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Your online identity is probably worth a lot to you. To thieves, not so much.

For $1,170, a thief can illegally buy the entirety of the average person’s stolen personal information on the dark web, according to a review of fraud-related listings by the VPN review site TOP10VPN. That’s relatively cheap, considering that it includes hundreds of logins, passwords, credit card numbers and other identifying information.

In what it calls the Dark Web Market Price Index, the site details how would-be scammers could spend more on going out to lunch than on getting hacked account information such as from Grubhub ($15), Walmart ($12) or Netflix ($8).

The VPN site’s security experts reviewed tens of thousands of listings on three of the most popular dark web markets. These are encrypted websites that can only be reached using the Tor browser. Once there, criminals can anonymously sell stolen personal information and other illegal things such as illicit drugs and weapons.

Credit Cards Wanted Most
Stolen credit card numbers can be used immediately to buy something online, making them some of the most valuable hacked items on the list.

Credit cards sell for an average of $500, the same price as bank logins. Some hacked logins come with a credit card added, such as a Costco login with a credit card for only $5. A Pizza Hut login for ordering pizzas online is only $6 and includes a credit card that can then be used to buy much more than pizza.

Selling prices for credit cards tend to be 10 percent of the available credit balance, researchers found. PayPal accounts have much higher demand, asking double that of credit cards. Verified PayPal accounts with high balances of $10,000 that come with an email address and password cost $2,000.

Bundles of “full” identifying information, called “Fullz,” cost as much as $515 for guaranteed access to a Wells Fargo online account. They can include an individual’s name, billing address, mother’s maiden name, Social Security Number, date of birth and other personal data.

Setting up lines of credit in someone else’s name is the main tactic of cybercriminals. Along with credit card and personal information, they’ll buy digital proof of identity such as passport scans ($16) or a real passport ($2), selfies and utility bills. For $52, a driver’s license scan, Social Security Number and utility bill are included as a package.

Online Shopping
For less than $10, hacked online shopping accounts are sold, providing many fraud opportunities. If you store payment details on Amazon, Best Buy and other online stores, hackers can order items online and sell them for cash. A hacked Amazon account is $6 and a Best Buy account is $15. For a Best Buy login with instant delivery, it’s only $9.

Hacked eBay accounts for $15 allow criminals to dupe buyers into sending them money for fake listings or to buy expensive goods with the account owner’s funds to intercept and sell later.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Everyone who takes out a mortgage hopes to be able to make payments on time, but life sometimes gets in the way. A job loss, an unexpected expense, or an illness or injury can wreak havoc on a familys finances. A mortgage that converts from a fixed- to an adjustable-interest rate can cause mortgage payments to skyrocket overnight.

If you have missed payments, dont panic. You have options to help you get back on track, but the first thing you need to do is contact your lender, explain your situation and ask what can be done to help you. Your lender would rather see you get caught up than have your home go into foreclosure and will be willing to work with you”but you have to ask.

How to Get Back on Track

One option is forbearance. That means the lender will agree to reduce or postpone your payments for a period of time. You will need to make up the payments later by paying a lump sum or installments. This is a good option if you are facing a short-term loss of income or an unanticipated expense but expect things to get back to normal in a relatively short period of time. You will be considered current on your mortgage during forbearance.

Your lender may suggest working out a repayment plan if the problem that caused you to fall behind on your mortgage has been resolved. You will have to make your regular monthly payments, plus an extra amount each month until you make up the amount you owe. You may also be able to make up the missed payments by paying a lump sum. The lender might charge fees if you choose this option.

The lender might be willing to modify the terms of the mortgage by lowering the interest rate, extending the term of the loan or adding the amount of missed payments to the balance and allowing you to pay it off later. You might also wind up with a lower monthly payment that you can more easily afford.

If you owe more money on your mortgage than your house is worth, the lender may be willing to reduce the principal on the loan. That can lower your payments and make you more willing and able to stay in the house and continue to pay off the mortgage, which is in the lenders best interest.

You might be able to lower your monthly payments in other ways. If your homeowners insurance rates are high, shop around for a better deal. If you purchased private mortgage insurance when you bought your house several years ago, you might have accumulated enough equity that it is no longer required.

Ask for Help

If you are behind on your mortgage payments, you are probably feeling overwhelmed, but there is hope. Options are available to help you catch up or lower your payments moving forward. Take the first step and contact your loan servicer.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

In the wide world of kitchen dcor, the sink is rarely a star. Sandwiched between the granite countertops and the kitchen backsplash, it is perhaps the last thing homeowners think about. But considering how often we use it, and the different chores we use it for, the sink deserves a considered choice.

