'Tis the season for scams - watch out for these holiday frauds

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As Thanksgiving Day arrives in the United States, it is not only the season to be jolly, but the season for scams for the next six weeks. This is a busy time of year. People are shopping, attending parties, and a flurry of other activity. In other words, people might be distracted, which makes for a perfect scenario for a scammer to hatch a scheme to lure his or her prey.

Scams that tend to circulate around the holidays include:

Ways using Facebook can put your bank account at risk

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Did you know sharing too much information on Facebook can be risky business? And it can put your bank account at risk?

Facebook currently remains one of the most popular destinations on the web. With over 1 billion members in 2017, for several years now the network has pretty much remained the top network people turn to socialize online. Many people across the globe perceive the popular social network as offering many benefits. Using Facebook, however, does not come without its drawbacks. The larger the network has grown, the more attractive it has become to scammers and ID thieves.

How to stop credit card junk mail

As the world goes digital, credit card companies still spend a lot of time soliciting through the good old-fashioned postal mail. They pre-approve, send low introductory rate offers, or provide other offers designed to entice you to apply. Some of them are kind enough to prefill much of your personal information for you.

Oh, did you know your personal information is being sold too? Meaning more solicitations. And the credit reporting agencies are cashing in on them.

How to spend smart using credit cards

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No doubt about it, credit cards are a great convenience. Many people find there are many advantages to shopping by credit. Unfortunately, a problem arises when overuse or abuse of credit cards occurs. Excess spending beyond a budget through use of credit can rapidly lead to severe financial problems, including ruined credit and high debt accumulation.

On the other hand, wise spending when using credit cards can offer lots of tangible benefits to consumers. In order to be successful, what this entails is following some basic general rules of thumb when making purchases with plastic.

How to evaluate your financial situation honestly

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Money problems are not an easy problem to face. When economic times are tough and money doesn't stretch as much as you'd like or think it should, it can get pretty stressful. However, if money issues do arise, it's time to sit down and evaluate your personal financial health.

The reason you need to do this is because you don't want your financial situation to ultimately end in one that leaves your finances in complete ruin. If you sit down and find your expenses are routinely exceeding your income, this is going to eventually lead to big-time debt. Don't let it get this far.

Car rip-offs: Maintenance you don't need

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Manufacturers always recommend routine maintenance on the cars they sell. Good maintenance on a car keeps an engine and other components running nicely and helps retain the optimum lifetime value of the vehicle. There are, however, many processes often recommended by dealers and mechanics which aren't really a part of routine maintenance at all.

There are a number of so-called maintenance procedures that are not routinely necessary to keep your car running, but are often suggested and presented to customers as being something they need to have done. Here is a brief overview of some car rip-offs to avoid:

Don't become a victim: Tips to reduce the risk of cybercrime

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As part of an average day, millions of people log onto the Internet for shopping, banking, and social media. These days it is important to take preventative measures to protect yourself and business networking. They apply to jobs, research genealogy, find old friends, download music, take a course, you name it. Unfortunately, along with these benefits comes increased risks of becoming a victim of cybercrime.

Why living debt-free is not impossible

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Most people have a true desire to save money, but because we live in a society where savings is easier said than done, it can be a challenge. Society thrives on the ability to receive instant gratification, this has been heightened by the increased use of technology.

Long gone are the days of waiting to have to save until enough money has been accumulated to buy a big purchase. If a person impulsively wants to buy, all he or she needs to do is whip out a credit card and buy the item(s).