Scams: Current Scams, Frauds and Scammers

If you are searching on the internet for scams online and what are the current scams and scammers then you’ve come to the right post. In this post, we will tell you how to avoid these scammers, how you have to be alert about them, and how you can know if a person is a scammer. Read this post completely and get complete information because you know that Half incomplete knowledge is very dangerous.

Scams – Current Scams and Scammers 

A huge irony exists in the marketplace. The more honest Americans there are

struggling with poor credit due to divorce, bankruptcy, medical crisis, or other

life-changing events, the more responsible individuals there are who sincerely

want to work out their credit issues with integrity and resolve, the more blatant

and outrageously fraudulent the scam artists have become in targeting the

vulnerable. And the all too frequent result is that a genuine intent to improve

one’s credit standing is crushed by an unethical operator who only worsens your

credit.

 

How can you avoid being a target for fraud?

First, by reading this chapter and understanding the patterns and come-ons of

the scams. The scamsters prey on your fears and vulnerabilities. You need to ask

yourself: Am I being manipulated? It is not hard to do. Step back from the come-

on and rationally analyze whether it was presented in a way that used your fears

to manipulate your decision. Try to see through the come-on. Use your critical

thinking skills.

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current scams and Scammer, scams online

A second way to avoid being a target is to not jump for offers that sound too

good to be true. As we all know, what sounds too good probably isn’t. The

problem is we like the sound of it – “All your credit problems resolved for

$199!” or “Guaranteed Credit No Matter What!” The problem’s cure has got to

be pure cynicism. Don’t believe a word of any of it until you completely verify

and thoroughly check out the problem. And then still be cynical.

After all, if all of us could have our credit problems resolved for only $199

there would be no need to read this post. Heck, there would be no need to even

write this post!

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current scams and Scammer, scams online

But we’re reading and writing because there are no panaceas, there are no

simple cures. Credit problems can be overcome when dealt with in a realistic and

systematic manner. They are rarely if ever, cured by paying a third party

offering the illusory promise of instant redemption.

The Attorney General in each state deals with credit issues. Assistant attorneys in each state’s department work to protect citizens from a myriad of

credit repair scams. It is not an easy job.

Most U.S. states require that credit repair companies register and post a bond

with the state’s Consumer Affairs Division. Under the state, law companies may not

require the payment of monies in advance of services. And yet such protections

are no guarantee. Jo Ann Gibbs, a deputy attorney general for consumer fraud in

Las Vegas, Nevada, recounted the case of a credit repair company with a history

of legitimate operations. Unfortunately, the company’s owner developed a severe

gambling addiction and began embezzling the client’s money. The fraud was not

detected for some time. When it finally was the consumers were in much worse

shape, with even greater debts and late charges now due, than they were before

they signed up with the company.

The Nevada Attorney General’s office, for example, has investigated a

number of companies offering credit repair services for a fee of between $250

and $500. These services only made matters worse for the unsuspecting

consumer. The companies would send out a letter to each of the three credit

bureaus simply stating that “the debts were not mine” or using only the word

“fraud.”

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current scams and Scammer, scams online

The statements were not only incomplete but usually false. Worse yet, by

notifying the credit reporting agencies that these consumers may be fraud

victims, their accounts are flagged for review and greater security. Those

consumers must provide additional information and verification when applying

for future credit, and may have more difficulty obtaining credit due to the

fraudulent activity reported on their accounts.

Another scam that the Nevada Attorney General’s office has investigated

involves a credit card come-on for people with bad credit. For a significant

amount of money, usually between $299 and $399 (which is directly withdrawn

from the consumer’s bank account), the scamsters promise a credit card.

However, instead of being sent a real credit card, the consumer receives a flimsy

pamphlet on credit and an application for a Visa or MasterCard. The consumer is

instructed to return the application not to Visa or MasterCard but to the

company. The scamsters promise a refund if the consumer’s application is

rejected for credit three times. This promise is empty and illusory since the

application is never actually submitted. Consumer follow-up calls are ignored.

The bad guys have already banked the money, closed shop, and moved on to bilk

more victims.

Allowing the direct withdrawal of monies from your bank account presents its own problems…

Read More for more information: Good Money Habits: How to Develop Good Money Habits

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current scams and Scammer, scams online

Gone Before You Know It – current scams online and Scammer

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current scams and Scammer, scams online

Jim was sitting on the couch beaming and fuming. He was beaming over the fact

that he had scored two powerful goals that afternoon at the company soccer

game. A few of his more attractive coworkers at the annual picnic were eyeing

him favorably for the two unassisted goals he slammed into the back corner of

the net. He felt good about that.

