Terms of Use: All that a thief needs to steal an identity is your name, address, social security number, and date of birth . This information is easily obtained from driver's licenses and/or checking accounts. To protect your identity, follow these tips: Minimize information in phone books: A great deal of personal information is listed in telephone or organization directories. Consider an unlisted phone number. If you list, give only your name and phone number. Do not list your addre  More...

Terms of Use: Credit and charge card fraud costs cardholders and issuers hundreds of millions of dollars each year. While theft is the most obvious form of fraud, it can occur in other ways. For example, someone may use your card number without your knowledge. It's not always possible to prevent credit or charge card fraud from happening. But there are a few steps you can take to make it more difficult for a crook to capture your card or card numbers and minimize the possibility. Guarding Ag  More...

Terms of Use The Facts on Identity Theft Identity theft occurs when someone uses your bank account number, Social Security number, credit card, or other personal information for his or her own purposes like opening an account, making purchases, applying for a loan, or getting a tax refund. It can be months before the theft has been discovered. How does it happens? They steal your wallet and purse containing your identification and credit and bank cards. They steal your mail, including your bank  More...

Terms of Use: Your computer probably contains a significant amount of sensitive information about you that if used by the wrong person could cost you a lot of time and money. Follow the 10 steps below to protect yourself: Update your system's operating system and Web Browser (IE, Firefox, Chrome, etc.) frequently . Keeping this system software updated with all the latest patches will dramatically reduce the potential that your computer can be accessed by an unauthorized user, also called hac  More...

Terms of Use Did you know that the Federal Trade Commission estimates that 20 BILLION dollars in automotive repairs each year are unnecessary? Here are some tips to minimize the chances of paying more than you should when you're car's in the shop: 1. Always try to get a recommendation. If at all possible, do not look in the Yellow Pages for a mechanic. Following the recommendation of a tow truck driver might not be a good idea either: the possibility exists that the tow truck dri  More...

Terms of Use: Con artists are out to get you and your home by promising to save you from foreclosure. Here's how to avoid getting caught up in their empty promises. First and foremost, ignore the posters nailed to telephone poles, at bus stops, and in median strips that offer foreclosure help. Ignore fliers that appear on your doorstep or in your mailbox, especially handwritten notes that suggest help is on the way from someone you know or who has your best interests in mind. While fac  More...

Terms of Use What to do if you fear you've fallen victim to identity theft: Assume that you will become a victim of credit card fraud, bank fraud, or identity theft if you've given up personal financial information in response to a phishing email or on a phishing website. Depending on the information you provided, follow these steps: If you've given out your credit, debit or ATM card info: Report the theft of your personal information to the card issuer as quickly as possible.   More...

Terms of Use: Related to phishing , another type of fraud called “vishing” has emerged that uses Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP). Instead of being directed by e-mail to a Web site, a fraudulent e-mail message (spam) asks the user to make a telephone call. The unsuspecting caller dials into a voice response system that asks for the user's credit card number. The system is disguised to appear like a legitimate financial institution or credit card company. In addition to emai  More...

Terms of Use: Don't have your Social Security or driver's license number imprinted on your checks. These numbers, combined with other information on your checks (your name, address, account number, telephone number) could supply a thief with enough details to apply for a loan, credit card, or a phony bank account in your name. Notify your credit union or bank if you ordered checks and haven't received them in a reasonable time period, or if some checks are missing. These could be signs the c  More...

Terms of Use: By registering on the "National Do Not Call Registry" you can significantly stop those pestering calls. Check out the link below.