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Atricle Dump - Whose Hand is in Your Pocket
There is a Zen story that I like a lot about the man in a rowboat who saw a distant ship on the horizon.As it got closer, he thought, “Hmm, it’s heading toward me; that’s strange.”Then it got closer, still. “Hey, you, what’s up? Turn away!”Still closer, he screams, “You’re going to hit me! Turn away, turn away!”The next thing he knows, he’s spitting water, wondering what happened. As he looks at the ship, continuing on its course, he notices it doesn’t have a pilot.He wasted all that time shouting to no one. He would have been better off changing his own course slightly, than trying to get the attention of a phantom.Yet, this happens all the time, in business and in personal life: We try to impress the wrong people.Let me give you an example.It’s a lot of fun being on radio and TV, but all in all, these media have yielded less management
*** How do we know that our identity has been compromised?
Check your credit report at least annually. Many people recommend checking quarterly. You can pay the credit reporting companies a fee and get your reports anytime you want.
However, the FTC advises us to "order a free annual report from one or all the national consumer reporting companies by visiting www.annualcreditreport.com.
Or you can call toll-free 877-322-8228, or complete the Annual Credit Report Request Form and mail it to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.
You can print the request form from www.ftc.gov/credit.
The credit reporting companies only send free reports requested through the Report Request Service.
The FTC gives a lot more information on their site. Go to http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft/recovering_idt.html#9 to find out things such as:
What to do if someone steals your identity? How do you prove you're a victim of identity theft? When should I provide my social security number? Should I buy identity theft insurance? How do I get money back that
The WEEE directive - the EU Directive on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment - will be implemented across Europe over the next 12 months. With just a few exceptions, electrical consumer goods that are at the end of their life will need to be taken back, dismantled and recycled. Up until now most of these goods were simply thrown away with the majority ending up in a landfill site.The way the scheme will work will vary from one European country to another. In general though, producers, wholesalers and retailers will be given the responsibility of operating, or paying for, the take-back scheme.The products that will be most severely affected are those containing parts that are hard or impossible to recycle or those that contain dangerous substances (another European directive covers this aspect). In addition, products with limited or no serviceability will be more v
It's time to stop talking about identity theft and do something to protect yourself.
My bank just sent a new set of Visa cards with the explanation that hackers had compromised a retailer where I had used the card, ergo - new cards.
Doesn't sound too bad, does it? What it means is that I now have to contact all of my "automatic" payment vendors and give them the new number. We were lucky that we didn't get any financial damage on the way through.
A close relative told me this week about her experience in trying to clean up behind an identity thief who tried to open several different cell phone accounts and some other monkey business.
A attorney friend tells me it took him almost eight years to clean up after someone stole his identity and wrecked his credit.
How does this ID theft work? Bad guys get your name, social security number, or credit card number and start charging purchases or opening lines of credit.
Some of these thieves get info from your mail box, but there are easier ways for the more sophisticated. Phishing is on the rise, and this isn't the kind of fishing where you use a rod and reel. Instead, these illigitimate Phishers lure unsuspecting email recipients into giving up their personal info by making them think you're working with a bona fide agent of a company with whom they normally do business.
"Pretexting" is just as phony as thieves pretend to conduct surveys or other seemingly official reasons to get information from you.
My e-mail brings me five or more phishing lures every day - eBay, CitiBank, utility companies, and so on. I also receive more than twenty emails every day telling me of some joker in Nigeria or Netherlands who has come into millions of dollars that they'll share with me if I send them my bank account information to help them smuggle this cash out of their country.
The sad part is that some people bite these lures and lose a lot. A young friend from Eastern Europe recently asked me if such an offer was for real!
Typically, the thieves collecting the information are not the ones who use it. Your personal information is often sold to others who are expert in hiding their trail after wrecking your finances. It's hard to tell whose hand is in your pocket and who's spending your money.
Here are some stats on this subject from CFO-IT magazine:
ID Theft by Fraud Type
32% - Credit-card Fraud 19% - Phone or utilities 17% - Bank 11% - Employment-related
8% - Gov'mt documents or benefits
5% - Loan 19% - Other
*** What are we going to do about all of this fraud?
We already have some stiff laws on the books, but only the biggest of criminals are going to be tracked down across international borders. About the only way the law can protect us is to establish secrecy requirements for retailers and others who use our credit card numbers.
Several agencies have discontinued using social security numbers as identifiers. Be sure to challenge the necessity of giving this information to anyone.
