Watch Out for These 'Dirty Dozen' Tax Scams
Taxpayers should be on alert for identity thieves, e-mails falsely claiming to be from the IRS and shady tax preparers this year, the IRS warns.
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Parents, Beware: Identity Thieves Are After Your Children
Parents, beware: Your offspring are in the crosshairs of financial scammers. According to AllClear ID, an identity-theft protection company, children are 35 times more likely than adults to be identity theft victims.
4 Modern Conveniences That Can Put Your Money at Risk
During National Consumer Protection Week, government agencies and nonprofits are offering tips to protect our money and our identities. And we're especially vulnerable in our everyday transactions -- whether it's tapping the ATM or logging into the Internet from our favorite coffee shop.
Your Tax Refund: What to Expect
The big question on the mind of everyone who expects to get money back from the IRS is when they'll receive their tax refund. But it's not just when you file your return that control that answer: The steps you take beforehand can make a big difference.
Family Fraud: When Mom Steals Your Identity
Identity theft is bad enough when it's a stranger committing the crime. But it gets even more complicated when the perpetrator is a relative. And that scenario is far more common than you might guess.
E-Filing Tips: How to Get Your Federal Tax Refund Faster and Safer
The best way to get your tax refund fast is to e-file your return. However, if you don't do it right, electronic tax filing can cause some big problems -- problems we want to help you avoid. Here's how e-filing works, and how to get it done right.
Year-End Paperwork Purge: What to Keep, What to Shred
Even the most digitally savvy consumer can amass reams of paperwork by year's end, from ATM and gift receipts to credit card statements and tax forms. Here's the skinny on what to keep and what to toss in the year-end paperwork purge.
CNNMoney's Money Heroes Offer Their Best Financial Advice
The people CNNMoney has saluted over the past year for improving others' finances have some more help to offer: sound advice for you.
Identity Theft: How to Protect Yourself from the Fraudsters
In the past five years, 27.3 million Americans were victims of identity theft, says author and identity theft expert Steve Weisman. Here are his tips for keeping your identity protected from the con men, criminals and fraud artists.
17 Steps to Make Your Money Last a Lifetime
Living to 100 is expensive, but taking time to run through this annual checklist will help you afford it. Here are 17 steps to a more secure financial life:
Buy a Dead Person's Identity from Social Security for $10
For $10, identity thieves can access the full name, Social Security number and other personal information of a dead person through a list of millions of deceased Americans, known as the Death Master File.
8 Things to Never Keep in Your Wallet
That overstuffed wallet of yours is more than just a chore to lug around. If it's lost or stolen, all those extra cards, receipts and bank slips in it will make it much easier for a fraudster to hijack your identity. Here's what to purge:
8 Signs Your Identity Has Been Compromised
While frequent data breaches may have desensitized some consumers to identity theft, it's still important to pay attention to early warning signs your info is being used illegally.
Avoiding Job Scams: How Not to Fall Victim to the Con Artists
Scams are appallingly common online these days, and among the more despicable ploys are those that aim to take advantage of desperate job-seekers. Our friends at the Better Business Bureau have some advice on how not to get conned.
4 Things New Parents Need to Know About Taxes
When it comes to taxes, the news for parents is generally good. Here's a brief look at some of the ways that having children can help you save on your tax return.
Identity Thieves Are Targeting Our Kids! What Parents Must Know
Why did banks give this little girl credit cards, home mortgages, and car and boat loans? And how did she keep getting them after defaulting time and time again? The answers should be a warning for every parent in America.
Millions of Dead People Get Identities Stolen
Just because you're dead doesn't mean you can't be robbed. Identity thieves steal the personal information of about 2.4 million deceased Americans each year to apply for credit cards, cell phones and anything else requiring a credit check.
Dead or Alive: Thousands Mistakenly Declared Deceased
Each year, some 14,000 people are wrongly declared dead by the Social Security Administration, CNNMoney reports. Data-entry errors can lead to major financial turmoil for victims of these mistakes, who they can lose their benefits and credit.
Identity Fraud More Prevalent Than You'd Imagine
At least 16% of Americans have engaged in some kind of identity fraud -- lying about their Social Security number, name or birthday -- on applications for goods and services, a new study reveals. That's 45 million people trying to game the system, and every time one succeeds, he or she may be making trouble for you.
The Truth About ID Theft Protection Services
With identity theft on the rise, more consumers are actively seeking ways to protect themselves. New companies have sprung up to address their fears, but how well do they really work?
Homeless Man Finds Macy's Shoppers' Records
A St. Louis homeless man, trying to stay warm, stumbled on the personal information of Macy's shoppers as he was building himself a bed with trash he found in a downtown store's Dumpster. And it's not the first time that's happened for that particular store.
