Joyce’s remarks came a month after Equifax hackers gained access to the Social Security numbers and birth dates of more than 145 million Americans. He said the Social Security number has “outlived its usefulness,” according to the Hill newspaper. “It’s a flawed system that we can’t roll back after a breach.” Another problem, he said, is that once a […]

“Which app works for you might depend on your phone’s operating system,” FTC consumer education specialist Alesha Hernandez advised in an article on the agency’s website. “Before you consider downloading any app, think about the call protection that you need and do your research.” She referred consumers to the CTIA, a trade association that has a comprehensive list […]

Bankrate.com surveyed the 10 biggest banks in the top 25 metro areas in the U.S. The most expensive city in which to make an out-of-network withdrawal is Pittsburgh, where the average transaction will set you back $5.19. The cheapest place to withdraw cash among the 25 biggest metro areas? Dallas, where a transaction costs you […]

Amino, a health care start-up that gathers data from insurance claims, culled these and many other unusual happenings from the International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th Revised Edition. Medical providers must determine a code for reimbursement purposes, and the publication lists every diagnosis for a medical condition and the corresponding code. It covers […]

Though debit and credit cards look virtually identical, they aren’t. A debit card is essentially a check. As soon as you use it at a retailer, the funds are gone from your checking account and you have spent your own money. When you buy something on a credit card, you are spending someone else’s money […]

Among their savings secrets: Live cell-phone free (“It’s a quality-of-life issue, too”), wear your clothing until it’s truly worn (“It’s like losing a friend when we consign a shirt to the rag bin”), and save twice the amount needed for a major purchase before you buy it (“It lets you make sure you really want […]

If you travel much on your own — as Evelyn Hannon has since her divorce 30-some years ago — it’s crucial to find ways to save. The blogger, called by some the grandmother of women’s travel, is founder of Journeywoman.com, which seeks to inspire women to explore the world. Although she’s reached a point where […]

Welcome to what experts call the illusion of invulnerability — the belief that frauds happen to others but not you. Overconfidence in your ability to spot bad guys is a dangerous thing. Impostor fraud is among the fastest-growing scam types precisely because so many of us think we are immune to it. To help, here […]

2. Split your paycheck If you direct deposit your paycheck into a checking account, change to a split deposit, which will send a small amount to a savings, vacation or emergency fund. It’s worth it: Research shows that people save an extra $1,080 a year when they use divided deposits. If your company doesn’t offer […]

“Our industry is currently inundated,” Julie Martinez, a housing counselor at the nonprofit agency HomeStrong USA, told the Register. “We have an enormous influx of calls and requests for appointments that’s unprecedented.” Reverse mortgages give 62-and-older owners a chance to make use of the equity in their homes to get cash to pay bills. Officials at […]

Industriousness Knowing you’re a diligent worker, scammers send out most malware-containing emails and mobile scams early in the business day, when you’re busiest or most distracted. The flow spikes right around lunchtime. Advice: Slow down. “Think before clicking on a link — especially during high activity times such as the upcoming holidays,” suggests Gary Davis […]

You buy the annuity with a lump sum, which goes into the insurer’s general fund. You are credited with a tax-deferred return that’s linked to the market — for example, to Standard & Poor’s index of 500 stocks. If the S&P rises over 12 months, you receive some of the gain. For example, your credits […]

Venmo vs. Zelle The Platform Venmo: Operates through the Venmo app you download to your mobile device. Zelle: Operates through apps of participating banks and credit unions. How it Works Venmo: Transferring is easiest if both parties are
on the app. You can “request” or “pay” other users and add
 a note or emoji as the […]

Then the piano migrated to our home. Our two sons took lessons on it, too. When tuners would visit, they would end their work by playing a little Chopin or Bach, no doubt a calculated reminder of what a glorious musical instrument it is — a fact not well revealed by an 8-year-old begrudgingly learning […]

Employers are required to submit by Jan. 31 a W-2 statement spelling out the wages and tax withholdings for each taxpayer in the prior year.  The proposed rules would allow, but not require, employers to truncate the Social Security numbers on W-2s. For decades, federal agencies, taxpayers and consumers have been stricken with widespread identity […]

Close You are leaving AARP.org and going to the website of our trusted provider. The provider’s terms, conditions and policies apply. Please return to AARP.org to learn more about other benefits. Got it! Please don’t show me this again for 90 days. Source: AARP Money Consumer Protection: Avoiding Scams, Fraud and Bad Deals

Mark “would text me all the time, it was very flattering. He said he was a churchgoing man. And his story was really believable,” said Joan, embarrassed to disclose her real name and how little she actually knew about him.  Scammers have long used the internet to target people with their phony sweepstakes and hard […]

