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Living with credit (95)
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New, interesting products (35)
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Research, regulation, industry reports (95)
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Rewards (10)
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Protecting yourself (45)
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The fine print (14)
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Credit card miscellany (78)
Protecting yourself
Cybercrime is a booming business, and now there's a new generation of carders on the prowl that operate far below the public radar, launching "full-fledged online bazaars full of stolen personal and financial information."
Student loan giant Sallie Mae appears to have spoken too soon when it said a credit reporting issue that impacted about 1 million student loan borrowers had been resolved. Yes, they fixed the problem that made it look like students were deadbeats. But some borrowers are now reporting that in doing so, it replaced one problem with another, making it look like borrowers have twice as much debt.
Sallie Mae last night resolved a coding error that caused around 1 million student loan borrowers to find that their FICO scores had suddenly plunged over one hundred points.
The first of a series of posts showing why it's hard to stop credit card and identity theft cybercrimes. Part one tells the story of a wildly successful international credit card fraud ring and its flamboyant alleged leader.
When you comparison shop for credit cards, go beyond looking at teaser rates and rewards, and include looking at default rates. Because, sometimes, when you least expect it, Paula happens.
PCI standards exist to keep credit card transactions and data safe. While some merchants are not yet PCI compliant, it turns out that even those who are may not have enough safeguards to ward off data breaches. Many retailers are beginning to go above and beyond the industry standards to further protect their customers' data.
It's no secret that identity theft is becoming an increasingly common crime. What's changing the game, however, his how people are committing the crimes. Criminals are constantly developing new schemes, and it's important to stay aware of them to prevent becoming a victim. Here are two recent identity theft crimes worth highlighting.
Credit card customer service representatives are there to help you, but they're also there to sell you on extra products and services that you don't really need. Learn to recognize when you're being pushed by a salesman, and say no until you've done your research.
You've probably seen a redbox, that large DVD rental machine, at your local McDonalds or Wal-Mart. Perhaps you regularly rent movies from one of the 7,400 machines across the country. An American Banker newsletter just put word out that the redbox company has fallen victim to a skim scam. Because of this, some redbox customers may find themselves identity theft victims.
The personal finance blogosphere is bursting with excellent and useful information. I've culled seven of the best credit-related posts from the last week or so and present them below for your reading pleasure.
It's bad enough when someone steals your credit card number and buys a big screen TV or applies for additional credit cards. What's worse is when someone commits crime in your name -- especially when it involves child pornography. BBC reports that Simon Bunce, a British man with a six-figure salary and respectable home life, was falsely branded a pedophile after his credit card information was stolen.
Does he or she carry a wallet full of credit cards or doesn't have any at all? Do they race to the mailbox to keep you from seeing the credit card bills? It may be time to have a heart to heart about managing credit.
A few months ago I wrote an article about the crackdown on online gambling, and the burden being placed on credit card issuers to police illegal transactions. Now, some are hoping credit card companies will do the same for online prescription drug purchases.
The United Kingdom has instituted a new program using biometric technology in identity cards as a means of fighting illegal immigration, terrorism, benefits fraud and identity theft. Imagine if this type of technology was used for credit cards.
Multi-state spring break trip triggers credit card fraud alert, but they were legitimate gas purchases!
Watch out, credit card users: A new scam has been reported. It's not uncommon for unusual charges to appear on one's credit statement -- identity theft happens all the time. What's not common is for many people to have the same mysterious charge.
Spring break is a prime time for scam artists to prey on young adults looking for a good time. Read these tips to learn how to protect yourself and your credit card when making travel plans.
Identity theft is incredibly prevalent -- the FTC recently estimated that there are 8.3 million identity theft victims in America each year -- but even with all the press it gets, a new survey reveals that consumers aren't doing everything they can to fight it.
Tax season is the jackpot for identity thieves. Millions of documents containing personal and financial information linger in mailboxes and float about the Internet. The FTC has just released a warning to consumers about two tax-time schemes to be aware of.
Most people who visit Disney resorts come away with pleasant memories and fulfilled dreams. Sadly, some recent visitors experienced something less magical: financial losses to the tune of $11,000.
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Your credit can turn against you in cases of identity theft, frauds or scams. This is where to keep up with the latest tricks and survival tips to keep credit cards safe and credit history spotless.
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