Wednesday, November 6, 2024

Scammers Weekly: Freezing your credit

(WYDaily file/ (Courtesy blogtrepreneur.com)
(WYDaily file/ (Courtesy blogtrepreneur.com)

WYDaily has collaborated with AARP to raise awareness about scams people need to watch out for.

A scam will be featured every Wednesday, so be sure to always check WYDaily.com and be in the know.

Here’s this week’s edition:

The sheer volume of data breaches makes all of us vulnerable to identity theft.

Placing a freeze on your credit is one of the most effective ways to protect yourself from identity fraud – when someone uses your information to open accounts in your name, or even take over your existing account, according to AARP.

Here’s what to know before you start the process:

  • You will have to freeze your credit with each of the three major credit agencies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.
  • You will also need to create passwords and PINs for each, so have a filing system for retrieving the information if you need to unfreeze your credit in the future.
  • If you are placing a freeze for other family members, you will need their Social Security numbers.

Visit the AARP Fraud Watch Network by clicking here or call the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline at 877-908-3360 to report a scam or get help if you’ve fallen victim.

John Mangalonzo
John Mangalonzohttp://wydaily.com
John Mangalonzo (john@localdailymedia.com) is the managing editor of Local Voice Media’s Virginia papers – WYDaily (Williamsburg), Southside Daily (Virginia Beach) and HNNDaily (Hampton-Newport News). Before coming to Local Voice, John was the senior content editor of The Bellingham Herald, a McClatchy newspaper in Washington state. Previously, he served as city editor/content strategist for USA Today Network newsrooms in St. George and Cedar City, Utah. John started his professional journalism career shortly after graduating from Lyceum of The Philippines University in 1990. As a rookie reporter for a national newspaper in Manila that year, John was assigned to cover four of the most dangerous cities in Metro Manila. Later that year, John was transferred to cover the Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines. He spent the latter part of 1990 to early 1992 embedded with troopers in the southern Philippines as they fought with communist rebels and Muslim extremists. His U.S. journalism career includes reporting and editing stints for newspapers and other media outlets in New York City, California, Texas, Iowa, Utah, Colorado and Washington state.

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