Credit card and tax fraud typically increase around tax time. People should always safeguard this information and be sure that they shred any paperwork containing personal information or credit card numbers. Always use caution when making online purchases and make sure virus/spyware software is up to date. Certain viruses virtually allow criminals to view everything you do on the computer, and if given the opportunity, they can steal information right from under your nose.
Unfortunately, many people don’t realize they’ve been victimized until it’s too late. If you feel uneasy about using a card in public, opt for the credit card rather than debit. Credit cards offer protections that debit cards do not.

If you have someone assist you with tax preparation, always use trusted sources or reputable companies. Fly by night companies and “friends of friends” may be less expensive in the short run but far more costly in the end. Finally, we encourage everyone to request a copy of their credit report and review it carefully. If you notice any suspicious accounts, contact the creditor immediately in order to document the concern and begin the process to resolve the issue.

According to www.ftc.gov, “The Fair Credit Reporting Act guarantees you access to your credit report for free from each of the three nationwide credit reporting companies — Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion — every 12 months. You can request your free report online, by phone or by mail. Visit AnnualCreditReport.com, call 1-877-322-8228 or fill out the Annual Credit Report Request form and mail it to Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281. No matter how you request your report, you have the option to request all three reports at once or to order one report at a time. By requesting the reports separately, you can monitor your credit more frequently throughout the year.”

If searching for “free credit report,” make certain that you access the FTC site. There are a number of companies that capitalize on people believing they are getting a free credit report, when in reality they are signing up for credit protection or being charged for it.