Staff writer

Elena Vance

10 articles · mostly Identity Theft & Fraud Prevention

Articles

Identity Theft & Fraud Prevention
How Imposter Scams Exploit Trust, and How to Verify Before You Respond
Scammers borrow the names of charities and government agencies to manufacture urgency, and independently checking any claim is the most reliable defense.
Elena VanceNov 3, 2026
Identity Theft & Fraud Prevention
What to Do in the First 24 Hours After Identity Theft
Securing your accounts, freezing your credit, and documenting every step can stop fraud from spreading and build the record you will need to recover.
Elena VanceOct 31, 2026
Identity Theft & Fraud Prevention
Recovering From Identity Theft: Reporting, Securing Accounts, and Spotting Scams
A structured sequence of federal reporting, account protection, and scam awareness can help victims contain the damage and regain control of their personal information.
Elena VanceOct 23, 2026
Identity Theft & Fraud Prevention
When to File a Police Report for Identity Theft
Federal guidance lists a local police report as one step among several. Here is when to file, what to bring, and what the sources leave unanswered.
Elena VanceOct 9, 2026
Identity Theft & Fraud Prevention
What to Do When You Spot an Unauthorized Credit Card Charge
Call your card issuer right away, then send a written billing error notice within 60 days of the charge appearing on your statement. A phone call alone is not enough.
Elena VanceOct 1, 2026
Identity Theft & Fraud Prevention
How Regulation E Shapes Your Liability for Unauthorized Debit Transfers
Federal rules set reporting windows and liability caps for unauthorized electronic transfers. How fast you report can decide how much of the loss you bear.
Elena VanceSep 24, 2026
Identity Theft & Fraud Prevention
Recognizing and Resisting Smishing: How to Spot Text Message Scams
Scammers rely on familiar brand names, urgent language, and a move to encrypted apps to extract personal data, but verifying requests independently remains a dependable defense.
Elena VanceSep 17, 2026
Identity Theft & Fraud Prevention
What to Do After Clicking a Suspicious Link
Stopping quickly, noting what you shared, and securing your accounts in the right order can limit the damage from a phishing attempt.
Elena VanceSep 9, 2026
Identity Theft & Fraud Prevention
How Bank Impersonation Scams Take Over Accounts and How to Spot Them
Criminals now combine fake search results, convincing phone calls, and staged urgency to capture login codes, and knowing their pattern is the best defense against losing access to your money.
Elena VanceAug 26, 2026
Identity Theft & Fraud Prevention
Why Scammers Favor Wire Transfers, Gift Cards, and Crypto
Payment methods that are fast, anonymous, and nearly impossible to reverse give fraudsters a lasting advantage, so knowing how they work is your best defense.
Elena VanceAug 19, 2026

How Imposter Scams Exploit Trust, and How to Verify Before You Respond

What to Do in the First 24 Hours After Identity Theft

Recovering From Identity Theft: Reporting, Securing Accounts, and Spotting Scams

When to File a Police Report for Identity Theft

What to Do When You Spot an Unauthorized Credit Card Charge

How Regulation E Shapes Your Liability for Unauthorized Debit Transfers

Recognizing and Resisting Smishing: How to Spot Text Message Scams

What to Do After Clicking a Suspicious Link

How Bank Impersonation Scams Take Over Accounts and How to Spot Them

Why Scammers Favor Wire Transfers, Gift Cards, and Crypto