Every year, people look forward to getting their tax refunds and expect to receive them without any major complications. Unfortunately, fraudsters who manage to steal Social Security numbers can steal tax refunds and use the information to cause other serious problems. Social Security numbers can also be used to open new credit cards, apply for
The arrival of fall also ushers in the holiday shopping season, and no time is better for snagging deals on the year’s hottest gifts. With sales figures in the billions, the lure of Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping gives rise to a significant rise in consumer fraud, scams, and identity thefts. The week following
Identity theft is an all-too-common occurrence given the amount of personal information that can be easily culled online. Thieves steal someone’s identity in order to obtain credit cards, secure loans, open bank accounts, fund housing, and more, wreaking havoc on the victim’s finances and credit rating. Unfortunately, adults are not the only victims of identity
No matter how cautious you are, identity theft is a real possibility. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) received over 4.7 million fraud reports in 2020, and identity theft was the top category, making up almost 30 percent of reported cases. Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information to file taxes, apply for a
When you are the victim of identity theft, it can have an adverse impact on your entire life and in particular your finances. It can cause you to incur significant debt that you never accumulated or prevent you from renting an apartment or qualifying for a loan because of discrepancies on your credit report. It
Identity theft is a serious problem that can be financially devastating for the person whose identity or personal information has been stolen. Despite ongoing cybersecurity efforts, fraudsters continue to find ways to steal Social Security numbers, credit card information, and other personal information that can be used to make a profit. According to a recent
A small company that specializes in selling systems designed to protect a person’s home was not as concerned about protecting peoples’ identities. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) achieved a record-breaking $20 million settlement against Vivint Smart Home, a national seller of smart home technology platforms, including security devices and monitoring services. The settlement stems from
Data breaches have unfortunately become a common problem as more data is stored or shared in drives and other hackable services. There have been numerous high-profile data hacks over the years from retail companies to government agencies to credit reporting agencies. These attacks impact consumers and corporations throughout the world and cause millions of dollars
For many American families, the COVID-19 outbreak has caused some serious financial turmoil. Many people are struggling to pay bills and feed their families. On March 27, 2020 the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was enacted. Under the CARES Act, those struggling to pay bills can make special payment arrangements with creditors.
Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion have begun offering free credit reports to all Americans on a weekly basis for the next year to help you protect your financial health during hardships from the coronavirus. Checking your credit report on a regular basis is a great way to stay in control of your credit health, but until