fraud

Your SSN Can Now Be Accurately Guessed Using Date and Place of Birth

Posted July 8, 2009 - 08:29 by Paul Michael

Technology, General Tips, Consumer Affairs

SSN

It seems that nothing is safe any more. And now your Social Security Number, the lynchpin to you credit score, taxes, government benefits and more, is under attack. It can be guessed, with a staggering degree of accuracy, using simple information you probably have on sites like Facebook and MySpace.

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Look Out Consumers: Debt Collections Get Scarier

Posted June 24, 2009 - 09:07 by Tisha Tolar

Personal Finance

money bags

While consumers already have to be on constant alert about so many things involving their personal finances, there are still those that find ways to take advantage of a bad situation. Here's the story of yet another scam that may leave you paying for debts they don't even owe.

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7 ways to spot a social media snake oil salesperson

Posted March 14, 2009 - 17:10 by Torley Wong

Career Building

Confused Beauty

Sure, you'd like to boost your online presence and make money on the Internet. But just like pyramid schemes attract the greedy and fad diets interest the desperate, many social media snake oil salespeople are out there, ready to sucker you. READ ON for 7 ways to distinguish the fakes from the real deals.

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Scams: What the FTC Wants You to Know

Posted March 3, 2009 - 15:56 by Linsey Knerl

Personal Finance, Consumer Affairs

Consumer scams are a dime a dozen (or in some cases, thousands of dollars a crime). What are the red flags that you should always be on alert for? Can even financially savvy spenders get sucked in? What is the government doing to protect you? We speak with the Federal Trade Commission to get the scoop -- directly from those who specialize in consumer awareness.

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Countrywide tried to steal my parents' money - How you can avoid being a victim of mortgage servicing fraud

Posted February 20, 2009 - 23:19 by Xin Lu

Personal Finance, Real Estate and Housing, Consumer Affairs

countrywide scam

A few weeks ago I wrote an article about checking your mortgage statement, and interestingly enough my family was recently confronted with an erroneous mortgage statement. This is the story of how Countrywide tried to steal my parents' money. Additionally, I will give you some related information on the unscrupulous practice known as mortgage servicing fraud.

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The vicious Home Rental Scam – don’t get conned.

Posted January 5, 2009 - 11:17 by Paul Michael

Real Estate and Housing, Consumer Affairs

House Trap

It seems like new variations of the Nigerian 419 scam pop up every week. The one that caught my attention recently involved renting a home, and it’s a nasty trick that could take anyone by surprise. But if you know what to look for, you can avoid it.

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Debit Cards vs. Credit Cards: Fees and Fraud Protection

Posted December 23, 2008 - 05:33 by Will Chen

Credit Cards

visa debit card

Debit cards might be better than credit cards because in theory, you'll spend less if you are only paying with money you have. But how do debit cards stack up in terms of fees and fraud protection?

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The Jury Duty Scam – coming to a phone near you?

Posted August 14, 2008 - 13:25 by Paul Michael

Consumer Affairs

jury duty phone scam

My wife forwarded me one of those “hey everyone, don’t fall for this” emails this morning. I get one from a friend or relative at least once a week, and usually they’re well-meaning but filled with gross inaccuracies or are just completely untrue. However, when I looked to my source for all things BS, Snopes.com, I discovered this one was 100% true. It’s called the Jury Duty scam. It’s a smart, simple con that could clean you out.

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419 baiting – keeping online scammers running in circles

Posted March 3, 2008 - 12:35 by Paul Michael

Consumer Affairs

Hooked

How many of you have received an email telling you that you’ve one a lottery that you never even entered? Or, that a rich widow wants help distributing millions of dollars to the poor? Or, that YOU, and only you, can help free a fortune from a corrupt nation? Well, after years of deleting these cruddy emails I’ve discovered that there is a way to use them against the scammers.

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I Shouldn't Have to Pay for This! A Consumer's Guide to your Rights

Posted December 19, 2007 - 15:06 by Nora Dunn

Consumer Affairs

angry!

If you buy something that stops working immediately and the seller refuses to refund your money, do you still have to pay for it? If a door-to-door salesperson lures you in with their wares, only to leave you with buyer's remorse days later, can you cancel the contract? If you receive merchandise in the mail which you didn't order, and shortly thereafter receive a bill for it, do you have to pay for it?Read on for the answers to that and more...

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