Coronavirus Scams Increasing
The FBI is seeing a rise in scams related to the Coronavirus pandemic. Read the article for details. https://www.ic3.gov/media/2020/200320.aspx

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Coronavirus Scams Increasing
The FBI is seeing a rise in scams related to the Coronavirus pandemic. Read the article for details. https://www.ic3.gov/media/2020/200320.aspx

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The Coronavirus and Federal Student Loan Payments
Many people with student loans now wonder what their repayment options are in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic. The president stated interest would be waived on all federal student loans. Read the specifics in this government link https://bit.ly/2wy1T15.
A key point is the suspension of payments only pertain to federal loans, not private.
Governor Streamlines Unemployment Payments
We will begin posting things that can help you and your family during this time of Coronavirus COVID-19. People are losing their jobs or temporarily being laid off.
This is an article about Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson expediting unemployment benefits for those impacted by the virus.
https://bit.ly/2x2zSin
The One-Ring Phone Scam
Your cell phone rings, but—before you can answer—the caller hangs up. It might be tempting to call the person back (especially if you aren't sure who it is), but a new scam we are hearing about should make you think twice. With the popular “One-Ring” phone scam, you could find yourself with an unexpected phone bill for hundreds of dollars.
Read on for more details https://www.fraud.org/one_ring_alert
Employees Are Financially Stressed
U.S. workers claim they want quicker access to their pay, according to a study by the Workforce Institute at Kronos, which found that 72% of the 1,180 U.S.-based employees surveyed want access to their wages before their payday.
More than half of employees (53%) agree financial stress distracts them from their work. Two-thirds of employees (66%) wish they had early access to earned wages to simply cover bills, especially emergency expenses such as a car repair (32%) or unplanned medical care (19%).
CCOA can help companies by being an EAP resource for employees. Whether through a company or directly to individuals, non-profit CCOA has been helping people with personal finance counseling and education for 25 years! Just call 479-521-8877 or visit www.CCOAcares.com to make an appointment or for more info.

