Thread by @teresamurray

Thanks @malonespeaking for having @uspirg on your show today to talk about #NewYearResolutions.
No. 1: Check your credit report free through annualcreditreport.com or 877-322-8228. Errors can cost you money, a new job or home rental. @edmpirg (THREAD) uspirg.org/news/usp/state…

@malonespeaking @uspirg @edmpirg You can get your credit report from each of the 3 bureaus once a week at no charge through April. Then it's once a year, unless the law is finally changed. You must go through annualcreditreport.com or official phone number to get reports free. @edmpirg @MikeLittUSA

@malonespeaking @uspirg @edmpirg @MikeLittUSA No. 2: If you have a debit card or use PayPal, Venmo or another payment app tied to a bank account, get a secondary checking account. Don't expose your primary checking account to fraud or mistakes that will happen. Tons of banks offer no fee/no strings checking. @edmpirg

@malonespeaking @uspirg @edmpirg @MikeLittUSA Everything is fine until it isn't. Your direct deposits and money you need to pay your major bills are at risk if you have only one bank account and link it as a payment source to Venmo, PayPal, CashApp, etc. and even Amazon. @edmpirg cnbc.com/2021/06/25/mob…

@malonespeaking @uspirg @edmpirg @MikeLittUSA Some local banks that offer no fee/no strings checking you can use as a secondary account for your debit card/ payment app: KeyCorp, Huntington, Fifth Third, Dollar Bank, Ohio Savings, First Federal Lakewood, Westfield,
Northwest, First National Bank of Pa. @malonespeaking

@malonespeaking @uspirg @edmpirg @MikeLittUSA Citizens also offers an account called "One Deposit," which requires one deposit of at least $1 a month. That’s not a real requirement in my mind.
Point: If you want a free secondary checking account, you have at least 10 options in #CLE area and many choices in most communities.

@malonespeaking @uspirg @edmpirg @MikeLittUSA No. 3: Check your passwords on your critical online accounts. Don't use the password for your main email on any other account because your email is what's used to reset other passwords. Also, have unique passwords for social media accounts that are often hacked. @malonespeaking

@malonespeaking @uspirg @edmpirg @MikeLittUSA No. 4: Make a commitment to check on activity on your primary bank account either online or by phone AT LEAST once a week. A much, much better resolution is to take 2 minutes and do it every single day. Make it part of your morning or evening routine. @malonespeaking

@malonespeaking @uspirg @edmpirg @MikeLittUSA And sign up for text or email alerts to your phone so you get real-time notifications of all activity on your bank account, debit card and credit card over a dollar amount that you select.

@malonespeaking @uspirg @edmpirg @MikeLittUSA No. 5: Be more paranoid. It’s sad but we have to assume we’re at risk in lots of ways. Be suspicious of every email, phone call, text message and letter in the mail. Consider that anything unexpected could be a scam.

@malonespeaking @uspirg @edmpirg @MikeLittUSA Don't give info to unexpected callers. Don’t click on links in emails or texts you weren't expecting, even if it says you won a prize or your FedEx shipment is late. If you get a weird text message or email from your boss or best friend to go buy iTunes gift cards, call them. END