He was fuming because he felt worthless. He had fired those goals due to his

anger at his financial condition. It seemed like he could never get ahead. Just

when everything seemed to be getting better he was doubled up and back on the

sidelines.

The latest setback involved his mother and her health. Jim’s father had

passed away five years ago and hadn’t left his mother in the best financial

situation. Jim knew his father had intended to do so but there was always another

car or vacation or time-share deal to distract him.

Jim’s mother had recently had major surgery. She was fine physically but

financially the procedure put quite a burden on her. Not wanting her to worry,

Jim had taken over the payments. This not only delayed Jim from saving for a

house but it severely crimped his monthly budget. He was single and getting

older by the day. He wanted to have a family but didn’t want to raise children

under a financial cloud. And he wasn’t getting any nearer to his goal. He had

been late on a few bills lately, which greatly bothered him.

Jim figured if he could temporarily get some extra credit all would be fine.

And then the phone rang.

The caller asked if Jim would like to qualify for a major credit card. When

Jim said he didn’t have the best credit the caller said he needn’t worry. The card

they offered was available regardless of past credit problems.

When Jim indicated interest the caller promptly asked if he had a

checking account. Jim said he did and the caller responded that then they could

proceed.

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current scams and Scammer, scams online

The offer sounded too good to be true. The credit card would allow him

some breathing room so he could pay his monthly bills and his mother’s medical

bills. He felt reasonably positive about getting a raise at work and felt that he

could handle the extra payments over the next year.

The caller then asked for the information necessary to obtain the new credit card.

As Jim answered all the questions the caller asked for him to get one of his checks and to read off all the numbers at the bottom. When Jim asked why this

information was needed the caller said it was necessary to help ensure that Jim

qualified for this outstanding offer. Jim gave out all the requested information

and the caller congratulated him on improving his credit.

Jim hung up the phone and went back to thinking about the coworkers

eyeing him that day. If he owned his own place they’d like him even more.

Wickedly placed goals were great but home was an even better goal.

After several weeks Jim wondered what happened to the credit card deal.

They were supposed to send him the card within two weeks and he hadn’t

received anything. He didn’t have a number for the company and realized he’d

have to wait a while longer.

Two months later Jim received a notice that his checking account was

seriously overdrawn. He couldn’t understand why. He hadn’t spent money on

anything but the basics and his mother’s medical bills. How could he be

overdrawn?

Read More for more information: Good Credit Score: How Much Is a Credit Score Worth?

He called the bank to find out what was wrong. The customer service

representative indicated that recently a demand draft had been presented for

$150 a week.

Jim said he didn’t know what a demand draft was and asked for an

explanation. The representative informed him that the demand draft had his

name, account information, and amount on it. Unlike a regular check, it didn’t

require a signature. A total of $750 had been paid to this company. Didn’t he

know about it?

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current scams and Scammer, scams online

Jim became angry and wanted to know why the bank would allow someone

to pull that much money out of his account without his permission.

The representative politely informed him that they didn’t do that and that by

submitting the draft with all of his correct information someone did have his

permission. Jim grew angrier and said he had not given any permission to steal

money from his account. The representative was calm. She had been through this

before. She asked if Jim had given out his checking account information over the

phone to anyone.

Jim then remembered the credit card solicitation call. He was curious at the

time why the checking account numbers were needed. Now he knew why.

The bank representative was very helpful. She arranged to prevent any

further debiting. She gave him the number of their state’s Attorney General so he

could report the fraud and, perhaps, get his money back if the criminals were

ever caught. And she confirmed what Jim now knew: Never give out your bank information over the phone.

The automatic debit scam is alive and well in the country. Unscrupulous

telemarketers prey on unsuspecting consumers like Jim every day. The promises

range from credit cards for those with bad credit to valuable prizes for a select

group of winners. All that is needed is some basic information, which during the

happy gathering period includes confidential checking account information.

A tell-tale sign of the scam is when the telemarketer asks in the first minute

of the call if you have a checking account. If you don’t they will move on to the

next potential victim. If you do, they will sell you the sweetest offer to get your

information so they can start submitting demand drafts without your signature

and raid your account.

Are demand drafts themselves illegal? No. Plenty of people pay their

mortgages or their car payments through automatic debiting of their checking

account. From a convenience standpoint at the very least it saves a stamp.