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Seven Tips for Improving Your Credit Score
By Karen Gray, Arvest Bank SVP Marketing
Credit scores say a lot about our financial health and habits. They indicate to prospective lenders how much of a financial risk a person is when requesting a loan for a big ticket item.
Let’s take mortgage loans for example. An important step in the home buying process is ensuring that the buyer has a good credit history. Establishing a good credit score can mean the difference between being denied or approved for a loan to buy a house. It can also help the buyer get a lower interest rate on a mortgage.
According to a recent survey by Credit Sesame, low credit scores put homeownership out of reach for 1 in 5 consumers. Credit scoring systems are complex and vary among creditors. If one factor changes, the score may change — but improvement generally depends on how that factor relates to others the system considers. If someone is denied a loan, or is getting unfavorable rates for financing, they might need to improve their credit score.
Building credit isn’t a particularly quick or simple process, but it’s possible to improve your credit score. Here are some steps to take now to begin that process:
1. Request a credit report – and make sure it is correct. It's designed to help banks and other institutions make lending decisions. A credit report illustrates a person’s credit performance, and it needs to be accurate in order to apply for loans – such as a mortgage loan. The Fair Credit Reporting Act gave consumers access to free annual credit reports from the three major credit reporting agencies, but they must go through the Federal Trade Commission’s website at annualcreditreport.com to receive it.
If a credit report isn’t taken seriously, it can cost consumers hundreds or thousands of dollars over the course of their lifetime. For consumers who want to get smart about their credit, getting a credit report could be worthwhile.
2. Pay bills on time. Payment history tends to be a significant factor in determining a credit score. If a credit report indicates that a consumer paid bills late, had an account referred to collections or declared bankruptcy, those actions could negatively affect the credit score. There are many credit-scoring providers, but the predominant one in the United States is the FICO credit score. Payment history makes up 35 percent of a FICO credit score. The longer bills are paid on time, the better the credit score. Avoid missing payments by setting as many bills as possible to automatic bill pay.
3. Keep balances low on credit cards. Many scoring systems evaluate the amount of debt a person carries, compared to their credit limits. If the amount owed is close to the credit limit, it's likely to have a negative effect on the score.
Maintaining high balances can hurt credit scores, regardless of whether bills are paid in full each month.
4. Open new credit accounts only as needed. Keep this in mind the next time a retailer offers 10 percent off by opening a new account. Applying for too many new accounts could have a negative effect on a credit score. Although it’s generally considered a plus to have established credit accounts, too many credit card accounts may have negative effects.
When needing a new line of credit, don’t jump at the first appealing offer; compare rates and fees offered through mail solicitation, on the Internet or at a local bank.
5. Don’t close old, paid off accounts. According to FICO, your credit scores consider the age of your accounts – the longer your credit history, the better. Maintaining debt can be good for credit health — if it’s managed responsibly. And some of the biggest factors in credit scores, like credit card utilization rates and the average age of credit accounts, could take a hit with closing old accounts.
6. Build a strong credit age. Generally, scoring systems track the length of credit a person has developed during the years. A good average age of credit history would be five years and up. An insufficient credit history may affect credit scores, but factors like timely payments and low balances can help offset this issue.
7. Talk to a credit counselor. Using legitimate credit counseling can help manage debt and won’t hurt a credit score. For more information on debt management, contact CCOA.
Improving a credit score significantly will take some time, but it can be done. To improve a credit score under most systems, focus on paying your bills in a timely way, paying down any outstanding balances and staying away from new debt.
Achieve Your Financial Goals in 2020!
The CCOA Team wishes you a Happy and Debt Free New Year! Our caring financial professionals can help you achieve your personal finance goals. Visit www.CCOAcares.com for more information.Or call 479-521-8877 or visit https://www.ccoacares.com/request-appointment/ to make an appointment.
CCOA Will Be Closed Dec. 25 - Jan. 1
Christmas is almost here and we want to say Merry Christmas to you and your family from all of us at CCOA!
CCOA will be closed Dec. 25-Jan. 1. Emails and phone messages will be monitored during that time, however. If you have a financial emergency that cannot wait until our return, please email [email protected] and we will contact you as soon as possible.
CCOA Offices Closed for Thurs., Dec. 12 at 10:30 a.m.
We will be closing today (Thurs., Dec. 12) at 10:30 for a team meeting and holiday party. We will be re-open to serve you tomorrow morning at 8:00!
Christmas Shopping and Deferred Interest
Christmas time and deferred interest seem to go together like Santa and reindeer, but what exactly is deferred interest? WalletHub reports that credit card debt is on the rise and 82% of people unaware how deferred interest works. Deferred interest is when a retailer advertises a low introductory APR – often 0% – and gives a consumer the chance to pay for their purchases without interest for a certain number of months (6, 9, etc.), only to hit them with retroactive interest charges if the balance isn't paid off at the end of that time. It's fine if you have a realistic game plan to pay off the balance within that 0% time period. Otherwise, it can be a very expensive way to go. The worst scenario would be if someone made no payments during that time, because at the end of that period the balance will soar due to the finance charges added onto the original purchase amount.

