Archive for the ‘Ovarian-Cervical-Uterine-Cancer’ Category

What You Can Do To Prevent Identity Theft

Thursday, July 5th, 2007

A one hundred percent foolproof method of preventing identity theft does not exist and probably never will. But you absolutely need to take some safeguards that if nothing else, will not make you an easy target to becoming a victim of identity theft. ID theft is not pleasant, and if it occurs to you, you will end up spending countless hours of time for months to get it corrected, possibly also including some respectable legal fees, not to mention the damage to your reputation and credit report, so while the safeguards may be inconvenient, they are well worth your time to implement.

Many people would think that some sort of email or computer-based solution is the best place to start, but in reality, a large percentage of identity theft is accomplished with nothing more than a watchful eye and some sticky fingers. Identity theft has become an all too common problem in the last couple of years, and is said by multiple studies to be one of the fastest growing crimes of this decade.

Be fully aware that identity theft is not limited to your Internet or surfing activities. In fact, studies have shown that people who routinely use services like online banking and online bill paying services (from reputable sites) are actually found to be LESS likely targets for this, since people who use such services are more careful with their personal identification information than Joe Average.

Basically what happens is simply that someone gets some of your personal information, enough so that they can open accounts, get credit cards or loans, and open those accounts in your name, obviously without your knowledge of it. Think about it, what information is required to open a department store credit card or apply for a Visa or Mastercard? Name, address, phone number, social security number or drivers license number. With people moving around today, with other information intact, many credit issuers will not have a problem with a new account application showing a different address and different phone number than what the credit bureau reports. This is especially true because it is well known that credit bureau information is not very accurate, and in fact, the majority of consumers have ERRORS in their credit reports.

Keeping a close eye on your credit report should also be a part of your routine, making sure the information there is accurate, especially knowing that it probably is NOT accurate and will not get changed unless you initiate the change. For more information about winning your disputes with the credit bureaus and improving your credit score, you may wish to visit Improving Your Credit Score for more detailed information.

So you only find out that you have become a victim of identity theft because some creditor that you have never heard of is calling you at work to ask when you intend to start making payments on your account. What a rude surprise!

The moral of the story is to be extremely careful with your personal information. This is particularly true of government issued identification numbers such as your driver’s license number and your social security number. How frequently do you get offers in the mail about being pre-approved for a new credit card? If you are like most people, you probably get several of these every month. What do you do with them? Do you simply throw them in the trash, perhaps ripping them in half first? Most people do exactly that, but the information is still very readily available to anyone who has the inclination to go through people’s trash looking for exactly this type of information. You will probably never get away from the junk mail, but for under $50, you can get a paper shredder at virtually any office supply store, and then put those offers through that shredder.

Anything you can do to safeguard your personal information makes it far less likely that you will become a target for identity theft. When you think of the small investment in a shredder and the bit of extra time to ensure that you properly dispose of such information, compared against the MONTHS of personal time required to straighten out a mess if you are a victim, the tradeoff is more than worth it.

Jon is a computer engineer who maintains web sites on a variety of topics based on his knowledge and experience. You can read more about Preventing Identity Theft at his web site at Prevent Identity Theft.

Overseas Jobs

Sunday, May 13th, 2007

Looking to travel the world, visit exotic locations? If you’d like to live overseas, then the first step is going to be taking a closer look at overseas jobs. After all, you can’t make it overseas without some hope of employment first, right?

Finding overseas jobs in your area of experience is a little different than finding jobs in your own home country. However, many of the Internet job boards also have international listings. Instead of looking under “overseas jobs” on an Internet search string, look for “international job listings.” This may yield more results, and you might have a better chance of finding what you’re looking for.

There are overseas jobs available for those considering a huge change. There are a great deal of jobs available in the teaching and government jobs categories, in fact, so consider looking here if you have some experience in these fields. The Internet makes finding overseas jobs much easier than using the telephone alone.

Instead of phoning, consider communicating through e-mails. Using the Internet, you can even send your resume overseas to potential employers. Use instant messenger services (which are free) instead of talking voice-to-voice over the phone. Conducting business through the Internet makes getting an overseas job much easier and affordable for you. Spending lots of money right before you move is never a good thing!

