I have to admit I know very little about Bitcoin. I do know it’s a digital currency and you can use it to buy stuff from others who accept it (more retailers are doing that now). Thanks to the February 2014 meltdown of the Japan-based Mt. Gox exchange, I also understand that bitcoin can be bought and sold like stocks or other currencies.So, what exactly is bitcoin? For … [Read more...] about Pump and dump—bitcoin style
Scams & Cons
FTC announces aggressive stance against debt collectors
On Mar. 5, the Federal Trade Commission announced that it had brought or resolved nine cases against debt collection agencies and companies in 2013. The press release included a statement from Jessica Rich, Director of the agency’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “When it comes to debt collection, the FTC has many tools in its arsenal, including research, enforcement, and … [Read more...] about FTC announces aggressive stance against debt collectors
The Password Manager Age Is Upon Us
Passwords are a pain, right? Where we once got by with a single easy-to-remember password for everything, we now need separate, complex passwords for each website, social network, and program on our computers. This necessary evil has come to us courtesy of those who will do about anything to gain access to our personal information. More scam tips The eviction notice scam The … [Read more...] about The Password Manager Age Is Upon Us
The Eviction Notice Scam—a quick look
The Eviction Notice Scam begins with an email containing a subject heading similar to “Eviction Notice.” The scam is targeted at homeowners, but could easily be misconstrued by those who rent. Here’s one example of the text in the email. More scam tips The KISS principle in scams 3 Travel Scams to Be Wary of in 2014 Valentine’s Day is almost here—and so are the … [Read more...] about The Eviction Notice Scam—a quick look
The IRS Dirty Dozen list has arrived
On February 19, the IRS released it’s “‘Dirty Dozen’ Tax Scams for 2014.” The list has become an annual warning about how the bad guys are using the IRS as a way to make money.Topping the list this year was “Identity Theft.” The IRS has jumped on the “Identity Theft is Bad” bandwagon and even has an Identity Protection section on their website. Take it from someone who’s … [Read more...] about The IRS Dirty Dozen list has arrived