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Report credit fraud. You can prevent credit fraud, identity theft and scams if you secure your documents, review your credit report, and report fraud the instant it occurs.
To see if you're the victim of credit fraud, check your free credit report.
Credit obtained fraudulently may go undetected until the charges become past due and creditors come looking for you. To find out what credit has been placed in your name, order a credit report and look for unexplained activity.
Report credit card fraud and identity theft to all police and sheriff's departments within jurisdiction. Credit card companies and banks may require you to show the report in order to convince them of your innocence. If they don't believe you, they may hold you responsible for bounced checks, charges made in your name, etc. Give the police/sheriff's department as much evidence as possible, and get a copy of your police report. Get the direct phone number to your detective or the official taking the report.
If you're the victim of internet fraud, contact the FBI internet fraud center
Identity theft protection
Pay attention to your billing cycles and contact creditors if bills don't arrive on time. It may mean that someone is intercepting your mail.
Cancel all unused credit cards so thieves can't get those account numbers from your credit report.
Keep your Social Security card, birth certificate and other identifying papers in a safe place, not in your wallet. Stash a list of your creditors, along with phone numbers, in the same place in case your credit cards are stolen.
Pick up newly ordered checks at the bank to avoid having blank checks in your mailbox.
Check your credit report annually. Report any suspicious activity immediately.
Make sure no one can see you punch in your PIN or password at the ATM or retailer, or your telephone card number at a pay phone.
Keep documents with personal information, such as canceled checks, in a safe place and shred them or tear them up when you don't need them anymore. Documents that you should shred or tear up include charge receipts, copies of credit applications, bank checks, ATM receipts and insurance forms.
Suspect you're the victim of identity theft?
Contact creditors about questionable items and close accounts you believe are fraudulent or have unauthorized transactions.
Call the fraud department at each of the major credit bureaus to ask that a "fraud alert" be placed in your file, so that lenders will be alerted to the fact that you may be a fraud victim. Ask that the fraud alert state that you do not want new credit extended without contacting you first, and ensure your name/address/phone number are all correct.
Contact the local police to file a report. Keep a copy in case you need it later as proof of the crime.
Report credit fraud to the FTC, which will store the information in its database so it can be accessed by law enforcement agencies. The FTC can provide information on steps victims should take and sometimes will refer cases to other government agencies or private organizations for further action.
Fraud and Scam Tips - Knowing some information about fraud and scams can help prevent you from becoming a victim. Many consumers have become victims of credit card scams and fraud without even knowing it for a while. Keeping your credit card information secret can stop criminals before they ruin your credit.
Read our latest article regarding fraud, and join our online financial newsletter so you can receive alerts. Debt
People are seeking debt advice every day as they are buried in bills. There are some tried and true methods to get out of debt, yet deciding on the one that is right, can be difficult. The most important thing is to stick with a plan and keep track of goals. Getting out of debt requires dedication once a plan is implemented.
It is so easy to become burdened with debts, yet almost impossible to escape from it when thousands of dollars are owed. Unfortunately, some may wait too long to try to tackle it. To be able to get control of it, it is necessary to understand the types of debt. Some debts are unsecured, which means the debt is not attached to a piece of property, like credit card debt. A mortgage payment is a secured debt, and if the loan is not paid, there is a risk of losing the home.
Getting control of bills needs to begin with a carefully prepared, written budget, and keeping track of every dollar. It is a guide and may need adjusting from time to time. That is ok, it helps to review it, adjust it, and, stick with what is written down.
Organize all required monthly expenses. Begin with food expenses, the mortgage payment, and utility bills. Consider looking over last years bills to get an estimate of the total expenses for the year. For example, a utility bill may be higher during hot months or cold months, and it may be necessary to set aside money to prepare. Reviewing last years income and expenses can help you discover any extra payments for insurances, taxes, etc.
Example of Expenses Listed on a Budget:
* Mortgage Payments * Utility bills * Phone bills * Child Care * Gifts, Birthdays, etc. * Gas, auto payments, repairs * Food, cook more, eat out less * Money deposited into a savings account.
The list above is an example, make your own list and write a dollar amount by each item. Consider things on the list that could be eliminated. For example, cell phone plans could be reduced or home phones may not be needed. Notice that entertainment is not on the list. By eliminating this expense, there could be more money to use to pay down bills. If it is put on the budget, make sure to set an amount that is reasonable and set limits. Entertainment expenses can take a big bite out of the monthly income. Try to do more home activities for a while.
First time budgets can be a success, and it takes time for it to become a habit and refined. It is a starting point, as many people never follow one, and later wonder how they got into debt. The more it becomes a habit, the more you know your expenses, and what you must plan to spend out of each paycheck. Keeping bills paid on time can be huge stress relief.
Target debts to pay every time a paycheck is received, spread it around to what is necessary to pay first. After some weeks, you may find your finances in better shape and feel some pride in getting debts well under control. Paying debts must become a weekly target, to make progress and get bills paid. This also helps to avoid any added expenses. Using a calendar as a reminder is a good tool to use. When getting out of debt is not working, consider a free quote from a debt counselor. Review Disclaimer:
Review information was gleaned from the website, and is neither an endorsement by us nor an confirmation of content nor a warranty of any promises made by the website. Use the review information at your sole discretion and sole liability.
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