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TITLE: How Do Credit Repair Companies Work? CONTENT: How Much Does Credit Repair Cost?\n---------------------------------\nCredit repair companies generally charge one of two ways. The first is a garden-variety subscription service in which the credit repair company charges your credit card at the end of the month for services performed during the previous month. Subscriptions for credit repair generally fall somewhere between $50 and $100 per month, although there can be outliers. With the subscription fee structure, the credit repair company has a financial incentive to keep you as a paying customer as long as possible.\nThe second method of payment for credit repair is called \"pay per delete.\" With pay per delete, the credit repair company only charges you when an item on your credit report is actually deleted pursuant to their efforts. The theory with pay per delete is that it keeps the customer happy because they are only paying for tangible results, and the credit repair company stays on the right side of the CROA because they don't charge their customers until after results have occurred. END

TITLE: How Do Credit Repair Companies Work? CONTENT: Does Credit Repair Work?\n------------------------\nWhile some credit repair companies claim to have deleted millions of negative credit entries, there are no reliable statistics available regarding the effectiveness of credit repair services. There are also no statistics about credit repair's impact on their customers' average credit scores, how many of the disputes they file result in deletion, or the average price paid by a credit repair customer.\nBecause there is nothing a credit repair company can do that you can't do for yourself, it's better to ensure the accuracy of your credit reports on your own. The process is free, and has always been. Also keep in mind that accurate negative information will automatically be removed from your credit reports once it's seven to 10 years old. END

TITLE: How to Check if Something Changed on Your Credit Report CONTENT: How Often Does My Credit Report Update?\n---------------------------------------\nThe bulk of your credit reports consists of credit usage and payment information creditors furnish to the national credit bureaus (Experian, TransUnion and Equifax), typically on a monthly basis. Each lender updates the bureaus according to its own schedule: Some lenders may issue their updates at the beginning of the month, while others may wait until the end of the month. Additionally, each may update one credit bureau one day, and the others a few days later.\nDepending on the number of loans and credit card accounts you have, and how your payments and card purchases sync with the lenders' update schedules, your credit reports at each credit bureau change continually. That means it's perfectly normal that your credit reports at each bureau are not exactly the same.\nThe best approach to tracking your credit reports is to obtain a report from each credit bureau, which you can for free at AnnualCreditReport.com. Study each carefully to make sure all the information it contains is accurate. In the unlikely event you discover information you believe to be inaccurate, such as a reported late payment that you remember making on time, go back to the lender on whose account the information appears and ask them to update it. You can also file a dispute with the relevant credit bureau, supply any backup information they may request, and give them a chance to investigate and update your report if necessary.\nAfter this initial review, you should continue to check your credit regularly, focusing on the information that has changed. As new data is added between reporting periods, your credit reports maintain a true reflection of your credit activity. Credit scores calculated using those reports will give lenders an accurate picture of your ability to manage new credit in the future. END

TITLE: How to Check if Something Changed on Your Credit Report CONTENT: Check Credit Report Updates With Experian's \"See What's Changed\" Feature\n------------------------------------------------------------------------\nExperian's free credit report service provides updates on your Experian credit report every 30 days. The \"See what's changed\" function on the app makes it easy to spot new information in your report. It's a more user-friendly option than the traditional practice of comparing your current credit report to the last one you checked to identify changes in your data.\nTo view the \"See what's changed\" information for your Experian credit report, click the Reports icon at the bottom of the Experian home screen on the app. Then click the \"See what's changed\" button marked with a yellow bell icon.\nThe \"See what's changed\" feature summarizes adjustments in your overall debt level, modifications to individual accounts, the opening or closing of new loans or credit card accounts, and any new inquiries or credit checks related to new applications for loans or other credit.\n\"See what's changed\" also reports increases or reductions in your total debt levels, changes in your total credit card borrowing limit and, if applicable, the addition or removal of collections accounts, foreclosures and bankruptcy filings.\nEach entry in the \"See what's changed\" list includes a notation of whether those changes \"could help\" your overall credit, \"could harm\" your credit, or \"could help or harm\" your credit standing. Click any entry to expand it for a more detailed explanation. END

TITLE: How to Check if Something Changed on Your Credit Report CONTENT: What to Look for When You Review Your Credit Report\n---------------------------------------------------\nWhen reviewing your \"See what's changed\" information, or comparing full credit reports the old-fashioned way, it's normal to see changes in account balances and updates to your payment history. Each month you make a payment on a mortgage or auto loan, for example, a change in balance on that loan will be duly noted. Fluctuations in your credit card balances are also normal, as long as they track with your purchase and payment history. The things to look out for are changes you don't understand, such as:\n* **Credit inquiries from unfamiliar sources:** If you haven't applied for a new loan, credit card or other credit (such as in-store financing on a new cellphone or laptop), or agreed to a background check or credit screen from a landlord, unexplained credit inquiries could indicate criminals are trying to obtain credit in your name.\n* **New accounts you don't recognize:** The appearance of a new loan or credit card you didn't open is an even more serious indicator of potential fraud. It could mean a criminal has successfully borrowed money using your personal information. If so, they won't be paying back that debt, and their missed payments could harm your credit score—at least until you notify the lender and the credit bureaus of the fraud.\n* **Accounts in collection:** When a creditor gives up on trying to get repayment on a debt and sells the debt to a collection agency, that's recorded as a serious negative event in your credit report—one that can cause a significant drop in your credit scores. Sometimes collections indicate nonpayment on accounts opened fraudulently in your name. Other times they may indicate debts, such as hospital bills unpaid by insurance, which you may not have even known you incurred. In any case, following up with the collection agent may help clear up the issue.\nRoutinely checking your credit scores and credit reports is a good habit for tracking improvements in your credit standing, flagging downturns in that standing, and detecting unauthorized activity that could indicate fraud or identity theft. END

TITLE: Can a Personal Loan Hurt My Credit Score? CONTENT: When you apply for any type of credit, including a loan or credit card, the lender typically requests access to your credit report so it can assess the risk of nonpayment based on your credit history. That request for access leads to a hard inquiry on your credit report, which will remain there for up to two years. A hard inquiry can trigger your credit scores to drop slightly, but they're likely to recover within a few months to one year—and the impact will decrease with time as you continue to make on-time bill payments and show other positive credit behavior.\nA personal loan can also hurt your credit if you wind up missing even a single monthly payment. A missed payment will have a much more significant impact on your credit than the other factors, since payment history accounts for 35% of your FICO® Score☉ . Even if you're able to stay on top of your personal loan payments, though, they could stress the rest of your finances and put you at greater risk of credit score harm caused by late payments on your other accounts.\nFinally, the added debt from a personal loan contributes to the \"amounts owed\" category in FICO® Score calculations, which accounts for 30% of your FICO® Score. Merely owing money doesn't mean you're considered a risky borrower—and it won't sink your score—but high balances on credit accounts and the presence of loans with large balances left to pay off can negatively impact your credit. Additionally, while your debt-to-income ratio (DTI) isn't included in credit score calculations, a high DTI can make it difficult to qualify for certain types of loans, like mortgages, where lenders look specifically at DTI when making credit decisions. END

TITLE: Can a Personal Loan Hurt My Credit Score? CONTENT: Ways to Limit a Personal Loan's Negative Credit Impact\n------------------------------------------------------\nIf you ultimately decide that a personal loan is the right choice for your finances, there are steps you can take to limit its effect on your credit score:\n* **Apply for loans within a two-week period.** The FICO® Score algorithm will recognize that you're rate shopping, or comparing rates across multiple loans within the same category, if you submit applications within a specific time frame. That period is 14 days for older FICO® Score versions and 45 days for newer versions. To be safe, submit all loan applications within the 14-day time frame, since lenders may use an older version of the FICO® Score to assess your creditworthiness.\n* **Make all payments on time.** Paying every bill on time is essential to maintaining a strong credit score. The same is true for your new personal loan. If 100% of your personal loan payments are made on time, the loan can help future lenders see that you can be trusted to follow through on your financial obligations.\n* **Pay off the loan in full.** In addition to making on-time payments, it's important to make every payment until the load is paid off. Paying off a personal loan early won't necessarily improve your credit score, however. Once paid off, the account will be considered closed, and your score won't benefit as much from your on-time payment history as it would if the account were still open and being managed responsibly. END

TITLE: Can a Personal Loan Hurt My Credit Score? CONTENT: How a Personal Loan Could Help Your Credit\n------------------------------------------\nDespite the risks, your personal loan account may wind up helping you improve your credit. First, it adds positive payment history to your credit report, assuming you regularly pay on time. It can also add to your credit mix, especially if you previously had only credit cards and a personal loan is the first installment loan in your name. Credit scoring models reward borrowers who are able to capably oversee multiple types of credit.\nA debt consolidation loan can also help your credit. This is a type of personal loan that combines multiple debt balances into one loan, ideally at a lower interest rate. It may also reduce your credit utilization, which is an important scoring factor that compares your revolving credit balances with your credit limits. High balances can drive up your credit utilization and hurt your credit, but your credit utilization on those cards will decrease to 0% when you transition those debts to an installment loan with a debt consolidation loan. That can have a positive effect on your credit score. END

TITLE: Can a Personal Loan Hurt My Credit Score? CONTENT: Deciding on a Personal Loan\n---------------------------\nNegotiating the pros and cons of getting a personal loan for your credit is an important part of the decision-making process. You may decide that it's not the right time to add a hard inquiry to your credit report, or you may realize that the added monthly debt payment won't work with your current monthly budget.\nOnce you've decided to apply for a personal loan, choosing the right one based on interest rate, monthly payment and other features is the next step. When you start paying down a personal loan, keep in mind that it's an opportunity to pick up positive credit history, and it's in your power to make the loan work for you. If you need help finding a personal loan that works for you, Experian CreditMatch™ can pair you with personalized loan offers. END

TITLE: When Should My Child Get a Credit Card? CONTENT: When It's Smart to Get a Credit Card for a Child Under 18\n---------------------------------------------------------\nBefore you imagine the potential pitfalls of an adolescent running amok armed with your credit card account at their disposal, let's take a look at the top five reasons you may want to consider letting your little one start swiping:\n1. **Credit history**: In general, most minors don't have a credit report or score yet; starting them with one now by adding them to your account can set them up for future financial opportunities. Your responsible credit usage can pave the way for better loan rates, approval for credit cards with generous rewards or even allow them to finance their first car without you cosigning.\n2. **Safety**: Credit cards offer more consumer protections than you can find with your typical debit card or cash. When it comes to purchase protection or defense against fraud, federal laws and credit card issuer policies make credit cards safer to use online and at the register.\n3. **Education**: When your kids learn to ride a bike, you can probably expect more skinned knees if they don't have you around to help them steer. Likewise, parental guidance with credit cards can help kids learn to manage credit, minimize the risk of credit damage and ward off bad habits. You can teach them the importance of paying balances on time, keeping credit utilization low and how to spend within their means. It's better that they get an early start learning about credit cards' often-steep annual percentage rates (APR) than learn the hard way how quickly debt and interest charges can build up down the road. Some issuers, like American Express, let you set lower credit limits for authorized users and track their spending so you can really stay on top of your child's charges.\n4. **Emergencies**: If your child has a cellphone, you've probably found some peace of mind knowing they can contact you in case of an emergency. With a credit card in their pocket, you can feel even more confident they won't get stranded without gas money or not have enough cash for lunch. It's wise to set rules on what exactly constitutes an emergency, and teach them to build their own emergency fund to immediately pay off any surprise expenses.\n5. **Rewards**: Though not exactly pertinent to your kids' finances, it can be a nice perk to earn extra on a rewards card via their spending. After all, your children are gaining invaluable financial education and credit history—more travel miles or cash back just makes the arrangement more valuable for you too. END

TITLE: When Should My Child Get a Credit Card? CONTENT: How to Decide if Your Child Is Ready for a Credit Card\n------------------------------------------------------\nBefore calling your credit card issuer and adding your kid to your account, determine if they're ready for the responsibility. Ask yourself these questions:\n* **Can they follow your rules?** First and foremost, you'll want to know if you can expect them to abide by the limitations you put on their credit use. Figure out a few things in advance, such as whether they'll pay the bill themselves or reimburse you for their spending, where they can use their card and what they're allowed to buy. Determine the consequences for breaking your agreement, overspending or missing a payment. If your child isn't ready to meet your requirements (or breaches them when given the opportunity), it may be wise to wait a little longer.\n* **Do they understand credit cards?** Your kids don't need to be financial geniuses to have a card with their name on it, but a basic understanding of interest rates, balances and credit limits is critical. Their past experience with cash and debit cards can be a good starting point as they adjust to being responsible with the additional spending power in their pocket. If they know how their actions can affect their credit (and yours) and why that's important, they may be ready.\n* **Is** **_your_** **credit ready?** Authorized users can benefit from the primary account holder's credit history—but they have the potential to damage your credit if spending goes unchecked. An authorized user's excessive purchases can easily overburden the cardholder's finances, which risks increasing the account's credit utilization and potentially causing payments to be missed. In either case, your credit scores could be dragged down. If you're planning on a major financial move such as buying a home, you might prefer to avoid taking a chance on credit score damage. END

TITLE: When Should My Child Get a Credit Card? CONTENT: Credit Card Age Requirements for Children\n-----------------------------------------\nSome credit card issuers have their own age restrictions for adding minors to your account, along with a few other caveats. To help, we've compiled a list of the age restrictions for the major credit card issuers:\nFor the account to affect your children's credit, the issuer must report the authorized users to one or more of the three major credit bureaus (Experian, TransUnion and Equifax). Each company on the list above reports authorized users to the credit bureaus, but some issuers have limitations. For example, American Express does not report credit for authorized users under 18. Be aware of smaller banks that may not report to all three bureaus.\nIf the restrictions on your current account don't suit your family's needs, consider applying for a new card. END

