For nearly a decade, Joanna Saenz has been haunted by identity theft. After first losing her ID at 17 years old on a vacation trip to Mexico, she found out that her identity had been used to make major purchases, including a house. Joanna’s nightmare, while extreme, shows that any one of us is vulnerable, no matter how young.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has some great advice for how you to keep close tabs on your own identity. As well as the immediate steps you should take if you discover your identity has been stolen.
No one expects to be the victim of a crime, but it can happen to any one of us. If you find yourself a victim of any crime, where can you turn to? The important thing to remember is that you are not alone, you can be empowered, and this week at the AMW Safety Center you can learn how. We’ve teamed up with the National Center for Victims of Crime to help point you in the right direction to finding justice.
Probably the biggest nuissance to Americans today is receiving an unsolicited telemarketing call to their home. These calls interrupt time spent with your family, or interrupt your dinner, but you don’t have to put up with them. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has created a National Do Not Call Registry that you can sign up for, and keep your family time uninterrupted.
If you are one of the many Americans experiencing financial difficulties from a job loss, illness, or overspending, you might be feeling overwhelmed as you fall behind in your responsibilities. With mounting debt, crumbling credit, or even the possibility of losing your home, any offer of debt relief can sound very enticing. If you encounter a company that claims it can fix your credit, or that offers quick solutions to helping you to avoid foreclosure, you should always be wary, particularly if they ask for money upfront. Many of these companies end up taking your money, but never provide you with any services. Continue reading Outsmart Scammers: Stay On Guard Against Credit Repair Schemes »
Randy F: I was wondering what is the best way to report a company for fraud? They took over $42,000 from my wife and I to do work on my house then skipped out before the work was done. We paid cash in full, and even took out loan on the house.
JW: Randy, if you’ve been scammed by a contractor, obviously you need to notify your local police and file a report. Your next step is to report the scammers directly to the Federal Trade Commission, either online at ftc.gov, or by phone at 1-877 - FTC HELP. We got a few tips from the FTC on how to protect yourself from these con men, so they don’t get a chance to get your hard-earned money Continue reading How Can I Avoid Contractor Fraud? »
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