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Know Your Holiday Spending Budget
Black Friday is coming up fast! Will you be looking for any great deals? Remember, the first (and perhaps best) holiday spending tip is to know how much you can afford to spend! Even if it's a great buy, if you can't afford it, it will only financially stress you out to buy it. So take just a few minutes to look at your finances to set a holiday budget to enjoy the holidays without overspending.
Have a Simple Budget for Halloween Spending
Halloween is coming up fast. Will you buy a costume, candy, or host or go to a party?
As always, have a simple budget in place for holiday spending so you can enjoy it without overspending.
Don’t Fall for the Suspended Social Security Number Scam
Received a Social Security scam robocall lately? There have been 200,000 complaints of government imposter calls this year. Most people just hang up and never report the scam. But those who fall for it lose an average of $1,000.
The suspended Social Security number scam usually begins with a phone call or robocall. Criminals will often spoof the Social Security Administration number. This makes the caller ID show a call that looks like it is from the government. When you answer, a scammer will say your Social Security number has been suspended.
The person may sound professional and will usually explain the number has been suspended because you committed a crime. The thief may also say the government has filed a lawsuit against you. "To rectify this terrifying scenario, victims are told to call a specific number, where they will be required to provide their personal information," says Paige Schaffer, CEO of global identity and digital protection services at Generali Global Assistance in Bethesda, Maryland. Scammers may also say you need to pay a fine to end the lawsuit and recover your Social Security number.
The scam may take on several variations. "In a slightly less frightening version of the scam, victims are told their Social Security number has been suspended due to 'suspicious activity,'" Schaffer says. To un-suspend the number, the scammer will say you need to be connected to a Social Security representative. You'll be asked to share personal information, such as stating the last four digits of your Social Security number to make sure it matches. You may be told to send money too.
Ultimately, the scammer's goal is to get your personal information. In addition to your Social Security number, this could include your birthday, bank account number or home address. The thief will typically want a payment from you to reactivate your Social Security number. "Victims have reported being told they can make payments via wire transfers or gift cards," Schaffer says.
If you receive a call informing you that your Social Security number has been suspended, you can rest assured it is not true. Social Security numbers do not get suspended. "Any call that states your Social Security number is under suspension is a scam," says Robert Siciliano, a cybersecurity expert for ETF Managers Group in Summit, New Jersey. Thieves are hoping you'll be scared and turn to them when they offer help. "In reality these scammers are trying to steal your information," Siciliano says.
While the SSA may make phone calls, the organization states its employees will never threaten you for information. SSA employees won't say you could be arrested if you don't share your personal banking records and do not make threats about taking legal action if you fail to answer their questions. The SSA doesn't ask for payment to be made in gift cards either.
Thank You Wells Fargo Foundation!
CCOA recently received a $4,000 grant from the Wells Fargo Foundation @WellsFargo to support free home buyer education classes to people considering purchasing a home. The classes will focus on patience, preparation and resources, and provide an in-depth look at various home ownership loan and insurance options, as well as walk through the step-by-step process to buying a home. Consumers will discover what options best suit their needs and desires and help them to achieve their goal of owning a home.
CCOA thanks the Wells Fargo Foundation for their generous contribution which will positively impact our community
Summer Scams Alert!
This summer, sunblock isn’t the only protection you need. There are three major phone scams heating up now: text alerts that appear to be from your bank (Bank of America and BB&T come to mind); calls spoofing U.S. Marshals and threatening you with jail/arrest; and a spoofing attempt from 1-800-APPLE targeting iPhone owners and claiming that there’s a threat to your phone or computer.
None of this communication is from the party it claims to be from, and each seeks to separate you from your money. What else do these contacts have in common? They all deserve to be hung up on, ignored and/or reported to the Federal Trade Commission. (Source: Consumer Action Scam Gram Alert)

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Vacation Money Saving Tip -- Pack A Cooler
Are you taking a road trip / vacation this summer? One easy tip that can save you a bit of money is to pack a cooler of your favorite snacks and drinks to take with you. Buying an entire case of water for only $3 at the grocery store before you leave town sure beats paying $2 per bottle at a convenience store along the way, or $3 per bottle at a hotel. Just a few minutes of planning and packing your sandwiches, snack bars, candy bars, etc., could save you literally $100 or more!
Arkansans And Taxes
How do Arkansans fare on taxes? Here's what MSN Money reported:
-- Avg. income after taxes: $32,019 (pre-tax: $42,566)
-- Avg. taxes paid as % of income: 24.8% (7th highest)
-- Federal income tax collections per capita: $6,593 (16th highest)
-- State and local tax collections per capita: $3,955 (21st lowest)
For budgeting, credit and debt personal finance issues, the caring financial professionals at CCOA can help! For a brighter financial future, call 479-521-8877 or visit www.CCOAcares.com