TITLE: When Should My Child Get a Credit Card? CONTENT: The Bottom Line\n---------------\nCredit cards require a great deal of responsibility, and not every child is ready for it right away. A mature tween may be in a better place to navigate a credit account than some high school seniors—or even some adults, for that matter. If you can lay the groundwork for a healthy relationship with credit early on, your kids (and their wallets) will thank you later.\nYou can also take the time to teach your kids about credit reports and credit scores, and the importance of keeping an eye on them. With free credit monitoring from Experian, you'll have access to your Experian credit report and your FICO® Score☉ 8 based on Experian data as well as a suite of tools that helps you maintain healthy credit. END

TITLE: 8 Ways to Build Credit If You’re New to the U.S. CONTENT: How Credit Works in the U.S.\n----------------------------\nCredit can influence many aspects of life in the United States. Your credit history and scores can impact your eligibility if you want to take out a loan or open a credit card, along with the fees and interest you'll pay.\nAdditionally, your credit (or lack thereof) can impact many non-lending decisions. These can include your ability to rent a home, get a job or promotion, how much you pay for insurance and whether you need to pay a deposit to open a new utility account.\nThere are several key components to the credit system in the United States:\n* **Consumer** **credit bureaus** maintain records on consumers' experience with credit accounts. The three major consumer credit bureaus are Experian, TransUnion and Equifax, and they all create consumer credit reports. Credit reports are primarily built on data the credit bureaus receive from other companies, usually lenders, and your credit reports may differ depending on whether the company sends information to one, two or all three credit bureaus.\n* **Credit scoring companies** such as FICO and VantageScore create scoring models that use the information in your credit report to calculate a credit score. Most credit scores range from 300 to 850, with higher scores meaning a lower risk in the eyes of potential lenders because it shows that you've managed credit responsibly in the past. Organizations use credit scores to quickly evaluate a person's creditworthiness. Many major financial institutions also create custom scores for their potential and current customers.\n* **Creditors**, including lenders and credit card issuers, use credit reports and scores to help them make decisions about whether to offer someone a credit card or approve a loan application. If you don't have a credit report or you have a low credit score, it can be more difficult and expensive to take out a loan or open a credit card.\nUnfortunately, even if you had credit in your home country, you may need to start over in the U.S. There are several ways to do this, including opening certain types of accounts that Americans often use to first build their credit. END

TITLE: 8 Ways to Build Credit If You’re New to the U.S. CONTENT: 8 Ways to Start Building Credit in the U.S.\n-------------------------------------------\nHere are actions that you may be able to take to establish and build credit once you arrive in the U.S.\n### 1\\. Become an Authorized User on Someone Else's Credit Card\nIf you have a friend or relative in the U.S. who has a credit card, they may be able to add you as an authorized user on their account. Once you're an authorized user, the credit card issuer might report the account to the credit bureaus under your name. Ask before getting added because some issuers might not report authorized users.\nYou may also receive a card that's tied to the account that you can use to make purchases (if the primary cardholder agrees), but you don't have to use it to build credit. Your credit report will reflect how the primary cardholder manages the account, so make sure they always pay their bill on time and maintain a low balance.\n### 2\\. Open a Secured Credit Card\nAnother option is to open a credit card on your own. Certain cards may be difficult to qualify for if you don't yet have a credit history, but you may still have options. With a secured credit card, for example, you'll send the card issuer a refundable security deposit. You may send them $200 to get a card with a $200 credit limit, for instance. You still need to make monthly payments on time to avoid hurting your credit, but the deposit limits the card issuer's risk, which is why it's easier to get approved for secured cards.\n### 3\\. Get a Credit-Builder Loan\nLenders offer credit-builder loans specifically to help people build credit. Once you're approved for the loan, the money may be set aside in a locked savings account. You then repay the loan with interest, and the lender reports your payments to the credit bureaus. When you're done repaying the loan, the savings account gets unlocked, and you'll have access to the funds.\n### 4\\. Use a Lending Circle\nAnother option is to get a no-interest loan through a community organization's lending circle. Each month, all the members make a loan payment, one member receives the full loan amount and the organization reports the loan activity to the credit bureaus. Mission Asset Fund, a nonprofit organization, facilitates lending circles and has a database you can use to search for additional options in your area.\n### 5\\. Look for Accounts That Use Alternative Underwriting Methods\nSome lenders and credit card issuers approve new accounts based on information that doesn't come from the credit bureaus. For example, with certain cards, you may be able to connect your checking account and get approved based on your banking history. (You will need to be a legal permanent U.S. resident and have a U.S. phone number and email address.) These may be good options once you establish bank accounts in the U.S.\n### 6\\. Try to Use Credit From Your Home Country\nIn some cases, you can use credit from your home country to quickly get credit in the U.S. International banks and credit card issuers, including American Express, BNP Paribas and HSBC have programs for customers moving to the U.S. If you have an established relationship with an international financial institution, see if it has any recommendations or options. Also look into Nova Credit, a U.S. company that helps people use their established credit from select countries to qualify for U.S. credit cards, loans and housing.\n### 7\\. Ask Your Employer and Local Community Banks and Credit Unions\nLarge employers may partner with financial institutions to help their foreign workers get access to banking and credit services. Ask your human resources department if any such resources exist. Also, ask local community organizations and fellow immigrants about community banks or credit unions that may have special programs.\n### 8\\. Add More Accounts to Your Credit Reports\nSome types of payments don't commonly get reported to the credit bureaus, including rent. However, you may be able to sign up for a rent reporting service and use your rent payments to establish or build your credit. You can also use the free Experian Boost™† tool to connect your bank account and add your utility, telephone and popular streaming service bill payments to your Experian credit report. END

TITLE: 8 Ways to Build Credit If You’re New to the U.S. CONTENT: Build Positive Credit\n---------------------\nAfter establishing credit in the U.S., you'll want to focus on building a positive credit history. Doing so can help you qualify for more, better and lower-cost financial products.\nBuilding good credit can take time, partially because the age of your credit history is a scoring factor. But here are a few simple practices you can follow:\n* **Pay your bills on time.** If possible, pay all your bills on time. If you miss a payment, try to bring your account current within 30 days. Falling 30 or more days behind can lead to a late payment in your credit history, which will hurt your credit scores.\n* **Don't use all your available credit.** If you have a credit card, using a small portion of your account's credit limit is best for your credit scores. Only using small amounts can also make it easier to pay your bill in full, which will help you avoid paying interest.\n* **Apply for credit sparingly.** You may want to open a few accounts when you're first building credit. But once you're established, limiting how many applications you submit can help you maintain a good score.\nThe Experian blog is filled with articles on credit reporting and credit scores. Continue learning about the intricacies of credit and how specific actions may help or hurt your credit. END

TITLE: 8 Ways to Build Credit If You’re New to the U.S. CONTENT: Check and Monitor Your Credit\n-----------------------------\nYou can also monitor your Experian credit report for free. The program sends you real-time alerts, helping you stay on top of your credit and respond if there's any suspicious activity. You'll also get explanations about the different factors that are impacting your unique credit history and suggestions for how you can improve your credit. END

TITLE: What Is a Prepaid Card? CONTENT: How Do Prepaid Debit Cards Work?\n--------------------------------\nWhile prepaid cards look a lot like traditional credit cards or debit cards—and many credit card issuers, like Visa, American Express and Mastercard, offer them—the similarities end there. The biggest difference is that a prepaid card must be loaded with funds before you can use it.\nPrepaid cards are sold at retailers like supermarkets and gas stations, and you can also order them online or get them at participating banks. You can specify the amount of money you want loaded on the card, though there may be daily, weekly or total limits to the amount you can add (these limits may be waived when you receive a direct deposit of funds to the card). Cards may be for one-time use, like gift cards, or reloadable.\nUnlike a credit card, you don't need to pass a credit check to receive a prepaid debit card. You won't pay interest on purchases, because they'll be debited from the amount you've added to the card. These cards don't allow you to carry a balance or to pay off your purchases over time.\nPrepaid cards also come with multiple fees to watch out for, such as fees for activating the card and loading and spending money, which you may not find on a debit or credit card. You could also pay fees for monthly maintenance, some ATM withdrawals and international transactions. END

TITLE: What Is a Prepaid Card? CONTENT: Do Prepaid Cards Build Credit?\n------------------------------\nAnother difference between prepaid debit cards and credit cards? Prepaid cards will not help you build credit. In this way, they're more like traditional debit cards associated with a bank account. Your payments will not be recorded on your credit report, and your use of the card will not affect your credit score.\nThere may be other reasons to get a prepaid debit card, such as limiting spending, giving a child an allowance or enjoying the convenience of paying with a card rather than cash. But if you have no, poor or fair credit and you'd like your card usage to help improve it, consider an alternative to a prepaid card, such as a secured credit card.\nSecured cards function like a regular credit card, except that you are required to make a deposit, which typically becomes your credit limit. Unlike a prepaid debit card, you can't use that deposit to pay for purchases or your bills; it's essentially a safety net for the lender in case you stop making your card payments. In most cases, the credit card issuer reports your secured card's activity to the credit bureaus, so limiting purchases and paying off your balance in full each month by the due date will help you improve credit. Your secured card's payment history and credit utilization will be reflected on your credit report and score, unlike a prepaid card, and will help you rebuild or establish a credit history. Eventually, you may get your deposit back or be able to transition to an unsecured card. END

TITLE: What Is a Prepaid Card? CONTENT: How to Choose a Prepaid Card\n----------------------------\nIf you decide a prepaid debit card would work well for you, first consider how you plan to use it. Depending on how you want to load it with money—by direct deposit only, for example, or with cash—search for cards that make that method as easy and low-cost as possible. Also identify whether you need to use the card for ATM withdrawals or online bill payments, and check what fees you will be charged for those features.\nFor example, some prepaid cards charge a high fee for ATM use, but will waive those fees at machines that belong to a certain network. Other prepaid cards will waive monthly fees for those who regularly use direct deposit, or who load a certain amount of funds each month.\nFinally, check for additional prepaid card features that may be valuable. For instance, some prepaid cards allow you to order additional cards for authorized users and set limits on their use. This can be useful when you'd like to give other family members the ability to use the card up to a certain limit.\nOne of the lowest-fee prepaid debit card options available is the Bluebird® American Express® Prepaid Debit Account, which charges no fees for monthly maintenance, foreign transactions, cash reloading at Walmart locations, in-network ATM withdrawals, card transactions or inactivity. For parents interested in overseeing how their kids spend money, Greenlight offers a prepaid card that comes with an app for both parents and kids to monitor balances and spending patterns. It comes with a monthly fee. END

TITLE: What Is a Prepaid Card? CONTENT: How to Use and Reload a Prepaid Card\n------------------------------------\nSince they're typically part of a payment network such as Visa, Mastercard or American Express, prepaid cards can be used to make purchases at any merchant that participates in that network. Each time you use a prepaid card, it will authorize a purchase up to the amount of funds remaining on the card, but not more. If you don't have sufficient funds loaded on the card to make a purchase, the transaction will be declined.\nPrepaid cards generally can also be used to withdraw cash from ATMs, but fees may be charged. To use your prepaid card at an ATM, you'll create a four-digit personal identification number (PIN), like you would with a debit card. You can also use your PIN to make certain transactions that require a debit card. Additionally, some prepaid cards allow you to make online bill payments.\nTypically, you can load a prepaid card using the following methods:\n* Cash\n* Debit card\n* Transfer from checking or savings\n* Direct deposit from your employer\n* Check\n* Transfer of government benefits, including a tax refund.\nIt's less likely you'll be able to load a prepaid debit card using a credit card. END

TITLE: What Is a Prepaid Card? CONTENT: Making the Best Use of a Prepaid Card\n-------------------------------------\nWhile prepaid cards can be convenient in certain situations, such as for giving a teen an allowance and introducing them to banking, prepaid card fees can make them a pricey choice.\nBefore opting for a prepaid card to receive government benefits or direct deposit, make sure you clearly understand what fees you'll be charged and how you can cheaply and easily reload the card if you want to. A secured credit card, or skipping the prepaid card and opting for direct deposit to a bank account, may be better choices. END

TITLE: Credit Mistakes to Avoid When You Are Young CONTENT: 1\\. Waiting to Build and Establish Credit\n-----------------------------------------\nNo one comes into the world with good credit. In fact, until you begin using credit, you won't have a credit report or score. For most, establishing credit means starting small with a low line of credit that may require a security deposit. And if you think about it, that's not a bad place for a young person to start. You get a card to use for emergencies or to cover expenses without too much risk of running up a giant balance.\nMore importantly, you get the opportunity to learn how credit works—how to manage an account, make timely payments, mind your credit limit and avoid overspending. Play your cards right, and you'll graduate with solid credit to help launch you into independent adulthood.\nHere are two ways to establish credit when you're young:\n* **Get added as an authorized user.** One place to start is to be added to a parent's or loved one's credit card account as an authorized user. Apple now allows parents to add children ages 13 and older to their Apple Card Family accounts as \"participants\" with optional spending limits; family members 18 and older may be added as co-owners on the account. The Apple Card isn't the only card that allows parents to designate their children as authorized users: Have your parents check with their card companies for options. As an authorized user, you will benefit from the primary cardholder's payment history, get your own credit card and be allowed to make purchases on the card (as long as the primary cardholder agrees).\n* **Open your own credit card.** A few **student credit cards**, including the Journey Student Rewards from Capital One, allow you to open an account with no security deposit. Alternatively, **secured cards** are common for those with little or no credit history. With a secured card, you provide a deposit upfront that is typically equal to your credit line: A $200 deposit typically secures a $200 credit limit, for example. If you were to default on your credit card balance, the card issuer would use this deposit to pay off your debt. After a period of successful card management, your card issuer may refund your deposit or raise your credit limit.\nCredit cards are a great way to build credit—but they can also start you off on the wrong foot if you're not careful. That brings us to the next credit mistake you'll wait to avoid. END