Some people espouse using cash only. They say to throw away those ATM cards and check books. Don't do business with anyone who won't take cash. The rub is that some companies don't even know how to deal with cash any longer. Have you tried to rent a car or check in a hotel with cash only?
One recent article told of German grocers installing equipment to read your finger prints to activate charge accounts. Don't leave home without your prints!
The FTC web site advises the following steps to avoid credit card identity theft:
1. Sign your cards as soon as they arrive. Others advise us to write "Picture ID Required" on the back of our cards instead of signing them to prevent a thief from knowing just how we sign our name.
2. Carry your cards separately from your wallet, in a zippered compartment, a business card holder, or another small pouch.
3. Keep a record of your account numbers, their expiration dates, and the phone number and address of each company in a secure place.
4. Keep an eye on your card during the transaction, and get it back as quickly as possible.
5. Void incorrect receipts.
6. Destroy carbons.
7. Save receipts to compare with billing statements.
8. Open bills promptly and reconcile accounts monthly, just as you would your checking account.
9. Report any questionable charges promptly and in writing to the card issuer.
10. Notify card companies in advance of a change in address.
*** How do we know that our identity has been compromised?
Check your credit report at least annually. Many people recommend checking quarterly. You can pay the credit reporting companies a fee and get your reports anytime you want.
However, the FTC advises us to "order a free annual report from one or all the national consumer reporting companies by visiting www.annualcreditreport.com.
Or you can call toll-free 877-322-8228, or complete the Annual Credit Report Request Form and mail it to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.
You can print the request form from www.ftc.gov/credit.
The credit reporting companies only send free reports requested through the Report Request Service.
The FTC gives a lot more information on their site. Go to http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft/recovering_idt.html#9 to find out things such as:
What to do if someone steals your identity? How do you prove you're a victim of identity theft? When should I provide my social security number? Should I buy identity theft insurance? How do I get money back that w
If you've ever held a brainstorming session to come up with new product names, you know that it is usually not hard to get people to attend. In fact, such meetings generally start off with a lot of enthusiasm and elation. This quickly fades though as the cold reality sets in. Naming a new product is really difficult.Naming a product is about as close as you can get to having a root canal without going to the dentist. Even done well with an expert team, it's an exercise in pain, frustration, and disappointment.Nevertheless, there are some things you should know about the process.First of all, get a reality check on how important a product name really is. Some people tend to think that it's a life and death matter, others rate it as inconsequential, and the truth is probably somewhere in between. Having a great name is a definite asset. Having a poor name is a major liabili
"Pretexting" is just as phony as thieves pretend to conduct surveys or other seemingly official reasons to get information from you.
My e-mail brings me five or more phishing lures every day - eBay, CitiBank, utility companies, and so on. I also receive more than twenty emails every day telling me of some joker in Nigeria or Netherlands who has come into millions of dollars that they'll share with me if I send them my bank account information to help them smuggle this cash out of their country.
The sad part is that some people bite these lures and lose a lot. A young friend from Eastern Europe recently asked me if such an offer was for real!
Typically, the thieves collecting the information are not the ones who use it. Your personal information is often sold to others who are expert in hiding their trail after wrecking your finances. It's hard to tell whose hand is in your pocket and who's spending your money.
Here are some stats on this subject from CFO-IT magazine:
ID Theft by Fraud Type
32% - Credit-card Fraud 19% - Phone or utilities 17% - Bank 11% - Employment-related
8% - Gov'mt documents or benefits
5% - Loan 19% - Other
*** What are we going to do about all of this fraud?
We already have some stiff laws on the books, but only the biggest of criminals are going to be tracked down across international borders. About the only way the law can protect us is to establish secrecy requirements for retailers and others who use our credit card numbers.
Several agencies have discontinued using social security numbers as identifiers. Be sure to challenge the necessity of giving this information to anyone.
Some people espouse using cash only. They say to throw away those ATM cards and check books. Don't do business with anyone who won't take cash. The rub is that some companies don't even know how to deal with cash any longer. Have you tried to rent a car or check in a hotel with cash only?
One recent article told of German grocers installing equipment to read your finger prints to activate charge accounts. Don't leave home without your prints!
The FTC web site advises the following steps to avoid credit card identity theft:
1. Sign your cards as soon as they arrive. Others advise us to write "Picture ID Required" on the back of our cards instead of signing them to prevent a thief from knowing just how we sign our name.
2. Carry your cards separately from your wallet, in a zippered compartment, a business card holder, or another small pouch.
