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Does your job offer credit education classes?  If not, then ask your boss to feature a HOPE Credit Expert at your next staff meeting! These free classes can be tailored to fit into any schedule.  Our experts can give a quick, 5 minute "credit tip" or even an in depth 1 hour training session on how to achieve healthier credit. HOPE would love to help you give a little something back to your hardworking employees. Please contact us today for more information or to schedule a free credit education class for your company.  Just don't wait too long - our calendar fills up fast!

Don't forget: HOPE Credit Experts are available for your next church seminar or school event as well! Clean credit and the peace of mind that comes along with it is a priceless gift! Why not share it with your employees, friends, and family? We hope to hear from you soon!

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Combat Identity Fraud Effectively!

Combat Identity Fraud Effectively! By Michelle Black

We have spent a lot of time over the last month discussing ways that you can protect yourself from one of the nation's fastest growing crimes - identity theft.  If you have not yet had the opportunity to read our 10 part blog series, Protecting Yourself from Identity Theft, we would love to invite you to do so. Simply check out our June blog archives to get started.  Remember, if you educate yourself on the tactics used by ID thieves then it will be much, much harder for any identity thief to take advantage of you.  Here's a quick summary of the 10 best ways to protect yourself from identity theft:

1. Check your credit report for fraud! It's important to check your credit at least twice per year.  Nearly 90% of current credit files contain mistakes, fraud, or errors!  (Click on the link above for additional details.)

2.  Make copies of your credit cards! This will enable you to act quickly in the event that your credit card is lost or stolen. (Click on the link above for additional details.)

3.  Shred, burn, or otherwise destroy "thief prone" documents. Keep "dumpster divers" from stealing sensitive information right out of your trash can! Check out the full article (by clicking the link above) for full details on which kinds of documents you should always destroy in order to protect yourself.

4. Don't give personal information on the phone unless YOU initiated the call. Beware, beware, beware of telephone scam artists who will try any tactic necessary to steal your personal information right over the phone. (Click on the link above for additional details.)

5.  Never leave personal information in your car. It's all too easy for an identity thief to break into your car and steal sensitive personal information.  Once your ID is stolen it can become a nightmare to regain your good name so always follow this important step to protect yourself.  (Click on the link above for additional details.)

6.  Don't fall for phishing scams! Never reply to an email or instant message with your personal information. Remember, identity thieves are getting more and more creative, so even if the email looks like it originated from your bank or another personal creditor you should never reply to it or click on a link to provide any personal information, user name, or password.   (Click on the link above for additional details.)

7. Don't put checks in your mailbox. Mail theft is a common form of identity fraud.  It is easy for a crook to steal your check and use acid wash to change the name of the recipient. It is always safer to drop your checks off at the post office for mailing or to pay bills online via a secure website.  (Click on the link above for additional details.)

8.  Don't carry unnecessary personal documents in your wallet or purse! Extra credit cards, birth certificates, marriage licenses, and even social security cards should not be kept in your wallet or purse. In the event that your wallet/purse is lost or stolen you make it much easier for an identity thief to cause severe damage to your credit if this information is easily accessible.  (Click on the link above for additional details.)

9.  Monitor your statements every month. A great way to prevent serious identity fraud is to monitor your statements closely. Early detection of fraudulent activity can often protect your credit report and help you to avoid paying for any charges you did not authorize.  (Click on the link above for additional details.)

10. Take your name off promotional lists. The fewer promotional offers you receive in the mail the harder it is for an identity thief to steal an offer and apply for it in your name.  Plus, removing yourself from these lists will help to reduce the amount of pesky junk mail you receive - bonus! Check out the link above for detailed instructions on having your name removed from these lists.

Please feel free to share today's article with your online friends and family by clicking our easy to use "share" buttons below.  We would love for you to join HOPE in the fight against identity fraud! And remember, if you or a loved one has already been a victim of identity fraud there is still hope for you.  Just give our caring credit experts a call at 704-499-9696 for more information on how the HOPE Program has been helping victims of identity fraud (and countless other credit issues) for 11+ years.  We would love to give you our professional advice and see if the HOPE Program can be of any assistance to you.

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Protecting Yourself from Identity Theft - Part 10

Protecting Yourself from Identity Theft Part 10 by Michelle Black

Thanks very much for “tuning in” today for our 10^th and final tip regarding identity theft prevention.  I hope that you have enjoyed this blog series as much as I have enjoyed writing it.  By following today’s tip and all 9 previous tips outlined in this series you can drastically reduce your chances of being victimized by ID thieves.