TITLE: Credit Mistakes to Avoid When You Are Young CONTENT: 2\\. Using Credit Cards Irresponsibly\n------------------------------------\nYou can build a positive credit history and grow your credit score with a secured card or student card, but only if you maintain good credit habits. Before you open credit card accounts and begin using your cards, learn about the factors that go into building a good credit score: payment history, credit utilization, credit mix, length of credit history and new credit. Each of these has an upside and an equally consequential downside.\nIf you don't feel prepared to manage credit responsibly, you may want to wait. After a year or two, when you have some experience managing money on your own, you may feel better equipped to handle regular bills and a credit line. Here are a few things it takes to manage credit responsibly:\n* **Pay on time, every time.** Payment history accounts for 35% of your credit score, and every payment counts. A single 30-day late payment stays on your credit report for seven years.\n* **Spend conservatively.** Just because you have $1,000 in available credit doesn't mean you should use it. To start, use your card to make a small purchase every month or so and pay it off right away; you don't have to carry a balance to build credit. Always try to keep your balances to 30% or less of your credit limit to maintain good credit.\n* **Learn your card's terms.** Not only do your purchases add to your revolving balance, but if you don't pay your balance in full every month, you'll incur interest charges. How much interest? Read your card's terms carefully. They spell out how much time you have to pay off a purchase before interest kicks in, as well as what your interest rate is and what you'll pay in late fees. END

TITLE: Credit Mistakes to Avoid When You Are Young CONTENT: 3\\. Losing Track of and Not Paying Bills\n----------------------------------------\nLate payments can be costly to your credit and otherwise. One payment made over 30 days late will ding your credit score, and accounts that end up in collections for nonpayment will damage your credit further. Even if you make a credit card payment before it's 30 days late (when it's reported to the credit bureaus), your card issuer may charge you a late fee and increase your interest rate as a penalty.\nBest strategy: Don't forget. Put a recurring reminder on your calendar or set up alerts on your credit card account and in your bank's mobile bill pay system. If you're confident you'll have enough money in your checking account at all times to cover a payment, consider setting up automatic minimum payments to remove the risk of missing a due date.\nIf your mailing address, email or phone number changes, remember to alert your card issuer or loan provider if you have student loans or a car loan. You want to be sure they can contact you with bills and any other notices. Also update any accounts that use your card for payment, especially automatic payments. If your contact or card information has changed, or your card has expired, your payments may not go through—and unpaid bills can result in credit-damaging collections. END

TITLE: Credit Mistakes to Avoid When You Are Young CONTENT: 4\\. Not Checking Your Credit Regularly\n--------------------------------------\nChecking your credit report and score regularly can do a few important things for you. If you're doing a good job of managing your credit, you'll see your progress on your credit report, and tracking your rising credit score can be motivating. Monitor your report regularly, and you'll also get an intuitive sense of how your actions affect your credit. Make a few large purchases on your credit card and your credit score may dip due to increased credit utilization. Pay off your balance, and your score may rise. A certain amount of fluctuation is common with credit scores, so the point isn't to prevent or stress out over these minor changes, but rather to develop an understanding of how they play out.\nFinally, when you receive your credit score and report from Experian, you can see which factors are impacting your credit score along with suggestions on how to improve. You can receive a free copy of your credit report from all three credit reporting agencies at AnnualCreditReport.com or access your Experian FICO® Score☉ and credit report for free at any time. You can also use Experian's free credit monitoring to get alerts whenever there are changes to your credit report and score. END

TITLE: How to Prevent Debit Card Fraud CONTENT: Pros and Cons of Using a Debit Card\n-----------------------------------\nDebit cards are tied to your bank account and let you make easy cashless and contactless transactions. Besides the convenience factor, there are other advantages of using debit cards—and a few disadvantages as well. END

TITLE: How to Prevent Debit Card Fraud CONTENT: What Is Debit Card Fraud?\n-------------------------\nDebit card fraud is when someone gets access to your debit card number or PIN and makes unauthorized purchases or withdrawals from your account. Here are some ways that debit card fraud might occur:\n* A fraudster installs a card skimming device to a gas station fuel pump, skims your debit card information and uses it to drain your bank account.\n* A service or repair person finds old statements in your home, steals your account number and racks up thousands of dollars in fraudulent charges.\n* A thief distracts you while walking down a busy street, takes your bookbag and uses the debit card in the bag to go on an online shopping spree.\n* You get an email that links to a fraudulent retail store where your debit card number is collected and used to commit fraud.\n* A data breach happens at your bank and hackers run off with your personal data. END

TITLE: How to Prevent Debit Card Fraud CONTENT: The financial ramifications of debit card fraud can be harsher than credit card fraud. That's why credit cards are often considered a safer option when making purchases online or while abroad.\nTwo federal laws—the Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA) and Electronic Fund Transfer Act (EFTA)—set rules for what consumer liability is in the event of credit card or debit card fraud.\nUnder the FCBA, credit card users are only responsible for up to $50 in unauthorized credit card transactions. Meanwhile, liability for debit card fraud depends on how soon you report it.\nUnder the EFTA, if you report a debit card lost or stolen _before_ someone uses the card, you're not responsible for any unauthorized transactions.\nIf you have not reported your debit card lost or stolen and you find unauthorized activity, here's what your maximum loss will be depending on when you report it:\n* **Report loss within two days**: Up to $50\n* **Report loss from two to 60 days**: Up to $500\n* **Report loss after 60 days**: You could be responsible for all money taken\nAs you can see, it's crucial to keep tabs on your bank account so you can report fraudulent activity right away. If you're a victim of fraud, the FTC recommends calling your bank and also following up with a letter or email that details each fraudulent transaction. END

TITLE: How to Prevent Debit Card Fraud CONTENT: How to Prevent Debit Card Fraud\n-------------------------------\nWhen it comes to protecting yourself from debit card fraud, the best offense is defense. Staying on top of your accounts can help you quickly catch transactions that look out of place so you can minimize your financial loss.\nHere are steps you can take to protect yourself:\n* **Review your statement each month.** Online bank accounts typically offer a transaction log where you can regularly review your purchases, but it's also worthwhile to run through your statements each month to see if you missed any unusual activity. If you find a questionable charge, be sure to contact your debit card issuer immediately.\n* **Keep statements in a safe place.** Physical statements you decide to keep should be put somewhere safe. Shred statements that you don't need.\n* **Keep tabs on your debit cards.** Since so many transactions today happen virtually without an actual card swipe, you might not use your physical card on a daily basis. Keep track of which wallet your cards are in so they don't fall into the wrong hands. If you lose a card or think it may be stolen, report it right away.\n* **Be careful about where you store your data.** Avoid storing your debit card number or PIN on your device or sending it through email. If someone gets access to your phone, computer or email, they could have all the information they need to take money from your account.\n* **Protect your debit card when shopping online.** Scrutinize online stores before shopping because scammers can set up shops with bad intent. There are several precautions to take when making online transactions:\n* Before entering debit card information, make sure there's an \"https\" (the \"s\" means secure) before the website name in the address bar and that there's a padlock icon next to it.\n* Watch out for phishing scams, which often come in the form of fraudulent emails pretending to be from banks or retailers.\n* Only give a business your debit card number if there's a valid reason and after you've determined that the company is reputable.\n* Consider paying with a third-party payment service like PayPal when paying online since the recipient never sees your account information and you may be covered by purchase protection.\n* Avoid making purchases on unsecured networks. END

TITLE: How to Prevent Debit Card Fraud CONTENT: Stay Vigilant to Prevent Debit Card Fraud\n-----------------------------------------\nWhile you may not have the power to prevent big data breaches or theft fully, early detection of fraud can help minimize loss. Being hypervigilant could pay off if you catch fraud before someone is able to take off with a large sum. Review your bank accounts regularly and call the number on the back of the card if you identify unauthorized transactions. END

TITLE: Four Ways to Reduce the Risk of Identity Theft CONTENT: 1\\. Monitor Your Credit\n-----------------------\nWhile it's possible for someone to steal your information by taking your purse or wallet or burglarizing your home, many incursions that lead to identity theft occur without the victim knowing.\nTo make sure nobody has opened up new accounts under your name, make sure to check each of your credit reports at least yearly. You can get your Experian, Transunion and Equifax credit reports for free at AnnualCreditReport.com.\nIf possible, pull one report every four months so that you're looking at your reports throughout the year. Through Experian, you can get a free copy of your Experian credit report every 30 days as well as free credit monitoring, which provides alerts about new inquiries, accounts and suspicious activity.\nIf you notice fraudulent activity, dispute it with the lender and the bureau. Also, consider freezing your credit reports and request a fraud alert be added to them if you've been victimized.\nWith a credit freeze, no one can view your credit reports, including lenders. So if a thief steals your Social Security number and plans to open credit accounts in your name, they'll be denied. Keep in mind, though, you'll also be denied for legitimate applications unless you lift the freeze. If you place a fraud alert, creditors are encouraged to contact you and verify your information (and that you applied for the loan or credit card in question) before approving the application. END

TITLE: Four Ways to Reduce the Risk of Identity Theft CONTENT: 2\\. Keep Your Personal Documents Safe\n-------------------------------------\nOnline identity theft is more common than it used to be, but it's still possible for criminals to gain access to your credit card numbers, bank account information and other sensitive information on paper. Here are ways to safeguard your documents:\n* **Request electronic statements**: Doing this eliminates the paper trail financial account statements create. Mail fraud is considered old school, but it's still alive and well. It's best to have financial statements delivered to your secure email inbox rather than your mailbox.\n* **Keep your mail safe**: If you do receive paper documents with personal information, see if you can add a lock to your mailbox or use a P.O. box as your mailing address. You may also want to consider having smaller packages delivered to your work address so you receive them during the day versus having them left unattended on your porch. If you are going to be gone for a while, ask someone to pick up and hold your mail for you, or request a hold with the U.S. Postal Service until you return.\n* **Buy a shredder**: If you plan to throw out financial and other sensitive documents, shred them first. This can take a little extra time but adds a layer of protection against dumpster-divers.\n* **Lock it up**: There are some documents—your Social Security number, recent tax returns, birth certificate and more—you can't get rid of. Consider getting a safe deposit box at a local bank branch or purchasing a lockbox you can store them in at your house. END

TITLE: Four Ways to Reduce the Risk of Identity Theft CONTENT: 3\\. Secure Your Online Data\n---------------------------\nStopping mail fraud is pretty straightforward, but protecting yourself online can be a lot trickier because criminals employ many tactics to steal your identity. Here's what you need to do:\n* **Be cautious with links**: Phishing scams involve a thief using email to trick you into giving them personal information. These messages often look like they're coming from a reputable business and can take an eagle eye to spot. If something seems off about an email that's asking you to click a link to an offer or action, don't click. Instead, hover your cursor over the link and check the destination URL. If the link would take you to a different website than you were expecting, or seems otherwise illegitimate, ignore it. Additionally, these emails can include attachments that, if opened, install information-gathering malware.\n* **Monitor your online accounts**: Staying up to date on changes to your financial accounts can be helpful in catching fraud as soon as it happens. Set up push notifications on your smartphone or other mobile devices, and pay attention to any alert emails you may get from financial institutions.\n* **Be careful with public Wi-Fi**: Public Wi-Fi can be a convenient way to get access to the internet. But whether you're at a coffee shop or the airport, be careful about what you do while you're online. Hackers and others can set up their own free Wi-Fi networks and use them to scrape your data. Even legitimate Wi-Fi networks can be hacked, allowing the thief to \"eavesdrop\" on your connection and steal data. Make sure the network you are connected to is legitimate and can be trusted, and also use a virtual private network, or VPN, to add an extra layer of security and prevent eavesdropping.\n* **Watch out for unsecure websites**: Before you enter payment or other personal information into a website, check to make sure it's secure and trustworthy. If the URL starts with \"HTTP\" instead of \"HTTPS,\" it's not secure and hackers can eavesdrop and steal information you share. Even if the site does have a secure connection, it can still be a front for a scam. If you don't recognize the name of the company, be diligent to make sure it's legitimate and trustworthy. END

TITLE: Four Ways to Reduce the Risk of Identity Theft CONTENT: 4\\. Create Strong Passwords\n---------------------------\nSociety is so integrated with technology that it's easy to have scores of online accounts. As a result, it can be tempting to create one easy-to-remember password and use it everywhere.\nUnfortunately, scammers have gotten good at guessing passwords using publicly available information and social engineering—for example, asking you about your pets, children, other family members and more. And once they have your password for one website, they'll have it for all the other sites you use it on.\nTo help minimize the damage, create a unique, strong password for every online account. The strongest passwords are long, random strings of letters, numbers and symbols, and it would be impossible to memorize each one. For that reason, you could use a password manager such as LastPass or 1Password to securely store all of them in a place that's easily accessible when you need them.\nIf a website or app offers it, set up two-factor authentication. This will require you to provide a second piece of information to verify your identity. It may require you to use an authenticator app with a unique number that changes every 30 seconds or have a code sent to your email or phone.\nUsing this process takes a little more time every time you log in or change account details, but it provides valuable protection against people who want to do you harm. END

TITLE: Four Ways to Reduce the Risk of Identity Theft CONTENT: Enlist Help to Protect Your Information\n---------------------------------------\nWith these tips, you can limit your exposure to identity theft significantly. But monitoring your information can be time-consuming, especially if you have a lot of other things to worry about. To stay up to date on how your credit and other information is being used, consider signing up for an identity theft monitoring service like Experian IdentityWorksSM Plus or Experian IdentityWorksSM Premium.\nThese services provide identity theft and credit monitoring, alerts, dark web surveillance and more to help you stay aware. They also connect you with fraud resolution services and identity theft insurance, which can come in handy if you do become a victim.\nBetween your efforts and a good identity theft monitoring service, you can not only reduce the risk of identity theft but also get back on your feet quickly if someone does manage to steal your information. END