3. Keep a record of your account numbers, their expiration dates, and the phone number and address of each company in a secure place.
4. Keep an eye on your card during the transaction, and get it back as quickly as possible.
5. Void incorrect receipts.
6. Destroy carbons.
7. Save receipts to compare with billing statements.
8. Open bills promptly and reconcile accounts monthly, just as you would your checking account.
9. Report any questionable charges promptly and in writing to the card issuer.
10. Notify card companies in advance of a change in address.
*** How do we know that our identity has been compromised?
Check your credit report at least annually. Many people recommend checking quarterly. You can pay the credit reporting companies a fee and get your reports anytime you want.
However, the FTC advises us to "order a free annual report from one or all the national consumer reporting companies by visiting www.annualcreditreport.com.
Or you can call toll-free 877-322-8228, or complete the Annual Credit Report Request Form and mail it to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.
You can print the request form from www.ftc.gov/credit.
The credit reporting companies only send free reports requested through the Report Request Service.
The FTC gives a lot more information on their site. Go to http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft/recovering_idt.html#9 to find out things such as:
What to do if someone steals your identity? How do you prove you're a victim of identity theft? When should I provide my social security number? Should I buy identity theft insurance? How do I get money back that
What if we can wash equipment, buildings, sidewalks and reuse all the water over and over again? Why would we need to do this you ask? Well consider the muddy mess in Beijing after the mighty sand storm put a layer of sand everywhere and filled the skies making air-quality so bad no one could breath.Next consider that they had to seed clouds to get it to rain in order to clear the air. Next the ground is a muddy mess and must be power washed by thousands of pressure washers, water trucks and mobile units. But wait, we need to conserve the water too? Oh now you see the need for such a system? Well such systems capable of doing this do exist. For instance I have heard of run off water being used like this in the cleaning of Military Equipment, Trucks and Aircraft. For instance Kellogg, Brown and Root uses such a system in Kuwait to save the expensive water. I believe they are either usin
Here are some stats on this subject from CFO-IT magazine:
ID Theft by Fraud Type
32% - Credit-card Fraud 19% - Phone or utilities 17% - Bank 11% - Employment-related
8% - Gov'mt documents or benefits
5% - Loan 19% - Other
*** What are we going to do about all of this fraud?
We already have some stiff laws on the books, but only the biggest of criminals are going to be tracked down across international borders. About the only way the law can protect us is to establish secrecy requirements for retailers and others who use our credit card numbers.
Several agencies have discontinued using social security numbers as identifiers. Be sure to challenge the necessity of giving this information to anyone.
Some people espouse using cash only. They say to throw away those ATM cards and check books. Don't do business with anyone who won't take cash. The rub is that some companies don't even know how to deal with cash any longer. Have you tried to rent a car or check in a hotel with cash only?
One recent article told of German grocers installing equipment to read your finger prints to activate charge accounts. Don't leave home without your prints!
The FTC web site advises the following steps to avoid credit card identity theft:
1. Sign your cards as soon as they arrive. Others advise us to write "Picture ID Required" on the back of our cards instead of signing them to prevent a thief from knowing just how we sign our name.
2. Carry your cards separately from your wallet, in a zippered compartment, a business card holder, or another small pouch.
3. Keep a record of your account numbers, their expiration dates, and the phone number and address of each company in a secure place.
4. Keep an eye on your card during the transaction, and get it back as quickly as possible.
5. Void incorrect receipts.
6. Destroy carbons.
7. Save receipts to compare with billing statements.
8. Open bills promptly and reconcile accounts monthly, just as you would your checking account.
9. Report any questionable charges promptly and in writing to the card issuer.
10. Notify card companies in advance of a change in address.
*** How do we know that our identity has been compromised?
Check your credit report at least annually. Many people recommend checking quarterly. You can pay the credit reporting companies a fee and get your reports anytime you want.
However, the FTC advises us to "order a free annual report from one or all the national consumer reporting companies by visiting www.annualcreditreport.com.
Or you can call toll-free 877-322-8228, or complete the Annual Credit Report Request Form and mail it to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.
You can print the request form from www.ftc.gov/credit.
The credit reporting companies only send free reports requested through the Report Request Service.