There are a number of types of relief available from the agency: physical business loans to repair or replace disaster-damaged property; economic injury loans to help small businesses meet ordinary and necessary financial obligations; and home business loans to repair or replace disaster-damage real estate and personal property. Loans for physical businesses and economic injury […]

The announcement applies to Floridians in Alachua, Baker, Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, DeSoto, Duval, Flagler, Gilchrist, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, Lee, Levy, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Nassau, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Sumter, Suwannee, Union and […]

Close You are leaving AARP.org and going to the website of our trusted provider. The provider’s terms, conditions and policies apply. Please return to AARP.org to learn more about other benefits. Got it! Please don’t show me this again for 90 days. Source: AARP Money Living On a Budget and Tips to Save […]

Close You are leaving AARP.org and going to the website of our trusted provider. The provider’s terms, conditions and policies apply. Please return to AARP.org to learn more about other benefits. Got it! Please don’t show me this again for 90 days. Source: AARP Money Saving and Investing – Mutual Funds, Stocks, Bonds […]

Close You are leaving AARP.org and going to the website of our trusted provider. The provider’s terms, conditions and policies apply. Please return to AARP.org to learn more about other benefits. Got it! Please don’t show me this again for 90 days. Source: AARP Money Credit, Personal Loans & Debt Relief – Reverse […]

Close You are leaving AARP.org and going to the website of our trusted provider. The provider’s terms, conditions and policies apply. Please return to AARP.org to learn more about other benefits. Got it! Please don’t show me this again for 90 days. Source: AARP Money Tax News – Tax Credits, IRS Policies, State […]

The storm and subsequent closings are, of course, a massive blow to the area’s $2.7 billion tourism industry; the island chain is typically abuzz with visitors snorkeling, fishing and dolphin-spotting. Hotels are reimbursing visitors who’ve already paid for rooms, according to Ashley Serrate, a representative from the Keys’ Tourism Development Council. The businesses here have […]

But even if Harry’s Supreme Formula HGH and Youthful Vigor HGH actually contained human growth hormone, consider this bit of knowledge: When taken in pill form—and not injected—real HGH is degraded by enzymes in the intestines before it can reach the bloodstream, rendering it useless, says Marc R. Blackman, M.D., of the National Center for […]

This assistance can be especially important for those who lacked flood insurance when the disaster struck. A poll by the Insurance Information Institute found that only 12 percent of U.S. homeowners had a flood insurance policy in 2016, down 2 percent from the previous year. Homeowners and renters who hold standard insurance policies are covered […]

“Cybercriminals are opportunists and, sadly, events like Harvey and Irma are prime examples of their preying on humanity’s empathy and trust,’’ says Zack Allen, manager of threat operations at security consultant ZeroFox. “People all over the world quickly rushed to their social media accounts to find the best avenues to donate to victims, but these […]

Equifax is one of three major consumer credit-reporting agencies, with data on more than 820 million consumers and 81 million businesses worldwide. “Given the kind of data, the potential for financial fraud, and identity theft is quite high,’’ said cybersecurity expert Mark Nunnikhoven of security software firm Trend Micro. Equifax has created a website (equifaxsecurity2017.com) where consumers can […]

The company said it is taking steps to make amends and already has paid more than $3.7 million in refunds and credits to customers who’ve gone through the bank’s complaint and mediation process. Victims may receive additional compensation from a $142 million class-action settlement, which was approved by a judge in July. Over the next […]

Leave it Home. Never carry your Social Security card — what if your wallet or purse is stolen? The same goes for your Medicare card (which includes your Social), unless you’re seeing a health care provider for the first time. If you like the security of having an ID on you, carry a photocopy of […]

“This is just a scheme using the well-known names of Make-A-Wish and the FTC to rob thousands of dollars from people,” the FTC warns on its website. “Once you wire money or send banking information, you will never see your money again.” The agency provides these tips to protect yourself: “If someone asks you to […]

Other foods that are now cheaper: avocados, kale, baby lettuce, tilapia, almond butter, organic eggs and rotisserie chicken. And the company announced that the cost of more items will be cut soon. Amazon plans to offer the Whole Foods Organic 365 line of generic brand products — along with Whole Paws pet products — through […]

NIH does dispense grant money to researchers who apply for it to serve a public purpose. But Uncle Sam does not call people out of the blue to give them grants, and the money isn’t for personal use, officials say. “If you get a call like this from someone asking you to pay money to […]

Complaints about the calls have been pouring into the FTC — so much so that they are the No. 1 complaint the agency receives. The FTC plans to process your complaint within one business day and immediately turn over information you gathered from the caller to phone carriers and other industry partners. As part of the partnership, the […]