TITLE: The Unexpected Costs of Identity Theft CONTENT: How Can Identity Theft Impact Your Life?\n----------------------------------------\nThe impact of identity theft generally depends on the type of fraud and how long it takes to be detected. If caught immediately, an unauthorized charge to your credit card can usually be resolved quickly, with the charges reversed—or sometimes even declined before they're approved—and a new card and account number issued on the spot. But if just a little bit of time passes before the account holder, the creditor or a merchant catches on, the same fraudsters could quickly rack up charges and cause other harm that would take more time and effort to reverse.\nIn more complex cases, identity thieves may open loans and credit cards in your name, file taxes and receive refunds, or use your identity to obtain medical services. In these cases, it can take years to stop the fraud, undo the damages, and restore your identity and credit.\nHow can identity theft take a toll on you and your finances? Here are four key ways:\n* **Time and money**: Although debit and credit card issuers limit your liability for fraudulent charges, you could still be on the hook for the loss if you don't report phony charges in time. And since time is money, the hours you spend tracking, reporting and resolving the effects of identity theft are also a significant loss. According to a report from the SANS Institute, it takes an average of six months and roughly 200 hours of work to recover your identity after it's been compromised. It may even cause you to have to take time off from your job.\n* **Criminal record**: If someone is using your identity to commit crimes, you could be at risk for legal consequences, including arrest or a criminal record. Proving that your identity has been stolen is one hurdle; getting an arrest record cleared up—even if it's proven to be unjustified—is also a time-consuming challenge.\n* **Credit damage**: Fraudulent charges on your accounts must be reported and resolved. In the meantime, work closely with your creditor to make sure you're meeting your financial obligations. If you fail to make a payment on an outstanding balance, you run the risk of having your payment reported as late or missed. If a fraudster has used your identity to open new accounts, their failure to pay can show up on your credit report and damage your credit score. The loans or credit they've opened also increase your debt amounts and credit utilization, which can affect your credit scores and inhibit your ability to get credit yourself. For the most part, these issues are resolvable, but the process will take some time and effort.\n* **Emotional distress**: Having your identity stolen can be traumatic. In a survey of consumers who experienced identity crime, the Identity Theft Resource Center found that 77% reported increased stress levels and 55% experienced fatigue or decreased energy. Additionally, respondents said they had trust issues with friends and family, and problems with their employers or schools. END

TITLE: The Unexpected Costs of Identity Theft CONTENT: How to Prevent Identity Theft\n-----------------------------\nPreventing identity theft is certainly better than having to deal with its effects. No matter how careful you are, it's not possible to avoid all risk. You can, however, improve your chances of avoiding identity theft and fraud by following some simple guidelines:\n* Shred all documents that have personal identifying information or use a permanent marker to block it out.\n* Stay skeptical when giving out personal information over the phone, especially if the caller is contacting you. If in doubt, hang up and directly call your financial institution or the company the caller said they represented.\n* Don't open suspicious-looking email and never click on links in an unsolicited email. You can always log in to an account directly to see if there are outstanding issues.\n* Use strong online passwords, stay away from public Wi-Fi, use an anti-malware program and consider using a virtual private network (VPN) to increase your online security.\nDetect fraudulent transactions quickly by monitoring your bank and credit card accounts frequently. If your card company offers transaction alerts and\/or the ability to turn your cards on and off, you can have even more immediate control over your account activity.\nMonitoring your credit can be helpful too. Check your credit report and score regularly for any unexpected changes, including new accounts or activity you don't recognize as yours. If you'd like to consolidate your efforts, credit monitoring from Experian lets you track your credit score, credit report and spending continuously, and you can set up alerts to let you know when changes and transactions occur.\nWhat if you've already been hacked? If you believe you are a victim of identity theft, consider taking these three steps:\n* **File a report** with the authorities. Documenting your experience with the FTC and filing a police report could be necessary to dispute unauthorized charges or accounts. They can also help you clear your record if criminal activity has taken place in your name.\n* **Freeze your credit.** A credit freeze limits the access that others, including lenders, have to your credit file. Experian, TransUnion and Equifax maintain dedicated webpages where you can set up credit freezes and find instructions for requesting freezes by mail. Since credit freezes stop legitimate applications for credit as well, and must be put in place and removed by contacting each bureau individually, they may be a hassle.\n* **Add a fraud alert to your credit reports.** A more convenient alternative to freezing your credit is to add a fraud alert if you are, or suspect you may be, a victim of fraud. These alerts on your credit report ask creditors to take steps to verify your identity before issuing any credit in your name. Requesting a fraud alert with any credit reporting bureau will trigger an automatic fraud alert with all three bureaus.\nTools to Help You Manage Your Identity\n--------------------------------------\nWhether you're trying to prevent identity theft or are dealing with its aftereffects, managing your personal information and monitoring your credit consistently can feel like a full-time job. Services exist that can help you track your credit and accounts for signs of identity theft—and provide support if you experience identity fraud. Identity theft protection from Experian combines credit monitoring with dark web surveillance, fraud resolution support, ID theft insurance and an app that lets you lock and unlock your credit file any time, anywhere. END

TITLE: The Unexpected Costs of Identity Theft CONTENT: Tools to Help You Manage Your Identity\n--------------------------------------\nWhether you're trying to prevent identity theft or are dealing with its aftereffects, managing your personal information and monitoring your credit consistently can feel like a full-time job. Services exist that can help you track your credit and accounts for signs of identity theft—and provide support if you experience identity fraud. Identity theft protection from Experian combines credit monitoring with dark web surveillance, fraud resolution support, ID theft insurance and an app that lets you lock and unlock your credit file any time, anywhere. END

TITLE: What Is Credit Fraud? CONTENT: Types of Credit Fraud\n---------------------\nThere are at least 20 distinct types of credit fraud. All are forms of identity theft, distinguished by some combination of:\n* **The type of personal information used to assume the victim's identity.** Stolen credit cards, account numbers, usernames and passwords, and Social Security numbers are among the many pieces of personal information that can be used to commit credit fraud.\n* **The means by which personal information is stolen.** Criminals can gain possession of your personal information in many ways, including phishing scams conducted by phone, email or social media; skimming credit card data via bogus card readers; copying passwords, PIN codes and other information by looking over your shoulder; stealing your driver's license (which can be used to request birth certificates and other info), mail or credit cards; and purchasing lists of information leaked in data breaches.\n* **The type of credit obtained through fraud.** Identity thieves use a variety of techniques to hijack credit, including opening new loans or credit card accounts in your name; taking control of existing credit card (or bank) accounts by changing mailing addresses and passwords; going on spending sprees with stolen credit cards or account numbers; opening one or more accounts in the names of your minor children who otherwise wouldn't have personal credit reports; and associating your name with another consumer's credit data to create a fictitious \"hybrid\" account they control. END

TITLE: What Is Credit Fraud? CONTENT: How Does Credit Fraud Happen?\n-----------------------------\nCredit fraud occurs when thieves use personal information belonging to one or more consumers to open loans or credit card accounts, to buy goods or services, or to secure cash advances—and then disappear without ever paying a dime. It can also happen when fraudsters exploit existing accounts by gaining access to credit card information and using it to make purchases without the victim's knowledge or consent.\nAccording to the most recent available data from credit card industry publication The Nilson Report, losses from credit fraud were nearly $28 billion in 2018, with U.S. losses totaling nearly $9.5 billion.\nConsumers, businesses and credit users in general suffer as consumer information is compromised for criminal gain. Additionally, lenders may charge higher fees and interest rates to cover the costs of fraud-prevention and fraud management programs. END

TITLE: What Is Credit Fraud? CONTENT: How to Avoid Credit Fraud\n-------------------------\nThe pervasiveness of credit fraud and the ever-evolving methods criminals use to steal personal data make it critical to safeguard your credit information, including credit card numbers, account usernames and passwords, and personal credentials such as your Social Security number.\nMeasures you can take to safeguard your info include:\n* **Staying skeptical**: Be wary anytime you're asked to supply any sensitive information via email, phone call, text or instant message. The communication may appear to come from a trusted source, but the institutions you deal with regularly—including banks and credit unions, credit card issuers, the IRS and the Social Security Administration—already know your account numbers; they wouldn't be asking you for them, even if they were trying to verify your identity. If in doubt, contact the organization in question yourself by phone or their online accounts to verify the communication is legitimate.\n* **Browsing securely**: When shopping online, make sure your browser connection to the merchant is secure and encrypted (look for an \"https\" at the beginning of the web address), and avoid using open public Wi-Fi networks (those without passwords), which thieves can easily monitor and troll for important data.\n* **Protecting yourself from prying eyes**: Take care to shield the keypad when you enter your account PIN, and when possible, use credit cards with data chips, which are more difficult to skim than swipe-only cards.\n* **Keeping your voice down**: When in public, avoid speaking account numbers and your Social Security number out loud. For instance, if you decide to pay your bills by phone while hanging out in public, use your phone's keypad, rather than voice prompts, to enter account numbers, PINs and other information. If you're dealing with someone in person, consider asking if there's a way you could enter the information into their system yourself, without speaking it aloud.\nGuarding your data is crucial, but because criminals can sometimes get personal data via large-scale data breaches that affect thousands of consumers at once, it's also important to continually watch for signs of unauthorized activity on your credit and other financial accounts:\n* **Check your credit card statements carefully each month.** Keep tabs on all your accounts, even the ones you don't use regularly. Make sure you recognize all transactions, and if you're uncertain about any, call the card issuer to learn more. Lenders also have a stake in avoiding credit fraud, and can assist in checking out any suspicious activity on your accounts.\n* **Review your credit reports for unfamiliar credit checks and new accounts.** If you see any entries that you don't understand, use the contact information included for each creditor to inquire about what's going on. If accounts you didn't authorize have been set up in your name, the creditors will begin investigating. You should also file a report with appropriate law enforcement organizations and take steps to secure your credit files (see below).\n* **Consider using a credit monitoring service.** Monitoring services can notify you when a lender requests a copy of your credit report or credit score, or when new loan or credit card accounts are added to your credit file. Experian offers a free service that monitors your Experian credit file, and subscription identity protection services that monitor your credit files at all three national credit bureaus and add a variety of other fraud-detection benefits. END

TITLE: What Is Credit Fraud? CONTENT: What to Do if You Believe You're a Credit Fraud Victim\n------------------------------------------------------\nIf you believe unauthorized credit activity has been committed in your name (or in the names of your minor children), it's important to report the crime to appropriate authorities as quickly as you can. Do the following as soon as possible:\n* Contact the lender in question immediately to get a better handle on the situation. If fraudulent activity does appear to have occurred, advise the lender to begin an investigation, and cooperate with them as needed.\n* Report the suspected crime to law enforcement immediately so they can begin investigating. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission's IdentityTheft.gov website is a great place to start; it can help you find the law enforcement organizations with jurisdiction over different types of credit fraud and other related financial crimes.\n* Consider taking action to secure your credit reports at the three national credit bureaus (Experian, TransUnion and Equifax), to make it more difficult for fraudsters to apply for and secure credit in your name:\n * Adding a fraud alert to your credit reports instructs creditors to confirm your identity before processing credit applications received in your name.\n * Applying a security freeze to your credit file limits access to your credit information.\nCredit alerts and security freezes have different advantages and drawbacks, so compare them before deciding which is better for you.\nCredit fraud is an unfortunate occurrence that affects hundreds of thousands of people every year and causes consumers and businesses alike to lose money. Credit fraud is a persistent nuisance that's unlikely to disappear anytime soon, but safeguarding personal data, staying alert to the possibility of unauthorized credit activity, and reporting suspicious activity as soon as you notice it can help you avoid major grief at the hands of credit fraudsters. END

TITLE: What Is the Dark Web? CONTENT: How Does the Dark Web Work?\n---------------------------\nThe Tor network is one of the largest and most well-known darknets, and it's what most people are referring to when they discuss the dark web.\nTor—short for \"The Onion Router\"—bounces information through a series of encrypted layers (like an onion) that offers users more anonymity. There are onion sites and services on the Tor network, and page addresses end in .onion.\nTo access the dark web, you can download and install the free Tor browser. (You can also use it to browse the surface and deep web.) It's perfectly legal, and the U.S. government is a major funder for the Tor Project, which creates the browser.\nBut having access to the browser is only the first step. Unlike the surface web, there aren't great search engines for the dark web. You may need to find an onion site's address on your own, and the names aren't easy to remember. For example, the CIA's onion address is ciadotgov4sjwlzihbbgxnqg3xiyrg7so2r2o3lt5wz5ypk4sxyjstad.onion, and the nonprofit newsroom ProPublica's is propub3r6espa33w.onion.\nThese are two examples of legitimate organizations that have sites on the dark web. But the dark web is best known for the illegal activity that takes place there. END

TITLE: What Is the Dark Web? CONTENT: Why Is the Dark Web So Popular With Criminals?\n----------------------------------------------\nThe Tor network makes it easier to hide your identity and allows people to anonymously create and host onion services. As a result, criminals often use the dark web to buy and sell illicit goods and services.\nDarknet marketplaces can be surprisingly similar to sites you find on the surface web—complete with limited-time sales, customer reviews and advertisements for organic products. However, criminals use these marketplaces to sell illegal products and services, including drugs, weapons and hacking software. Many identity thieves and hacking groups make money selling the information they steal on the dark web.\nThe value of the information can vary greatly depending on what's being sold. Full profiles, or fullz, may come with a name, Social Security number, date of birth and account numbers and could cost around $8 to $30 each. Complete medical records can be particularly valuable to identity thieves, and may go for up to $1,000. Cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin, are the preferred means of payments as these also help keep buyers and sellers anonymous. END

