MyMoney Resources - MyMoney Five

Identity theft happens when someone steals your personal information and uses it without your permission. It’s a serious crime that can wreak havoc with your finances, credit history, and reputation — and can take time, money, and patience to resolve.

If you’re considering using the services of a credit counseling organization, here’s what you can expect.

Many work-at-home opportunities are promoted by scam artists. If you pay in, it’s likely that you will spend more than you can earn.

The You Are Here website teaches kids how to be more savvy consumers. The site demonstrates the benefits of competition, the influence of advertising on buying decisions, and the rules and regulations that many business people need to follow.

This website includes information on the importance of personal information privacy, including the security of personal information.

That ‘special’ offer by a car dealer may not be the best deal. Here’s how to compare the terms of sale prices and financing in ads.

If you don’t make timely payments on the vehicle, your creditor may have the right to “repossess” — or take back your car without going to court or warning you in advance. Your creditor also may be able to sell your contract to a third party who may have the same right to seize the car as the original creditor. This website discusses the requirements for seizing and reselling your car for nonpayment. It explains deficiency - the difference between what you owe on your loan and what your creditor gets for reselling your car.

Learn how to avoid holds on your money or credit.

This website, with downloadable brochure provides information on common foreclosure prevention scams, tips for detecting fraudulent deals, and resources for reporting criminal activity.

You've probably been receiving privacy notices from banks and other financial companies. This article explains the federal law that require the notices and that protect your financial privacy. These laws give you the right to stop (opt out of) some sharing of your personal financial information. The laws also require that you will receive privacy notices from your financial institutions.