Related Consumer Finance Programs - The following sub-directories of companies offer a wide variety of financial programs to assist you with the management of your finances. Consolidate debt with a consolidation loan or use a debt counseling service or mortgage refinance for help with the consolidation of your charge card debt and other monthly payments.
- Fast Personal Loan - Looking for a smaller loan for the consolidation of debt? Start your search at the directory of personal loans, where you can compare and apply online with different lenders and related companies.
- Debt Management Programs - Too many credit cards and other bills to make monthly payments on? Start here by reviewing and comparing different debt management options for getting help with your credit card bills and other monthly obligations.
- Debt Settlement Services - If you have too many credit cards and other small debts and are unable to make your payments, this form of debt negotiation may be right for you.
Avoid Costly Scams Involving Fake Checks and Money Orders
Consumers and businesses often lose thousands of dollars in transactions with con artists
Take additional precautions to make sure a check is good. Consider insisting on being paid with a money order or a cashier's check (not a personal check) drawn on a local bank or a bank that has a local branch. That way you can take the check to that bank's branch to ensure it's valid.
Also consider asking for a money order from the U.S. Postal Service. These come in values of up to $1,000 for domestic money orders and up to $700 for international money orders.
To confirm that a Postal Service money order is valid or to cash it, you can take it to a local post office. You can also verify a Postal Service money order by using an automated service at toll-free 1-866-459-7822.
Private financial services companies also issue money orders, but it's up to you to take appropriate precautions.
For example, "Don't depend on a phone number that's printed on a check or money order," Nelson stressed. "If this is a fraud, one of the criminals may answer and tell you that the check or money order is legitimate, or you may get a voice mailbox that the swindlers set up to sound real and reassuring."
In general, it's always best to use a phone number listed in your phone book or another directory, not the number printed on a check or money order or told to you by the other party.
Another way to be more comfortable that you're dealing with an honest person – especially someone you're dealing with over the Internet – is to try to confirm his or her name, address, home number and work number through some independent means, such as an online database or directory assistance.
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Winter 2006-2007 |
Depositing Check From a Stranger |
Walk Away From a Deal | |
FDIC Consumer News is published by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
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Last updated on 2/1/2007