TITLE: What Is the Dark Web? CONTENT: How to Protect Yourself From the Dark Web\n-----------------------------------------\nThe dark web isn't intrinsically bad, illegal or dangerous. Whistleblowers, journalists, activists and law enforcement officers use the dark web to gather and share information without revealing their identity. And around the world, users may want to use Tor or the dark web to evade government censorship and surveillance.\nHowever, if you're the victim of identity theft or affected by a data breach, your information could be sold on the dark web. There are some steps you can take to help protect yourself and stay ahead of identity thieves.\n* **Be cautious when browsing the dark web.** If you choose to browse the dark web, be mindful that you don't know where a .onion address will take you. You could unwittingly wind up on a site that tries to install malware on your device.\n* **Use unique passwords for your accounts.** If your account information is stolen, it's only dangerous if an identity thief can actually use it. Creating unique passwords for all your online accounts can help limit the impact of a single data breach. If you suspect your account information may have been compromised, change your password immediately.\n* **Update your passwords.** Regularly changing your passwords even in the absence of a threat can also make your account information less useful. A password manager can help you create and store strong passwords, and may even perform regular security checkups for you.\n* **Sign up for dark web monitoring.** A dark web monitoring service will look for your information on the dark web and inform you if it finds anything. The forewarning will let you know which information is compromised, and gives you a chance to take steps to secure your identity and accounts.\n* **Lock or freeze your credit reports.** Locking or freezing your credit reports can keep someone from opening an account in your name, even if they have your personal information.\nThere are other ways to protect your information online as well, such as being mindful of what you share on social media, closing unused accounts and avoiding phishing attacks. END

TITLE: What Is the Dark Web? CONTENT: Get a Free Dark Web Scan\n------------------------\nWhile there's no way to ensure all your information stays private, putting protective measures in place can help. Knowing if and when your information is compromised can also help you respond quickly—before too much damage is done. Experian offers a free, one-time dark web scan for your Social Security number, email and phone number. If you want ongoing dark web surveillance, it's one of the many benefits included with an Experian IdentityWorksSM subscription. END

TITLE: How to Protect Yourself From Identity Theft CONTENT: How to Recognize Signs of Identity Theft\n----------------------------------------\nIdentity theft can affect you in many ways, and there are various ways to identify it. Knowing the warning signs that signal fraud is developing—or is happening already—can help you more quickly take action to stop it. Here's what to look out for:\n* **You no longer get your household bills in the mail.** An absence of bills in the mail could mean your personal data has been compromised, and the identity thief has changed your billing address to try to keep you from seeing your statements.\n* **You've been turned down for a loan or credit card.** If you're rejected for credit but have a solid credit history, you might have been targeted by an identity thief. If you're approved for a loan or credit but at higher interest rates than you expect, that's also a sign you may have been victimized by identity theft. Monitoring your credit can help prevent this.\n* **You're being billed for items you didn't purchase.** If you receive an invoice for a purchase you don't recognize, or you're being billed for overdue payments for credit accounts you don't own, that's a sign your identity's been compromised.\n* **Your financial accounts show charges you don't recognize.** If your bank, credit card or other financial account show unauthorized transactions, those accounts may have been breached.\n* **Your tax return was rejected.** If you filed your tax returns and received a rejection notice from the IRS due to a duplicate return, that could indicate a return has already been fraudulently filed in your name.\n* **Small test charges appear on your credit card statement.** It's common practice for identity thieves to \"test\" that a stolen card is still active by making low-cost purchases of under $5. If the credit card is approved, the fraudster knows that the path is clear for larger transactions.\n* **Your creditors alert you to suspicious activity.** You may get a call or text from a company you do business with that tells you fraudulent activity has been detected. For instance, the company that issued one of your credit cards might tell you a suspicious transaction has been attempted with your card. Take care of the immediate issue, and take steps to prevent it from happening again. END

TITLE: How to Protect Yourself From Identity Theft CONTENT: To better protect your personal data against identity thieves, it's important to be proactive about your approach. Ultimately, the goal is to build as many effective barriers as you can, which can discourage identity thieves from trying to victimize you.\nStart that process with these eight steps: END

TITLE: How to Protect Yourself From Identity Theft CONTENT: What to Do if You Believe You Are a Victim of Identity Theft\n------------------------------------------------------------\nIf you notice something suspicious, the sooner you take action to address it, the better. Once identity thieves know they can get away with their crimes, they can increase their activity and make it even more difficult to recover.\nHere are some steps you can take if you believe you've been victimized by an identity thief:\n* **Review your credit report.** Regardless of the type of fraud that has occurred, take some time to review your credit report to make sure everything is accurate. If you find an account you don't recognize, address it immediately.\n* **File an identity report if needed.** If you're able to confirm that your identity has been stolen, take steps to report it. That includes reporting to the Federal Trade Commission and possibly even filing a police report. You may also want to reach out to your creditors to explain the situation.\n* **Place a fraud alert or security freeze.** Fraud alerts and security freezes can help prevent future fraud from happening. A fraud alert will notify prospective creditors that you may be a victim of fraud and encourages them to contact you at a number you provide to verify your identity. A security freeze, on the other hand, stops anyone from viewing your credit report to begin with, which prevents someone from opening a credit account in your name. Another option is to lock your Experian credit file with Experian CreditLock.\n* **Dispute any inaccurate information you find in your report.** If you believe you have fraudulent information on one or more of your credit reports, make sure you dispute it with the appropriate credit bureau. Disputes are generally resolved within 30 days, and the fraudulent information will be removed if the credit bureau confirms your claim.\nBe Vigilant With Identity Theft Fraud Protection\n------------------------------------------------\nIdentity thieves often strike when you least expect it, so it's crucial to avoid taking the security of your personal data for granted. As you take steps to protect your information and identity, you'll make yourself a more difficult target for thieves and may even stop them in their tracks.\nAs you monitor your credit, protect your devices and accounts, avoid phishing and other scams and keep your documents out of the wrong hands, you'll be able to sleep better knowing that your information is safe. END

TITLE: How to Protect Yourself From Identity Theft CONTENT: Be Vigilant With Identity Theft Fraud Protection\n------------------------------------------------\nIdentity thieves often strike when you least expect it, so it's crucial to avoid taking the security of your personal data for granted. As you take steps to protect your information and identity, you'll make yourself a more difficult target for thieves and may even stop them in their tracks.\nAs you monitor your credit, protect your devices and accounts, avoid phishing and other scams and keep your documents out of the wrong hands, you'll be able to sleep better knowing that your information is safe. END

TITLE: What Is Dark Web Monitoring? CONTENT: How Does Dark Web Monitoring Work?\n----------------------------------\nDark web monitoring services scan hundreds of thousands of websites each day to look for personal information that criminals can use to steal your identity. That can include the following:\n* Social Security number\n* Email address\n* Passport number\n* Medical identification numbers\n* Bank account numbers\n* Phone numbers\n* Driver's license\n* Credit\/debit cards\n* Retail\/membership cards\nExperian offers Dark Web Surveillance through its IdentityWorks℠ Plus and IdentityWorks Premium products. These paid services also provide several other credit monitoring and identity theft features and protections. With IdentityWorks, Experian will scan 600,000 dark web pages every day and send you a notification if it finds potentially compromising information.\nYou can get this product for yourself and your family, which means you can also check to see if your child's personal information is on the dark web. You are in control of what information you want to be monitored on the dark web. For the information you choose to monitor, just enter the relevant details directly in your Experian account.\nNot sure if you're ready to sign up? You can run a free dark web scan with Experian to see if your Social Security number, phone number or email is on the dark web. END

TITLE: What Is Dark Web Monitoring? CONTENT: Types of ID Theft That Can Happen on the Dark Web\n-------------------------------------------------\nThe dark web gives criminals the gift of anonymity, so it can be difficult to track down who has sold and purchased your information. Depending on the type of information that's listed, thieves can commit all sorts of identity theft and fraud.\nFor example, if it's your Social Security number, whoever is in possession of it can open fraudulent accounts in your name, file fraudulent tax returns and health insurance claims, and more. If they manage to get a password that was leaked in a data breach, they can use that password to log in to any of the online accounts where you use it.\nFinally, if it's your bank account or credit card number that gets leaked and sold, criminals can use that information to drain your checking and savings accounts and make fraudulent purchases.\nWhile it's possible to recover from identity theft, the process can take anywhere between a few days and several years in some cases. It can also be an expensive endeavor, requiring a lot of your time to track down, report and resolve the issues that arise—in some cases, you may need to miss work to stay on top of things.\nIdentity theft left unaddressed can also have a big impact on your credit score, which will make getting financing expensive or even impossible. If identity theft has affected your credit reports, you might explore filing a dispute with the credit bureaus that maintain them.\nOne of the best ways to reduce the amount of time and money it requires to rebound from identity theft is to spot it before it happens (or early on in the process) and take steps to stop the thief in their tracks. END

TITLE: What Is Dark Web Monitoring? CONTENT: How You Can Protect Your Information From the Dark Web\n------------------------------------------------------\nIn addition to monitoring that will alert you if your information shows up on the dark web, it's important to take a few extra steps to stay safe. There are some things you can do to reduce the odds that your personal information will land in the wrong hands in the first place and also spot the signs of identity theft early:\n* **Use strong passwords and change them regularly.** With so many aspects of our life online, it's virtually impossible to remember a unique password for each online account. Consider using a password manager like LastPass or 1Password to help you set and keep track of strong passwords for each website you use. Also, consider changing your passwords regularly in case the information does get leaked.\n* **Browse securely.** If you're on a public network like the one coffee shops, shopping malls and airports provide, use a virtual private network to protect others from eavesdropping on your connection. The same goes for using secure websites—before you provide any type of personal information, make sure the website you're using is secure. You can do this by checking to make sure the URL begins with HTTPS, or your browser might show a padlock icon or the word \"secure.\"\n* **Safeguard your information.** There are several different ways criminals can access your personal information. Prevention tactics include signing up for e-statements so they can't get it from your mailbox, password-protecting your mobile devices, keeping your Social Security number and passport in a safe or lockbox, and avoiding leaving your wallet or purse in your vehicle.\nIf you've already fallen victim to identity theft, you may be able to spot the signs by checking your bank and credit card statements and online accounts regularly for transactions you don't recognize, checking your score and credit report frequently, and looking out for suspicious communications.\nOnce you spot identity theft, be sure to file an identity theft report with the Federal Trade Commission. Depending on the situation, you may also need to file a police report with local law enforcement and also contact your state's motor vehicle department, the U.S. postal service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation or the U.S. State Department passport agency.\nYou may also want to request a fraud alert or security freeze on your credit reports. These can help prevent fraudsters from opening new credit accounts in your name. \nProactive Monitoring Can Help Reduce Your Risk\n----------------------------------------------\nCybercriminals aren't likely to let up anytime soon, so it's extremely important to do everything you can to safeguard your information. Monitoring your online information via dark web monitoring and credit monitoring—especially through services that do all the legwork and notify you of potential issues—can let you sleep a little better, knowing you will be notified if you need to take action to prevent financial or reputational harm. END

TITLE: What Is Dark Web Monitoring? CONTENT: Proactive Monitoring Can Help Reduce Your Risk\n----------------------------------------------\nCybercriminals aren't likely to let up anytime soon, so it's extremely important to do everything you can to safeguard your information. Monitoring your online information via dark web monitoring and credit monitoring—especially through services that do all the legwork and notify you of potential issues—can let you sleep a little better, knowing you will be notified if you need to take action to prevent financial or reputational harm. END

TITLE: What’s the Difference Between a Credit Freeze and a Credit Lock? CONTENT: Federal law allows you to activate and remove a credit freeze on your credit report from each credit bureau at no cost.\nTo block all access to your credit history using credit freezes, you must request a separate freeze from each of the three national credit reporting agencies. To request a free Experian security freeze, visit Experian's Security Freeze Center or call 888-EXPERIAN (888-397-3742) and provide the required information.\nWhen you place a security freeze on your credit report, the relevant credit bureau provides you with or lets you set up a PIN or password to use when lifting the freeze.\nBy law, credit bureaus must activate a credit freeze within 24 hours of receiving a request by phone or online, and they must lift a freeze within one hour of receiving a request to do so accompanied by your PIN or password. If you lose your PIN or password, you can request a reset from the respective credit bureau, but the one-hour time requirement will no longer apply.\nCredit freezes are effective at thwarting unauthorized access to your credit file, but they also block authorized access to credit information. Because they prevent lenders from checking your credit, you'll need to \"thaw\" your credit freezes before applying for a loan or credit account.\nBecause they prevent credit checks, credit freezes may interfere with your ability to get instant credit authorizations at online or at retail checkouts, but they do not harm your credit or have any impact on your credit scores. END

TITLE: What’s the Difference Between a Credit Freeze and a Credit Lock? CONTENT: What Is a Credit Lock?\n----------------------\nLike a credit freeze, a credit lock blocks all access to your credit report, but you can activate it and disable it instantly via a dedicated smartphone app or secure website. There's no delay of up to 24 hours when locking your credit file, and no delay of up to one hour when unlocking it, as with a credit freeze.\nService offerings that include credit-locking differ among the national credit bureaus. Experian offers CreditLock as part of its CreditWorksSM Premium subscription service, which also includes:\n* Monthly access to credit reports from all three bureaus\n* Alerts when there's new credit activity on your accounts at any of the three bureaus, to help you detect unauthorized action\n* Up to $1 million in identity theft insurance\n* Phone assistance from Experian experts in credit and fraud resolution\nEach credit bureau requires you to provide proof of identity when you set up a credit lock. You can submit the necessary documents electronically or mail in hard copies.\nThe security benefits of a credit lock are the same as those for a credit freeze, and the limitations on access to your credit are the same as well: No criminal access to your credit file is possible, but neither is any legitimate access by new lenders to whom you are applying for loans or credit.\nThe ability to activate and deactivate a credit lock instantly, without the time delays inherent in the credit freeze process, can make the application process easier. So if you're at a stage of life where you anticipate to be making frequent applications for loans and credit, you may find a credit lock considerably more convenient than a credit freeze.\nYou may also want to consider a third option: a fraud alert. END

