Many companies include a credit check as part of the background check on prospective employees.  Applicants for positions that deal directly with money and finances will most likely have a credit check done as part of their application process.  Certain government positions have criteria that they glean from credit reports.  For instance, this is right off the Transportation Security Administration’s website for employment as an airport screener:
“If your credit check reveals any of the following, YOU WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS POSITION:
*Defaulted on $7,500 or more in debt (excluding certain circumstances of bankruptcy).
*Owe any delinquent Federal or State taxes.
*Owe any past due child support payments.”

We were recently included in a local news piece about credit and employment; you can see the entire video from KGUN9 here.  Additional information we provided in the interview is that some jobs, such as contractors with military connections, have security clearances.   Credit checks are often a routine part of monitoring employees for their security clearance status.

Sometimes bad credit happens through no fault of the consumer.  If they have been the victim of identity theft and had fraudulent use of their credit accounts, their credit report may include negative information due to the fraud.  Sometimes there are circumstances that led to the credit challenges such as loss of job or medical reasons.

WHAT TO DO
* Check your own credit regularly.   We can get three free credit reports each year, one from each of the three credit bureaus.   Check one of them every four months for year-round monitoring to look for errors that may have a negative affect.  Go to www.annualcreditreport.com.

NOTE: The freecreditreport site is NOT the place to get the reports that every consumer is entitled to under the Fair Credit Reporting Act.  Remember, if you have to sign up for something and give your credit card number, it is NOT free!

NOTE: Save your money and don’t buy the credit scores that are offered when you get your no-cost reports.  They are probably not FICO scores, which is what most lenders use.  If you’re looking at any other score besides a FICO score, you’re not getting a side-be-side comparison of what your lender will look at.

* Correct errors that you find on your credit report with all three credit bureaus, even if you only reviewed one report.  This article has tips for disputing errors with the credit bureaus.

* Tell the prospective employer about any credit issues before they do the credit check.  If there are extenuating circumstances, let them know and be sure to tell them what you are doing to correct and/or rebuild your credit.  We have written letters for our clients stating that they have hired us for credit consulting and they then present the letter with their application.

* Beware of employment scams that can actually do damage to your credit.

* Review the Job Seekers Guide at Privacy Rights Clearinghouse to know your consumer rights.

Credit plays a major role in numerous areas of daily life so it is beneficial to learn about your credit, how to grow your scores and protect yourself against identity theft.  You can get a Credit Check-up for only $100 that can give you a jump start to optimizing your credit for employment purposes and for your financial future.  Contact us today to order yours.

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WHAT TO DO
1. Make sure the data modem and the fax modem are different.  This prevents someone taking the information stored on the copier and easily transmitting it to another location through the open phone line. If the photocopier is connected to a fax modem, it increases the possibility for something similar to online identity theft where the thief steals information from the copier without even being on site.

2. Install an overwriting or encryption component in the copier. If your office uses a copier that is more than a year old, you should check online and see if a component kit has been created by the manufacturer of your copier to prevent information from being stored in an unencrypted form.  Xerox and Sharp created these components after realizing that existing technology could leave people vulnerable to identity theft.

3. Ask about security practices when using public copy machines for sensitive information. Whenever possible, only use copy machines you are familiar with and where you have some element of control when it comes to monitoring the security risk. Using public copy machines is much like using shared computers or Wi-Fi – they can leave your personal information exposed.

4. Buy your own printer or fax machine with photocopying capabilities. If you routinely photocopy sensitive information either for personal or business use, consider purchasing your own photocopy machine that has sufficient security features to either eliminate or encrypt stored information. Do not connect your machine to a community server.

5. Use passwords that protect the information you copy. Password protected copy machines may require those same passwords to retrieve information stored on the hard drive. When creating a password for the office copier, treat it the same way you would your own ATM pin code. Guard your password and don’t share it with anyone.

If your personal information has been compromised, follow these suggestions to notify the credit bureaus and other relevant agencies.  

Taking precautions to prevent identity theft is important.  Having a plan of action to follow in the event of ID theft can reduce the frustration and time it takes to get through it. 

If you have experienced fraud or mixed identity on your credit file, contact us today.  We have several years of experience and have successfully corrected inaccurate information from our clients’ credit reports, helping them to restore their good credit rating. 

