How did a Thief get my Name? Don?t be a Victim of Identity Theft
How do these people get my name? If you have a credit card, your name is sold to third parties, if you do not want this to happen, you must contact your credit card companies to inform them that you do not want your information sold. Check the privacy notice that comes with your bill. If you enter contests, your information becomes public. Also, when you buy a new product, and fill out the warranty cards, those companies sell that information you provide to other companies. Since when does your toaster manufacturer need to know you households' annual income to extend a warranty on your toaster? Thieves use dumpster digging, phishing, and pharming to obtain your information. Things they steal from your trash include: ? Pre-approved credit card offers ? they complete them and have the card sent to them at a different address
? Loan applications- they complete the application and have the money sent to a phony address.
? Bank statements- they then have your bank account number and can print counterfeit checks Becky Palmer, a Consumer Credit Counselor, knew of someone who had their wallet stolen, and they used the credit card to buy a $5000.00 gift card at Wal mart, this then become very hard to trace. People that are more at risk are senior citizens, people with disabilities and immigrants, but remember that everyone, including children are at risk. Senior citizens are home all day; they might get a phone call from a fake charity asking for money. Immigrants are desperate for credit, they may have just arrived in the US and know they need credit to do anything and are not aware of these scams. People with disabilities are home, and may become a victim of phone or online fraud. There have also been cases of home care providers taking advantage of their clients. Remember, it is not always a stranger that can steal someone's identity. Did you know children can be victims of identity theft? This could affect or ruin their credit before they even are able to build up credit for themselves. There have been cases of parents using a child's name for their electric bill or phone bill when they have bad credit or owe the utility company money. Thieves will obtain the social security number of these children then use that number to get credit cards and rack up purchases. Some of these scammers will call you and say they are from a fictitious charity. They will offer to have your contribution automatically deducted from your checking account and will ask for your routing number, bank name, and account number. DO NOT GIVE OUT THIS INFORMATION! If you pick up a call from a telemarketer, ask them the following questions and if they are a fraud, they will hang up quickly. ? Who do you work for? They will try to give you the name of the fake charity here, so ask them "who pays your salary?" ? How much of my donation (percentage) goes to this charity and what is the rest of the money used for?" If they are for real, they can easily give you this information. ? What is the charity's full name, address and phone number? Once you have the above information you can check with the state attorney generals' office or secretary of state to see if the charity is registered. Also check the charity's rating thru the Better Business Bureau at www.give.org. Michelle Dunn has over 17 years experience in credit and debt collection. She is the founder of Never Dunn Publishing, LLC, is a writer, consultant and the Editorial Advisor for Eli Financial Debt Collection Compliance Alert Newsletter. Michelle started M.A.D. Collection Agency and ran is successfully for 7 years. She owns and runs Credit & Collections.com a free online community for credit and business professionals. She has written 5 books in her Collecting Money Series and is currently writing a book for the Streetwise Series, part of the Adams Media Corporation. For more information on Michelle's services or to order any of her books please email her at michelle@michelledunn.com or visit http://www.michelledunn.com & http://www.credit-and-collections.com
Related News
Improved credit score could mean big savings - Chicago Tribune
Bank gives credit - and donation - to Mission anti-development efforts - Bizjournals.com
Pawn shops booming in the credit crunch - Sunday Herald
Pawn shops booming in the credit crunchSunday Herald, UK -3 hours agoHaving fallen from 5000 in the early 20th century to around 800 thanks to improved credit terms and job security, Milligan said that there has been a 10% ... |
Using credit wisely - Hindu
Using credit wiselyHindu, India -4 hours agoDespite the high risk of debt trap posed by credit cards, I am an optimist who believes that access to credit in a convenient, card-based form is probably ... |
When Credit Gets Tight, a 401(k) Loan Becomes Tempting - New York Times
CGFS calls for credit ratings change - Financial News
Credit crunch: UBS piles $7.5bn on to its write-down bill - guardian.co.uk
Crisp snares the ball, but doesn't get credit - Boston Globe
Aryty explores phone credit service in India - The Statesman
Aryty explores phone credit service in IndiaThe Statesman, India -3 hours agoA US-based overseas pre-paid phone credit service, Aryty, is exploring the Indian market to facilitate calls and SMS chat to the USA and Canada. ... |
Credit Card Overhauls Seem Likely - New York Times
|
|
 |
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
New Credit Advice: Dont Pay off Those Credit Cards!
Credit needed for real estate mortgage financing differs from credit needed for consumer loans. If you need help getting a home mortgage, these credit tips will help you.