TITLE: What’s the Difference Between a Credit Freeze and a Credit Lock? CONTENT: When to Use a Fraud Alert\n-------------------------\nA less severe alternative to credit freezes and credit locks is another free option called a fraud alert. Fraud alerts allow lenders to see your credit file, but it requires verification of your identity before any credit application is processed or any new account is opened in your name.\nThere are three types of fraud alerts available:\n* **Initial fraud alert**: While all fraud alerts are free, only the most basic one, known as an initial or temporary alert, can be set up by anyone, anytime and for any reason. You may want to place a temporary fraud alert if you suspect your personal information has been compromised but haven't yet confirmed it; if a credit card goes missing, for instance, or if you see unusual activity on a credit card or bank account but haven't yet determined if it's criminal. A temporary fraud alert lasts one year, but can be renewed indefinitely.\n* **Active-duty fraud alert**: This type of fraud alert also lasts one year, and is designed for use by members of the U.S. armed forces on assignment away from home.\n* **Extended fraud alert**: This alert lasts seven years and requires you to submit a copy of a fraud report you supplied to a law enforcement agency.\nAll three types of fraud alerts are lifted automatically upon expiration, but you can remove one anytime before that upon request, just as you can discontinue a credit freeze or credit lock. END

TITLE: What’s the Difference Between a Credit Freeze and a Credit Lock? CONTENT: How to Remove a Credit Freeze and Credit Lock\n---------------------------------------------\nThe quickest and easiest way to remove a credit freeze is via the PIN code or password set up when you activated your credit freeze. You can call the credit bureau by phone or visit the credit freeze page on its website. If you've frozen your credit at all three national bureaus, you'll need to thaw it at each bureau separately as well. You'll have the option to thaw your credit permanently, lift the freeze temporarily, or to get a single-use PIN or password you can provide to a creditor you want to give access to your frozen credit file.\nRemoving a credit lock requires only that you flip a virtual switch online or in an app provided by one of the credit bureaus. When access to your credit file is no longer required, you can reapply the lock just as easily by turning the switch back on.\nCredit freezes and credit locks are relatively extreme measures that lock down your credit files completely, preventing access by both criminal actors and lenders from whom you may be seeking credit. They offer excellent security for your credit data, but using them when you're actively seeking new credit requires some careful planning. END

TITLE: How to Stay Safe While Shopping on Your Cellphone CONTENT: The Risks of Shopping on Your Phone\n-----------------------------------\nShopping by phone carries many of the same risks as shopping online using your home computer. The main concern in both cases is that the payment and personally identifiable information you share could lead to identity theft and fraud. Here are just a few of the ways mobile shopping can lead to trouble:\n* Using public Wi-Fi exposes your data to hackers.\n* Viruses, malware and ransomware infect your phone when you click a link in an ad, email or text message, or inadvertently download a malicious app.\n* Phishing emails or texts lure you into sharing personal identifying information with fraudsters.\n* Your phone itself is stolen and its information accessed.\n* A site you shopped with experiences a data breach.\nIdentity theft can lead to a variety of problems including account takeover fraud, where criminals use your login information to access your accounts. Once in, they may make changes to lock you out of your account, make unauthorized purchases or gain access to your other accounts and personal information. If your payment information is compromised, a fraudster might rack up thousands in credit card bills before you even notice. END

TITLE: How to Stay Safe While Shopping on Your Cellphone CONTENT: How Can You Protect Yourself While Mobile Shopping?\n---------------------------------------------------\nKeeping your information and identity safe is clearly a priority. By taking these steps, you'll be better equipped to stay safe while shopping from the comfort of your phone.\n### 1\\. Protect Your Phone\n* **Use** **biometrics** **and a strong passcode.** This helps keep intruders out of the sensitive information you have stored on your phone.\n* **Keep your phone's software updated.** Outdated software can make you more vulnerable to hackers.\n* **Look into antivirus software.** You may associate antivirus software with desktop computers, but it's a valuable asset to have on your smartphone as well. Anything that accesses the internet could be vulnerable to a virus.\n* **Only download trusted apps.** Beware of fake apps in the app store or invitations to download unfamiliar apps that arrive by email or text (even if they purport to be from a trusted friend).\n* **Consider cellphone identity protection.** Cellphone ID protection may be available through your wireless carrier, though you might also consider getting general identity theft protection for broader coverage.\n### 2\\. Connect Safely\n* **Don't shop on a public Wi-Fi network.** If you must shop or do your banking when you're on the go, your phone's cellular data is encrypted and will do a better job of keeping your information private. As an added safeguard, keep Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on your phone turned off when not in use so you don't inadvertently connect to a strange network or device.\n* **Consider a virtual private network (VPN).** Signing up for a private mobile VPN can be relatively inexpensive and will add an extra layer of security to your mobile shopping.\n* **Only shop on trustworthy sites.** Shop with retailers you know and be wary of offers you see in social media ads, email or texts. Verify that the site you're using is real and secure. Using your mobile browser, look for the letters \"https:\" at the beginning of the site's URL. This tells you their site is encrypted for better security. Also look for the \"lock\" icon next to the URL when you're on the payment screen.\n* **Use unique passwords on each site you visit.** A password manager can help you generate strong passwords and keep track of them.\n### 3\\. Keep Your Information Private\n* **Avoid storing your information.** Use guest checkout whenever practical and don't allow retailers to save your payment information. If someone gains access to your account, they can make purchases without needing your credit card number.\n* **Use a digital wallet like Apple Wallet or Google Wallet.** Digital wallet apps don't store your credit card number on your device and don't even share it with merchants in most cases. The number the merchant sees is only associated with the app and not your actual payment information, which makes it useless to a hacker even if it is somehow pilfered. Securing your phone with biometrics makes it even harder for a payment to be made without your permission.\n* **Consider using a payment platform like PayPal.** Third-party payment apps put a layer of security between your card information, the retailer and any prying eyes trying to get ahold of your data.\n* **Be selective with the apps you install.** Apps can be convenient and secure, but be cautious. It's possible that an app you install could harbor malware and act as a Trojan horse to steal your data. Even when apps are legitimate, they may be gathering and selling your information.\n* **Set up** **two-factor authentication** **on your accounts.** This security measure requires that anybody trying to access your account (yourself included) take an extra step to verify their identity. It can be a very effective way to keep fraudsters out. END

TITLE: How to Stay Safe While Shopping on Your Cellphone CONTENT: What to Do if You Suspect Identity Theft\n----------------------------------------\nNo matter how careful you are, it's a good practice to monitor your accounts for signs of compromise. Check your credit report regularly for any inquiries or accounts you don't recognize. You may also want to set up credit monitoring, which will alert you to new credit inquiries or when a new account is opened in your name. Take a look at your debit and credit accounts frequently for unfamiliar charges and consider setting up account alerts that text you whenever a transaction is made.\nIf you suspect identity theft, consider following these steps:\n* Contact your card company to report the problem.\n* Visit the Federal Trade Commission at IdentityTheft.gov. Report a theft, get a recovery plan and assess your need to report the incident to local law enforcement.\n* File a fraud alert that will ask creditors to verify your identity before issuing credit in your name. Filing a fraud alert with any of the three credit reporting agencies (Experian, TransUnion or Equifax), will trigger an alert with the remaining two bureaus.\n* Consider a temporary credit freeze that prevents new credit from being opened in your name while it's in place.\n* Change your passwords on any account that's been affected—directly or indirectly—by identity theft. If any of your other accounts share a password with the account that's been compromised, be sure to change it too.\n* Continue monitoring your accounts. END

TITLE: How to Stay Safe While Shopping on Your Cellphone CONTENT: Proceed With Caution\n--------------------\nYour mobile shopping habit probably isn't going to go away anytime soon. Taking the time now to shore up security can help you enjoy the convenience and speed of shopping by phone well into the future. Be mindful of where and how you shop, and monitor your accounts and credit to keep your information as safe as possible. END

TITLE: While You’re Playing Fortnite, Fraudsters Are Looking to Play You CONTENT: How Big Is Fortnite?\n--------------------\n_Fortnite: Battle Royale_ has more than 80 million players worldwide monthly and some 200 million registered players, according to Epic Games. A live-streamed game last year set a new Twitch record for individual online streams, with over 600,000 people watching. The game featured rappers Drake and Travis Scott, Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and one of the game's popular players, Tyler \"Ninja\" Blevins.\nProfessional athletes are using the popular Fortnite dances in their own game celebrations, and Boston Red Sox pitcher David Price missed a start because he had carpal tunnel syndrome from playing too much Fortnite.\nNielsen's SuperData Research, that specializes in video games, reported that Fortnite earned $2.4 billion in annual revenue in 2018. That is more digital revenue in 2018 than any game in history. END

TITLE: While You’re Playing Fortnite, Fraudsters Are Looking to Play You CONTENT: A Common Fortnite Scam: YouTube Free V-Bucks\n--------------------------------------------\nThat kind of money and the addictive nature of the game has drawn criminal elements to the Fortnite universe. New players mean new opportunities for fraudsters who promise something free to help elevate your game. In Fortnite there are V-bucks, the virtual money that players can use to buy new gear.\nWhile recently playing the game with my son and wanting to help advance our \"Battle Pass\" standing, I did a search for \"free V-bucks.\" I found results promising we would win huge amounts of Fornite V-bucks. My son suggested I check out those third-party videos on YouTube, and what came back were more than 4.6 million various videos promising players to get free V-bucks by following their instructions or tips. Most send you to a website where you share an obscure code from your game account; in some cases, that allows scammers to gain access to your payment information either on your smartphone or game console. The third-party sites also have plenty of ads (which can lead you to download malware on your computer) or follow up with an email, which is really a phishing attempt or to download their app that can have spyware.\nI know because I watched plenty of the videos hoping to find one I thought was legitimate but was too nervous to click on anything. Ironically, one video demo of how to get free V-bucks has the username shown as \"VIRUSS999.\" While that username may be an easy sign of a fake, other ways to spot a scam video are to look at the number of likes and dislikes a video has received, and whether or not the poster is verified by YouTube with a check symbol next to their name. END

TITLE: While You’re Playing Fortnite, Fraudsters Are Looking to Play You CONTENT: Android Fornite App Scam\n------------------------\nAnother scam that has been affecting Fortnite players are fake apps in the Google Play store. Before the game was available on Android devices, security researchers at Zscaler found a bunch of Android apps posing as the official Fortnite app for Android. When players download the fake version of the game on their phones they ended up downloading spyware and adware that ends up being a real-life cyberattack. Many of these fake apps ask users to rate and review it with prewritten comments that make it look like the app is legitimate. In one case, Zscaler found an app that had over 5,000 downloads with more than 4,000 five-star reviews.\nYou should make sure to check your iOS and Android privacy settings to see if you're allowing third-party app downloads from untrusted sites. If you do, you may want to change that setting or delete those apps. You should only get apps from the official Apple and Android stores. END

TITLE: While You’re Playing Fortnite, Fraudsters Are Looking to Play You CONTENT: Don't Get Scammed or Hacked While Playing Video Games\n-----------------------------------------------------\nYou need to understand that even while playing games, sharing too much information online can allow scammers to gain access to your stored credit card number and perhaps even steal your identity. Here are some video game tips to help you avoid scams:\n### 1\\. Don't Overshare Information\nAvoid sharing details such as your real name, address or your account password as scammers will try to become friends with anyone in order to steal information. Only follow friends or people you know and don't accept the random stranger friend request.\n### 2\\. Don't Use Your Game Password on Other Sites\nUsing a different password for a game site limits the risk if the site is compromised at any time. Make sure sites asking for your game password are legitimate either through a verification check mark on YouTube or has an official affiliation with the game website and developer.\n### 3\\. Use Two-Factor Authentication\nYou're able to add this to most video games and consoles now and it gives you an added layer of security. Two-factor authentication requires you to provide a second piece of proof to verify your identity, usually, a code sent to your mobile device or email. While it takes a little extra time to set up and log in, enabling the feature in a device or on the game console is worth it.\n### 4\\. Don't Let Friends or Family Share Your Account\nPassword sharing or account sharing is a surefire way to increase the odds of having your account hacked, have your information stolen, or lose money. As tempting or peer-pressure packed as it may be, don't give in.\n### 5\\. Use a Throwaway Credit Card\nUse a virtual credit card or one that is not your everyday card tied to your bank account. This will help you minimize your risk if your credit or debit card number is part of a data breach.\n### 6\\. Don't Talk to Strangers\nAs old-school as it sounds, if some random person asks for details such as name, birthdate, Social Security number, or even about hobbies and interests through a game or text, don't respond. If they ask for money, don't give it to them no matter the reason.\nIf other players start harassing you or ask for money you should report that player to the Epic Games player support page. END

TITLE: While You’re Playing Fortnite, Fraudsters Are Looking to Play You CONTENT: What to Do If You Think Your Identity Was Stolen\n------------------------------------------------\nIf you think you or someone in your family has become a victim of identity theft you should report it to the support page for the game and to the game system so they are aware. If any of your information is compromised, change your password immediately and consider getting a new credit or debit card. You'll want to keep an eye on accounts and even your credit report (you can check your Experian credit report for free) to make sure no fraudulent charges or new accounts show up.\nHere are more actions you can take to help protect your data:\n1. Add a free fraud alert to your Experian credit report that warns lenders you may have been a fraud victim. This notifies any potential lender to take additional steps to verify your identity before providing any new line of credit in your name. The new nationwide law extends an initial fraud alert from 90 days to 12 months for free.\n2. Go over your free Experian credit report to make sure that there are not any unwanted accounts opened in your name or using your personal information.\n3. File an identity theft report with your local police department through the non-emergency number and explain you are the victim of identity theft. They can tell you what information you need to provide.\n4. If you discover that you are indeed a victim of identity theft, notify Experian to resolve fraudulent activity by speaking with Experian consumer assistance associates.\n5. Add a seven-year fraud victim alert to your credit report after you have confirmed you are an identity theft victim and have obtained a police report. This notifies future creditors that you have been a victim of fraud, and extra steps need to be taken to verify your identity.\nHere are additional resources to protect you and your kids from identity theft:\n* What Is Identity Theft?\n* How to Reduce the Risk of Identity Theft\n* How to Protect Your Child from Identity Theft END