But even if you are sure you are working with a reputable company you will

want to be careful. Once they have your checking account information, it can be

very difficult to cancel the automatic withdrawals. The law allows telemarketers

to obtain your authorization to tap your checking account over the phone by

obtaining your tape-recorded permission. Do not allow this to happen. Even

though the law permits it there is too much room for trickery.

Insist that all permission only be granted in writing and through the mail.

Insist that the necessary forms be sent to you. Read them carefully and

understand the transaction before you send them back.

And remember to never, ever give out your checking account information

over the phone.

Read More for more information: Free Credit Report Your Lifelong Report Card

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Starting Over – current scams online and Scammer

 

Another scam that separates you from your money is as follows:

Gwen and Horace lead interesting life. Gwen had been born and raised in

Rhyl is a small Welsh seaport and vacation spot thirty miles west of Liverpool.

Her family knew George Harrison’s family when she was growing up and she

eventually became friends with all of the Beatles as they were starting out in the

small clubs around Liverpool.

Gwen had a mind for numbers. In school, she could figure out all of the math

problems in less than an instant. As she grew older she could spot mathematic

patterns and inconsistencies with amazing alacrity. Her school counselor wanted

her to go into science, mathematics, or perhaps chartered accounting. But the family needed her in their peewee golf fish and chips enterprise. Naturally,

Gwen became the bookkeeper.

Gwen kept up with George and the Beatles as they became worldwide

sensations. She’d see them in Liverpool or in Rhyl now and then and was happy

for their success. As their band became a business to deal with and their music

became an asset to account for the Fab Four complained about the need to keep

track of everything. George knew that Gwen had a mind for numbers and asked

if she’d come to London to help with the books. Her family realized it was a

great opportunity and so Gwen moved to London and started working for the

Beatles’ Apple Corp. tracking all of the royalty payments.

Royalty statements from publishing and media companies were in the form

of hieroglyphics masking misstatements and misrepresentations. They were

intentionally vague and difficult to decipher. Ringo wouldn’t even look at one.

But Gwen learned how to read them and how to challenge them and along the

way recovered millions and millions of dollars the band would have otherwise

lost. John called her the fifth Beatle.

Gwen met Horace in London during a particularly nasty fight over book

royalties. Horace was an American living in England and he represented a larger

American publishing house. They published several Beatles books with great

success. The royalties to the band didn’t reflect that success. As Gwen tore into

their statements Horace became attracted. He had never met such a woman.

They married soon after.

Gwen and Horace settled outside of London. Their respective jobs were

challenging and enjoyable and the years passed by quickly. Then one day the

two of them realized that they had worked hard enough and it was time to retire.

Horace was tired of the grey dampness of England and wanted to move to the

sunny climes of Florida. Gwen was game. The two traveled to Tampa to

investigate.

A house was located in a nice retirement community. A problem arose as

they arranged to purchase it.

Neither Gwen nor Horace had any current established American credit. The

banks and the credit bureaus didn’t know who they were. While they had

excellent credit in England it didn’t travel with them to the United States. They

couldn’t finance the house.

Gwen made an executive decision. They would sell their house in England

and buy the house in Florida with all cash. They would worry about establishing

credit later. Horace agreed, the sellers agreed and so it happened. As they settled into their new house in Florida, Gwen set out to establish

credit. She opened a bank account and asked for a credit card. The bank

indicated that she had no credit history and would have to start with a debit card,

which would not provide a credit reference. Gwen left in a huff. Two other banks

said the same thing. Gwen was not pleased.

Later that day she saw a newspaper advertisement for a platinum credit card.

The ad promised that participation in the program would lead to a Visa or

MasterCard credit card, better credit reports, and many other financial benefits.

The platinum card cost $99, which given Gwen’s frustration level, seemed

reasonable to pay. The operator suggested they could automatically debt Gwen’s

checking account. Gwen didn’t like that idea and said she would send a check.

In another week the card arrived and Gwen sensed something was wrong.

Her bookkeeping and royalty statement/misstatement antenna was up. The

platinum card she paid $99 for only allowed her to make credit purchases from a

general merchandise catalog. Plus, the merchandise in the catalog was almost

double the price of what a regular discount store charged. If this card was

platinum, Gwen fumed, then alchemy existed.

The materials also described how they obtained credit for you. For another

$299 a credit card could be obtained. A deposit of $2,000 was required and with

that, you could charge up to $1,000. The more expensive card was a secured card

that only allowed the cardholder to access 50% of the deposit. To get a larger

credit line, more money had to be deposited. This wasn’t a credit card program,

Gwen decided it was a credit card scam.

