Did someone steal your identity and use it to spend your money, use your good credit to open fraudulent accounts or take out loans in your name? The ways an identity thief can exploit your personal identifying information are endless. You may be surprised at the...

Dynamic Guidance And Advocacy Throughout Northern Virginia
Identity Theft
Identity theft victims are getting younger
Victims of identity theft transcend specific demographics. Anyone can find themselves dealing with serious fraud that impacts financial stability. In spite of evolving and highly cutting-edge technology to stop scammers, many find a way to “financial success” by...
Understanding debit cards, credit cards and identity theft
Technology continues to grow in its sophistication, particularly when it comes to combatting fraud involving credit and debit cards. The tug-of-war between companies who provide these services and hackers looking access accounts for nefarious actions that line their...
‘Tis the season for credit card fraud
Credit cards have created countless conveniences when it comes to shopping. Swipes and taps particularly increase in the time between Black Friday and Christmas Eve for shoppers who prefer onsite purchases. Those who choose online shopping – particularly popular...
If someone has stolen your identity, what can you do about it?
When you suspect someone has stolen your personal identifying information like your Social Security number (SSN), driver’s license number, date of birth and other similar data, you may feel angry, fearful or distraught. In our last post, we described ways to identify...
Virginians should be on high alert for signs of identity theft
In this fast-paced, digital world it gets easier and easier for people with bad motives to steal your personal identifying information and use it for their own, illegal activities to your financial detriment. Identity theft is no joke – your life can feel ruined when...
Equifax identity theft settlement could help 4 million Virginians
Identity theft can be a nightmare if the thief uses your personal identifying information to fraudulently rack up charges in your name, potentially harming your credit and forcing you to fight against those seeking to collect those wrongful debts. In addition, the...
What does the Equifax data breach mean for you?
Unfortunately, it means we need to be ever more vigilant in monitoring for fraudulent use of our accounts and of our identities. On September 7, 2017, giant Equifax, one of three U.S. consumer credit bureaus, announced that its computer system had been hacked,...
Take swift, protective action if your identity is stolen
Federal and state laws provide legal remedies for fraudulent activity based on your wrongfully used information. The thought of having your identity stolen can send a shiver down your spine. We all have heard horror stories of people whose lives were hijacked by...
Security breach at Home Depot could involve 60 million credit cards
Customers at Home Depot should be aware that their credit card information might have been compromised. After a security blogger identified a breach in Home Depot's system, the retail giant recently admitted that its computer network was compromised. According to the...