The FTC gives a lot more information on their site. Go to http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft/recovering_idt.html#9 to find out things such as:
What to do if someone steals your identity? How do you prove you're a victim of identity theft? When should I provide my social security number? Should I buy identity theft insurance? How do I get money back that
Finding good wholesale products and sources for your business can be one of the most difficult tasks that you face when starting a new enterprise.It can cost you a ton of time and money. But there are some things you can do in your search for wholesalers, liquidators, drop-shippers and other wholesale companies to make sure that your searching doesn't leave you empty-handed.There are lots of ways to locate wholesalers, but here are three great strategies to get you started:STRATEGY #1: Start At The Top and Work Your Way Down.If you already know the manufacturer of the product that you are searching for at wholesale, then the manufacturer is the first company you need to contact.Now, maybe you are just starting out and your company is too small to deal directly with the manufacturer or maybe you don't have the money to buy wholesale in large quantity. That's
The FTC web site advises the following steps to avoid credit card identity theft:
1. Sign your cards as soon as they arrive. Others advise us to write "Picture ID Required" on the back of our cards instead of signing them to prevent a thief from knowing just how we sign our name.
2. Carry your cards separately from your wallet, in a zippered compartment, a business card holder, or another small pouch.
3. Keep a record of your account numbers, their expiration dates, and the phone number and address of each company in a secure place.
4. Keep an eye on your card during the transaction, and get it back as quickly as possible.
5. Void incorrect receipts.
6. Destroy carbons.
7. Save receipts to compare with billing statements.
8. Open bills promptly and reconcile accounts monthly, just as you would your checking account.
9. Report any questionable charges promptly and in writing to the card issuer.
10. Notify card companies in advance of a change in address.
*** How do we know that our identity has been compromised?
Check your credit report at least annually. Many people recommend checking quarterly. You can pay the credit reporting companies a fee and get your reports anytime you want.
However, the FTC advises us to "order a free annual report from one or all the national consumer reporting companies by visiting www.annualcreditreport.com.
Or you can call toll-free 877-322-8228, or complete the Annual Credit Report Request Form and mail it to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.
You can print the request form from www.ftc.gov/credit.
The credit reporting companies only send free reports requested through the Report Request Service.
The FTC gives a lot more information on their site. Go to http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft/recovering_idt.html#9 to find out things such as:
What to do if someone steals your identity? How do you prove you're a victim of identity theft? When should I provide my social security number? Should I buy identity theft insurance? How do I get money back that
Fire exits should be strategically located, with an outward opening door that has a crash bar and outward leading signs on it. Knowing where to find the emergency exits in a building that you frequent can save your life. Inward opening, rotating and sliding doors are unacceptable for use as fire exits, as they might need to be fixed open using a latch or chain if the door is needed as an exit route.In the UK, one exit is satisfactory for buildings where no more than 60 people work, as long as that the building is on the ground floor level only. The outsides of fire exits need to be kept clear and marked with a suitable keep clear sign. Whenever the building is in use, the exits should be well lit by normal mains lighting. Once your workplace follows a course of scheduled assessment, unsafe conditions can be recognized and corrected before they cause serious injuries.Learn the lo
*** How do we know that our identity has been compromised?
Check your credit report at least annually. Many people recommend checking quarterly. You can pay the credit reporting companies a fee and get your reports anytime you want.
However, the FTC advises us to "order a free annual report from one or all the national consumer reporting companies by visiting www.annualcreditreport.com.
Or you can call toll-free 877-322-8228, or complete the Annual Credit Report Request Form and mail it to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.
You can print the request form from www.ftc.gov/credit.
The credit reporting companies only send free reports requested through the Report Request Service.
The FTC gives a lot more information on their site. Go to http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft/recovering_idt.html#9 to find out things such as:
What to do if someone steals your identity? How do you prove you're a victim of identity theft? When should I provide my social security number? Should I buy identity theft insurance? How do I get money back that was stolen through electronic transfers, e.g. debit cards, credit cards?
Answers to these questions and more than 50 others are given at the link above. You can get the forms you need to initiate your claim of identity theft at this site, and the FTC has more than 25 publications on this subject that are free for the asking.
Here's the bottom line. As always, people are trying to get your money. In the past, thieves had to corner you and get the money out of your pocket. Today, your pockets are much bigger, and it's much easier to reach in.
If you don't take action to prevent the theft, you're basically inviting the thieves to take as much as they want - of course, they want it all!
Find out more about identity theft and other stressors at WWW.CourageBuilders.com
Copyright 2005 - Dale Collie
Title: Whose Hand is in Your Pocket Length: 1153 Words Author: Dale Collie Email: MailTo:collie@couragebuilders.com Category: Business/Stress/Finance/personal Web Address: http://www.couragebuilders.com
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