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NOTE: None of BBB’s computer or e-mail systems is involved in this hoax, and the attack has not affected BBB’s computer system or compromised any BBB data.
The latest round of phishing e-mails reported to BBB appears to come from “seatac@bbb.org” and includes text similar to the following:
Complaint filed by: [consumer's name]
Complaint filed against: [business' name]
Complaint status: Open
Category: Contract Issues
Case opened date: [date]
Case closed date: Pending

The e-mail then provides a hyperlink to “access the complaint.” If you have received a fraudulent e-mail, do not click on any of the links or open any attachments; delete the message from your inbox, and run a virus scan.
The e-mail ends with a statement:
“On April 9th 2010, the consumer provided the following information: (The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT received [sic] any response from the business.)
The form you used to register this complaint is designed to improve public access to the Better Business Bureau of Consumer Protection Consumer Response Center, and is voluntary. Through this form, consumers may electronically register a complaint with the BBB.Under [sic] the Paperwork Reduction Act, as amended, an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. That number is 235-677.”
BBB is not a governmental agency and thus does not have an OMB number.   You can go to the BBB’s website for more information.

Protecting your personal information is important to safeguard your credit rating.  Scammers want to gain access to personal and financial data for fraudulent use.  ALWAYS beware of unusual or suspicious emails. 

Click here for more identity theft prevention tips.

Here are some tips to protect your personal information and your credit:

1) Keep your personal and tax information locked up.  Whether at home or the office, do not leave a pile of tax documents out in plain sight.  Your W-2 or 1099 have your social security number on it, as do any year-end interest and dividend statements from banks and financial institutions.

2) When taking tax documents anywhere, keep them with you.  Do not leave your briefcase or file folders in your vehicle in plain sight.  At the very least lock them in your trunk.  Carrying them with you may seem inconvenient, however dealing with identity theft is truly a time consuming inconvenience.

3) Keep all of your computer security updated; this includes your firewall, anti-spyware and anti-virus programs.  Many people store sensitive and tax data on their home computers thereby making computer security a priority.  When you electronically file your taxes, be sure to use a strong, distinct password – NOT your usual password that you use on all your other accounts.  After your return is sent, you may want to store the tax file on a CD or flash drive that you can lock up rather than leaving all of that information on the computer.

4) Ask your tax preparer how your tax information will be stored and how many people have access to it.  If stored electronically, will it be encrypted?  You have a right to ask these questions to safeguard your information.

5) Place ALL outgoing mail in a secure locked box.  Take tax documents directly to a post office and place them in the indoor mail slot.  At the very least use an official blue USPS mailbox toward the end of the day right before the last pickup so your info is not sitting there for very long. 

6) After your taxes are filed, shred any statements or paperwork you do not need to keep.  Store tax returns in a sturdy safe or in a locked file cabinet along with other sensitive documents.  Most people have the required seven year’s worth of tax returns on hand and ID thieves know it, so keep them locked up and hard to get to.  Consider using a different label on the box as a distraction: pet records (whether you have a pet or not), farm equipment (whether you have a farm or not), dental records….you get the picture – something an identity thief won’t look twice at.

7) Beware of email scams which tend to increase at tax time.  If you receive any emails wanting your social security number or other financial information, you should send it to the Federal Trade Commission at spam@uce.gov so they can investigate it.  Remember that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) does not send email notifications for electronic audits or refunds.  If something that says it is from the IRS seems suspicious, call the IRS Taxpayers Advocate line at 877-777-4778.

Use these tips to make tax time less likely to become ID theft time. 

Complete Credit Services is proud to provide credit education and to be a source of accurate information to help people understand their credit reports and scores. 

We offer a Credit Check-Up for specific recommendations based on your personal credit report.  You can contact us for your Credit Check-Up that includes a complete credit report review along with information on how to build your credit scores using the five parts of the credit scoring formula for only $100.

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- Always protect your ATM card the same as you would protect your cash.  If you have not yet copied the contents of your wallet, it’s time to do so.  Click here for more info.

- Protect your Personal Identification Number, your PIN.  Do not give the number to anyone else, do not write it down and on the card or in your wallet, do not use your birthday or street address for a PIN number. 

NOTE: ATM fraud is often committed by someone who knows the ATM cardholder. 

- Always take your receipt.  Even if the transaction was not completed, keep all papers associated with your ATM card.  When you’re ready to throw them away at home, shred them.

