Identity

Improve Your Credit Score, Improve Your Life

March is Credit Education Month, so it's probably a good time to ask yourself: how much do you really know about your credit score? When asked in a 2006 Consumer Action study, over 27% of Americans said they had never... Read more...

It's Celebrate Your Name Week at PeopleSmart!

Did you know there is a week dedicated to celebrating your name? And why shouldn't there be? Your name is not only an identifier, but it can also become deeply embedded in your identity, a symbol or badge that carries a deeper meaning. The first week of March is Celebrate Your Name Week, and that's just what we at PeopleSmart are going to do! Read more...

Is Your Online Date A Valentine's Day Scam?

Valentine's Day is just around the corner, and romance is on your mind. You're searching for Mr. Right. The roses, teddy bears, and hearts in every shop and grocery store are pushing you towards rekindling an old flame or finding a new one. If you're trying to reconnect with a loved one, you might try searching for their contact information on PeopleSmart, but if you're looking for a new love, you might find yourself exploring an online dating website like eHarmony, Match.com, or OkCupid. Read more...

A Holiday Classic You Don't Want to See: How The Grinch Stole...Your Identity?

It's that time of year again--time for year round identity thieves to pick up their holiday bonuses in the form of victims who are too busy or too giving to guard themselves against identity theft. Holiday scams can be enough to turn even the jolliest shopper into a scrooge, but you can protect yourself, and your holiday spirit. Brush up on the common schemes identity thieves use during the holidays, and learn what you can do to avoid becoming a victim. Read more...

Learn How to Stay Safe on 'Secure Your Identity Day'

Tomorrow is 'Secure Your Identity Day,' sponsored by the Better Business Bureau. BBB locations around the country will be holding "shred days" for people to securely dispose of documents containing sensitive identity information. Check here to see if there's one in your area.

This little known holiday provides a great opportunity to educate yourself about sources of identity theft. You've probably heard of some of them before, but with new scams making headlines all the time, it can't hurt to know the difference between a phisher and a skimmer and a hacker and a spammer.

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Back to School: 10 Tips to Protect Against Identity Theft

Whether you're the freshest of freshman or a seasoned super-senior on a victory lap, if you're a college student, you're at high risk for identity theft. Age, inexperience, and the communal environment of a college campus combine to make back to school season a time ripe for personal data to be stolen. Some threats are well known (stranger danger isn't just for little kids), and others may surprise you.

With these challenges comes an opportunity to equip yourself with tools to protect your identity. Now that's a life skill. Read more...