To get an overseas job, apply to every job that you honestly think you want or that you have some interest. Don’t be afraid to apply to any job that seems interesting to you, because it’s a lot easier to pick from several job offers than to have to take just one. So send out resumes, and have one prepared that you can send easily via e-mail. It’s also a good idea to keep a stock cover letter handy, as most employers expect to receive cover letters as well as resume from potential employees.

Sometimes, looking for overseas jobs can be time-consuming. If you’re looking for a particular city or country, finding the job you want may take even longer. But don’t give up! Keep looking, and you’ll end up finding exactly what you want. The only way to be sure you won’t get what you want is to give up on it, so keep going and keep trying until you find the opportunity you’ve been looking for. Getting an overseas job isn’t as important as finding a job you can be happy with.

Before you accept a job, find out what that job pays. Then, looking into the nearby living situation overseas. This, too, can be done using the Internet. The Internet is an international tool, and people overseas use it as much as the people in your own hometown. Find out what the cost of living is before you decide if the offered salary is acceptable to you or not. If you can’t afford to live overseas, then you might want to consider looking for another overseas job that pays a little bit more.

Having travelled to over 40 countries around the world, Matt Reider started
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Identity Theft is Now the Number One Crime in the US

Tuesday, May 8th, 2007

How bad is identity theft these days? It is huge and it is now the number one crime in the US. Many people are concerned with Identity Theft and one recent Headline read; “Identity Theft; Have they Got You Yet?” Well when I read that, I thought to myself, actually they have. Indeed, Internet Identity Theft, hacking and phishing scams have now topped the amount estimated in illegal drug sales in the United States; Ouch!

Many companies ask us for personal data and we are assured we are safe in giving it to them, but each week we hear of a company losing data? Next, many of these companies are required to collect the information due to Know Your Customer Laws, generally enacted to prevent international terrorists move money or purchase items to use for evil purposes.

Then we have the government asking for data, most people worry about this; you know BIG BROTHER SYNDROME or the Movie 1984? Still with the interconnectedness of government computers and all the data from IT systems, which are to figure out your every purchase, move etc. some fear that their privacy is being violated and also fear that their data and personal information may end up in the hands of criminals.

So, what is the future of IT and are the fears cited by groups like the “Electronic Privacy Frontier” non-profit group warranted or can we allow this information for use to help us and not penalize us or be used against us in the future?

Will the new IT Systems streamline data to help people or should we worry about let’s say big government or its potential misuse and either way is the data safe? So that is the question of the day. And my question to you is how do you feel about this? What safeguards should be in place? And do you trust the system or IT infrastructure with your data?

Lots of questions these days surrounding Identity Theft. I certainly hope this article is of interest and that is has propelled thought. The goal is simple; to help you in your quest to be the best in 2007. I thank you for reading my many articles on diverse subjects, which interest you.

“Lance Winslow” - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is a guest writer for Our Spokane Magazine in Spokane, Washington

Tips on How to Guard Yourself Against Identity Theft

Friday, April 13th, 2007

These are ways for you to increase your privacy and avoid being victimized by identity fraudsters.

Be extremely cautious about giving out your social security number to others. Don’t give it out unless you are certain that it is for a valid reason. Do not carry your social security card with you in a purse or wallet. Do not write it down carelessly on a notepad or organizer that can get lost or be read by others. If your driver’s license number happens to be the same as your social security number, take steps to have your license number changed. Do not put either number on your personal checks. Make sure your social security number is not publicly visible on your employee ID or similar ID cards and badges.

If you have to orally give out your social security number or other sensitive information to someone else, take note of your surroundings and watch out for anyone who may be trying to eavesdrop or seems suspicious–especially people taking videos or carrying recording equipment.

Be careful with your documents, especially those relating to your bank accounts and credit cards. Never simply toss out information concerning your bank account, credit card account, or employment record. Always shred or crosscut such documents before you throw them in the trash. You should also shred any pre-approved credit offers you receive in the mail, before disposing of them.

