Let us create a 3d Digital eBook for you! DigyCat.com
|
||
|
||
|
Credit Information | Let us create a 3d Digital eBook for you! DigyCat.com |
|
|
|
Identity Theft - How to Protect Yourself
"Like the tan? I got tons of sun on that Caribbean cruise. First class tickets to Florida and back! Nope, not an airline upgrade. 5-star service all the way, baby! Hotels, restaurants, theme parks?you name it! Look?I took pics with my new cell phone! Hey, let me know when you're free to take a spin in the car - it's a 2005 sports model, fully loaded! Yours truly, Chad E. Charlatan, is going to the top! Nope, no job. But I didn't pay for anything myself. I don't care who Ms. Donna Knowe-Bedter is, but it's not my fault if she doesn't keep tabs on her credit card statements. One day I'll thank her for being so rich!" In a perfect world, everyone is honest, with good intentions. We don't live in a perfect world. ID thieves are supreme opportunists. Read the news? Hackers can break into corporate computer systems and steal information on clients and customers. "Skimmers" can be attached to credit card readers, and used to store credit- and bank-card numbers. Identity thieves may pose as employers, landlords or even utility company representatives to get at your personal and financial info. Other thieves may use their employers' authorized access to obtain credit reports or other information. Databases and other records can be stolen from employers; thieves may bribe fellow employees who may have access to important data. They may steal your mail and take credit card offers, tax information and other documents. "Dumpster diving" involves digging through garbage to find information such as bank statements, or credit card information. And there's always the age-old method of simply stealing your wallet or purse. New ways of stealing your identity pop up frequently. "Phishing" became prominent in 2003 and 2004: well-designed emails and websites convince victims to provide information. Emails look legit, but release any information and the nightmare begins. The cost? Damages now top $1 billion per year. How's that for a nightmare? Thieves get new phone services, auto loans and credit cards using stolen information. Victims may find their mailing addresses changed, and their credit ruined. ID thieves can file for bankruptcy in the victims' name to escape debt, and drain accounts by counterfeiting checks and debit cards. They can also open bank and credit card accounts using their victims' names. Your name may be given to the police during an arrest. If the real thief is released, and fails to arrive for a court date, you may be arrested. And out-of-pocket costs to clean up the mess can be staggering. Be savvy, capiche? Thoughtful planning can prevent the pain of a stolen ID. * Buy a shredder. Shred documents with your name, personal information such as social security numbers, phone numbers, addresses, birthdates, credit applications, financial documents, and medical and insurance information. Whole documents can be used against you. Confetti can't. * Get your credit report. Verify it. Manage this tool carefully, and use it for protection. It's worth it. * Secure your computer against online theft. Your PC is a gateway to private information. NEVER leave an online connection open if you are away from your computer. Use a firewall. * Change passwords often. Use passwords with numbers and symbols that are easy for you to remember, but hard for someone to figure out. * Some programs allow the PC to fill out forms automatically. Convenient, but your PC may be hacked for info. Disable this feature. * Call your credit card companies and make sure there are no surprises on any of your credit cards, then request that restrictions be placed on each card. Example: you can request for no phone charges, or limits on single purchases. Violating these restrictions stops the transaction. Nightmare avoided. * Mailbox secure? Stealing mail is one of the easiest ways to steal your ID. Get a lockable USPS-approved mailbox. * Be extremely picky about giving out your Social Security Number. Resist giving out that very personal piece of information. Check the privacy act of 1974. Homework: go to http://www.faqs.org/faqs/privacy/ssn-faq/ on the web for more information. * Other information, like your mother's maiden name, seems harmless; those items are often used as verification of ID. Don't give it out. Keep yourself to yourself, and stay educated. Having your ID stolen is a terrible experience, and consumes much time, finance and energy. For your own sake, the sake of your sanity and your safety, set aside a few minutes to follow the advice above. Protect yourself the next time someone says, "?and your name is?.?" To send comments or to learn more about Scott Pearson's Investment Management services, visit http://www.valueview.net Scott Pearson is an investment advisor, writer, editor, instructor, and business leader. As President and Chief Investment Officer of Value View Financial Corp., he offers investment management services to a wide variety of clients. His own newsletter, Investor's Value View, is distributed worldwide and provides general money tips and investment advice to readers both internationally, and in the U.S.
