Archive for the ‘Top Ten Tips’ Category

top-ten-tips on-the-go

Thursday’s Top Ten: Travel Safely (and wisely)

  • Posted on November 29th, 2007
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  • Top Ten Tips On The Go

Who doesn’t need travel tips when planning trips around the busy holiday season? Whether you’re heading away from home for a business meeting or of to see grandma for a long weekend, check out today’s Top Ten for tips to travel smart this season.

1. Find out whether you will need to have a passport or visa to travel to your destination. The U.S. Department of State website provides this information.

2. Get background information about where you are going. The CIA Factbook is a very helpful site featuring overviews of the history, climate, political situation, demographics and industries of countries around the world.

3. Read up on exchange rates and make sure you know how much you are really paying for your purchases.

4. Contact your bank and credit card companies to let them know your itinerary so they know to authorize payments. You may also want to ask them about ATMs and getting the best exchange rates.

5. Learn how to make phone calls, whether you are in an emergency or just to check back with friends and family at home.

6. Make sure to leave copies of your itineraries and passports with family members at home. If you should lose your passport or luggage, having additional copies of these important documents can help you get out of a jam.

7. If you have food allergies, be sure to write down how to say those foods in the language spoken in the country you are visiting. It is amazing how people can communicate without speaking the same language, but if your throat swells after eating shellfish, you may want to learn how to say shrimp in Italian.

8. Don’t let your guard down when you are in your hotel. Take advantage of in-room or front-desk safes by locking up passports, credit cards, and other important documents.

9. Avoid carrying excessive amounts of money and multiple credit cards and make sure to have a back-up credit card. If you become a victim of theft or lose your card, you won’t be stuck without money.

10. Put a vacation hold on your mail by calling the U.S. Postal Service at 1-800-275-8777. Your mail can be held at your local post office until you can pick it up or are home to receive it. Not only will you help thwart potential burglars, but you may also protect yourself from becoming a victim of identity theft.

top-ten-tips in-the-wallet

Thursday’s Top Ten: Protecting Your Finances

  • Posted on November 15th, 2007
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  • Top Ten Tips In The Wallet

It seems like the holiday shopping season arrives earlier and earlier every year. With an increase in spending and the craziness of the holidays, it’s easy to lose sight of your finances. The tips below won’t stop you from slapping down that credit card, but they can help protect what’s left of your wallet. Check out this week’s Top Ten for tips to help protect your finances.

1. Carry only one or two credit cards in your wallet and only carry identification information that you will actually need when you go out.

2. Review your bank and credit card statements monthly and contact the company immediately if you notice anything suspicious.

3. Check your credit reports from the three major credit bureaus at least twice a year and correct any inaccuracies.

4. Avoid paying by credit card if you think the business does not use adequate safeguards to protect your personal information.

5. If your bank statement is late by more than a couple of days, call your credit card company or bank to confirm your billing address and account balances.

6. Do not carry your social security card in your wallet; leave it in a secure place.

7. If your purse or wallet was stolen, report it to the policy immediately.

8. Place unusual passwords on your credit card, bank, and telephone accounts.

9. If shopping online, use anti-virus and anti-spyware software and make sure to update them regularly.

10. Cancel all unused credit card accounts. Even though you do not use them, their account numbers are recorded on your credit report.

top-ten-tips

ID Theft Tip of The Week: Watch Out For Phone Offers

  • Posted on May 3rd, 2007
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  • Top Ten Tips

You should always be cautious when responding to promotions and offers over the telephone. Identity thieves often create phony promotional offers to get you to give them your personal information. Here are some tips to avoid becoming a victim:

Be wary of anyone calling you to “confirm” personal or financial information. Often, these are criminals trying to obtain those facts under the guise of “confirmation”.

Stop receiving unsolicited calls. You may do so by contacting the National Do Not Call Registry either by phone at 1-888-382-1222 or online. The registration is free of charge and is effective for five years.

Never give out personal information on the phone, through the mail, or on the Internet unless you’ve initiated the contact or you are sure you know who you’re dealing with. Identity thieves are clever, and have posed as representatives of banks, Internet service providers (ISPs), and even government agencies to get people to reveal their Social Security number, mother’s maiden name, account numbers, and other identifying information.

Before you share any personal information, confirm that you are dealing with a legitimate organization. Call the company back using a phone number from a statement or from the telephone book (not a phone number the person who is calling gives you). You may check an organization’s website by typing its URL in the address line, rather than cutting and pasting it. Many companies post scam alerts when their name is used improperly. For more information, see How Not to Get Hooked by a ‘Phishing’ Scam.

top-ten-tips in-the-wallet

ID Theft Tip of The Week: Medical Identity Theft

  • Posted on April 19th, 2007
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  • Top Ten Tips In The Wallet

Medical identity theft is a new trend has emerged in the headlines. This type of identity theft occurs when someone uses a person’s identity - such as insurance information - to obtain medical services or goods. Medical identity theft can cause great harm to its victims. The extreme cases are where victims could be given the wrong treatment/surgery. Here are some prevention tips:

Review Bills Closely: Medical bills and insurance statements may contain important signs that you are a victim of medical identity theft. Open and carefully review each medical document you receive. If something looks suspicious, investigate it right away.

Check Your Credit Reports: Reviewing all three of your credit reports and credit scores at least once a year can help you spot signs of any kind of identity theft early.

Check Your Medical Records: Requesting and obtaining your medical records can potentially reveal serious medical identity theft issues. You may want to also keep a list of the names and contacts for doctors and other health care providers you have visited in the past for reference.

Consult You Health Care Providers: Ask your health care providers about their policies. Does your doctor keep their records in a secure location? Does your doctor use a shredder? Was your ID checked when you signed in?

Click here for more information on Identity Theft.