- Delivery Method Online
- Professional Certificate
- 24hrs Suggested Study Time
- 3 Months Access
- Tutor Support
- Study On Any Device
- 379 Students
Protect Your Money, Credit, and Identity
Quick Facts
Learn how to guard against scam artists, identity thieves, predatory lenders, and abusive debt collectors.
Do you worry about criminals stealing your identity or scammers cheating you out of your money? Are you feeling threatened by abusive debt collectors or predatory lenders? If so, this course can give you the help you need.
In these lessons, you'll see how to spot the scams and rip-offs that can cost you money or ruin your credit. You'll explore threats including identity fraud, Internet and credit card scams, and deceptive service contracts. If you're planning to buy land or a home, you'll learn to avoid real estate scams—and if you're buying a car, you'll get the inside story on car dealers' tricks.
And that's not all! If your mortgage is in trouble, you'll find out how to slow down (or even stop) a foreclosure. And if you're getting harassing calls from debt collectors, your course instructor—a former Assistant District Attorney—will bring you up to speed on the federal and state laws that can give you peace of mind. You'll also see how to obtain your credit score and how to clean up your credit history.
By the time you finish this course, you'll be prepared to protect your credit score, your identity, and your bank accounts. In addition, you'll have the legal know-how you need to make mortgage holders, credit card companies, and debt collectors play by the rules.
Courses are delivered to you through expertly executed lessons, online instruction and interaction with like-minded students. Our courses are designed to deliver all of the benefits of studying in a classroom whilst giving you the flexibility to study at a time and place to suit your needs. You can access your classroom 24/7 from any device with an internet connection.
This course has a 3 month duration. You'll complete comprehensive lessons, quizzes and assignments before submitting your final exam at the end of the course to achieve your certificate. Courses must be completed within the 3 month access period.
In this first lesson, we'll concentrate on real estate scams. This is a particularly lucrative field for con artists, so we'll discuss all the different ways scammers can fool victims. We'll talk about foreclosure sales, tax liens, rental scams, and bogus escrow fees. By the end of this lesson, you'll be looking differently at newspaper ads that promise quick riches in real estate.
In this lesson, we’ll talk about what could be a delicate situation: falling behind on your bills and being hounded by bill collectors. I’m going to explain the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act, which is a federal law, and you’ll see exactly what debt collectors can and can’t do. You’ll also learn exactly what your rights are and how you can make harassing phone calls stop. I’ll share with you some ready-made statements that you can repeat over the phone. Finally, you’ll learn what to do if a debt collector crosses the line. You’ll find out that not only can you make the phone calls stop, but you can also bring suit against someone who violates the statutes.
As long as there have been human beings, there have been thieves. In this lesson, we’re going to take a look at Internet scams, credit card theft, and how you can protect yourself against both. First, we’ll take a look at some pretty common Internet scams, and I’ll explain how you can protect your money. Then we’ll take on credit card theft and fraud, ending up with a discussion of the federal, state, and local agencies that investigate and prosecute people who commit these crimes. At the conclusion of this lesson, you should breathe a lot easier knowing that you have the savvy to protect yourself from Internet scams and credit card thieves.
Credit is the real currency of our economy. This means that your credit score is vitally important. In today’s lesson, we’re going to examine your credit score: how it’s calculated, how credit reports work, how you can change information on the report, and also how you can improve your overall credit. First, we’ll walk through exactly how credit agencies establish your credit history. You’ll learn about that all-important credit score number that follows you wherever you go. Then we’ll talk about the Fair Credit Reporting Act, which is a piece of federal legislation that governs how, when, and why credit scores can be tabulated. More important, you’ll learn how the FCRA specifies what you can do to remove incorrect items on your credit history. Next, we’ll talk about scams to supposedly “clean up” your credit history. We’ll finish the lesson by discussing the correct and legal methods you can use that really will improve your credit score.
In this lesson, we’ll examine the issues surrounding predatory lending and other questionable lending practices. Predatory lending is something that might actually cost you more money than fraud—and it’s perfectly legal. It reaches into many areas, but especially into home mortgages. We’ll also talk about another common predatory lending practice: payday loans. You’ll see how they can drain a person dry. By the conclusion of this lesson, you’ll know how to avoid predatory lenders and keep more of your hard-earned money.
In today’s lesson, we’ll cover a familiar topic: credit cards. We’ll be dissecting everything you need to know about terms, interest rates, and fees. We’ll begin with a brief history of credit cards, and then I’ll show you all the different factors you need to consider before choosing one. Then I’ll talk about the credit card agreement and why it’s important to pay attention to it. Finally, we’ll take a look at some credit card scams you should be aware of. By the conclusion of this lesson, you should feel well-prepared to apply for a credit card that will bring you the best value and convenience possible.
As long as there have been businesses, there have been unscrupulous business practices. In this lesson, we’re going to examine specific types of deceptive practices—including bait and switch, passing off one type of goods for another, and outright fraud—and show you how to avoid them. Unscrupulous retailers, especially Internet merchants, are coming up with new ways to dupe us all the time. You’ll learn how to look for warning signs that something may not be what it’s advertised to be and use caution to help guide you. Even the most careful consumer can fall prey to deceptive business practices, though, so you'll also be gathering lots of information on what to do after the fact.