Never access your bank account or online store account at any public-access computer, one at an Internet café, for example. If you log in to your email or MySpace account on a public terminal, always log out after you complete your business. Make sure that you do not use the same password on different accounts. Be wary of unknown websites that want you to provide sensitive information such as your credit card details. Some adult web sites are actually masquerades for fraudulent “phishing” schemes that seek to steal people’s identities.

Personal information including your account usernames and passwords can be stolen through malicious software programs known as spyware. To prevent such an occurrence, you need to install a firewall program on your computer to guard against any illicit intrusion while you are online. You also need to have good anti-spyware and anti-virus. Make sure that your web browser, firewall, and anti-spyware software are kept up-to-date with the latest software upgrades and patches. Modify your web browser security settings to medium or high. There are some malicious websites, called phishing sites, which can steal your information when you visit them, if your browser is set to a low security setting.

Never open unsolicited emails from unknown addresses, but delete them immediately without reading them. Be aware that email addresses can be spoofed, making a fraudulent email appear to come from your friend, your place of work, or a trusted web site like PayPal or eBay. If an email seems suspicious, ask your friend about it first to make sure he or she sent it before clicking on any links that appear in the message.

Learn about What Steps You Can Take To Prevent Identity Fraud. Protect yourself with the information provided at http://identitytheft.i-know.info

How to Stop Identity Theft Before It Happens

Sunday, February 25th, 2007

Identity theft can happen when a criminal obtains your social security number, along with other personal information such as your date of birth, address, phone number, driver’s license number, bank account number, or credit card account number. The criminal can use this information to forge such documents as a fake driver’s license using your name, and then apply for credit with it, giving a different address under a cover story of having moved. If the credit provider is lax about verifying the address and okays the credit, the criminal will possess an account or credit card that is in your name. As soon as one account is opened, the criminal will appear to be credible and use this to apply for credit once again, or could lease a car or apartment, or purchase various services such as a phone line or broadband Internet.

Therefore you need to make sure that your identity does not get stolen and misused. To keep that from happening, make sure you follow the following advice:

Be careful when disposing of documents. Identity thieves can steal your identity through “dumpster diving,” or rummaging in your trash to uncover documents that contain personal information about you, such as bank, credit card, insurance, pension, or employment records. To prevent dumpster diving, you should shred or crosscut sensitive documents before disposing of them in the trash.

Guard your social security number like a hawk. Do not carry your social security card in your bag or wallet. If it should get lost or stolen, an identity thief may get a hold of it. Also make sure that your social security number is not publicly visible on your employee ID or other form of personal identification. Above all, do not give out your social security number without a good reason, and if you do, make sure it is in a private transaction where no strangers can spy on you.

Keep an eye on your credit card. Keep track of what salespeople do with your credit card when you use it to make a purchase. There are identity thieves who will skim credit cards if you let them out of your sight for an instant.

Protect your computer from trojans and spyware. A lot of identity thieves now steal information over the Internet. This is often done by implanting spyware or trojan software on your computer. These are malicious programs disguised as something harmless or useful, such as a free screensaver or program. To protect yourself, you need to install a firewall on your computer, as well as reputable anti-virus and anti-spyware programs.

Don’t be a victim of identity theft. Learn how to fight back against identity fraud with the information provided at http://identitytheft.i-know.info

Why You Are Not Protected From Identity Theft

Monday, February 12th, 2007

Identity theft is one of the fasting growing high-tech crimes of this century, yet most people are taking a very lax view of it in terms of ensuring that they are protecting themselves against it. At least until they discover to their absolute horror that they have become a victim of identity theft. At that point, it is too late and that victim is going to spend a significant amount of their personal time and likely a fair chunk of money in order to straighten out the mess.

What is identity theft? Simply put, that is when a thief steals your identity. In other words, the thief obtains some of your personal information – enough of it to allow them to open credit card accounts or apply for loans as if they were you. Are you starting to see where the problem comes in? So the thief has opened a couple of Visa accounts, get a new car loan approved, and is last seen driving off into the sunset with a new car and credit cards charged to the hilt, never to be seen again. Meanwhile back at the ranch, the car dealership and the Visa companies are calling you to ask when you are going to start making payments.

