Credit fraud is becoming more and more common, and thieves continually work toward staying one step ahead of consumers. If you’re new to the world of credit, being proactive about your finances, or are a victim of credit fraud, it’s time for Dovly 101: Let’s Talk Credit Fraud.
What is Credit Fraud?
Credit fraud is a type of crime in which the criminal uses your personal information to make purchases. They may open accounts in your name that they have no intention of paying back, or they may get ahold of your credit card information and make purchases on your card.
With so many financial transactions being done online in today’s world, your personal information may be at risk. Some ways that cybercriminals may get ahold of your identifying information include:
If you’ve been a victim of credit fraud, you end up being charged for things you didn’t purchase. On top of that, your credit score can be impacted because your debt will be higher and there may be a trail of unpaid bills in your name.
Preventing Credit Fraud
Credit fraud and identity theft are much easier to prevent than to clear up once it’s happened to you. Steps you can take to help protect your personal information include:
Another way that your identifying information can be compromised is by clicking on links in emails. Some thieves are sophisticated enough to send emails that look very much like those that come from legitimate businesses. Clicking on this type of link can download malware to your computer that then can steal your personal information. It’s better to go directly to a site and login rather than clicking on a link in an email.
What to Do if You’re a Victim of Identity Theft or Fraud
If you discover fraudulent activity on a credit card or debit card, report it immediately. The longer you wait, the more damage may be done. Your bank will most likely close the account with the compromised number and issue you a new card.
If you find out that someone has stolen your identity and is opening fraudulent accounts in your name, issue a fraud alert with one of the three main credit bureaus. Whichever credit reporting agency you notify is obligated to notify the other two. This places a temporary freeze on your credit so that new accounts cannot be opened without your permission. Report identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission at IdentityTheft.gov.
Watching Out for Credit Fraud
When you regularly review your credit report and your accounts, you have a good chance of spotting signs of identity theft or credit fraud before things spiral out of control. Dovly can help you take the steps you need if you need credit repair. Our automated system can track, manage and fix your credit, and we can help you dispute inaccurate items on your credit report. When you let Dovly run on autopilot, we can let you know right away if there are any changes to your credit. Get in touch with Dovly today to find out how we can help you rebuild or protect your credit.
(1) Average result for Dovly Premium members that have had more than 2 disputed items removed from their reports, as of May 2023.
(2) Based on the total items removed divided by the total disputes sent for Dovly Premium members as of May 2023.
(3) Dovly’s automated credit engine maximizes your results by submitting the optimal number of disputes each month based on a combination of factors unique to your credit report.
(4) The combined total credit score increase among Dovly members through May 2023.