Teleworking during the Coronavirus outbreak? While working from home can help slow the spread of the virus, it brings new challenges: juggling work while kids are home from school; learning new software and conferencing programs; and managing paper files at home. As you’re getting your work-at-home systems set up, here are some tips for protecting […]
Health Fraud* As COVID-19 spread, coronavirus scams spread, too, many of them plugging phony cures. The companies touting colloidol silver as a defense against the disease or selling bogus COVID-19 testing kits are part of a long and ignoble tradition of exploiting people’s health fears for profit. The federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) defines health fraud as the deceptive advertising, […]
Common Elder Fraud Schemes* Romance scam: Criminals pose as interested romantic partners on social media or dating websites to capitalize on their elderly victims’ desire to find companions. Tech support scam: Criminals pose as technology support representatives and offer to fix non-existent computer issues. The scammers gain remote access to victims’ devices and sensitive information. Grandparent scam: Criminals […]
Many college students are on the lookout for flexible, part-time employment to help cover their school expenses. Now, with the COVID-19 pandemic and many other people out of work, finding a job may be even more difficult and may create more pressure to find work quickly. If this situation describes you or a student in […]
Through the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions (FACT) Act, each of the three national credit reporting agencies (aka credit bureaus) are required to provide a free copy of your credit report once every year, by request. Review your credit report annually to: Manage debt and qualify for the best rates and terms on loans and […]
Internet pirates steal personal financial information with a new a type of Internet piracy called phishing, pronounced “fishing,” and that’s exactly what these thieves are doing: “fishing” for your personal financial information.* What they want are account numbers, passwords, Social Security numbers, and other confidential information that they can use to loot your checking account […]
