Carelessness Can Cost You
Many Americans are concerned about someone stealing their credit card, check, or debit card numbers, but they may be ignoring one easy way thieves can access financial accounts: receipts. Disregarding receipts that have valuable information greatly increases the risk of credit and debit card fraud. That kind of carelessness can cost you. Thieves easily can find receipts with valid account numbers in trash cans. Some easy steps you can take to prevent thieves from stealing your financial information. […]
Avoid Tax Identity Theft
Identity theft is a serious crime. It’s important to take the proper steps to protect your personal and financial information. Tax season is in full swing and important documentation will be arriving for your returns. You can avoid being a victim of tax identity theft. Gather all your documents as quickly as possible and file your return quickly. Tax identity theft happens when someone uses your Social Security number to file a fake tax return to collect your refund before [...]
4 Major Warning Signs for Dangerous Apps
October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month and to get into the swing of things we thought this might be a great time to dive into the dangerous apps that may be lurking on your phone. Dangerous apps could potentially be leaking private information without you even knowing. Most of us have several apps on our phone and continue to download new ones on a weekly basis. From music apps to games, there are so many out there, which can make [...]
Three Ways to Reduce the Risk of Fraud
According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), credit card fraud occurred in 41.8% of identity theft reports in 2020. If you think using checks will spare you from thieves, think again. Even though credit cards are the leading type of identity theft, there is still the risk of fraud when using checks. So, how can you try to reduce the risk of fraud? Options such as bill pay, digital wallet, and prepaid debit cards are great options to try to [...]
Top 6 Identity Theft Protection Services of 2021
According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), identity theft complaints more than doubled in 2020 compared to 2019. There were over 1.4 million complaints. Identity theft can happen to anyone at any time. This is why it is important to take every precaution available to keep your information safe. In addition to your own safeguards, there are many services who can provide an additional layer of protection. Here are six of the best-rated identity theft protection services of 2021. [...]
4 Important Tips for College Students to Avoid Fraud and Scams
For many students, college symbolizes freedom, adventure, and fun. But what they need to be reminded of is that it also brings responsibilities. These responsibilities range from simple things, such as doing their own food shopping and laundry, but it also means keeping track of their own finances, especially since this might be the first time with their own bank account or credit card. Unfortunately, their inexperience also means they are more susceptible to scams and fraud. To help minimize [...]