In today’s lesson, we’ll talk about scams and rip-offs directly related to cars. If you plan to buy, lease, or sell a car one day, this is the lesson for you! We’ll start off with a discussion about leasing cars and some of the most common tricks, scams, and outright crimes that dealers carry out every day. Then we’ll move on to scams involving buying and selling a car. Along the way, we’ll demystify a lot of terminology that has crept into the auto buying and leasing business. By the time you’ve finished this lesson, you’ll be ready to march down to the car dealer, negotiate the best possible deal for yourself, and save thousands of dollars.
It seems like every time you buy something these days, you’re offered the opportunity to purchase an extended warranty. These warranties are tempting, but are they really worth it? That’s the question we’ll be answering in this lesson. We’ll begin by learning exactly what a warranty is, along with a little history of how warranties began. Then we’ll talk about two kinds of warranties: express and implied. After that, we’ll turn our attention to extended warranties, something I’m sure a car dealer or retailer has dangled before you at one time or another. By the time you finish this lesson, you should have all the knowledge you need to expertly evaluate any warranty you might be thinking about purchasing.
You’ve undoubtedly heard about lawsuits in which people have sued over products that have injured them. In this lesson, we’re going to take a look at this area of law and see how it’s entirely possible to bring such a case and what will happen when you do. Such lawsuits fall under the category of product liability cases, so our focus for this lesson is to understand what product liability is all about. Once you have a solid understanding of product liability, you can then figure out if your case falls into the product liability area.
In previous lessons, we’ve talked about scams, rip-offs, and product liability cases. Suppose you want to sue the con man who swindled you, the corporation whose product hurt you, or someone else. How do you go about doing it? That’s what we’ll focus on in this lesson. We’ll take a look at the process you would follow if you decided to bring a lawsuit. By the time you finish this lesson, you’ll know how to bring a small claims action or even a full-blown lawsuit in state or federal court.
In this final lesson, we will address a few more scams and rip-offs that we have not yet covered. We’ll focus on cons and schemes that you’re likely to run into at some point and that you need to protect yourself against. We will be discussing everything from home repair scams to Ponzi schemes. Along the way, you’ll also be getting the information that you need to protect yourself and the resources to contact the proper authorities if you feel that you have been the victim of any of these illegal activities. By the time you finish this lesson, you should be well-armed to spot the many ways in which unscrupulous folks can take advantage of you. With what you’ll learn in this lesson—as well as what you’ve learned throughout the course—you can count yourself a savvy and well-informed consumer.
Neal Bevans
Neal Bevans is a former Assistant District Attorney. A veteran of more than 150 trials, Bevans has tried every major felony from rape, murder, and narcotics crime to armed robbery. One of his cases was televised nationally on Court TV. He h... Read more
Read Neal Bevans's ProfileFrequently Asked Questions
Once you've made the payment, we'll send you a confirmation email with a link to start your course. Feel free to get started whenever you're ready!
You'll have 3 months access to your course. In that time you are free to study at your own pace. The course duration is 24 hours.
Online learning is a flexible way to study that fits around your schedule, giving you the freedom to learn at your own pace from anywhere in the world. You'll have 3 months to complete the course and can take the multiple-choice questions and final exam whenever it suits you.
If you need help, you can contact us anytime. You can also join the discussion area where you can interact with other students. The discussion area for each lesson is open for the entire duration of the course.
Of course! We offer a 10-day money back guarantee. As long as you haven't completed the course, you can get a full refund within 10 days of enrolling.
We do not offer extensions or transfers for this self-paced course. However, you will have 3 months to complete the course, and if you need to cancel within the first 10 days of enrolment, we offer a money back guarantee.
The Learning Environment
From the moment that you enrol in the Protect Your Money, Credit, and Identity you will become an integral part of our learning community. You'll find yourself with the freedom to learn at a speed that suits you, on any device, from anywhere in the world. Achieving your career goals no longer has to mean compromising family and work commitments.
Our Values
Learn At Your Own Pace
We believe in personalised learning. That's why we provide all the tools and support you need to succeed at your own pace. With flexible learning, you'll stay motivated and retain more information. Plus, you can balance your studies with work and family commitments to make your dreams a reality.
We Won't Break The Bank
Education should be accessible to anyone who wants to learn. That's why we offer some of the most competitive prices in the industry with payments plans for just $25 per week. Investing in your future is a smart choice and doesn’t have to break the bank.
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There's no better way to learn than from experts with years of experience in your field. That's why each of our 200+ industry-led courses are designed to give you a real-life perspective on your industry. With our expert mentors, you'll learn from people who have a wealth of knowledge and experience, and who are passionate about sharing it with you.
Get The Personal Support You Deserve
At Vibe Learning, we're real people who are dedicated to providing you with personal support every step of the way. Our industry experts are not only professional and knowledgeable but also incredibly passionate about sharing their expertise with you. With their guidance, you'll gain invaluable insights and practical knowledge to help you succeed.