How can this happen? In today’s world of credit cards and debit cards, it is unfortunately all too easy, and if you are not careful, you could easily become the next victim. Think about all the places that enough of your personal information appears, and what you do with that information. For example, say you get the same junk mail that most people get where you are offered car insurance or pre-approved for a new credit card. If you are like most people, you throw the mail in the trash. That is mistake number one. NEVER throw that stuff in the trash. That stuff will almost always contain your name and address, sometimes also your phone number, perhaps your driver’s license number, and sometimes even your social security number. In other words, more than enough information for someone digging through the trash to temporarily become “you” and commit an identity theft crime.

The answer is to get a paper shredder. These are incredibly cheap, like under $50 at just about any office supply store like Best Buy, Office Max, etc. SHRED that junk email if it contains any information about you personally.

Another word of advice is to RARELY use a debit card. The rules of a debit card are vastly and totally different than the rules of a real credit card, even though the debit card probably still sports the Mastercard or Visa logo. With a debit card, you usually cannot dispute a transaction like you can with a credit card. With a credit card, your liability is usually capped at $50 (depending on the card), but a thief can drain your entire debit card bank account and you will have no recourse. Never allow the waiter in a restaurant to walk off with your debit card for exactly this reason. If you are in a restaurant and paying with plastic, either use a real credit card or walk up to the register yourself if you must use a debit card. And when given a choice by the establishment asking if you want to use your debit card as a credit card or debit card, ALWAYS choose the credit card option.

There are multiple more things you should do to protect yourself against identity theft, but the key is to start doing them NOW as a normal part of your life so that you can lock in those habits and avoid becoming a victim of identity theft.

Jon is a computer engineer who maintains web sites on a variety of topics based on his knowledge and experience. You can read more about Identity Theft Protection at his web site at Prevent Identity Theft.

What is Identity Theft?

Monday, February 12th, 2007

Identity theft is technically defined by the United States Government as being the fraudulent use of an individual’s personal information—such as Social Security number or date of birth—to commit financial fraud.

Quite simply identity theft occurs when identity thieves use the personal and financial information of their victims and then place fraudulent charges on their accounts. When this happens it is quite a hassle to restore your finances to normal, not to mention clear up any confusion on your credit report or with your lenders. There is a formal process that you must go through to report any charges on your credit as fraudulent and then you must locate and close down all the fake accounts that may have been opened in the names of the identity thieves. This of course can take hundreds of hours of your time and nobody can do it for you, as it is your identity that needs to be confirmed and restored and nobody else’s.

Yet another necessary inconvenience is the necessity of replacing of your credit cards and possibly even the opening and closing of new accounts. It usually takes about two years to clear up all of the damage done to you. Experts say it is a minimum of 600 hours to clean up everything, including your credit report.

The good news is that you are not held liable for any massive losses incurred through identity theft. If you are the victim of identity theft most credit card companies hold you liable for fifty dollars worth of the fake charges that are put on your card. So if an identity thief charges up twelve hundred dollars worth of goods you only have to worry about paying fifty dollars of it.

Although you will not be held financially responsible for unauthorized charges, identity theft costs you in other ways. Credit card companies experience losses of over fifty billion dollars a year because of identity theft due to credit card fraud. You pay for this in the form of higher interest rates, more hidden charges and more fees in general.

Are the credit card companies doing anything to fight credit card fraud? As far as you are personally concerned you now often have to phone a special number before your card can be activated once you get a new one in the mail.

Furthermore almost all of the major credit card companies have developed new technology to help detect fraud. One type of software for instance looks at your spending habits and if it detects something out of the ordinary such as a large expenditure or an expenditure made from out of town, then it may temporarily freeze your card until you call and explain that you are the one that authorized the large purchase. This is why sometimes it might be a good idea to call your credit card company and inform them that you are about to make a large purchase or that you are about to use it in a foreign country. This can prevent embarrassing “blocks” on your cards that blindside you when you least expect it.

Keep in mind that if you are the victim of fraud that you must report it in a timely manner. This is why it is so crucial to review your credit card statement when it arrives. If you do not report fraud within sixty days of the billing statement containing the questionable charges, you may be fully liable for unauthorized charges. This is why it is so important to read your credit card statements the day you receive them and report any questionable charges to your card issuer immediately.

The federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) gives you the right to get a free credit report if you are the victim of identify theft and to place a fraud alert in your file if you detect that your credit report contains erroneous information as a result of fraud

Depending on what state or province you live in North America you may quite a few laws on your side that protect your rights from creditors and credit agencies if you are the victim of identity theft. It is a good idea to contact your state or local consumer protection agency or your state attorney general for more information. You can find these agencies in the government pages of the phone book.

Learn the history of Identity Theft at Identity Theft Credit Fraud or get help if you are a victim at Take Your Identity Back.

What Is Identity Theft and Why It Should Concern You

Saturday, December 2nd, 2006

Identity theft happens when someone takes your identity and uses it to commit fraud, such as by withdrawing money from your bank account, or obtaining credit and running up bills in your name, Identity thieves can even sully your reputation or get you in legal trouble by using credit in your name to pay for such things as porn web sites. The actions of an identity thief can severely damage your credit score, hitting you with higher interest rates and making it difficult for you to gain approval for loans or credit. It may even become more difficult for you to get a decent job. Worse, you could find yourself under investigation by the police, especially if your identity has been used to commit a crime, which could be anything from a traffic violation to receiving stolen goods to accessing a child porn web site.

How can your identity get stolen? Security experts say that someone needs only your social security number, date of birth, and personal information such as your address and phone number to be able to take on your identity. Financial information, such as your bank account or credit card numbers, can also be used. When you fill in a form for such things as a credit card application or even a deposit form at your bank, you may be providing information that can be used in identity fraud. You should never carelessly toss out such documents and forms–be sure to shred them or cross-cut them into pieces before disposal. It is common for identity thieves to go “dumpster diving” or searching through someone else’s trash to obtain personal information.

You are also vulnerable to identity theft on the Internet. The information you type in web forms is often saved in your computer memory, and someone with the technical skills may be able to get it. You should never use a public-access computer, such as a web café terminal, to check your bank account online or provide important personal information. If you use a public terminal to check your email or MySpace, you should always log out of your account afterwards. Never leave your computer at home or work unprotected and accessible to others. Never use a single password for different online accounts, including your email, bank account, online store accounts, and memberships on sites like eBay and PayPal.

Learn about What Steps Can You Take To Prevent Identity Fraud. Protect yourself with the information provided at http://identitytheft.i-know.info

The American Public Education System: Adjusting to a New Era of Technology and Change

Monday, August 14th, 2006

The world as we know it is changing in leaps and bounds on a daily basis. Our children are growing up knowing and using iPods and computers with gigabytes of data storage for all their music and video files. High-speed Internet has become a way of life where more young people subscribe to www.myspace.com, read, chat, and communicate with friends online than ever before. As the Internet marketplace continues to expand rapidly, and technologies afford education access from the ease and convenience of home, it is imperative that parents and educators recognize the benefits involved in education online.

The public education system in the United States grew out of an economy based upon single income workers, zero competition from outside markets for internal education consumers, and more manufacturing jobs than service jobs. The baby boomers born during the post World War II era, enjoyed the benefits of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Servicemen’s Readjustment Act or the GI Bill of Rights, which granted affordable access to college education. The baby boomers of the United States catapulted into growth as a result of this, enjoying an unprecedented level of abundance and prosperity.

One of these baby boomers is President George W. Bush, who enacted the No Child Left Behind Act (NCBA), offering the societal challenge of making every child proficient in reading and math by 2012. A schoolteacher for more than thirty years, who now runs a management company for teacher training, described the resultant effect of this act upon the public school system as one which far exceeded the capabilities of what American public schools can currently offer.

Despite the grandiose claims of the NCBA, actual school performance began to decrease after the passage of the act and the United States, as a whole, fell behind in education.

Supplemental Educational Services

In 2004-2005, there were more than 22 million children eligible for “supplemental educational services”, which includes tutoring. About 19% of those students got those services, or roughly two out of every ten students who were not proficient in core subjects, received aid. A good analogy would be a physician telling the parents of ten children that that they need medicine to cure an illness and only two out of the ten children can receive the medicine that they need.

