Atlanta Bankruptcy Attorney Blog

As if it's not bad enough that we may fall victim to yet another recession, we also have to worry about falling victim to double-dip scams.

With the economy looking poised to take another nosedive, more folks than ever are dealing with recession-related difficulties - things like getting laid off, losing our homes to foreclosure and struggling to pay the bills. And scam artists are taking full advantage, say Atlanta bankruptcy attorneys. Fraudsters know many of us will do anything to earn a steady paycheck or save our home, including giving them our hard-earned dollars.

Fortunately, there's a way to tell the scams from the real deal.

Continue reading "Ways Atlanta Consumers Can Avoid Double-Dip Recession Scams" »

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" »

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" »

When you think of a debt relief company, you usually think of a company that, you know, relieves debt. But believe it or not, you might be wrong.

We've all heard the claims by debt relief firms, be it on the radio, TV or our computer. They can negotiate with creditors on your behalf, lowering -- or eliminating -- the amount you owe. And they can do it all for a low monthly rate. And virtually overnight. For the many folks $10,000 or more in debt, it sounds like a miracle.

Unfortunately, it is like a miracle - in that it very rarely happens.

Continue reading "Bankruptcy Can Do What Atlanta Debt Relief Companies Can't" »

From an early age, we're taught not to trust strangers. Maybe that's why it's so easy for us to spot fraudulent e-mails coming from people or places we don't recognize.

The problem is, some scammers are outsmarting us by disguising their e-mails - and stealing our personal information in the process, according to Atlanta bankruptcy attorneys. Sure, we know not to click on that message from a millionaire in a foreign country or someone trying to sell us weight loss pills - especially when the e-mails are full of typos. But what about that legitimate-looking e-mail that appears to be from our own bank or credit card company?

Continue reading "Phishing Email Scams Try to Lure Atlanta Bank Customers into Giving Up Personal Information" »

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" »

Taking out a loan to pay off debt doesn't really make sense - after all, a loan means more debt.

But that's exactly what millions of Americans do each year when they sign up for debt consolidation loans. From the alluring promises made in debt consolidation ads, it's hard not to be curious. Combine all your debts - mortgage, car loan and credit cards - into one easy low-rate payment, they say. Save thousands a year! Wipe out credit card debts!

It sounds too good to be true - and at DebtStoppers, we know that means it probably is!

Continue reading "Debt Consolidation Loans Can Leave Atlanta Residents With More Debt" »

Would you go back to school if Uncle Sam promised to foot the bill?

A lot of Americans are saying yes to scholarships. Unfortunately, they might also be saying yes to scam artists - and debt.

Scams have been popping up with ever-increasing frequency since the economy took a major nosedive in 2008. And one of the most common scams promises college scholarships and grants to certain demographic groups - for instance, those making less than $30,000 a year (give or take), stay-at-home moms or for the recently unemployed.

Problem is, the offers are often traps. Scam artists ask for a processing fee - or your personal information - and when you comply, they take your money and disappear, leaving you in more financial trouble than before.

Continue reading "College Scholarship Scams Land Atlanta Students in Even More Debt" »

Most of us would agree that 50% interest is way too much to pay for a credit card. Yet many Atlanta residents are paying annual rates of 500% or more - we just don't realize it.

How? Payday loans. Maybe you know the drill. For whatever reason, you come up short on the bills one month and payday is still a week away. A short-term loan seems like a quick, easy way to get the cash you need upfront -you figure you can worry about the fees later.

Problem is, these are no ordinary fees. In the payday loan world, fee is code for interest. And with interest rates like these, you might end up in debt - and more strapped for cash than you were in the first place.

Continue reading "Payday Loan Centers Are Leaving Atlanta Workers In Debt" »

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" »

Today, we give thanks for food, family and friends. Tomorrow, many of us are giving thanks for the Internet.

In the past few years, online shopping has revolutionized Black Friday and the rest of the holiday shopping season. Instead of braving long lines and crowded shopping malls on a quest for the best deals early Friday morning, we can find some of the same sales - and some better - from the comfort from our own homes. And it couldn't have happened at a better time.

With most folks already struggling to pay the bills, we don't have much to spare when it comes to shopping for Christmas gifts. Unlike traditional shopping, the Internet allows instant price comparisons, access to way more stores - and potential deals - than we'd ever be able to visit on foot or by car, and less temptation for spur-of-the-moment spending, since there are no distracting window displays or sales people (though those pop-ups can be annoying).

But as with any good thing, there's always a catch - in this case, online scams.

Continue reading "More Online Shopping Means More Online Scams This Season" »

If you've watched any amount of TV in the past couple years, you've probably caught the ads for FreeCreditReport.com. You know, where the guy and his band are in a pirate-themed restaurant or his parents' basement, singing about how his failure to keep an eye on his credit ruined his life. It's catchy, for sure, but it's not entirely truthful.

Despite the name, FreeCreditReport.com isn't actually free. Signing up to get your credit report also gets you enrolled in a credit monitoring program that charges $14.95 a month. Most customers don't even realize what they've signed up for -- before they know it, they're shelling out $180 a year (a big deal, considering the majority of folks are already struggling to make the mortgage).And the ones who knowingly sign up are led to believe that paying to keep monthly tabs on their credit is a good deal.

What they don't realize is that Uncle Sam offers a way better deal - absolutely free credit reports via AnnualCreditReport.com. That's because the government requires that each of the three major credit bureaus - TransUnion, Equifax and Experian - provide consumers with a free annual report.

Continue reading "Some Free Credit Reports Come With Strings Attached" »

When you find the right bankruptcy plan, it can almost seem too good to be true. You can get creditors off your back, prevent foreclosure, gain a realistic way to pay down debts and - if you stick with it - finally find financial freedom.

So what's the problem? Sometimes bankruptcy really is too good to be true. Though it can undoubtedly be a saving grace for folks saddled with debt, it can turn in to a nightmare if you fall into the wrong hands.

We're all aware that Americans carry a lot of debt - about $8,000 on average, to be exact. And some of the less honest among us use that fact to their advantage. A recent study by the Attorney General of New York found that 80 percent of online-based bankruptcy websites were scams. These companies prey upon the desperation of the financially-troubled, take their money and leave them further in debt.

So how do you tell the good companies from the bad? Watch for red flags.

Continue reading "Making Sure Your Bankruptcy Plan Isn't Too Good To Be True " »