"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."Napoleon Bonaparte
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5 Reasons Why You Should Apply For A Cash Back Credit Card
The key words "cash back" appeal to everyone, especially those who are on the lookout for more reasons to use their credit cards. It is even safe to say that this would arouse the curiosity of most people to at least find out how this concept works. In ...
How to Get a Free Credit Report Online
Have you ever wondered how bad or good your credit score is? Most people have and now they have the ability to find out. If you want quick access to your credit score, then you should get yourself a free credit report online. This is the easiest and the ...
Travel Credit Cards For Travelers
One of the best perks of using a credit card these days is earning airline miles that you can use for your next family vacation or business trip aboard. If you apply online for credit card offers, you can find a wide variety of airline miles ...
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10 Tips on AVOIDING ID THEFT AND CREDIT FRAUD
by Eve Abbott, the Organizer Extraordinaire
Excerpts from her new book, "How to Do Space Age Work with a Stone Age Brain"TM
Each year billions of dollars in credit fraud is perpetrated on unsuspecting citizens. With so much personal information publicly available (or easily available to someone with medium computing skills) it is essential to develop good habits to prevent your information from falling into criminal hands. It is possible for someone to create an entire identity (get driver's license, etc.) based on just a few pieces of information.
I know of an employee who sustained an on-the-job injury then applied for disability. He was shocked when they turned him down. According to Workmen's Compensation records he had been collecting disability for the last year and a half. Someone had gotten their hands on enough information to drain his account!
It can take years and thousands of dollars to correct an identity theft, credit fraud or a simple key entry error by a clerk at a Credit Bureau. It takes minutes for you to do these simple tips:
Destroy all pre-approved credit offers you get in the mail before you discard them. Otherwise, someone can fill out a new address and get credit in your name. Use a paper-shredder for all documents with your financial or legal information included. Sign all your credit cards with 'Please ask for photo ID' instead of your signature.
Never give out your SSN or credit card information on the phone unless you initiate the call and you know to whom you are talking. Never carry your social security number in your wallet.
You don't have to give your SSN to businesses that request it, although they do have the right to refuse service. Only government agency, and employment or tax related inquiries must be answered.
Reduce the number of pre-approved offers you get by requesting these credit bureaus remove your name from their lists: TRW (800) 353-0809, Equifax (800) 219-1251 and TransUnion (800) 241-2858.
Once a year carefully check out your free credit report from Experian (800) 682-7654 and free Social Security file (800) 772-1213. If you are denied credit based on your report, the issuing credit bureau must provide you with a free copy upon request - even if they usually charge for it.
Do not give out confidential information on e-mail or do financial transactions on the Internet unless it's secure and encoded. (Look for the SSL reference)
Check guarantee and check verification agencies must provide the same protection as credit bureaus, such as access to your report and correction of errors. If your check is refused, get the agency name.
For assistance in re-establishing good credit and correcting errors, the non-profit Consumer Credit Counseling Service may be able to help you. To find the office nearest you call
(800) 388-2227.
More free time-saving tips are available at http://www.organize.com
copyright 2005 Eve Abbott All rights reserved.
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