Consumer Fraud

Fraud is always a serious matter, but scammers who use the U.S. Postal Service elevate the severity of their crime. Under the United States Code, using the postal service to conduct fraud is a...

"Cash Gifting" is not illegal in the United States. In fact, it is a perfectly legal way to lower future estate tax debt. However, pyramid schemes that claim to use "cash gifting" as a method to...

There are steps you can take if you are in debt that has now risen to the point that bankruptcy is the only option. If you are ineligible, or do not wish to apply, for Chapter 7, and complete...

Identity theft is a growing problem in Pennsylvania. Credit card fraud, bank fraud, utilities fraud and other types of identity theft affect thousands of Pennsylvanians every year. The office of...

Need to report a lost of stolen debit card (atm card)? Credit card fraud can be implemented in a matter of seconds. Your bank account could be drained before you even notice that your card is...

When your credit card is stolen, the thief can do a multitude of things with it. The first and foremost thing a thief might do is immediately purchase something with it, presenting themselves as...

Brand name clothing is often faked and sold for much less than its usual price. Telling the difference between the genuine article and fake items isn't always easy, and requires an eye for detail...

The rise in popularity of the Internet and email has not stopped criminals from attempting mail fraud. This is a federal crime, and the best thing you can do when you suspect a scam is to report...

Credit card fraud is the use of a credit card as a false or illegal source of funds in a business transaction. Many times, identity theft victims are commonly subject to this type of fraud.

There can be many reasons to make changes to a rental agreement. They can either be related to the landlord's needs such as a need to increase the rent, or the tenant's needs such as a need to add...

Some people love them and some people hate them, but no matter what you are feeling, timeshares remain a very popular vacation option. These businesses offer the consumer a guaranteed room,...

Check fraud ranked sixth in the 2008 top ten crime complaints reported to the Internet Crime Complaint Center, and number one for median dollar loss ($3,000). The National Check Fraud center says...

The availability of information on scams and a general rise in consumer awareness has decreased the success rate of scam artists. However, some people still get fooled into sending a check to an...

Each year, about 9 million Americans become victims of identity theft, according to the Federal Trade Commission. Thieves assume an identity other than their own and use either the victim's Social...

Trying to come up with unique passwords that you will easily remember can be a nuisance. The strongest passwords are the most difficult to remember, and this is a good thing for your internet...

With the incredible surge in credit card fraud these days one may think that it is a relatively harmless crime with few repercussions other than a slap on the wrist. On the contrary, credit card...

The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program was created to provide financial help to elderly, disabled and blind individuals who have little, if any, income. SSI also helps children with severe...

You know you're right but they won't listen to you? Here's some ways to get their attention. They will sit up and take notice when you do any of these in response to their unwillingness to help.

No one takes Social Security fraud lightly, least of all the Inspector General of the Social Security Administration (SSA). When he was appointed to the position in 2004, former Secret Service...

Until about June, I did not believe that anything on the Internet was free and therefore never gave out a credit card number to anything except absolutely protected sites for which I wanted to...

The National Do Not Call Registry was initiated in 2003 to allow individuals to register their home phone number and cell phone number to avoid unwanted telemarketing solicitors. If you register...

If you are dealing with a dispute with a credit card company, rest assured that there are laws creditors must follow to report your credit information accurately and provide you with accurate...

In this internet age, consumer fraud is running rampant. As a consumer, we must do all we can to shield ourselves against identity fraud crimes. We all know that we must shred our documents that...

A thief has many ways to get someone's personal information. Some methods are electronic in nature, while some involve face-to-face business transactions that turn out to be fraudulent. Several...

The Products Labeling Act, also known as the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act (FPLA), requires labels on all products to state the identity of the product, the name and place of the manufacturer,...

I want to warn you about a telephone con and how to avoid a $2,425 phone call. The scammers get you by calling from an 809 area code to tell you that they have some important information for you....

Every legal resident in the United States has his own unique personal identification number assigned to him by the Social Security Administration. This number helps identify him to the U.S....

Many companies that offer credit repair services make aggressive claims in their marketing, "guaranteeing" they can remove negative marks from your credit report. But the Federal Trade Commission...

Credit fraud occurs when someone uses your identity to make unauthorized charges to your credit accounts, opens new accounts in your name or makes any unauthorized use of your personal...

Anyone who writes a check knowing they do not have the funds available to cover the cost of the check in their bank account is doing so fraudulently. This is illegal, and can be punishable with...

The Federal Trade Commission reports approximately 8.3 million people were victims of identity theft in 2005. Identity theft happens in a wide variety of ways and affects people in all income groups.

Identity theft is one of the most prevalent crimes of the 21st century. According to a 2007 study by the Federal Trade Commission, 8.3 million Americans were victims of identity theft in 2005,...

Identity fraud is one of the most prevalent crimes in our society today. But many people only associate it with credit card fraud or stolen social security numbers. Checking accounts are also the...

How to protect your information from solicitors for up to 5 years.

Identity fraud can happen to any of us. A lost wallet or purse can cause unneeded headaches and money loss if you do not know how to prevent identity theft and keep your finances secure. You may...

Identity theft is the number one fraud related complaint received by the Federal Trade Commission, and has been for several years running. Having someone fraudulently gain access to your personal...

My office has been getting calls from concerned homeowners who feel lied to, tricked, scammed, or defrauded by loan modification companies. Here are some basic things to look for to avoid being a...

While the convenience of online shopping has drastically changed the face of modern commerce, it comes with a steep risk attached. While the concept of identity theft isn't wholly ubiquitous to...

Many products each year are put on the consumer market and then are found to be dangerous. Items from childrens toys with defective parts, to beverages with dangerous ingredients, and almost...

The Better Business Bureau – also known as the BBB – is a private organization that works as a mediator between consumers and corporations. Their goal is to collect reports from consumers about...

If you suspect a fraudulent activity during your car repair or are a victim of fraud activity, it is important that you file a complaint to Department of Consumer Affairs. Otherwise, other people...

A chargeback is the reversal of a credit card charge that the user made, but the money is later reverted bank to the account after. Chargebacks can be initiated by the card holder, or they can be...

We have all seen it, you post something for sale on Craigslist, an online classifieds or in the paper and you get more responses from the scammers than real people who are interested in what you...

The crime of identity theft involves an person inappropriately using the identity of another to gain unauthorized financial benefits. The person who has been victimized as the result of identity...

In legal matters, there are often issues that require lengthy and acrimonious procedures, but this is not always the case. In many instances, it is possible for parties to come to what is known as...

I know I usually tell you how to earn money online but this article will tell you how to save money or not be fooled by this obvious lottery check scam. IF IT SOUNDS TO GOOD TO BE TRUE, IT’S...

As we head to our mail boxes daily to get all of the fun and sometimes overwhelming mail some of us come across envelopes that show promising hopes yet disappointing outcomes. These usually are...

There are at least four good reasons to check your credit score. According to the Lending Tree website, the definition of a credit score is "a measure of your past ability to make payments on time...

The United States Transportation Security Administration (TSA) was created after the tragedy of September 11, 2001, as part of the Department of Homeland Security. It oversees the security of the...

Identity theft occurs when a party steals another person's Social Security number, credit card or other personal information and uses it to commit fraud, theft or other crimes. Many identity...