, which is a very real problem today, you won’t have to worry about the thief having immediate access to all your personal information.
 
Updated by Alice Bryant on Tue, 2014-06-10 16:43

Weekly Tip: Start saving for retirement early.

Retirement may seem like a lifetime away, so many people assume they can hold off on saving now and make it up later. But it is important to start saving as early as you can. Waiting too long can make it nearly impossible to catch up, and consumers who wait will end up with significantly less money when it comes time to retire, even if they save a higher percentage of their paycheck. 
 
Updated by Alice Bryant on Wed, 2014-05-07 11:37

Weekly Tip: Use credit, not debit, when shopping online

With the holiday season in full swing, shopping is at its peak. But if you’re ordering things on the web, by phone, or mail order, be sure to use a credit card.

Updated by Alice Bryant on Wed, 2013-12-04 10:50

Know Your Credit Card Billing Cycle

It sounds obvious, but there are actually several reasons why you need to keep close tabs on your credit cards' billing cycles. The first one that should come to mind is you need to know when your billing cycle ends so you can be prepared to make payment in full to your credit issuer, right? That's a no-brainer.

Updated by Joshua Heckathorn on Wed, 2011-08-17 17:00

Keep Your Bluetooth Secure

You're probably lugging around a lot of Bluetooth-enabled devices these days. And while it may be hard to leave home without them, smartphones, laptops, netbooks, iPads and Bluetooth headsets have unfortunately made us all sitting ducks for identity theft.

Those nasty hackers love using Bluetooth to steal your personal information, install malicious software on your devices, and possibly even record your private calls. The NERVE! But you don't have to make yourself an easy target.

Updated by Joshua Heckathorn on Thu, 2011-05-26 17:00

How to Deal with a Lost Credit Card

The FCBA (Fair Credit Billing Act) limits your liability for unauthorized credit card charges to a maximum of $50. So if you just realized your credit card is missing, there's no reason to enter "freak out" mode. You're going to be okay.

Instead, take a deep breath, relax, and follow these 3 steps:

Updated by Joshua Heckathorn on Mon, 2010-08-02 17:00

Identity Theft: Debit Cards vs. Credit Cards

If you're not concerned about identity theft, you should be. More than 11 million Americans were victims of identity theft in 2009, surpassing $50 million in total losses, and these numbers show no signs of slowing down.

Updated by Joshua Heckathorn on Sun, 2010-06-20 17:00

Beware of Skimmers & Shoulder Surfers

Identity theft and credit card fraud already account for billions in consumer fraud losses every year. Unfortunately, these crimes shows no sign of slowing down as thieves grow sneakier and more consumers fall victim to their tactics. In fact, according to Javelin Strategy & Research, more than 11 million adults were victims of Identity theft and fraud in 2009—a surge of 12 percent since 2008.

Updated by Joshua Heckathorn on Sun, 2010-05-02 17:00

How to Activate a Credit Freeze

A credit freeze prevents lenders from pulling, viewing and thus modifying your credit reports. No one, including yourself, should be able to open any type of credit in your name while a freeze is active. For these reasons, initiating a credit freeze has become a popular tool among consumers who are dealing with the aftershocks of identity theft.

Updated by Joshua Heckathorn on Sun, 2010-03-28 17:00

Holidays are a Hotbed for ID Theft

The Holiday season means more shopping than usual for most of us. Whether you like it or not, you'll probably spend more time than any other season of the year searching for the perfect gifts in crowded shopping malls and on your favorite e-commerce sites.

Updated by Joshua Heckathorn on Mon, 2009-10-19 17:00

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