TITLE: Can You Freeze a Credit Score? CONTENT: What Is a Credit Freeze?\n------------------------\nAlso known as a security freeze, a credit freeze is a tool provided by the three national credit bureaus—Experian, TransUnion and Equifax—that allows you to restrict who can view your credit reports.\nWhen you or someone else submits a credit application in your name, most lenders run a credit check to determine your eligibility for the loan or credit card. But with a credit freeze, lenders are unable to view the credit reports that you've frozen, so they are unable to complete the application.\nAs a result, a credit freeze is an excellent defense against identity thieves who have your personal information and may attempt to use it to open fraudulent credit accounts in your name without your permission. But it's also an extreme measure that could prevent authorized creditors from checking your credit and complicate the loan or credit card application process. END

TITLE: Can You Freeze a Credit Score? CONTENT: Does a Credit Freeze Affect Your Credit Score?\n----------------------------------------------\nYour credit score and your credit report are two separate things. The credit bureaus—Experian, TransUnion and Equifax—maintain credit reports, which contain information about your credit-related activities, while credit scoring companies such as FICO® and VantageScore® use the information in your credit reports to calculate your credit scores with each bureau.\nWhen you freeze your credit report, you block lenders from being able to access your credit information as a result of an application. However, your current lenders will continue to report and update the account information in your report, so a freeze will have no impact on your credit scores. A security freeze also doesn't stop you from using the credit accounts you currently have, and you must continue to make loan and credit card payments.\nIf you want to apply for new credit, you will need to \"thaw\" your credit reports in advance so lenders can view your credit reports to make a decision. If you know you will be applying for credit, you can request to thaw your credit report temporarily. You can also request a one-time-use PIN that you can provide to a specific lender to give them one-time access to your report.\nKeep in mind that lenders are not the only ones who may access your credit report when making decisions. For example, some insurance companies, such as homeowners and auto insurance companies, may use your credit information to calculate a credit-based insurance score to determine your premiums. Companies requesting your credit report for the purpose of insurance underwriting may still be able to see your credit information even with a credit freeze in place.\nGenerally speaking, however, if you are thinking of applying for credit in the near future, it may be better to consider a fraud alert or security alert in lieu of freezing your credit. END

TITLE: Can You Freeze a Credit Score? CONTENT: Who Can View My Credit Report When It's Frozen?\n-----------------------------------------------\nWhen you freeze your credit reports, only the following people and organizations can view the information found in them:\n* You\n* Existing creditors or debt collectors acting on their behalf\n* Government agencies responding to a court order, subpoena or search warrant\n* Insurance companies accessing your report for the purpose of insurance underwriting\n* Anyone accessing your credit report for employment, tenant or background screening purposes\nA credit freeze also won't stop you from receiving prescreened offers. This is because when a lender sends a prescreened (or preapproval) offer, it's not based on a check of your credit reports. Instead, lenders will request a list of people from the credit bureaus based on their criteria, such as a minimum credit score.\nIf you'd like to stop these offers, you can make a request at OptOutPrescreen.com or call 888-567-8688. END

TITLE: Can You Freeze a Credit Score? CONTENT: Credit Freeze vs. Fraud Alert\n-----------------------------\nIt's important to note that a credit freeze is different from a fraud alert. With a fraud alert, the credit reporting agencies add a note to your credit reports stating that you may be a victim of fraud and providing lenders with your contact information, so they can call and verify your identity before they proceed with a credit application.\nAn initial alert lasts one year but can be renewed once it expires. Alternatively, you can add an extended fraud alert, which lasts seven years, if you have a police report or another identity theft report that shows you've been a victim of identity theft.\nFinally, if you're an active-duty military service member on a remote-duty assignment, you can file an active-duty fraud alert, to protect your credit report while you're away. This alert lasts for 12 months but can be renewed to match your deployment.\nFraud alerts may be preferable over security freezes for a few reasons. With a credit freeze, you have to thaw your credit report before applying for loans or credit cards so creditors can check your history. A fraud alert, on the other hand, allows creditors to access your report but asks the creditor to contact you to verify your identity when you (or anyone else) applies for a loan in your name—requiring no action on your part other than confirming your identity with the lender.\nIn addition, a credit freeze prevents access to your credit file indefinitely; you must remember to remove the freeze if you want to apply for credit. Fraud alerts, as noted, are temporary, with the option to extend them if necessary.\nFinally, if you place a fraud alert on your credit report with one of the credit bureaus, it will be automatically added to all three of your credit reports. With credit freezes, however, you must contact each bureau separately to place a freeze. (When you remove a credit freeze or fraud alert, you must do so with each bureau.) END

TITLE: Can You Freeze a Credit Score? CONTENT: How to Freeze Your Credit\n-------------------------\nYou'll need to contact each credit bureau individually to place a security freeze on your credit reports. You can submit your request with Experian online, by phone or by mail. You'll need to provide information about yourself, including your:\n* Full name\n* Date of birth\n* Social Security number\n* Current address\n* Contact information\nYou may also be asked a handful of questions to verify your identity, such as information about current credit accounts, places you've lived and more.\nDepending on the credit bureau, you may receive a PIN or be asked to create one, which you can use to freeze and unfreeze your credit as needed. When you're ready to thaw your Experian credit report, simply visit the Experian Security Freeze Center and provide your PIN; then you can do the same thing to refreeze it. END

TITLE: Can You Freeze a Credit Score? CONTENT: A Credit Freeze Won't Stop All Forms of Fraud\n---------------------------------------------\nA credit freeze can be a great way to help prevent new-account fraud if you've repeatedly faced identity theft, such as a criminal using your personal information to open a new credit account in your name. But it won't stop all forms of identity theft.\nFor example, thieves may still be able to access your credit card accounts and use them without your permission. And if they have your Social Security number, they may still be able to file a fraudulent tax return or file a fraudulent health insurance claim in your name.\nAs such, if you think someone has stolen your personal information, it's important to be vigilant and keep track of the different areas of your life that fraudsters can attack.\nAlso, it's important to continue monitoring your credit while your credit reports are frozen, because while cybercriminals may not be able to open new accounts in your name, a missed payment, a high credit card balance or fraudulent use of your accounts could still damage your credit score. It's important to address potential issues as they arise to maintain good credit for the long haul. END

TITLE: 6 Things to Know Before Freezing Your Credit CONTENT: Before You Freeze Your Credit\n-----------------------------\nThe process of freezing and unfreezing your credit can be done in a few minutes with each credit reporting agency (Experian, TransUnion and Equifax), but that doesn't mean it's an action to be taken lightly. Here are six things to understand before you start the process: END

TITLE: 6 Things to Know Before Freezing Your Credit CONTENT: How to Freeze Your Credit for Free\n----------------------------------\nYou'll want to place a free credit freeze on all three of your credit reports, including from Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. That said, the process can vary from agency to agency.\nWith Experian, you can visit the Experian Freeze Center and request it online or call 888-397-3742. Provide the requested information and verify your identity to complete the process.\nIf you need to lift your credit in the future, you can do so by visiting your online account with each credit bureau or calling. END

TITLE: 6 Things to Know Before Freezing Your Credit CONTENT: Does a Credit Freeze Affect Your Credit Score?\n----------------------------------------------\nA credit freeze won't have any impact on your credit score, nor will it impact your current credit accounts.\nWhile a credit freeze won't affect your credit score in any way, it will impact your ability to qualify for a loan or credit card unless you thaw your credit before submitting your application. If you're lifting the freeze temporarily, make sure you have enough time to complete the loan application and underwriting process. END

TITLE: 6 Things to Know Before Freezing Your Credit CONTENT: A Credit Freeze Is Helpful but Not a Cure-All\n---------------------------------------------\nA credit freeze can help reduce your exposure if you suspect identity theft, but it won't eliminate it entirely.\nIt's important to keep track of your credit score and check your credit reports regularly. You can get a copy of each of your credit reports every 12 months through AnnualCreditReport.com, and you can access your free Experian credit report anytime. Now through April 2021, you can receive a free credit report from each of the bureaus once a week from AnnualCreditReport.com.\nAs you stay on top of your credit scores and reports, you'll be in a good position to detect potential fraud sooner, minimizing any damage to your credit history. END

TITLE: How to Protect Yourself If You’ve Been Scammed Online CONTENT: Contact Your Banks and Credit Card Companies\n--------------------------------------------\nIf the scam involved your credit card information or login credentials for your financial accounts, contact your banks and credit card companies immediately to cancel your cards and receive new ones.\nWhile you're getting help with this process, ask the representative to check your recent transactions to make sure you recognize them. If there are some that you don't, you can flag them as fraudulent.\nAlso, take some time to change your online passwords to stop the criminal from accessing your accounts. If you use the same password on more than one website, update each account with a unique password to make it more difficult for hackers to crack.\nIf you have many different passwords and need help keeping track of them, consider registering for a password manager like LastPass or 1Password. END

TITLE: How to Protect Yourself If You’ve Been Scammed Online CONTENT: Reach Out to the Credit Bureaus\n-------------------------------\nThe three national credit reporting agencies, Experian, TransUnion and Equifax, maintain and provide access to your credit reports. If you think someone has obtained your personally identifiable information, especially your Social Security number, contact each of the credit bureaus to restrict access to your credit reports. Here's how.\n### Freeze Your Credit\nOne way to keep people from using your credit report fraudulently is with a credit freeze. Freezing your credit prohibits anyone from viewing your credit report, including creditors, unless you lift the freeze using a personal identification number (PIN) provided to you.\nThis means that if someone tries to use your information to open a fraudulent account in your name, the creditor won't be able to approve the application because it can't run a credit check.\nYou can request a free credit freeze on your Experian credit report through the Experian Security Freeze Center or by calling 888-397-3742. The other two credit bureaus provide similar methods to freeze your reports.\nOne drawback to freezing your credit is that it doesn't only prevent scammers from getting approved for credit—it prevents you from getting approved as well. But if you're not planning on applying for a loan or credit card anytime soon, it can provide valuable protection.\n### Request a Fraud Alert\nIf you don't want to go through this process with each credit bureau, consider placing a fraud alert on your credit reports instead. There are two types of fraud alerts you can place on your report after discovering that you've been scammed: an initial fraud alert and an extended fraud alert.\nUnlike credit freezes, you only need to request an initial fraud alert with one of the three national credit bureaus. The agency that receives your request will pass it along to the other two.\nThis alert, which you can request with Experian through the Experian Fraud Alert Center or by calling 888-397-3742, adds a notification to your credit reports for potential creditors. The message encourages them to verify your information before extending credit in your name. You can provide a phone number where creditors can reach you to verify your identity before they proceed.\nAn initial fraud alert remains on your credit reports for 90 days, and you can renew it as many times as you want. If you want an extended fraud alert, which lasts for seven years, you will need to contact each credit bureau to submit your request. You'll also need to provide an identity theft report, which includes an identity theft affidavit from the FTC and a police report (see below). END

TITLE: How to Protect Yourself If You’ve Been Scammed Online CONTENT: Submit a Complaint to the Federal Trade Commission\n--------------------------------------------------\nBefore you file a police report, submit a report about the theft to the FTC. As you go through the process, you'll answer some questions about what happened, and the FTC will create a personal recovery plan to help you with the next steps.\nFrom there, you can create an account with the FTC, which can give you access to additional resources and help you keep track of your progress. It will also provide an identity theft affidavit, which you can use when you file your police report and then if you decide to request an extended fraud alert. END

TITLE: How to Protect Yourself If You’ve Been Scammed Online CONTENT: File a Police Report\n--------------------\nThe process for filing a police report can vary depending on where you live. Check with your local police department to see if you can file a report online or if you need to submit a paper report in person.\nGo through the report and answer all the questions to the best of your ability. Then provide it to the police department using its approved channels.\nAfter you've filed the report, request a copy of it, especially if you're thinking about requesting an extended fraud alert on your credit reports. END

TITLE: How to Protect Yourself If You’ve Been Scammed Online CONTENT: Monitor Your Credit\n-------------------\nAs you take these steps, your information will become less valuable to the scammer who stole it. If they steal a credit card number, for instance, canceling the card will immediately stop them from being able to use your line of credit. And if they have your Social Security number, placing a credit freeze or fraud alert on your credit reports can stop the thief from opening new accounts in your name.\nJust keep in mind that there are other ways a criminal can use your Social Security number, including filing fraudulent tax returns and health insurance claims. So keep an eye on those things as well, so you can report the fraud immediately if it occurs.\nThroughout this process, it's important to monitor your credit in case a scammer manages to use your information before you lock it down. Check your credit report regularly for potential changes that you don't recognize, and also keep an eye on your credit score in case it drops suddenly, which could be a sign that there's trouble.\nThere's no surefire way to stop identity theft, but if you keep track of your credit and follow the other steps listed above, you'll have a much better chance of recovering quickly from a scam. END

TITLE: How to Place a Fraud Alert CONTENT: Fraud alerts are available through all three national credit bureaus (Experian, TransUnion and Equifax). Placing a fraud alert at any one of the bureaus automatically triggers alerts at all three.\nWhen you request a fraud alert, you must provide a copy of a state-issued ID card and a piece of mail, such as a utility or insurance bill, as proof of address. At the Experian Fraud Alert Center, you have the option to upload those items (and other supporting documents, if you're requesting an active-duty or long-term alert) as electronic documents or to submit them by mail.\nTo place a fraud alert at the Experian Fraud Alert Center, visit the webpage, select the type of alert you want, and follow the instructions on how to upload or mail in copies of your ID, proof of address and any other required documentation.\nIf you want to remove a fraud alert from your credit reports before they expire naturally, you must contact all three credit bureaus separately. (While the bureaus alert one another when an alert is activated, they do not do the same when one is removed.) Follow each bureau's instructions for removing a fraud alert, as procedures may differ by bureau. END