Now very angry, Gwen called the number listed to complain. It had a 900

prefix, which Gwen assumed was akin to a toll-free 800 line. The line was

answered by a recording that indicated that due to call volume she would be

on hold for a few minutes. She then heard softened Beatles elevator music,

which made Gwen fume even more: Royalties probably weren’t being paid.

After an interminable set of songs, Gwen finally got a live operator. She

demanded to know if this service was a scam. The operator answered her every

question with a question, further frustrating Gwen. After a long and circuitous

conversation, Gwen was able to cancel the service.

On her next phone bill, Gwen learned the meaning of a 900 number. She was

billed $3.50 a minute for the deliberately elongated 45-minute call. It cost her

$157.50 to cancel the platinum card scam service.

Gwen learned the hard way that there was no quick and easy way to establish

credit in America. She realized that she would have to establish credit with a variety of local and national credit providers, who over time would help her

establish a decent credit profile.

Read More for more information: CAR Loan: How To Take A Car Loan (Process, Troubles)

Of course, having an established and readily available credit profile still

won’t protect you from the myriad of scams out there.

In interviewing the Nevada Attorney General’s office for this post, I learned

of another common credit scheme: The yo-yo auto loan. Coincidentally, Kristy

in our office had been subjected to this “legal” scam only two weeks earlier.

Kristy had always wanted to own a new car. She and her husband Edwin had

decided the time was right and began shopping around. On a Saturday they

found a great deal on an SUV with low 6% financing. The car dealer said there

would be no problem obtaining the loan. “Drive the car home,” he said, “your

credit is fine.” Then on Tuesday, the dealer called back with bad news. Their

credit wasn’t good enough to qualify for the 6% rate. Instead, the best he could

do was a 14% rate.

Kristy and Edwin were very upset. They had already driven the new car over

400 miles. The dealer cheerfully informed them they could return the car if they

wanted. But did they really want to? Edwin demanded to know how they could

sign a contract with credit issues included and then back out of the deal. The

dealer pleasantly noted that the contract allowed the dealer to rescind the

transaction within 15 days if the right credit wasn’t arranged. As a favor to them,

when the 6% financing fell through, he went and found the 14% financing.

For Kristy, the ploy was pure manipulation. The car was already hers. It

handled well and was fun to drive. The last thing she wanted to do was turn it

back in. She and Edwin grudgingly accepted the new higher financing.

Neil Lombardo served with the Nevada Attorney General’s office in Carson

City and dealt with yo-yo auto loan schemes. Lombardo explained that the

the scheme is “legal” since the contract allows the dealer to terminate for a failure to

find acceptable credit, and state law does not prohibit such transactions.

Interestingly, while the dealer can terminate within 15 days under state law, the

buyer cannot.

Lombardo noted that while most consumers will reluctantly accept the new

financing, a few have been angry enough to take the car back. Tellingly (and not

surprisingly) the next day dealers called these consumers back to say they

have miraculously arranged for the original lower financing that was sought. The

car is theirs.

To avoid the yo-yo auto loan scam, be sure to line up auto financing with

your bank or credit union before you go shopping for a new car. If for some reason you are faced with this scam, report the dealers to your state’s Consumer

Affairs Division.

Read More for more information: Credit Repair: What is Credit Repair and how it works?

Identity Theft

 

Just as there are many organized groups – from nationally advertised credit card

scamsters to unscrupulous local car dealers – systematically taking advantage of

consumers, there are individuals at work trying to steal your very identity and

the good credit that comes with it.

Identity theft is a very personal scam. And it can arise from the people close

to you.

Jeffrey had a drug problem. He tried not to let anyone around him become

aware of it. But he was addicted to cocaine and his very close friends and family

members all knew it. They couldn’t ignore the very obvious signs, the hollowed-out cheeks and eyes, the slight twitch in his hands, and the ever-constant

sniffling.

Jeffrey was a big man used to getting his way. He was the oldest of three

brothers and knew how to bully his way forward. He had used cocaine

recreationally with friends in college. All had agreed in those days that it was a

good social drug, and there were plenty of women attracted to Jeffery because he

carried a party night’s worth of cocaine. Jeffrey felt alive on cocaine. Always a

talker, he had a heightened sense of communicative ability while he was on the drug

But Jeffrey’s friends had moved on. They had all felt the negative effects of

the misnamed ‘good drug’. They were seeing the wreckage cocaine inflicted

upon their friends. They were seeing lives wasted away.