#10:  Take Your Name Off Promotional Lists.

When taking strides to reduce your risk of identity theft, it is definitely a good idea to opt out of pre-approved and promotional offers. Remember, in part 3 of this blog series where I wrote about “dumpster divers?” Dumpster divers are thieves who steal personal information right out of your trash can. It is very easy for a thief to steal a pre-approved credit card offer that was sent to you (especially if the document is thrown into the trash without being properly shredded) and apply for an account in your name with a new address. Nearly half (43%) of all identity fraud originates from stolen wallets and/or stolen paperwork. By removing yourself from these promotional mailing lists you can avoid this risk all together. Thankfully, it is pretty simple to have yourself removed from these lists. Just visit www.optoutprescreen.com to get started.

At HOPE we know that being a victim of identity fraud is a nightmare. Once a fraudulent account appears on your credit report it can been almost impossible to see it removed without having to pay for the account out of your own pocket unless professional assistance is used.  In fact, 70% of ID theft victims have difficulty removing the fraudulent information that resulted from ID theft from their credit reports (ITRC Aftermath Study).  If you have been a victim of ID theft (or you suspect that you have been a victim of ID theft) then we invite you to give our team of credit experts a call.  You can schedule a no-obligation credit analysis appointment with HOPE to see how much damage has been done to your credit report and what it will take to help you turn the situation around. For more information or to schedule your appointment please call 704-499-9696.  We would love to help you kick identity theft issues or any other credit issues you may be facing to the curb!

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Protecting Yourself from Identity Theft - Part 9

Protecting Yourself from Identity TheftPart 9 by Michelle Black

As I begin to wind down this informative blog series (just 1 more tip to go!) I would like to share one of the more alarming statistics I came across during my research. According to the ITRC Aftermath Study, over 43% of identity theft victims know the person who stole their identity! Unsurprisingly, it is not uncommon for a child to steal a parent’s identity to open utilities accounts, apply for credit cards or other loans, or even use a parent’s already established credit card or checking account to make unauthorized purchases.  However, believe it or not, it is also a very common phenomenon for parents to steal the identities of their children, especially in the case of underage minors with clean or un-established credit reports. Roommates are another common source of identity theft.

Since credit card theft makes up a whopping 26% of identity theft here is another tip to help you:

#9:  Monitor Your Statements Every Month.

It is extremely important to monitor all of your bank statements and credit card statements every single month.  You should read through your statements, line by line, to check for any unauthorized or suspicious charges.  If you find anything that looks "fishy" you can contact your bank or credit card company directly to investigate the charges further.  This proactive step could potentially help to keep you from paying someone else’s bill!

Be sure to check back this week for my final tip on how to avoid identity fraud.  If you haven’t done so already, please check out parts 1-8 of the Protecting Yourself from Identity Theft blog series.  Learning the tactics used by identity thieves can help you to protect yourself from becoming victimized!  Have you already become a victim of identity theft?  HOPE is here to help! Please give us a call at 704-499-9696 to learn how the HOPE Program can help you to reclaim your good name.  No credit problem is too big!

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Protecting Yourself from Identity Theft - Part 8

Protecting Yourself from Identity TheftPart 8 by Michelle Black

Did you know that 1 in 10 US consumers has already been victimized by identity fraud?   In fact, studies have shown that those households with incomes higher than $70,000 were twice as likely to experience identity theft as those with salaries under $50,000 (U.S. DOJ, 2005). Those are some disturbing statistics. However, the good news is that there are many ways you can protect yourself from becoming another victim to this rapidly growing crime. Check out today’s tip for avoiding identity theft:

#8:  Don’t Carry Unnecessary Personal Documents in Your Wallet or Purse.

Empty your wallet of all extra credit cards and social security numbers. Do not carry any unnecessary forms of identification. It is also very important NOT to carry your birth certificate, social security card, marriage license, military ID, or passport, unless necessary.  Not having these items in your purse or wallet will make it harder for identity thieves to steal sensitive personal information from you.  You definitely do not want to make it any easier for thieves to target you!

There are still a few more great tips to come on how to protect yourself and your family from identity theft! Please check back in with us next week.  Remember, if you find today’s tip to be helpful, please be sure to share it with your online friends with our easy to use “share” buttons below.  The #1 way we can reduce identity theft is by increasing awareness.  Thanks for your help spreading the word!

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