The need for tutoring is obviously there. Why then is the current method of tutoring inadequate? There are principally four reasons why tutoring has been ineffective:

1) Schools can recruit tutors for students in rural areas and even fewer for those students in those areas with disabilities.
2) School districts do not tell parents that tutoring is available. When letters are sent home they often arrive late and are hard to understand.
3) Tutors are not allowed into schools and do not coordinate with teachers or the curriculum in the classroom, leaving the student confused.
4) State education departments do not evaluate the quality of tutors, as the law requires.

On one hand we have American schools and students failing and in need of remediation, operating under an outdated system of education, and money going to waste, and on the other hand we have an emerging technology platform based on high speed broadband technology that is leveling the playing field for people, and companies worldwide. This technology is one that not only attracts our children, but also captivates them, so that they return to computers and multimedia repeatedly for entertainment.

Armed with this knowledge, how can we as parents and educators remain blind to the changes within our own culture for learning and acquiring knowledge and the ways in which our children are learning? Tutoring programs such as www.TutorHaven.com take these tools and put them to use to educate our children in a fun and engaging manner.

Matthew’s website provides information to parents seeking tutoring companies for the children. tutoring for children

Phishing - Who’s Trying To Rob You Blind!

Sunday, April 30th, 2006

Beware! Someone is Phishing for your Personal Financial Information

4 Things You Must Do Now to Protect Yourself Against Internet Thieves

What is phishing?

Phishing is pronounced just like the sport used to catch a fish on a hook – fishing. And that’s exactly what thieves are trying to do to you – hook onto your personal financial information.

What personal financial information are they looking for?

Anything and everything – store account numbers, passwords, bank account numbers, credit card numbers and Social Security numbers are just a few. Thieves look for any numbers they can steal to run up your credit card or empty out your bank account.

Are there other, less obvious methods that thieves can use that might go unnoticed for a number of months?

Yes, with your personal financial information, thieves can obtain a new credit card or take out a loan without you even being aware of it until the bills start coming in. They can even secure a driver’s license in your name! The damage that this can do to you personally and financially can take you years to recover from.

How might someone try to trick you into unwittingly giving away your personal financial information?
You might receive an email from your financial institutional or another trusted company that you recognize and do business with (this has been especially common with eBay and PayPal). This email will warn you of some serious problem that needs your immediate attention and strongly encourages you to click a link in the email to correct the problem. STOP! Do not click any link in an email that warns of dire consequences no matter how ‘real’ the email looks. Instead find the phone number or website information on the monthly statements that you receive from your financial institution. Then call or logon using the legitimate contact information. It’s important that you are the one initiating the call, don’t fall for clicking a link in an email.

What can be done to protect yourself against phishing?

1. Never give your financial information to anyone over the phone or internet if it is an unexpected, unsolicited request.
2. Even if you think that the phone call or email that is requesting information is legitimate, call your bank directly to make sure.
3. Don’t give anyone your password over the phone or in response to an email. Your bank would never ask you to verify your information in this way. Thieves who are successful in obtaining your password can easily help themselves to your savings account.
4. Review your printed and online financial statements regularly – at least once a month. The sooner that you can catch a thief at work, the less damage they can do.

What can you do if you unknowingly gave away personal financial information?

1. Contact your bank, store or credit card company immediately. They will be able to instantly put a hold on your account to stop any further damage.
2. Contact any one of the three major credit bureaus and ask whether you should put a fraud alert on your file. Why? This will prevent a thief from opening a new bank account or credit card using your information. Here are the numbers to call.

a. Equifax : 1-800-525-6285
b. Experian: 1-888-397-3742
c. TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289

Don’t let yourself become the next victim of phishing! Fight back by following these step by step directions.

Beth Gabriel is a successful Webmaster and publisher of href="http://www.prepaid-legal-help-4u.com//" target=_new>PrePaid-Legal-Help-4U.com. She provides more Identity Theft information and reviews on href="http://www.prepaid-legal-help-4u.com/site/1430306/page/754702"
target=_new>Identity Theft Prevention that you can read on her website from the comfort of your home at 2:00 am!