- Watch for unusual or bulkyATM machines.  In an ATM scam called “skimming”, the thieves attach a realistic looking electronic device to the ATM that can capture card information and PINS.  If the ATM is odd-looking to you, don’t use it.

- Practice personal safety, too.  Have everything ready when you get to the machine, don’t get your wallet out to retrieve the card while standing there.  Cover the keypad when entering your PIN.  Lock your car when you walk up to a machine.  Only use machines with ample lighting after dark.  Use common safety sense.

We all love the convenience of electronic banking.  Make sure you take measures to protect your finances and personal information at all times.

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1) Keep your personal and tax information locked up.  Whether it is at the office or at home, don’t leave your pile of tax documents out in plain sight.  Your W-2 or 1099 have your social security number on it, as do any year-end interest and dividend statements from banks and financial institutions.

2) When you take your tax information anywhere, keep it with you.  Do not leave your briefcase or file folders in your vehicle in plain sight.  At the very least lock them in your trunk.  Carrying them with you may seem inconvenient, however dealing with identity theft is truly a time consuming inconvenience.

3) Keep all of your computer security updated; this includes your firewall, anti-spyware and anti-virus programs.  Many people store sensitive and tax data on their home computers thereby making computer security a priority.  When you electronically file your taxes, be sure to use a strong, distinct password – NOT your usual password that you use on all your other accounts.  After your return is sent, you may want to store the tax file on a CD or flash drive that you can lock up rather than leaving all of that information on the computer.

4) Do some background checks on the tax preparer you hire by checking with the Better Business Bureau; make sure they are certified in their field, ask for references.  Ask how your tax information will be stored and how many people have access to it.  If stored electronically, will it be encrypted?  You have a right to ask these questions ahead of time to safeguard your information.

5) Conduct your tax business with privacy.  Some businesses are set up in shopping centers or public areas, which are not typically sound proof or protected from a hopeful thief with binoculars.

6) Be sure to place your outgoing mail in a secure, locked box.  You may want to take your tax documents directly to a post office and place them in the indoor mail slot.  Thieves know that there is an enormous amount of personal information going into the mail system at this time of year.  Minimize your risk by going directly to the source.  At the very least use an official blue USPS mailbox toward the end of the day right before the last pickup so your info is not sitting there for very long. 

7) After you file your taxes, shred any statements or paperwork you do not need to keep.  Store your tax returns in a sturdy safe or locked file cabinet along with your other sensitive documents.  Most people have the required seven year’s worth of tax returns on hand and ID thieves know it, so keep them locked up and hard to get to.  Consider using a different label on the box as a distraction: pet records (whether you have a pet or not), farm equipment (whether you have a farm or not), dental records….you get the picture – something an identity thief won’t look twice at.

8) There is an increase in scams at tax time.  If you receive any emails wanting your social security number or other financial information, you can send it to the Federal Trade Commission at spam@uce.gov so they can investigate it.  Remember that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) does not send email notifications for electronic audits or refunds.  If something that says it is from the IRS seems suspicious, call their Taxpayers Advocate line at 877-777-4778.

Use these tips to make tax time less likely to become ID theft time.  The old addage of an ounce of prevention certainly applies when it comes to protecting your personal financial information.

We provide credit education on our website because we believe people want accurate information to understand their credit and what they can do about it.  For more specific recommendations based on your personal credit report, contact us for your Credit Analysis.  For only $100 you get a complete credit report review along with information on how to build your credit scores using the five parts of the credit scoring formula.

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After you have removed the SS and excess credit cards and locked them in a safe place, take all of the items out of your wallet.  Copy both sides of your license, debit cards, insurance cards – everything that you regularly carry.  Then lock those pieces of paper up with the credit cards in the safe place.  If your wallet goes missing, you have all of the pertinent account numbers, and phone numbers, to contact every company you need to for immediate deactivation or closure of those accounts that may be at risk.

You can get more information on what to do when your wallet is lost or stolen here.  Print a copy of this list and put it with your financial papers so it is easy to find if you ever need it.  Please pass this info on to your friends and family so they have a copy, too.

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1) Always keep your credit card in sight when checking out of a store or restaurant.
Skimming machines and cellphone cameras make it easy for your card’s information to be captured for possible fraudulent use.  Read more here.

