Hidden in Plain Sight

Criminals don't just break into your homes and businesses! Burglars do that.

There is a new type of criminal and you are their target. Burglars steal your belongings and valuables from your home or vehicle, these new criminals steal your Identity! It only takes a few seconds to commit this crime, but it can take months, even years to clean up your Credit Score or recover the monies stolen from your accounts.

Once a criminal steals your purse, your briefcase, computer, laptop and with their increase use, your computing tablet, the door is wide open for them to steal your identity.

Many times, after a home is robbed, the criminal uses the information stolen to steal the identity of the home owner or tenant. So securing your home is a vital part in your identity security.

What can you do to prevent this happening to your and your family?
First: Don't make it easy! Secure your computers at home with the appropriate software, make sure your system passwords are not given out, if they are, then consider changing them... quickly! Of course, you have an alarm system! (click on the link below to visit Discount Home Alarms)
Secondly: Consider your vulnerability when out of the home in your vehicle. Don't leave cell phones, laptops, tablets, etc. in plain sight, they are not hidden just because your vehicle doors are closed. Make sure an opportunistic criminal cannot open the door (or lean through an open window) of your vehicle. If you know you are going to leave your vehicle parked where it could be at risk, then put your 'stuff' out of sight before you arrive, as you leave your home or office.

Be especially aware that if you drive an SUV or Minivan, then your vision of the passenger side of the vehicle is restricted, and criminals know that! So it's easier for them to sneak up to your vehicle. How many stories have you heard about a pocket book being stolen while someone was filling their vehicle at a gas station? Too often, someone will leave their auto doors unlocked and, in just a few distracted seconds, a criminal will just open the door, pickup anything found and walk away.. or over to their car at the adjacent pump!

It can take months, even years to correct your credit when this type of crime occurs. So take steps to prevent the crime before it ruins your day!

Remember: Forewarned is Forarmed.

The Grandparent Scam

Have you heard about the Grandparent Scam? Not a new Crime but an often used scam that we all need to make sure we are aware of, and that our Grandparents are too.


How does it work?

The Criminal will contact a person claiming to be a family member or close personal friend with a compelling story. You'll get the idea, "I lost my wallet", "At the airport and my luggage was stolen"... They validate their story by recalling information culled from the web, names of relatives, city of residence etc.
And of course, the call is an urgent one, even reinforced by claim of being in danger or about to miss a vital travel connection.

Once some degree of recognition by the 'Grandparent' is established, the next step is to ask for some money to be wired "Right Away"

Of course, once the money has been delivered, it is automatically transferred to a foreign account and that is the end of the line as far as tracing the money. It's gone as soon as it's delivered.

So, what can you do?

Discuss this with parents, relatives and friends. Explain how to avoid getting taken, provide predetermined reactions, and the suggestion that the 'Grandparent' call you before parting with their money so that you can verify the legitimacy of the long lost relative.

• Ask yourself if this person or family member really would contact you in a similar crisis.
• Contact other relatives to confirm the status and location of the person calling you.
• Ask the caller for a phone number and let them know that you will call them back. If they refuse, it's most likely a scam, if they provide a number, then ask a relative to confirm before you call back.
• If the 'Loved one' claims the are in jail, then ask for the location, then call the jail (not using a number that they provide!)
• If you get a call that a loved one is in the hospital, and ask for financial information, first verify the address of the hospital and contact the billing department.
• Always, ALWAYS, question the validity of a call before you send money or provide any financial information to anyone that calls, emails, or text's you about an emergency situation.
• Plain and simple: Trust you guts, you know the saying, if it does not seem right, or out of the ordinary, then it is probably a scam.