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Jeffrey was in too deep. He couldn’t pull back and found himself in a

the downward spiral of needing even more money for his terrible habit and

becoming ever less employable for his terrible habit.

No one ever confronted Jeffrey. He was always used to getting his way and

talking his way out of any spot. His family was unprepared to deal with such a

problem, and could only hope that he would pull out of it. His friends, tired of

being hit up for money that was never repaid, tended to drift away. Jeffrey was

becoming more and more isolated at a time he needed the most help.

Jeffery’s most recent job was an insurance claim representative. He could

talk to people on the phone. His customers never knew he had a problem. They

never saw him in person, and never spoke to him long enough to know the sad

truth about Jeffrey. But Jeffrey’s coworkers soon found out.

The claim representative job didn’t quite pay Jeffrey enough. He had an

expensive cocaine habit that came before rent, food, or any of the other lesser

necessities. He needed to make ends meet.

Jeffrey learned that many of the claims reps did personal business on their

computers at work. Some did stock trading for their own brokerage accounts

while the stock market was open during business hours. A few of the traders

were always joking with each other in the break room over their latest hits and

misses.

Jeffrey stayed late one day after work. He was in desperate need of money

for another few ounces of cocaine. He rationalized that the traders were cheating

the company out of work time by doing such personal business. He was justified

in his next step. When everyone was gone Jeffrey got onto one of the claim rep’s

computers. It was very easy to get into the brokerage account. It was one click

away from their favorites page. The computer was set to remember personal

passwords automatically. He worked quickly on the first machine and then

rapidly moved to the next cubicle. In less than ten minutes Jeffrey was armed

with the sensitive brokerage information for three of his coworkers’ accounts. He

immediately went home and went to work on his home computer. Within an hour

Jeffery was able to cash out the brokerage accounts from the comfort of his

home. He was flying high on excellent cocaine before any of his coworkers

knew what hit them.

Jeffrey liked the ease of this type of fundraising. Like the tens of thousands

of other addicts, low lives, and assorted black hearts, Jeffrey became an “IDBG”,

an identity bad guy, and started looking for other opportunities. On one of the

few occasions he was invited to a family function he was parking in front of his

uncle’s modest house as the mail was being delivered. Being the thoughtful

nephew, he carried the mail into the house. Then he noticed that his uncle had

received a box of new checks in the mail from the bank. Jeffrey sensed a fundraising opportunity and without anyone noticing threw the box of checks into the

trunk of his car.

Read More for more information: How CREDIT System Works in Banking | Finance?

After the family gathering, Jeffrey set about satisfying his habit. Through a

friend of his drug dealer, he had been introduced to a man who manufactured

false identification cards. It was a booming market with all the IDBGs getting

into the business. It was extremely easy for Jeffrey to have an ID made featuring

the uncle’s information combined with Jeffrey’s photo. With the fake ID and the

real checks, Jeffrey was able to drain his uncle’s account by writing checks for cash at a nearby Indian casino.

The sudden loss of money from his checking account caused Jeffrey’s uncle

a severe amount of financial strain. He almost lost his house to foreclosure and

was assessed with a massive amount of late fees on the multitude of bounced

checks. The family was furious. By the handwriting on the checks, they knew it

was Jeffrey’s work.

It was at this point that the family finally confronted Jeffrey’s drug problem.

They weren’t going to spend a lot of money on a fancy addiction clinic for

Jeffrey. They did it old school. Using chloroform to knock him out, Jeffrey’s two

younger brothers transported him to one of their basements. He was handcuffed

to a leash from the wall where he could access a bed and a toilet. His cocaine

withdrawal was not pretty or pleasant. But after what he had done to his uncle,

no one cared about the deserving pain he went through.

When it was over Jeffrey was clean. For how long no one knew.

Identity theft is often called the fastest-growing crime in America. There’s a

good chance that you or someone you love will have your personal information

compromised, and possibly used to apply for credit or even medical benefits

under your name. Even more frightening: Children and students at college are

falling victim at an increasing rate. In the case of children, family members who

have bad credit may use their children’s information to get credit or utility

services. If the bills aren’t paid on time, however, the child pays the price with

bad credit. In the case of college students, the fact that they are often living with

roommates and moving frequently makes it very easy for someone else to

assume their information and get credit cards or other types of credit.

Most identity theft victims find out about it in a negative manner. For

example, they apply for credit and are turned down based on negative

information in their credit files. Or they receive a call from a debt collector about

a bill about which they know nothing.

Given the enormity of the problem, it is important for everyone to know how

to avoid becoming a victim of identity theft. The following eleven tips may keep

you from becoming the next statistic.

