Most individuals and families use credit as a regular financial tool to manage expenses and facilitate major purchases. “Credit” broadly is a transaction between a lender or creditor and a consumer-borrower where the lender allows the consumer to make a purchase or...
Dynamic Guidance And Advocacy Throughout Northern Virginia
Identity Theft
What to do if someone pulls your credit without your permission
Have you ever had your credit score drop unexpectedly? Shocked by rejection of a credit application? These situations signal the possibility that your credit rating fell because someone made unauthorized hard credit pulls from your reports at the three consumer credit...
Credit-report correction: What does credit protection really mean?
You may hear credit firms advertising their “credit protection” services, but it is a misnomer to say that they protect consumer credit in a preventative way. While there are smart choices that YOU can make about your own behavior in the marketplace, a credit firm is...
Did your credit take a hit from credit-report errors? Fight back.
Most consumers expect to use credit for major purchases and needs. Common types of consumer credit include home mortgages, student loans, vehicle loans, home improvement loans, lines of credit and credit cards. People are careful to build good credit ratings through...
Identity theft ruin your good credit? Fight to correct your score.
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...
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...