Technology can be its own dichotomy when it pertains to identity theft, as it can both reduce and increase the risk of it happening to you. It is a huge game where the stakes are high: when someone steals your identity through a number of different methods, that person can use your information to purchase just about anything they want — and simultaneously render your life miserable for years to come as you attempt to regain your identity. Identity theft is on the increase. For example…

Effective as of today, merchants in forty states in the United States may charge customers who use certain credit cards to pay for their purchases a surcharge fee of up to a maximum limit of four percent in addition to the purchase price. As the result of a class action lawsuit first filed by retail merchants in 2005 which alleged that MasterCard and Visa violated antitrust law by fixing the swipe fees…

BigCrumbs is currently having a sale throughout its Internet web site through November 26, 2012 where you can earn a higher cash rebate on qualifying purchases through participating merchants — some of which are companies in the travel industry such as Alaska Airlines and InterContinental Hotels Group — with no fees and free standard shipping to sweeten the deal. BigCrumbs offers a free on-line loyalty program that pays the highest overall cash back available at popular retailers via the Internet — and its members can earn even more cash with referrals. However, you must first…

Many FlyerTalk members apply for credit cards to take advantage of the promotions and offers for bonus frequent traveler loyalty program miles or points, instant elite status, or cash back. Some even engage in the process of credit card “churning” to maximize their benefits. However, not all FlyerTalk members are approved for credit. For example…

We all know how confusing, frustrating, nonsensical, and costly the travel industry can be. It’s as if it’s first cousins with the credit card industry. The thing is we also know how many opportunities there are to game the system and save. This is perhaps most important when it comes to international travel, as everything is more costly, and logistics not common to domestic travel (think currency conversion) come into play. With that being said, there are a few things that international travelers can do (in addition to getting the best deals) to realize savings of 25 percent or more — and it all starts with…