2) Do not carry your Social Security card with you.  Period.
It should be locked in a safe place at home.  If you need it for proof of ID for a one-time occasion, carry it with caution and lock it back up immediately after the use.  This number is the best key identity thieves can get to unlock your personal and financial information.  Protect it.

3) Do not carry all of your credit cards with you.
Rarely will you need to shop at 5 different stores and use all 4 of your Visa, Discover, MasterCard and American Express accounts.  Keep them locked up, NOT in your wallet.  Speaking of your wallet, you should copy everything in your wallet, front and back, and keep that paper locked up in the same safe place as your Social Security card and other documents.  In the event your wallet is lost or stolen, you have all of the information of what was in it.  Click here for a printable sheet on what to do if you lose your wallet.

4) Keep credit card balances under 25% of the account credit limit.
The second largest part of your FICO score is Amounts Owed.  This is your debt-to-available-credit ratio.  When your account balances are over half, 50%, of the credit limit, credit scores typically go down.  The closer you get to maxed out, they really tank.  Keeping your account balances under 25% of the credit limit usually helps your scores.  This goes for retail store and fuel accounts, too.

5) Check your credit reports after the holidays.
Monitoring your own credit is an important part of identity theft prevention and keeping your good credit.  You can do this yourself at no cost or you can get your reports and FICO scores for a small fee.  Either way, look for unknown accounts, balances on accounts you haven’t used recently, and addresses of places you have never lived in.   Click here for info on getting your own credit reports.

Protect your credit and your financial future by taking some simple precautions this holiday season.

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TIP: Look at the URL, the address line, on the web page.  It should have https://, not just http:// to indicate a secure site.  You can also check on the page for the little padlock symbol or for the icons of well known security programs such as Verisign.

One thing consumers can do to protect themselves is to use a Virtual Credit Card, also known as substitute credit card numbers or controlled payment numbers.   Companies that offer this to their customers include Discover, Citi, Bank of America, and PayPal; this is typically a free service to these customers.

HOW IT WORKS
The Virtual Credit Card creates a one-time use number that is linked back to your actual credit card account.   However, the only thing a merchant ever sees is the temporary number.  It will be processed just like a regular credit card payment and is only good for that one-time use.  The purchase will be on your next monthly credit card statement.  You get peace of mind knowing that your actual credit card number was not exposed at all during your online shopping.

WHY USE A VIRTUAL CARD?

Even though the merchant has a secure website and your account information is safe while shopping with them, there are other companies that may be involved in the transaction after the initial purchase.  This includes the credit card processing company and there have been data breaches in the past few years involving some of these processing companies.

Another reason to use a Virtual Credit Card is to prevent recurring charges.  Sometimes you go to a site and sign up for a ‘trial period’ with the company’s product or service.  By using a virtual, one-time-use number, you can prevent the company from continuing to bill you after you cancel during the trial period.

NOTE: Virtual Credit Card numbers will not work  with purchases that require you to show the actual card for verification.  This includes rental cars, airline and hotel reservations, and some tickets that are purchased online.

For more information on Identity Theft Prevention, click here.

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Spoofing is often used by identity thieves to pretend to be someone in an official capacity, calling to persuade unsuspecting victims to give personal or financial information.  Because they can easily scare people by claiming there may be some suspicious activity on their bank account, it is hard to resist giving the information asked for to protect financial accounts. 

WHAT TO DO TO PROTECT YOURSELF

1) Realize your caller ID may not be showing you exactly who is calling – don’t assume it is accurate.

2) NEVER give financial or personal information out over the phone unless you initiated the call.

3) Remember that your bank already knows your account numbers and doesn’t need to ask you for them.

4) Be suspicious of callers asking for “confirmation” of your info, including social security number, credit card numbers and credit card security codes.

5)  Tell them you will call back with the requested information, then hang up and call your actual bank or credit card company yourself.  Look on your statements or the back of the credit card for the customer service phone number.

6) If you already gave your information over the phone, contact your bank or financial company to tell them you may have been scammed.

7) Do not call phone numbers listed in email “alerts”.  Look up the number for that account from your own statements and call to ask about it.

8) Check your account statements each month for suspicious or unknown activity. 

9) Check your credit reports three times a year to be vigilant for fraudulent activity.  You can do this at no cost by going to www.annualcreditreport.com.  You get one free from each of the three credit bureaus every year, so check one bureau every four months for monitoring purposes.

10) Report phishing and other scams to the Federal Trade Commission.

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