1. Jealously guard your Social Security Number. This one number can give

the wrong person the keys to your castle. Avoid giving it out over the

phone. Know that California has a state law that prohibits many

businesses from requiring your Social Security Number. If the national

company wants your number tell them they are violating California law

(even if you live in Texas). Do not carry your social security card with you. Keep it in a safe deposit box or another secure place.

2. Sign your credit cards as soon as you receive them. It is harder for a

criminal to obtain merchandise when your signature is on the card. It is

easy for an IDBG to sign your card, get the necessary backup

identification, and have a field day with your credit and your identity.

3. Even if you are the most forgetful person on earth do not attach your

Social Security Number or personal identification number (PIN) to any

card you carry with you. In fact, it would be best if you forgot to do that

altogether. If you lose that card or it is stolen having those numbers

attached will make life easy for an IDBG, and make your life miserable

for a while, or even longer.

4. Similarly, don’t write your PIN or social on an invoice or receipt that may

be thrown away. You’d be surprised at who is rifling through the trash:

Some trashy people.

5. Check your receipts to make sure you received yours and not someone

else’s information. The “someone else” may misuse what they just

received.

6. Don’t give out any confidential information or account numbers to anyone

unless you are certain that they are worthy of it. And even then think twice

about giving it out. As our cases have illustrated there are many innocent-sounding requests made of you by people who were the last innocent in grade

school.

7. Put difficult and unique passwords on your bank accounts, credit cards, and

personal accounts. Don’t use standard, predictable, and easy-to-obtain

information like a mother’s maiden name or birth date as a password.

Please do not use “1,2,3,4,” which series of numbers account for a

a staggeringly large number of passwords.

Consider instead using cool and obscure Australian place names such as

Yarrawonga, Mullumbimby or Wagga Wagga. Get out of the atlas and have

some fun. (If the IDBG after you is an all-knowing aborigine your luck

may have already run out.)

8. Be careful on the road. Business travelers are especially vulnerable to

identity theft because they rely on electronic devices that can be easily lost

or hacked. And wireless networks at hotels and airports are feeding

grounds for sophisticated hackers.

9. If you don’t receive your regular statements in the mail contact the creditor immediately. Someone may be stealing your mail. As well, if your mail is

not dropped through a slot into your house but rather left outside in an

the exposed mailbox you may want to reconsider where you receive your

mail. An option is to have creditor statements and confidential mailings

directed to a secure mail receiving service.

10. Check your credit report on a regular basis for signs of improper account

activity, new and unknown account openings, and other warning signs. Be

proactive in protecting your credit and your identity.

11. Buy a shredder. Then use it.

By taking these steps you will reduce your chances of becoming the next

identity theft victim. Nevertheless, for all your proactive steps, it still may

happen and you need to know what to do.

The Federal Trade Commission has been actively involved in the problem

of identity theft. The FTC suggests promptly taking the following three steps:

1. Notify the fraud departments at Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax that

you are an identity theft victim. You can either “freeze” your credit –

which prevents your information from being used unless the file is

“unfrozen” with a PIN, or request that a ‘fraud alert’ be placed in your file

which alerts creditors to be extra careful before extending credit. If you

know you are a victim of fraud, a freeze is appropriate. If you are simply

worried because your wallet has gone missing, a fraud alert may be the

next appropriate step.

2. Call all your creditors, including utilities, the phone company, credit card

companies, and the like, and ask to speak to a representative in the fraud

(or security) department. Find out if any existing accounts have been

tampered with or if any new accounts have been improperly opened. Close

any account that has been tampered with and then open a new account

with a unique Australian place named password.

3. File a police report in your hometown and, if applicable, in the city where

the identity theft occurred. While we all know how useful filing a police

report can be (“Oh, I see this isn’t a drug case. We’ll get back to you.”) in

one civil case out of a thousand the local authorities actually do

something. You might be the lucky one. Plus, creditors may require the

report if you report unauthorized use of your accounts or information.

4. Monitor your credit reports for unusual activity. This is an example of a situation where paying for a credit monitoring service that monitors your

information with all three of the major credit reporting agencies would be

worth it.

As mentioned, the FTC is very interested in this large and growing problem.

They maintain a special Identity Theft Hotline at 1-877-IDTHEFT (1-877-438-

4338). You can also file a complaint online at consumer.gov/idtheft. You’ll find

more helpful ID theft prevention information at IdentityTheft911.com.

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current scams and Scammer, scams online

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