June 13, 2012 in Fraud & Scams, Living, Money, Safety
Tommy and Susie aren’t the only ones who love Grandmom and Grandpop. Identity thieves love seniors too. Identity theft among Americans 50 and older is rising, according to the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Statistics. In 2010, more than 3.5 million households headed by people 50 and older experienced identity theft, according to ...
April 20, 2012 in Financial Services, Fraud & Scams, Money, Money Tips, Taxes
Disaster preparedness has become more common as a result of the increasing number of floods, tornadoes, wildfires and hurricanes in recent years. According to FEMA’s website, there were 99 major disasters declared in 2011 alone. One area of disaster planning too often minimized or overlooked is financial data. “Saving and protecting your financial information can ...
April 14, 2012 in Driving, Fraud & Scams, Living, Money, Money Tips, Transportation
The test drive is an important part of car shopping. Taking a car for a spin before you buy it is a great way to get to know the vehicle – whether it has any mechanical problems or if it fits your personal style. But a growing number of car buyers are finding great deals ...
April 12, 2011 in Featured, Fraud & Scams
If someone you don’t know wants to pay you by check but wants you to wire some of the money back, beware! It’s a scam that could cost you thousands of dollars. There are many variations of the fake check scam. It could start with someone offering to buy something you advertised, pay you to ...
September 1, 2010 in Fraud & Scams, Privacy & Security
If you don’t use credit and never go online, you don’t have to worry about identity theft, right? Many seniors may feel that philosophy applies to them – and they couldn’t be more wrong. The very qualities that make some seniors feel safe – a tendency to not use credit much, operating on a cash ...
August 24, 2010 in Fraud & Scams, Privacy & Security
All across America, the fastest-growing white-collar crime has been identified as “identity theft.” It affects individuals and employers alike in insidious ways.Nearly 30 million cases in the last five years, 9.9 million last year alone; almost everyone knows someone who has been a victim. But there’s still the attitude that somehow it always happens to ...
April 29, 2010 in Fraud & Scams, Insurance
Anyone who feels driven to submit a fraudulent auto insurance claim should think twice before committing such a crime. Today’s well-trained insurance investigators know that roughly 10 percent of all claims are fraudulent, so they’re extremely vigilant. They’re also equipped with sophisticated software programs that send out red flags when claims look suspicious, and they ...
September 16, 2009 in Fraud & Scams, Medicare
Most doctors, pharmacists, plans, and other health care providers who work with Medicare are honest. Unfortunately, there a few that are dishonest. Medicare is working with other government agencies to protect you and Medicare. Medicare fraud happens when Medicare is billed for services or supplies you never got. Medicare fraud costs Medicare a lot of ...
September 4, 2009 in Fraud & Scams, Privacy & Security
The Federal Trade Commission reports that as many as 9 million Americans have their identity stolen each year. As the economy grows tighter, identity theft grows wider. What is identity theft? How do thieves steal an identity? What do they do with a stolen identity? Most importantly, what can you do to fight this rapidly ...