Kitchen design consultants at HGTV provide kitchen sink basics to think about:

Size and Shape

Classic Farmhouse
A large, single-basin sink, this classic design works well if you plan to use it for multiple chores beyond washing dishes, such as cleaning over-sized pots, pans and baking sheets, or bathing dogs or babies. More common is the double farmhouse sink, with two basins of equal size.

Traditional Double Sink
With two basins of different size, these allow the user to prep in the smaller size and clean up in the larger one, or separately wash small items you dont want to put in the dishwasher. While the 60/40 split is most common, many models offer two sinks of varied size options.

Three-Basin
This sink features two basins of equal size, with one small one and a garbage disposal in the center. Its a good choice if you want to keep food scraps away from the basins where you prep and clean.

Rounded Sides
Some homeowners consider a curved sink easier to clean than one with square edges, and the sleek, minimalist look is attractive.

Materials

Stainless Steel
This is easy to clean and offers a contemporary look, but metal can scratch. Most manufacturers offer bottom grids”wire trays placed in the bottom of the sink to prevent scratching. If you live in an area with hard water, water spots can be a problem.

Porcelain
This looks authentic in kitchens with a vintage style, and if you love color, the choices are endless. Porcelain sinks can chip, however, and metal pans can leave black scuff marks that are difficult to remove.

Granite Composite
Made of granite particles and polymers, these sinks resist scratches and chips and do not show water spots. Lighter-colored granite composite sinks can stain, however, and some special maintenance may be required.

Natural Stone
Natural stone (soapstone being the most common choice) can exactly match your countertop material. But its costly, and it can scratch and chip. Special cleaning products may be required.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

A higher credit limit can help in an emergency, allow you to make any necessary large purchases and even, in some instances, improve you credit score. Asking for a higher credit limit, however, can seem awkward.

Higher credit limits are typically offered to people with the highest credit scores for a simple reason”theyre considered the most likely to pay their bill on time and not default. Someone with a low credit score will have a harder time convincing their credit card company to give them a higher limit, though its not impossible.

The average credit limit as of December 2016 was $8,071, according to data from Experian, a credit bureau.

Improving Your Credit Score With a Higher Limit
Looking to finance a large purchase such as a home renovation? Or maybe you just need to cover some monthly expenses. These are a few reasons why you might want a higher credit limit. But theres another advantage to seeking a credit limit increase”it can improve your credit score.

Your credit limit affects your credit utilization ratio”a lower ratio can lead to a higher credit score. A rate of 25 percent is best to improve a credit score, meaning youre using up to 25 percent of the credit available on the credit card.

How to Ask for a Higher Limit
Whatever you need the money for, youre more likely to be approved for a higher credit limit if you have a strong credit score and no recent history of late payments.

Pick only one credit card in your wallet to ask for an increase on. If you ask all of your credit card issuers for a higher credit limit, each will be treated as a separate inquiry and that could hurt your credit score. It can also help if you don’t apply for new credit cards in a short period of time when asking for a credit limit increase on an existing card. Such applications can lower a credit score temporarily.

To ask for a larger credit limit, just call your credit card provider and ask for it. Ask them to consider your years of membership, strong payment record and low credit utilization rate.

Dont Be Desperate or Greedy
Tell your credit card company why you deserve more credit: Youve never missed a payment and you always pay your balance in full each month, or you pay more than the minimum balance.

You also dont want to ask for too high of an increase. This can be a sign of greed and desperation, which can lead to denial and require you to wait a few months before applying again for a credit limit increase. Aim for 10 to 25 percent more, up to $250 for every $1,000 in credit you already have. If you have good credit, you may be able to ask for more.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

When preparing to batten down the hatches during a storm, don’t forget to pay attention to your furry family members. Loud, unpredictable noises and an uptick of electrical currents in the air can make your pet seriously scared when the weather goes wild. Here are three ways to soothe your dog or cat during an electrical storm.

Create a comfortable space. Many animals like small, tight spaces when the weather becomes unpredictable. (Some even jump in the bathtub!) Find a cozy spot for your pet (preferably in the same room you’re in) and bring in their favorite blanket, bed or toy.

Turn on calming music. Animals have long been known to react to soothing music the same way people do. Play some classical tunes or lullabies to help put pets at ease.

Distract them. Just like people, animals can be distracted in the face of fear. Play their favorite game or pull a special occasion treat out. Eventually, they may associate storms with treats and toys, instead of static electricity and thunder.

Published with permission from RISMedia.