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Living with credit (248)
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New, interesting products (69)
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Research, regulation, industry reports (176)
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Rewards (23)
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Protecting yourself (113)
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The fine print (36)
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Credit card miscellany (280)
Protecting yourself
Consumers awaiting final approval of the court settlement that will yield free TransUnion credit monitoring can sign up for discounted credit monitoring now, care of FICO score creator Fair Isaac. They'll need to act fast, though: Fair Isaac's 25 percent discount on its credit monitoring product is only available through the end of this month.
United States banks are busy promoting products and practices that (at first glance) seem to be good for both the earth and their customers. Paperless statements, credit cards that give back to the earth and special loans for hybrid vehicles are all available. However, a recent MarketWatch article expresses skepticism as to whether these "green" initiatives are in fact smart choices for consumers.
A scary report from KIRO-TV shows how anyone can buy an RFID reader that can be plugged into a USB port of a laptop. Put a credit card within a few inches of the reader and the laptop displays the card owner's name, credit card number and expiration date -- enough data for a thief to go shopping.
It's sad, but the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is warning consumers about the potential for scam artists to solicit donations for recent tornado and flood victims. The scammers may call you pretending to work for a legitimate charitable organization, but...
After some initial difficulty this morning, I signed up for six months of free credit monitoring as part of the class action settlement with credit bureau TransUnion.
It’s an obvious fact that debt puts a strain on your finances, but what wasn’t known until recently is that it can also put a major strain on your health. A new AP-AOL poll reveals that the more debt you have, the likelier you are to have chronic medical problems.
Social Security recipients now have the option of accepting payments via a debit MasterCard instead of paper checks, which increases safety and lowers fees for the unbanked.
The strong link between identity theft and methamphetamine use is unsettling. I explore why the two crimes are so interconnected.
Jocelyn Kirsch, the "Bonnie" of identity theft, has stolen a credit card while waiting to strike a plea deal for several other identity theft and fraud charges. Some things never change.
Millions of consumers will soon be eligible for free credit monitoring for nine months as the result of a class action lawsuit tentative settlement announced today.
Several tools and laws are set up to provide soldiers with identity and credit protection while they are deployed abroad.
In its biggest sweep ever targeting telemarketing fraud, the FTC announced "Operation Tele-PHONEY," a partnership with more than 30 international, federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. According to a Web cast and press release issued today, the FTC has filed federal district court complaints against "13 allegedly deceptive telemarketing operations." The FTC estimates that the law enforcement actions will save consumers around $30 million over the next year.
As identity theft becomes increasingly common, businesses are creating multitudes of solutions to safeguard consumers' personal and financial information. Some seem to offer false promises, while others are failing to catch on. Fortunately, a new identity theft protection system truly shows promise.
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!
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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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