MORE RESOURCES: Credit - Google News Photo credit by Jonathan-Hayward of the Canadian Press - Martinez News-Gazette
Bernstein 'deserves credit' after Capello exit - BBC Sport (blog)
7 Things You Didn't Know Affect Your Credit Score - San Francisco Chronicle
TEXT-Fitch publishes second edition of US Retail Credit Insights - Reuters
Europe Bank Risk Premium Vanishing on ECB Cash: Credit Markets - San Francisco Chronicle
An Earned Income Tax Credit Q&A - Seattle Post Intelligencer (blog)
Credit Suisse Reports First Quarterly Loss in 3 Years - New York Times
CORRECT: Fitch Jan Credit-Card Charge-Off Index At 4-Year Low - Wall Street Journal
Credit-Default Swaps in U.S. Reverse Rise as Greece Strikes Austerity Deal - Bloomberg
Republicans Target Tax Credits for Undocumented Immigrants - Fox News
|
 |
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
What is Credit Counselling? Ever wondered what is Credit Counselling? There are occasions when you might encounter a financial situation that is beyond your scope which is when a session with a credit counsellor could be beneficial.If you're not disciplined enough to create a workable budget and stick to it, can't work out a repayment plan with your creditors, or can't keep track of mounting bills, consider contacting a credit counselling organisation. Errors on Your Credit Report: What You Should Do There are times when you may be turned down for credit and you do not understand why. According to the Fair Credit Reporting Act you are entitled to a free copy of your credit report if you have been denied credit because of negative items on your credit report within 60 days of the request for credit, if you are unemployed but looking for work, are on welfare, or believe that your credit report is incorrect because of fraud. When You Are Eligible For A Free Credit Report By Federal law, you are entitled to one free credit report per year directly from a credit-reporting agency only if you certify that:1. You are unemployed and seeking employment in the next 60 days. Recognizing the Signs that You Might Need Credit Counseling Most families in America today have a credit card; some have two or more. The type of credit card you own, gold, platinum, ext, is almost a status symbol in society. Tips for Choosing a Credit Card Company Credit Cards are essential for any consumer today. However, when choosing a new credit card company, many people do not know what to look for. Credit Counseling Basics Credit counseling is an option you might want to consider if you are having financial problems. The stress can be overwhelming when you have creditors calling you daily to collect money that you simply don't have. Looking for that Low interest Credit Card? If you have been shopping around for a Low Interest Credit Card you will notice that the UK market is awash with Credit Card companies offering low rates to entice you to apply for their Cards.There has never been a better time to consolidate your credit cards and get a far better interest rate. What Can Happen to You as a Victim of Identity Theft, Facts & Figure Is identity theft really that serious? Thousands of people every year are victims of this terrible crime. Thieves use your personal information to commit fraud or other crimes in your name and can cause significant credit damage. How To Get a Low Interest Credit Card Consumers often have the first credit card that they ever applied for, never really analizing how the interest rate affects their payments, but many other options exist and can help consumers decrease their payments and achieve financial stability.With interest rates on some credit cards rising to over 23%, even low balance credit card debt can be crippling. Credit Enhancements: Seven Tips For Enhancing Business Credit Transactions What are the avenues available to businesses with weak credit profiles or to companies pursuing credit transactions that are perceived as too risky by credit providers? Many companies apply for credit at banks, finance companies or equipment leasing firms and are routinely rejected due to the high degree of perceived credit risks. When approaching a credit provider, it is helpful to understand what can be done to reduce the risk of a credit transaction in the eyes of the provider. What is a Credit Card? A credit card allows you to buy things even though you might not have the money to pay for it right away. The company that gave you the card lets you spend up to an agreed sum and then makes additional money available to you as you pay off what you've spent. Credit Repair Services vs. Do-It-Yourself Credit Repair Millions of Americans suffer because of bad credit these days, and almost all of these people turn to the Internet for help. In the past 5 years hundreds of 'internet-based' credit repair services have sprung up, preying on consumers in need of real help. How Credit Scoring Works The all important credit score! It determines the amount of loan you can get, it determines the interest rate at which you are charged for a loan, etc. Your credit score plays an important figure in your financial life. Have You Checked Your Permanent Record Lately? As a young student I feared getting bad grades because I didn't want any bad marks on my "permanent record." Get an "F" in fifth-grade science and it goes in your record. Credit Cards: Pros and Cons Sure, there are a lot of problems with credit cards, but there are a lot of good things attached to them as well. For instance, if you have a small business, fleet credit cards can keep your books in order when you issue them to drivers of company vehicles for gas and automobile repairs. Two Things You Need To Know About Prepaid Debit Cards According to the September 2004 issue of the Nilson Report, around $588 billion dollars worth of debit cards were bought in the United States in 2003. By 2008 that volume is expected to grow to $1. 5 Things Your Credit Card Company Keeps Quiet About Credit Cards can bankrupt you if you let them run away from you. The various Credit Cards companies are in it for profit so they will not generally alert you to things you can do to save yourself money. Credit Card Tips Here are some useful credit card tips for you to consider before applying for a credit card. Before applying for a credit card, you should decide why you want one, and make sure you can use it wisely. 10 Signs You May Need Credit Counseling Debt management programs can be of real help for people that discover they cannot face their debts. At first, they will attempt to solve the situation all by themselves by cutting down on spending and keeping a close eye on accounts. SuperCharged Secret 4, Credit Card Utopia YOU SCRATCH MY BACK, AND I'LL BUY SOME MORE BEER!Let's just take a brief moment to recap:If you've been following along on this journey with me, learning the 5 Super-Charged secrets to Credit Card Utopia, then you now know 3 very important things:You now know how to take advantage of zero to low interest credit card offers.You now know that there is safety in numbers, and you know the magic "Who's Who" of the major credit card companies.
|
|
Looking For Royalty Free Photos for your Website, Business or Advertising?
YourFree.biz Domain Is For Sale - $5,000 For Enquiries eMail Us © www.YourFree.biz 2011 |
|
