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What Is a Certified Check? 02/20/2023 07:00pm • A certified check gives peace of mind to the recipient that the check is legitimate -- the account holder's signature on the check is authentic and enough money is available to ensure the check doesn't bounce. A certified check might be used to purchase a major appliance, buy a car, pay taxes or cov Should You Use a Personal Loan to Pay Your Tax Bill? 02/20/2023 07:00pm • Tax season can be met with excitement or dread, depending on whether you're owed a refund or you owe money to the IRS. And when you owe more money than you can comfortably afford, you may be wondering how to pay your excessive tax debt. One way to square away your tax bill is by taking out a persona Data Doctors: Why scammers love gift cards 02/10/2023 05:41pm • Q: How and why are gift cards used by scammers to steal money? A: Using gift cards is one of scammers' favorite methods to extract money from victims for a variety of reasons. They are available everywhere, easy to buy, easy to use and generally impossible to trace. The lack of recourse for vi How to Avoid IRS Tax Refund Delays in 2023 02/07/2023 07:00pm • The past three years have been challenging for the IRS. COVID-19 shutdowns, last-minute tax law changes and staffing issues led to a notorious backlog of returns to process. National Taxpayer Advocate Erin M. Collins' 2022 annual report to Congress, released on Jan. 11, 2023, reported that the IRS s Beware of scammers impersonating Prince George’s Co. sheriff’s deputies 01/26/2023 07:36am • The sheriff's office in Prince George's County, Maryland, is warning people of a recent phone scam involving calls with scammers impersonating deputies. The callers are claiming to be from the Prince George's County Office of the Sheriff and are using internal office phone numbers, according to a What Is Credit Card Fraud? 01/12/2023 07:00pm • If a thief uses your credit card to make purchases or get cash advances, you are a victim of credit card fraud. According to the Federal Trade Commission, U.S. consumers reported 389,737 cases of credit card fraud in 2021, with losses totaling $181 million. The best way to deal with credit card frau Prince William Co. warns residents of scam letter 01/01/2023 12:13pm • Prince William County Tax Administration officials and county police want residents to know that a scam letter sent to residents is not legitimate. In a notification to the community, the county said that the fraudulent letter is not from the county's "Tax Processing Unit." More Prince Catfish scams target everyone: Here's how to keep kids safe 12/03/2022 07:13am • Catfishing crimes have ensnared people for years. This week, a grieving family implored parents to monitor their children's online activity after a former Virginia state trooper catfished a 15-year-old girl online. He then traveled to Southern California, where he allegedly killed the girl's moth Fairfax Co. police want victims of cash-for-gold ruse to come forward 12/02/2022 09:01am • Fairfax County police are still looking for more victims of a bizarre cash-for-fake gold scheme where drivers who stop to help a fellow driver on the side of the highway end up possibly getting abducted and intimidated into draining their bank accounts. Three people have been arrested in the Virg What Is a Bait and Switch Interview? 11/29/2022 07:00pm • If you've never heard of a bait and switch job interview, it may be because the practice was fairly rare in the past. But according to Matt Erhard, the managing partner of recruiting firm Summit Search Group, the unethical practice of having someone stand in for you as a proxy during an interview is Reston firm warns about a texting scam called 'Pig Butchering' 11/28/2022 08:34am • Phone call scams have morphed over the years into text message scams. A recent report said Americans receive an average of 16.9 spam texts every month. One of the newest ones has earned the name "Pig Butchering." "It is the idea of finding a target, fattening up the target, building trust How to Avoid Scams When Senior Dating Online 11/03/2022 08:00pm • If you're looking to meet new people and start a relationship during retirement, there are many online dating sites and apps available. You will typically be asked to create a profile that includes your picture and some basic details about your interests and personality. You can search for potential How to Ask for and Write a Landlord Reference Letter 10/30/2022 08:00pm • A landlord reference letter is a normal part of the rental application process, providing landlords with an additional way to screen prospective tenants while allowing renters to strengthen their applications. A good recommendation doesn't take much time, but it should include important information Data Doctors: Tips to avoid LinkedIn scams when job searching 10/07/2022 06:56pm • Q: I’ve never used LinkedIn for job searches — what should I watch for so I don’t get scammed? A: LinkedIn is the largest social network for business professionals, which also makes it a common way for scammers to trick those looking for work. They’ll use a host of tricks to get people What to Do if You Lose Your Phone 10/05/2022 08:00pm • Losing your phone can be more than an inconvenience. It can also be a financial nightmare if someone uses it to access to your bank account, digital wallet or other sensitive information. That's why it's crucial to act quickly to find a missing device before it falls into the wrong hands. Here are s