Making a peer-to-peer (P2P) payment is a convenient way to transfer money to family, friends, or businesses. Whether you're splitting a bill or paying a babysitter, if you have someone's contact information, you can send or receive money quickly and easily using a mobile app or an online platform linked to your bank account or credit card. Most P2P transactions go smoothly, but what happens when something goes wrong? Unauthorized transactions will generally be refunded by the P2P service. But … [Read more...]
New Social Security Identity Verification Rule: Are You Affected?
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has announced that effective April 14, some individuals who want to claim Social Security benefits or change their direct deposit account information will need to visit a local Social Security field office to prove their identity in person. According to the SSA, stronger identity verification procedures are needed to prevent fraud. The new rule is already causing confusion, in part because of its hasty rollout, so here are answers to some common … [Read more...]
After the Loss of a Loved One, Watch Out for Scams
Scam artists often prey on those who are most vulnerable. Unfortunately, this includes individuals who have recently lost a loved one and are easily taken advantage of during their time of grief. Scammers will look for details from obituaries, funeral homes, hospitals, stolen death certificates, and social media websites to obtain personal information about a deceased individual and use it to commit fraud. A common scam after the loss of a loved one, often referred to as "ghosting," is when … [Read more...]
Watch Out for Coronavirus Scams
“The FTC has received over 20,000 COVID-19 related complaints since January 1, 2020. Source: Federal Trade Commission, April 2020” Fraudsters and scam artists are always looking for new ways to prey on consumers. Now they are using the same tactics to take advantage of consumers' heightened financial and health concerns over the coronavirus pandemic. Federal, state, and local law enforcement have begun issuing warnings on the surge of coronavirus scams and how consumers can protect … [Read more...]
Equifax Data Breach
If you were affected by the 2017 Equifax data breach you are potentially eligible for a monetary claim or credit monitoring service. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission warns everyone to be aware of scams & fake settlement websites and adds that you’ll never have to pay to file a claim for these benefits. And anyone who calls and tries to get you to file a claim is almost certainly a scammer. At this link – https://eligibility.equifaxbreachsettlement.com/en/eligibility – you can check … [Read more...]
Identity Theft and Your Taxes
Your identity an money can be stolen in a tax-related scam via email ("phishing"), fax, phone, or letters. Some recent examples of identity theft scams are: Phone Scam... Email phishing scam... tax transcript... IRS refunds... Read More... Identity Theft and Your Taxes … [Read more...]
Tax Scams to Watch Out For
“It is important to remember that the IRS will never initiate contact with you by email to request personal or financial information. This includes any type of electronic communication, such as text messages and social media.” While tax scams are especially prevalent during tax season, they can take place any time during the year. As a result, it's in your best interest to always be vigilant so you don't end up becoming the victim of a fraudulent tax scheme. Here are some of the more … [Read more...]
How can I protect my personal and financial information from credit fraud and identity theft?
In today's digital world, massive computer hacks and data breaches are common occurrences. And chances are, your personal or financial information is now susceptible to being used for credit fraud or identity theft. If you discover that you are the victim of either of these crimes, you should consider placing a credit freeze or fraud alert on your credit report to protect yourself. A credit freeze prevents new credit and accounts from being opened in your name. Once you obtain a credit … [Read more...]
How to Protect Yourself Against Identity Theft
Because of the amount of paperwork and steps involved, fixing a credit report error can be a time-consuming and emotionally draining process. If at any time you believe your credit reporting rights have been violated, you can file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) at consumerfinance.gov. Remember that the IRS will never contact you by email to request personal or financial information. This includes any type of electronic communication, such as text messages and … [Read more...]