Avoiding ID Theft and Credit Fraud
Article excerpted from the new book, "How to Do Space Age Work with a Stone Age Brain" TM copyright 2004, all rights reserved, by Eve Abbott, the Organizer Extraordinaire
SuperCharged Secret 5, Credit Card Utopia
LIVING IN CREDIT CARD UTOPIA
Check Your Credit Before Shopping For That Home Loan
Review Your Credit Score.
Harassment of People in Debt by Creditors
Harassment
7 Surefire Ways To Repair Bad Credit
Do you have a poor credit rating? If so, you are one of tens of thousands of Americans with the same problem. In fact, it seems that this has become a national 'disease.' And just what do people need that have a disease? They need a cure.
Getting Your Credit Report and Understanding Whats On It
If you intend to apply for a loan, you need to obtain your credit score. Understanding what this score means will allow you to make the loan process easier and quicker. Let's face it; most people want the loan process to be as painless as possible. Obtaining and understanding your credit score will help you see potential problems and perhaps eliminate them before you begin the loan process.
Credit Cards And Loans - So Many Options - So Little Time
Credit Cards and Loans sounds like just two things, but in actuality, it is
dozens of things. Due to a combination of user preferences, lifestyles, and marketing ideas, there are dozens of different types of credit cards out there. Because of the wide variety of things people need money for and the wide variety of ways to collateralize a loan, there are dozens and dozens of different types of loans out there.
What Does Your Credit Say About You?
A credit report is more than just a snapshot of your financial picture; it can assist credit grantors in determining your overall risk factor. Additionally, lenders, credit grantors, and even human resource departments often use it as a tool to determine a person's character.
Low Interest Credit Cards: A Thing of the Past?
With interest rates rising, low or zero percent credit cards may soon become a thing of the past. However, the wise shopper can still secure a low rate by carefully shopping around. Here are some ways you still get a bargain rate card:
How to Dispute Credit Report Errors
Your credit report--a type of consumer report--contains information about where you work and live and how you pay your bills. It also may show whether you've been sued or arrested or have filed for bankruptcy. Companies called consumer reporting agencies (CRAs) or credit bureaus compile and sell your credit report to businesses. Because businesses use this information to evaluate your applications for credit, insurance, employment, and other purposes allowed by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), it's important that the information in your report is complete and accurate.
The Top 5 Secrets to Managing Your Credit Cards?So They Won?t Manage You
You've probably never heard of Frank X. McNamara, but he revolutionized the way you shop on a daily basis.
Taking Control of Your Credit History
Your credit history is important; in fact, in this day and age, only family and your time are more important than your credit history! The first time you established a payment commitment over a period of time for a purchase, you began your history of credit, and the credit bureau created your account. Payments such as the electric company, a rental agreement, a cell phone, a car payment or a low-rate credit card which you also have a responsibility to repay are not reported to the credit bureaus as a part of your credit history. They can, nonetheless, be important in your financial history.
Credit Card Disclosure Table ? Do You Understand It All?
In addition to the APR (annual percentage rate) and the finance charges, most credit cards have a number of 'fees' associated with their use. Some fees are unavoidable with a particular card (like an annual fee or a program participation fee), while others are triggered by certain circumstances. The most common fees are listed below. To get a better idea of what your credit card may cost to use over the course of a year, check your card's terms and conditions and your user agreement to see which fees may apply to you.
Identity Theft Exploding: Here?s How You Can Avoid Becoming A Victim
Americans are more concerned about identity theft than unemployment or corporate fraud, according to a survey of 2,000 people conducted by Star Systems.
Understanding the Process of Credit Counseling
Many of us have seen the advertisements on television. "Get out of debt fast!" "We can solve all your credit problems with only one call!" These sound really great but you know that, realistically, one call is not going to solve your credit problems.
Trying to Land a Job? Poor Credit Scores May Hurt Your Chances
Many employers are now looking at an applicant's credit report for hiring purposes. During an interview process a potential employer may request your written consent to access your credit report. A credit report is essentially your credit history created by CRAs (also known as credit bureaus). Debtors that grant (or deny) you credit make regular reports about your account status to CRAs. This information is then aggregated on a credit report and calculated into your "credit score".
Is it Safe to Use Online Car Finance?
Online car finance is convenient. You can apply over the net and shop around for a good deal from the comfort of your home.
Understanding the Function of Credit
What is Credit?
Improving Your Credit Report
Even if you think you have a wonderful credit report, be wary of the error factor. Just as you receive mail with your name and address misspelled, your credit report can have errors as well. Whether it's human error, out of date information or even mistaken identity, errors occur more easily than we'd all like to think.
|