TITLE: How to Place a Fraud Alert CONTENT: Does Placing a Fraud Alert Hurt My Credit?\n------------------------------------------\nPlacing a fraud alert on your credit report has no effect whatsoever on your credit standing. The requirement that creditors verify your identity may limit your ability to get instant approval on in-store or online credit card applications, or financing at in-store kiosks (at cellphone and computer retailers, for instance). A credit alert may require you to take a few extra steps, such as talking with a service rep in the store or by phone, but by law a fraud alert cannot prevent you from being approved for a loan or credit if you qualify for it.\nIf you suspect your personal information has been compromised or that criminals have stolen your identity or are trying to do so, placing a fraud alert on your credit report is an easy form of protection you can initiate yourself quickly and easily, and remove whenever you like. END

TITLE: What Are the Warning Signs of Tax Fraud? CONTENT: Scammers can defraud you at tax time in several different ways. Many involve tax identity theft, where a person obtains your name, address and Social Security number and uses this information to file a tax return in your name before you do to steal your tax refund.\nPart of this scheme can involve creating fake federal W-2 forms that show you've withheld a lot of money—and will receive a large refund. Fraudsters will have the refund deposited into their bank account, which they'll likely close once they receive the funds.\nThis is just one form of tax fraud, and it doesn't always provide warning signs. But that doesn't mean you're powerless to detect certain types of scams. END

TITLE: What Are the Warning Signs of Tax Fraud? CONTENT: How to Detect Tax Fraud\n-----------------------\nThe most common signs of tax fraud include:\n* **Your return has already been filed**: Unfortunately, you may not be aware that you're a victim of tax fraud until it's too late. Here's what can happen: You file your return and wait for your refund. Then you get a rejection from the IRS telling that your information has already been used in a different return.\n* **An unknown employer sends you a tax form**: You receive a W-2 or 1099 form from an employer you're unfamiliar with. The IRS may also reach out to you and inform you that this employer has paid you.\n* **You receive a tax refund you didn't expect**: If you get a paper refund check in the mail that you didn't request, don't get too excited. A criminal may have had it sent it to you by accident when they wanted to have it sent somewhere else.\n* **The IRS asks you to verify information**: If the IRS detects a suspicious tax return, it may send you a letter that asks you to confirm you're the one who is actually filing with your name and Social Security number.\n* **You owe more money to the IRS but can't figure out why**: In the event the IRS states you owe them more money but you can't determine why after carefully reviewing your income or deductions, you may be a victim.\n* **You use a new tax preparer who has odd requests**: This could include wanting you to sign your return before it's completed, not asking you for W-2s or requiring you to pay them instead of the IRS for taxes owed.\n* **You get phone calls from the IRS demanding payment**: The IRS will never call you to request payment or ask for personal identity information. They also will not call you to tell you they're involving law enforcement in regard to your tax return. END

TITLE: What Are the Warning Signs of Tax Fraud? CONTENT: What to Do if You Think You're a Victim of Tax Fraud\n----------------------------------------------------\nIf you believe you're a victim of tax fraud, don't panic. Fortunately, the IRS is on your side and there are things you can do to recover from the situation including:\n* Complete the IRS Identity Theft Affidavit. This informs the IRS that you may be a victim of tax fraud and prompts them to investigate your case.\n* File a report with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Visit IdentityTheft.gov and click on \"Someone else filed a Federal Tax Return using my information.\" Then, fill out the form and provide additional information such as your driver's license number to verify your identity.\n* Report the scam to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.\n* File a police report. The FTC recommends filing a police report. If you do so, make sure you include any documents and forms that are related to the fraudulent tax returns. The more information you can provide, the better.\n* Consider placing a credit freeze with the three national credit bureaus (Experian, TransUnion or Equifax) to prevent scammers from using your personal information to open credit accounts in your name. To place a security freeze on your Experian credit report, go to the Experian Security Freeze Center. END

TITLE: What Are the Warning Signs of Tax Fraud? CONTENT: Protect Yourself From Tax Fraud\n-------------------------------\nUnfortunately, you can't always prevent tax fraud. What you can do, however, is reduce your risk of becoming a victim of it. Be aware of the signs of tax fraud, keep your Social Security number private, file your taxes early and protect all your devices with strong passwords. Taking these preventive measures can save you headache and stress down the road. END

TITLE: How to Report Identity Theft CONTENT: Report Identity Fraud to the FTC\n--------------------------------\nThe first stop to reporting identity theft is the Federal Trade Commission. The FTC has a designated identity theft website that offers step-by-step instructions to help victims reach mediation. The site allows users to report incidents of identity theft or follow up on specific types of data theft situations, such as data breach, tax fraud or stolen information. The site will then give you the opportunity to file an identity theft report, which is used by law enforcement agencies in their investigation. END

TITLE: How to Report Identity Theft CONTENT: Consider Filing a Police Report\n-------------------------------\nFor many, the gut reaction to identity theft is to contact the police and report the crime. But local law enforcement may not be able to do anything, especially if the theft involves internet crime. However, the FTC, which acts as the primary law enforcement agency for identity theft, offers suggestions on when individuals should file a police report:\n* You can identify the person who stole your identity or used it fraudulently\n* You have specific information that can aid a police investigation\n* Your identity was used fraudulently in an encounter with the police, like a traffic stop\n* A creditor or other entity requires you to file a police report\nIf you decide to file a police report, take a copy of your FTC report and provide as many details as possible. END

TITLE: How to Report Identity Theft CONTENT: Notify Credit Bureaus\n---------------------\nNext, report the incident to the credit bureaus (Experian, TransUnion and Equifax) so they know the identity theft has occurred. This allows the bureau to put a fraud alert on your credit report, which should lead to even greater diligence before approving any new accounts under your name. You can provide a phone number and request the bureau to reach out to you directly about new activity on the account. No need to contact all of the credit bureaus; once you notify one of the bureaus to request a fraud alert, that bureau will automatically notify the other two. END

TITLE: How to Report Identity Theft CONTENT: Dispute Errors Caused by Identity Theft\n---------------------------------------\nIdentify theft can often result in a drop in your credit score and other errors, so you'll want to dispute any problems as soon as possible. To dispute items on your Experian credit report, you can begin by initiating a report at the online dispute center, by phone or by mail.\nTo dispute errors, begin a new form, click on the disputed information on your report, select the reason why you are disputing the information, and submit. Experian will provide updates throughout the process, which normally takes about 30 days.\nOnce the dispute is resolved, you'll learn whether the disputed information was deleted or remains because the information was deemed to be accurate. Filing a dispute won't impact your credit score, but you may see changes based on the final decision regarding the disputed information. If your disputed information remains in your file, you can appeal this, but you'll need to gather more information to prove your case. END

TITLE: How to Report Identity Theft CONTENT: Protect Your Credit\n-------------------\nAfter you've reported the identity theft to the proper authorities and begun the process to settle disputes in your credit reports, you may want to take one or two more steps to continue to protect your credit. Those are to lock your credit or add a security freeze. You have to initiate the security freeze with all of the credit bureaus separately, and once frozen, you'll need to contact each again to lift the freeze if you're applying for a loan, credit card or other credit product that requires a credit check. All three credit bureaus also allow you to lock your credit when you enroll in their individual programs. Certain credit lock programs may also offer extra benefits such as credit monitoring. These options allow you to add protection to your credit and give you peace of mind.\nResolving identity theft isn't always easy, but following the reporting steps is a vital part of the process. Keep records of each step and of any proof you come across so you are able to prove your complaint and win your disputes. Then be patient. Resolving identity theft is a time-consuming process, taking weeks or months. The more you provide to authorities, the better they can resolve your case. END

TITLE: What Is the Difference Between a Fraud Alert and a Credit Freeze? CONTENT: The type of fraud alert most often discussed as an alternative to a credit freeze is an extended fraud alert, or fraud victim statement. Intended for victims of credit fraud or identity theft, an extended fraud alert will stay on your credit report for seven years unless you have it removed sooner. When adding one to your credit report, you must provide a copy of a police report or other valid identity theft report submitted to law enforcement.\nAn extended fraud alert attaches a notice to your credit report that indicates you are a fraud victim. It asks any business seeking your credit report to contact you to confirm your identity before granting credit in your name. These could include:\n* Credit issuers\n* Landlords\n* Potential employers\n* Car insurance companies\n* Car rental agencies\nAnyone can place a less stringent type of fraud alert known as a temporary fraud alert, or initial security alert, on their credit report at any time and for any reason (no criminal report is required). It notifies businesses requesting your credit report that you are a potential victim of identity theft and asks them to confirm your identity. A temporary fraud alert stays on your credit report for one year unless you cancel it sooner.\nA third type of alert, the active-duty fraud alert, is functionally identical to a temporary fraud alert, but is designed for service members on remote-duty assignments. Proof of military orders must be submitted along with a request for this type of alert. END

TITLE: What Is the Difference Between a Fraud Alert and a Credit Freeze? CONTENT: How to Set Up a Fraud Alert\n---------------------------\nIt's free to set up fraud alert at all three national credit reporting agencies, Experian, TransUnion and Equifax. When you request a fraud alert at one credit bureau, fraud alerts are automatically added at the other two bureaus. You can have a fraud alert removed at any time, but you must contact each credit bureau separately to do so. When you do, you will need to submit proof of identity, just as you did when you set up the alert, to prevent identity thieves from impersonating you and removing a fraud alert from your credit report.\nFraud alerts are a great option if you want to be cautious, but know you'll need to authorize access to your credit reports when it needs to be accessed. Still, it's usually more convenient than cutting off access to your credit reports altogether with a credit freeze. END

TITLE: What Is the Difference Between a Fraud Alert and a Credit Freeze? CONTENT: What Is a Credit Freeze?\n------------------------\nA credit freeze, or security freeze, is a more severe measure for protecting your credit file. Unlike a fraud alert, a security freeze prohibits potential new creditors (and others permitted by law to view your credit files or obtain your credit scores) from accessing your credit history unless you first lift the freeze.\nThere's not much reason to put both a credit freeze and a fraud alert in place, but if you did, no one would ever see the fraud alert until you removed the credit freeze. Access to your credit file is required for the fraud alert to be visible. END

TITLE: What Is the Difference Between a Fraud Alert and a Credit Freeze? CONTENT: How to Freeze Your Credit\n-------------------------\nTo freeze your credit reports, you must submit requests to each of the three credit bureaus individually. Procedures vary somewhat at each, but they are essentially similar to those used at the Experian Security Freeze Center. As part of the freeze request, which can be made online or by phone, you will be assigned (or asked to create) a PIN code or password for use in unfreezing your credit file.\nWhen you provide a PIN or use a password to request removal of a credit freeze online or by phone, your credit file will be unfrozen, or \"thawed,\" within one hour. If you lose your PIN or forget your password, thawing is still possible, but it may take longer and require resubmission of proof of identity. END

TITLE: What Is the Difference Between a Fraud Alert and a Credit Freeze? CONTENT: When to Unfreeze Your Credit\n----------------------------\nYou must unfreeze your credit file before applying for credit or other services that require access to your credit history, such as opening a new cellphone account or applying to renting an apartment. If you do not unfreeze your credit file before filing an application, the business will not be able to access your credit file or process your application.\nIf you have one or more credit applications pending, or if you plan to apply for new credit in the near future, consider postponing a security freeze. For lenders to process your credit application, you will need to unfreeze your credit report, either permanently or for a designated time period.\nIf you know which credit bureau or bureaus a lender will be using to check your credit, you can request from them a single-use PIN you'll provide to the lender to grant one-time access to your credit report. If you're shopping for the best lending terms you can get (as you always should when applying for loans or credit cards), it's virtually impossible to know which bureaus all your lenders will use, so the one-time PIN option isn't very practical. In that case, you're better off lifting your credit freezes at all three credit bureaus for a set time period—until at least two weeks after you send out your last application. END

TITLE: What Is the Difference Between a Fraud Alert and a Credit Freeze? CONTENT: Which Option Is Right for Me?\n-----------------------------\nDeciding whether to set up a fraud alert or credit freeze depends on your situation:\n* **If you're a victim of credit fraud or identity theft**, deciding between an extended fraud alert and a credit freeze is mainly a matter of how often you anticipate needing to authorize access to your credit files in the months and years ahead.\n* **If you're early in your career and foresee applying for credit**—including car loans, mortgages or credit cards—in the next few years (or seeking an apartment rental, rental cars, or new utility or cellphone accounts), freezing your credit files may prove unwieldy. You may even find yourself lifting the freezes so often that they are practically ineffective. An extended fraud alert will likely be more useful for you.\n* **If you're late in your career or in retirement**, and don't anticipate needing any new credit cards or loans, credit freezes can provide peace of mind in the knowledge that no one can touch your credit files. Keep in mind that you may need to thaw your credit files occasionally for non-lenders who conduct credit checks, such as cellphone, cable or internet providers.\n* **If your minor children have credit files**, freezing those credit files on their behalf is a good precaution. Underage children do not ordinarily have credit files, but will if you've made a minor a cosigner on a credit card (a good strategy for helping them get a headstart on building a credit history), or if your children have credit files as a result of identity theft. You can thaw the files when the children come of age and are ready to begin seeking credit on their own.\n* **If you're concerned your personal information may have been compromised** but haven't seen evidence of a crime you can report to law enforcement, consider a temporary fraud alert. If you're worried that your personal information—credit card and bank account numbers, account passwords or Social Security number—may have been exposed to scammers or in a security breach, you can add a fraud alert to all your files with one quick request to any credit bureau. You can remove it anytime you like, renew it easily every year if you prefer or, if there's no indication of any criminal meddling after a year, just let it expire and return your credit files to normal accessibility.\nFraud alerts and credit freezes are valuable tools for combating identity theft and credit fraud. It's good to familiarize yourself with both and be ready to use them whenever they meet your needs. END