Protect Your Money and Your Credit

If you’re retired, or nearing retirement, chances are the way you handle your money is changing in a number of ways. For instance, instead of a paycheck, you may be relying on your pension, investment income, or Social Security; or you may be traveling frequently and need to rely on credit and debit cards for cash and purchases. Unfortunately, you may also be the target of financial schemes and scams.
“With a change in lifestyle comes a change in your relationship to your finances,” says Maxine Sweet of Experian, a company that provides consumers with products and resources to help them understand, manage, and protect their personal credit profiles. “From identity theft to investments, now more than ever you need to be vigilant about protecting your money and your reputation,” she adds.

Here are some suggestions to consider to help take care of your retirement plans:

Take advantage of automated deposits

From paychecks to Social Security checks, it’s possible to rely on automated deposits for convenience and security. Thieves know when Social Security checks are mailed and stolen checks are a big problem. Gain peace of mind by knowing your check is in the bank, instead of in the mail. Automated deposit also means you have immediate access to your funds without making a trip to the bank.

Keep track of your credit

If you have credit cards you don’t use, consider keeping them in a safe-deposit box. When you get credit card bills, carefully check the charges. If you notice anything unfamiliar, it could mean someone is using your account and you should notify your credit card company immediately.

If you have a family member who is experiencing financial problems, do not divulge any information they could use to open a credit account in your name, and keep credit cards in a secure place during visits. While you may feel uncomfortable taking precautions around a family member, statistics show that much of the fraud against seniors is perpetrated by someone they know and trust.

Be sure to check your credit report periodically to make sure everything is in order. If you notice any accounts you don’t recognize, or if there is a higher balance than you expected on any of your credit accounts, you need to take action. An easy way to check on your credit is to log on to www.experian.com.

Be aware of identity theft

The Federal Trade Commission received approximately 161,000 complaints about identity theft in 2002, and the problem is growing. “There are a number of ways thieves can obtain your personal information to get at your money and ruin the good credit standing you’ve spent a lifetime earning,” cautions Sweet. If you suspect that someone is using your identity, notify authorities immediately to minimize the damage.

To prevent identity theft, experts recommend shredding anything that contains personal information, such as bank and credit card statements, preapproved credit card offers and bills with account information. When you pay bills, take them to the post office instead of leaving them in your mailbox. Your mailbox is an easy place for criminals to get access to your personal information.

Take precautions when traveling

Many retirees take advantage of their new status to travel. Before you hit the road, make arrangements for your bills to be paid while you’re gone. Late payments can affect your credit score, as well as costing you late fees and finance charges.

If you’re expecting any checks in the mail while you’re gone, have a trusted friend, neighbor, or family member collect your mail and keep it safe until your return. You can also have the post office hold your mail until you return home.

Use credit cards or debit cards instead of cash whenever possible so you don’t have to carry a lot of money when you travel. If you use your credit card or ATM card to get cash, take care that no one is close enough to figure out your PIN code. Finally, make sure to take all copies of your receipts when paying by credit card so your account information doesn’t get into the wrong hands.

Be alert for scams

Every day scam artists come up with new ways to part trusting people from their hard-earned cash. Just remember, if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. If someone calls you out of the blue to say you’ve won an all-expenses paid cruise and all they need is your Social Security number or a small “service fee” to process your prize, hang up and report the phone call to the police. If you’re on the Internet and you get a message purporting to be from a company asking for your password information, don’t be fooled. It’s probably someone who wants to get into your account information and use it to make unauthorized purchases online. You should never provide personal information in response to an unsolicited e-mail or phone call. Companies with whom you do business will never contact you to ask for their own account information.

A few simple precautions can help guarantee that you’ll spend more time enjoying retirement and less time worrying about your finances.