How are zombies and scams similar? They never die and keep coming after your money. Here’s an over view of popular scams and how to protect yourself. Mortgage rescue schemes Con artists are preying on hard-pressed homeowners in the current depressed housing market. David M. Nelson, a fraud examiner in the Financial Crimes Section, said [...]
Sending a student to college is a proud time for families. But with tuition costs rising and families continuing to face financial challenges, many are taking another look at how to pay for college. According to the latest Merrill Edge Report, 56 percent of parents have paid or expect to pay more to send their [...]
Have you ever been told you were over your credit card limit, or had your debit card declined, even though you knew you had available credit, or money in your bank account? If this happened shortly after you stayed in a hotel or rented a car, the problem could have been card “blocking.” What’s Blocking? [...]
If you’re “living in the middle ages” — that is, the middle years of around 35 to 55 (give or take), the years between young adulthood and senior status — you’ve got a lot to think about when it comes to managing money. Among the issues you may be facing: how to maximize your income [...]
Home improvements and repairs can cost thousands of dollars and are the subject of frequent complaints. Here are some tips when selecting a contractor: Get recommendations and references. Talk to friends, family and others who have used the contractor for similar work. Get at least three written estimates. Insist the contractors come to your home [...]
It’s always a good time of year to be careful of online scams and con artists aren’t above preying on fear of the IRS. The first thing to remember is that the IRS does not initiate contact with taxpayers by email or any social media tools to request personal or financial information. But, there [...]
It’s unfortunate how many people believe that estate planning is only for wealthy people. People at all economic levels can benefit from an estate plan. On your death, an estate plan legally protects and distributes property based on your wishes and the needs of your family and/or survivors with as little tax, and trouble, as [...]
With a nip in the air in many parts of the country, folks are looking forward to a cozy crackling fire. Here are four steps to keep safe while staying warm. More than one-third of Americans use fireplaces, wood stoves and other fuel-fired appliances as primary heat sources in their homes. Heating fires account for [...]
Thinking of selling something valuable through an online auction or your newspaper’s classified section? If you are, you should be on the lookout for check overpayment scams. The scams work like this: Someone responds to your posting or ad, and offers to use a cashier’s check, personal check or corporate check to pay for the [...]
