How Online Romance Scams Can Lead to Financial Ruin
Each year around Valentine’s Day we see stories about people finding their true love and living happily ever after. People are meeting online more than ever before and while some connections lead to a fairytale ending, others become horror stories. Online romance scams exploded during the pandemic because many people were isolated and lonely and […]
I Found Unauthorized Credit Card Charges. What Can I Do?
Has this happened to you? You’re reviewing your monthly credit card statement or scanning your activity online and you find transactions you don’t recognize. Maybe the vendor is in a foreign country, or you’ve never heard of the company. When you find unauthorized credit card charges, do you know what to do? First, it’s critical […]
Auto Fraud Attorney Helps Buyers Fight Predatory Financing
According to a study by Bankrate, there are more than 272.4 million privately owned vehicles in America and more than 91% of all households have access to at least one vehicle. A recent consumer report showed 87% of Americans dislike traditional car shopping and many people would rather do their taxes or get a root […]
Credit Report Dispute Denied? Turn to a Credit Report Attorney For Help
If you have ever applied for a credit card, automobile loan, or other forms of credit, you have a credit report. If you find incorrect information in your report, you can dispute that information. Then, once your dispute is investigated, your credit report should be corrected. However, if your credit report dispute is denied, you may need […]
A Consumer Protection Law Outline: 5 Federal Consumer Protection Statutes You Should Know
According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), in 2019, United States consumers reported losing $1.8 billion due to consumer fraud. That number almost doubled in the next year with a reported loss of $3.3 billion in 2020. Most of the fraud involved imposter scams ($1.2 billion) with online shopping creating the next biggest fraud category ($246 million). With so many people falling prey to consumer fraud, and to help educate and empower consumers, […]
What are Actual Damages?
(And Other Possible Consumer Fraud Remedies) Congress has enacted various laws to protect US consumers from personal financial harm. These laws require banks, creditors, and credit reporting agencies to take specific steps when consumer fraud occurs. If creditors don’t follow the law, consumers may be entitled to certain remedies or financial damages including “actual damages.” But what […]
When Do Errors in Your Credit Report Become FCRA Violations?
If you have a credit card, a mortgage, an auto loan, or some other line of credit you have a credit report. The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) protects consumers from creditors and credit reporting agencies that misreport or misuse credit information or fail to follow certain procedures. Unfortunately, unresolved errors and FCRA violations can cause many consumer problems. The Consumer […]
Family Fraud: When Your Identity Thief is a Relative
When most people hear the words, “identity theft” they conjure up images of someone in a distant location, randomly searching the internet for credit card and bank accounts to hack, or perhaps someone stealing their mail. While these scenarios are not uncommon, another category of identity theft—fraud by family members, including ex-spouses and ex-partners—is growing each […]
Waiting to Report Stolen Money Under the EFTA Can Cost You
In the past decade, Americans have increasingly relied on electronic transfers to make daily life easier. It’s now common to pay bills, transfer money to friends, or even tip a delivery person using electronic fund transfers. Unfortunately, reports of stolen money have also increased when bank security measures fail, and resourceful cyber thieves steal what […]
Top 3 Identity Theft Scams to Avoid in 2022
As technology improves, and we transact more business online, our personal and business lives have become more efficient… most of the time. Unfortunately, identity thieves are also finding more creative ways to steal personal information and profit from identity theft scams that victimize innocent consumers. Here are some startling statistics and examples of identity fraud you might encounter in the coming year. By recognizing the three most common identity theft scams, you may avoid becoming a victim. **IMPORTANT** If you have […]
