Not everyone is on the nice list this year.

Your Weekly Advisor Update

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A Note From Natalie:

Hi there! I’m Natalie Campisi, senior staff writer on the consumer finance team and the new writer for this newsletter. Kelly Anne is moving into a new role—but don’t be surprised if she makes a guest appearance from time to time. If you have questions about anything personal finance, or suggestions for this newsletter, reply directly to this email and drop me a line. 

Now to the important stuff: The wisdom of early 90s movies. If Home Alone taught us anything, it’s that the holiday season is the most wonderful time of year for crooks. While we’re busy wrangling our schedule (and eating all the cookies), scammers are using our distraction to their advantage. This week we break down current scams and how you can protect yourself from becoming a victim.

Very best,

Natalie

Natalie Campisi

Senior Staff Writer

Consumer Finance

Holiday Scams: The Unwelcome Gifts That Keep On Taking

Scams remain effective as long as people aren’t aware of them. Whether it’s the old shell game on a sidewalk or more sophisticated phishing attempts, just knowing what to look out for can be a good defense.

The holiday shopping season offers scammers an array of opportunities for quick scores. From getting the PIN numbers off gift cards (yes, you may end up giving someone a gift card with no value if you’re not careful) to pretending to be a charity and even just swiping packages from your porch, the list of tactics is long.

There are steps you can take to reduce your chances of becoming a victim. Mail fraud rises during the holiday season and crooks can spot mail that probably contains cash (brightly colored holiday cards stick out in a sea of white envelopes) so  send an online gift card instead.

Get the scoop on other scams this holiday season and how you can avoid them in the link below.

Private Student Loans? Estimate your payments with this easy to use Calculator

Student loans can help make college affordable, the amount you borrow now will affect your budget for years after you graduate or leave school.

Enter your student loan amount, interest rate and loan term into the calculator below. You’ll then see your expected monthly payment and full payment schedule over time. Remember to keep track of all of your student loans to get a full picture of the amount owed.

Student Loan Calculator

Here’s what else you should know
this week

What Is Vishing, And Why Is It A Threat To Your Financial Health?

Voice phishing, or “vishing,” is phone-based fraud that has grown in popularity among scammers. The goal is to trick people into thinking they’re talking to a legit organization to get personal data, like credit card or social security numbers. Here’s how you can protect yourself.

What Are Credit Repair Scams—And How Can You Avoid Them?

Scams are most effective when they offer a quick and easy solution to a problem—especially when it comes to credit repair. While there are honest credit repair organizations out there, some are just out to get your money with no way or intention of actually fulfilling their promises—here’s how you can tell.

How To Spot A Credit Card Skimmer

Credit card skimmers aren’t new, but they’re definitely effective at stealing credit card information. During the holiday season, you may be swiping more, so knowing what to look out for can save you time, money and a lot of hassle.

Debt Consolidation Loan Vs. Balance Transfer Credit Card

A balance transfer card can be a powerful tool in your debt-busting arsenal. A 0% APR offer on a credit card can save money by having all of your payments during the intro period go towards knocking out the principal balance instead of some being siphoned away to pay interest charges.

Best Balance Transfer Credit Cards

2022's Best Debt Consolidation Loans For Bad Credit

A debt consolidation loan can be a smart way to streamline your monthly debt obligations and get out of debt faster. However, this debt reduction strategy isn’t right for everyone. And if you have bad credit, qualifying for a debt consolidation loan with an attractive interest rate could be a challenge.

Minimum credit score

560

APR range

7.46% to 36%

Loan amounts

$1,000 to $50,000

Sponsored Content

Aura vs. LifeLock: 2022 Comparison

Aura is an identity theft protection service rated No. 1 by Security.org for best identity monitoring features¹. The all-in-one platform monitors each user’s identity, accounts and passwords. It then sends an alert if it identifies any issues. Aura’s password manager also makes it easy to keep track of login credentials and users receive an alert if a password is compromised.

Ranked #1 by Security.Org and IdentityProtectionReview.com. They may be compensated as a marketing affiliate of Aura, but their ratings are all their own.

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