If you haven’t so far this year … Get your free credit report. Go to AnnualCreditReport.com or call 1-877-FACTACT (1-877-322-8228). And tell everyone you know to stop paying for this!
55% of Americans have been scammed - Keep yourself safe online and offline
It’s my job to help people with their digital problems, and it’s sad how often that means assisting folks to sort out a scam. Or even being the one to break the news to them.
Sorry, that new girlfriend isn’t into you. She just wants your money. It happens more often than you’d think — to men and women alike.
I deal with this all the time, but this number still blew me away: 55% of Americans report being scammed. One in three were victims of identity theft. Major yikes. The more you know about this stuff, the safer you and your digital identity are.
Scammed: By the numbers
Scams aren’t just an emotional rollercoaster. They pack a financial punch, too. One out of three scam victims say they’ve lost money in the last three years. The average scam costs around $1,500.
Here’s what else the survey uncovered:
- 29% of Americans were scammed within the last year.
- Over half have had information stolen in a data breach.
Online shopping scams, credit card scams and identity theft are the most common ways to lose money. Two out of five victims said they didn’t submit reports for what happened because it wasn’t that much money.
Some were too embarrassed to tell anyone what happened. Others simply weren’t sure how to report this kind of theft. (I’ll help with that below.)
As bad as it gets
Online crooks are getting more sophisticated as we speak. But offline scams are still alive and well and just as devastating.
A Nashville woman received a call from someone pretending to be from the El Paso, Texas, Border Patrol office. They told her a package bound for her address contained narcotics and documents.
Safe Search: 3 ways Incognito mode can save you
We willingly give our most personal data so often to advertisers, Big Tech, scammers and everyone looking to make a dime off us. Want to take control back? Start with changing a few settings that make it easier for strangers and companies to pinpoint who you are in your Chrome browser.
MOVEit data breach: Is your info safe?
The companies you trust your data with aren’t the only ones who handle it. Vendors, subcontractors, advertisers and other companies are often in the mix. And when one falls down on the job, everyone is screwed.
That’s precisely what happened when bad guys took advantage of a security flaw in the super-popular MOVEit file transfer system. One estimate puts the total number of victims at 513 organizations and 34,682,156 individuals. Yes, you read that number right.
Google’s Dark Side: 5 search terms to avoid at all cost
Ever Google search for coupons or promo codes? You’ll probably waste 15 minutes putting in codes that don’t work. At worst, you’ll end up on a malware-infected site. Use these proven tricks to save money instead.
Streaming is expensive, so you might be tempted to look up free TV shows or movies. Don’t do it. There are seriously sketchy sites out there. I put together a list of ways to get free movies and shows you can trust.
Traveling soon? 5 smart tech steps to take before you hit the road
Travel now means your tickets, maps, hotel, rental car and more are all stored on your phone. But what happens if that goes missing? Here’s how to find your phone when it’s lost — even if the battery is dead.
The other big phone emergency? Your battery is dying and you have to leave for the airport. Whoops. Tap or click for smart ways to get more life out of your battery.
15 things you didn’t know you can get for free
Internet advertisers are master manipulators, and they want you to feel excited about their products when you browse the web.
They want you to feel dazzled when you look at targeted ads. These emotions inspire you to whip out your credit card and buy the cool tech gadgets and services lighting up your screen. Tap or click here for a few ways to avoid personalized ads on social media.
Why you should reconsider using buy now, pay later loans
If you have an ongoing subscription service, the easiest way to pay is to set up an autopay plan. If you’re worried about late fees and interest, autopay is one way to avoid those penalties.
While you may be tempted to spread autopayment plans around, some recurring charges are better off being paid as you go. For example, an annual fee may cost less per month than a monthly charge, but it could hit you hard when that annual payment comes due. Tap or click here for five bills you should never put on autopay.
3 surefire signs someone stole your identity
Your credit card information is valuable to scammers, but there is one thing that they desire the more: your personal information. Tap or click here to see 10 accounts more valuable to cybercriminals than your credit card.
5 warning signs you’re being targeted by an identity thief
Identity theft is scary for good reason: It’s hard to prove, tough to spot and can be devastating. And in many cases, you don’t realize anything is wrong until the damage has been done.
Watching out for warning signs you may be being targeted will bring you some peace of mind.
Part of a data breach? These are the steps to take immediately
Data breaches have become a part of life. These attacks occur every week, targeting individuals, small businesses, large corporations, governments, and the military. A data breach is a type of cyberattack where information is stolen and/or exposed. This data can include sensitive or proprietary information such as a company’s trade secrets or customer data such as credit cards.
The one thing that can impact your credit score you never thought of until now
Having good credit can open a lot of avenues for you. In most cases, you can be offered better interest rates, pay lower financial charges on credit cards, or qualify for a bigger loan. Tap or click here to check your credit report for free — and what you need to look for.
Why your score on Credit Karma seems higher than it should
Having a good credit score is something many aspire to, and it can be difficult to achieve. A good score can give you access to bank loans, credit cards with better interest rates or even more housing options.
But what happens when you get two vastly different scores from competing reporting agencies? Which is the one can you trust? Does the one company have more information on you than the others? Tap or click here to get your free annual credit report.
With just your name and a few bucks, someone can steal your benefits - here's how
Millions of Americans have had to file for unemployment over the last year, thanks to the pandemic. The toll COVID took on the economy has caused widespread joblessness and financial hardships for many, many people.
While concerning, the explosion of unemployment claims isn’t exactly surprising. Nearly every state has had to shut down businesses, schools and other mainstays at one point or another to help slow the spread of the virus. Unemployment has been extremely important in helping people who are out of work when jobs are hard to come by.
5 critical settings so hackers can’t access your bank accounts
You need to assume that your passwords aren’t strong enough. You might as well believe that someone, somewhere, is working around the clock to break into your accounts and steal your money, your identity and anything else you have. Because it’s essentially true.
Use your time at home to get 10 tech tasks done
The coronavirus pandemic has completely disrupted the way we live. Want to dine out or hit up the bar? Forget about it. Shopping at the mall? Way too risky and all the stores are closed, anyway.
Instead, most of us are making the smart choice and staying safe at home until further notice. Feeling disconnected from your friends and family? Tap or click to throw a virtual get-together.
Identity theft warning: 30 million credit card records for sale on the Dark Web
Security breaches are no fun for anyone except hackers. Data has become so valuable to advertisers and scammers alike that email addresses alone can fetch a hefty price on the shadier parts of the web.
It happens like clockwork: A flaw is discovered in a popular website or platform. Hackers undermine the system and infiltrate it. Then, the stolen data makes its way to a Dark Web marketplace, where anyone with bitcoin can have a go at your info. Tap or click here to see how 21 million stolen logins were sold this way.
Check your credit report for free - and what you need to look for
Do you know the difference between 570 and 780? Yes, they’re 210 digits apart, but these aren’t just numbers; they’re examples of bad and good credit scores, respectively.
While some may not give their credit scores a second thought, others live by them — literally. These consumers are the ones who recognize how difficult life can be with bad credit. In addition to facing high-interest rates, people with poor credit often struggle to get approved for home or vehicle loans.
How to shop for a house, in 3 steps with 6 online tools
Buying a house can be complicated. There are just so many things to check off the list before the process is complete and you’re finally in your cozy new home.
The good news is that you can alleviate part of the stress by doing some of the legwork ahead of time. There are tons of resources online that you can use to get a nice head start.