Atlanta Bankruptcy Attorney Blog

If you thought the Grinch was a mean one, wait until you hear about Christmas card financial scam artists.

You know those e-cards you get from family, friends and co-workers? The ones that feature pretty winter scenes, Christmas trees you can decorate with a point-and-click of your mouse or creepy dancing elves you can personalize with your own face? Well, now they might feature something else - spyware that can infect your computer and steal your identity, according to Atlanta bankruptcy attorneys.

Continue reading "Atlanta Computer Users Fall For Holiday Greeting Card Scam" »

Forget the Headless Horseman and the Grim Reaper - the scariest character for many Americans this Halloween is none other than the overly aggressive debt collector.

Bill collectors today are pulling out all the stops - calling us at work, calling us names and threatening to take our house, car and wages or even toss us in jail. Talk about being haunted. But thanks to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you don't have to put up with it - even if you can't afford to pay back debt. This kind of harassment is illegal, and you can put a stop to it, according to Atlanta bankruptcy attorneys.

Continue reading "Aggressive Debt Collectors Make Illegal Threats Against Atlanta Debtors" »

You know that credit card applications can take a toll on your credit score, but what about other types of credit inquiries?

With most Americans grappling to pay the mortgage and manage debt, it's a common belief that it's best not to take any chances with inquiries - even if it means going without checking our credit score, say Atlanta bankruptcy attorneys. Unfortunately, our caution may be doing more damage than good.

Continue reading "Why Not All Credit Inquiries Are Created Equal" »

With half a billion people using Facebook, it almost seems like a crime not to join the social networking site. But in fact, that might be the best way to avoid crime.

Most of us don't think twice about posting our names, photos, birthdays - even the week we're going to be gone on vacation - to our Facebook page. After all, what's a little sharing between friends, right? But we forget that millions of other people can see that info, too, say Atlanta bankruptcy attorneys. And with looser privacy settings, more folks than ever can access our personal information - putting our finances at risk.

Continue reading "Protecting Privacy Can Help Atlanta Facebook Users Avoid Financial Scams" »

Most of us don't think twice about paying for health, home or life insurance - and that's a good thing. The problem is when we don't think twice about paying for collision, identity theft, or cell phone insurance.

There are financial products that are worth the risk, and those that aren't, according to a new list by Consumer Reports. And if we take the time to weigh the pros and cons - instead of blindly buying what companies tell us to - our savings might well exceed the extra gamble, say Atlanta bankruptcy attorneys.

Continue reading "Living Without Phone Insurance and other Financial Products Can Save Money" »

The price of gas is always going up - but lately, it's getting especially high for some debit card users.

That's because more and more folks who use debit to pay at the pump are becoming victims of identity theft, according to Atlanta bankruptcy attorneys. Criminals can now attach a device called a skimmer to gas pumps. When you enter your card and PIN, a tiny camera in the skimmer reads the information - and gives scammers all they need to take money right out of your bank account. When you're already low on cash and struggling to manage your debt, having some thief steal your hard-earned dollars is like rubbing salt in the wound.

Despite its risks, debit can be a more responsible alternative to credit. The key is to be careful when and where you use it.

Continue reading "How Atlanta Debit Users Can Avoid Identity Theft at the Gas Station" »

How frequently do you check your credit card statement?

If you're like most folks, you simply read your balance and write a check. After all, why would you want to think about all that money that goes down the drain each month, right? But if you don't check up on your charges, your loss could literally be somebody else's gain.

The Federal Trade Commission recently busted a group of scammers that stole millions of dollars from millions of credit card users for over four years. How did they get away with stealing so much for so long? Easy. They took small amounts from each victim - a quarter here, 75 cents there - which they figured no one would notice. Sure enough, very few people reported the charges. But all those pennies add up. If too much debt has you struggling to pay the bills as it is, you shouldn't have to deal with someone getting a free ride off of your hard-earned dollars.

Continue reading "Why Atlanta Credit Card Holders Should Read Their Credit Statement Every Month" »

As if it isn't bad enough that Uncle Sam could take some of your hard-earned dollars, now scam artists want some too.

Tax frauds work because cash-strapped taxpayers are desperate for a way to lower tax bills - and are therefore more willing to let their guard down, say Atlanta bankruptcy attorneys. But this is exactly when you need to be most careful. With bills to pay, food to buy and less money than ever to do it with, it's up to you to protect your money from scam artists.

Luckily, there are some surefire ways to identify tax scams.

Continue reading "Common Sense Helps Atlanta Taxpayers Avoid Income Tax Scams" »

What's more important than filling out the 2010 U.S. Census? Making sure that the form you're filling out is actually the census - and not an attempt to steal your identity, according to Atlanta bankruptcy attorneys.

Now, this isn't meant to discourage you from participating in the census. Remember, the more people that get counted in your community, the more federal money your community can receive. Besides, the sooner you get your official census form turned in, the better.

Procrastinating ups the odds that a census worker will follow up with you by calling or knocking on your door. Problem is, a phony worker could do the same, increasing your risk of identity theft. Here's how to tell the difference.

Continue reading "Atlanta Residents Can Avoid 2010 Census Scams by Using Caution " »

Experts say computer users should have a different password for every online account. If that's the case, many of us have a long way to go, say Atlanta bankruptcy attorneys.

A recent study found the most common password is still the highly guessable "123456." In close second is "qwerty." That's the equivalent of leaving a fake lock on your front door. You think it will deter potential thieves, but the minute someone tries to break in you're in trouble. Maybe you think the online security questions will provide backup protection, but consider this: answers to the most common questions (What high school did you graduate from?) are often available on sites like Facebook.

Sure, it's a little extra work to develop a strong password (or several passwords). But believe me, it's a lot less work - and money - than putting your finances back together after someone hacks into your account, steals your personal information and ruins your credit or drains your bank account. Fortunately, there are some ways to make online security less of a pain.

Continue reading "Atlanta Computer Users Can Protect Their Online Identity With Better Passwords" »