How to Protect Yourself from Identity Theft
The following tips can help lower your risk of becoming a victim of identity theft.
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Protect your Social Security number. Don’t carry your Social Security card or other cards that show your SSN.
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Use caution when giving out your personal information. Scam artists "phish" for victims by pretending to be banks, stores or government agencies. They do this over the phone, in e-mails and in postal mail.
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Treat your trash carefully. Shred or destroy papers containing your personal information including credit card offers and “convenience checks” that you don’t use.
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Protect your postal mail. Retrieve mail promptly. Discontinue delivery while out of town.
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Check your bills and bank statements. Open your credit card bills and bank statements right away. Check carefully for any unauthorized charges or withdrawals and report them immediately. Call if bills don’t arrive on time. It may mean that someone has changed contact information to hide fraudulent charges.
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Check your credit reports. Review your credit report at least once a year. Check for changed addresses and fraudulent charges.
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Stop pre-approved credit offers. Pre-approved credit card offers are a target for identity thieves who steal your mail. Have your name removed from credit bureau marketing lists. Call toll-free 888-5OPTOUT (888-567-8688).
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Ask questions. Ask questions whenever you are asked for personal information that seems inappropriate for the transaction. Ask how the information will be used and if it will be shared. Ask how it will be protected. If you’re not satisfied with the answers, don’t give your personal information.
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Protect your computer. Protect personal information on your computer by following good security practices.
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Use strong, non-easily guessed passwords.
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Use firewall, anti-virus, and anti-spyware software that you update regularly.
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Download software only from sites you know and trust and only after reading all the terms and conditions.
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Don’t click on links in pop-up windows or in spam e-mail.
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Use caution on the Web. When shopping online, check out a Web site before entering your credit card number or other personal information. Read the privacy policy and take opportunities to opt out of information sharing. Only enter personal information on secure Web pages that encrypt your data in transit. You can often tell if a page is secure if "https" is in URL or if there is a padlock icon on the browser window.
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What is Predatory Lending?
- In communities across America, people are losing their homes and their investments because of predatory lenders, appraisers, mortgage brokers and home improvement contractors who:
- Sell properties for much more than they are worth using false appraisals.
- Encourage borrowers to lie about their income, expenses, or cash available for
- Down payments in order to get a loan.
- Knowingly lend more money than a borrower can afford to repay.
- Charge high interest rates to borrowers based on their race or national origin
- and not on their credit history.
- Charge fees for unnecessary or nonexistent products and services.
- Pressure borrowers to accept higher-risk loans such as balloon loans, interest
- only payments, and steep pre-payment penalties.
- Target vulnerable borrowers to cash-out refinances offers when they know
- borrowers are in need of cash due to medical, unemployment or debt problems.
- "Strip" homeowners' equity from their homes by convincing them to refinance
- again and again when there is no benefit to the borrower.
- Use high pressure sales tactics to sell home improvements and then finance
- them at high interest rates.
What Tactics Do Predators Use?
- A lender or investor tells you that they are your only chance of getting a loan or
- owning a home. You should be able to take your time to shop around and
- compare prices and houses.
- The house you are buying costs a lot more than other homes in the
- neighborhood, but isn't any bigger or better.
You are asked to sign a sales contract or loan documents that are blank or that contain information which is not true.
You are told that the Federal Housing Administration insurance protects you against property defects or loan fraud - it does not.
The cost or loan terms at closing are not what you agreed to.
You are told that refinancing can solve your credit or money problems.
You are told that you can only get a good deal on a home improvement if you finance it with a particular lender
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Flu and Cold Season is here!! Staying Healthy During Cold and Flu Season
As the weather becomes colder and we stay indoors more, people often catch colds or other viruses. The cold and flu season can begin as early as October and usually ends sometime in April. While there is no way to cure the common cold or the flu, there are several things that you and your family can do to prevent them and stay healthy this season.
Keeping the germs away
The most important thing you can do to keep from getting sick is to wash your hands. A common way to catch a cold is by rubbing your nose or eyes, so to protect against infection wash your hands frequently. Your hands pick up germs from other people or from contaminated surfaces and washing them prevents you from infecting yourself with the germs. Use warm water, soap and wash for several minutes for best results.
Other good health practices are not sharing cups, or silverware and cleaning high-contact items, such as doorknobs, faucets and telephones, with soap and water.
When you are sick, stay home so you don’t infect others. If you do go out and need to sneeze or cough, use a tissue or sneeze or cough into your sleeve or upper arm. Don’t do it into your hand, since you can spread the virus to others by touching people or handling objects that others may use.
Cold remedies: What works
If you catch a cold, you can expect to be sick for about a week. But that doesn't mean you have to be miserable. These remedies may help:
Water and other fluids. You can't flush a cold out of your system, but drinking plenty of liquids can help. Water, juice, clear broth or warm lemon water with honey helps loosen congestion and prevents dehydration. Avoid alcohol, coffee and caffeinated sodas, which make dehydration worse.
Salt water. A saltwater gargle — 1/2 teaspoon salt in an 8-ounce glass of warm water — can temporarily relieve a sore or scratchy throat.
Saline nasal sprays. Over-the-counter saline nasal sprays combat stuffiness and congestion. Unlike nasal decongestants, saline sprays don't lead to a rebound effect a worsening of symptoms when the medication is discontinued and most are safe and nonirritating, even for children.
Chicken soup. Generations of parents have spooned chicken soup into their sick children. Now scientists have put chicken soup to the test, discovering that it does seem to help relieve cold and flu symptoms in two ways. First, it acts as an anti-inflammatory by inhibiting the movement of neutrophils — immune system cells that participate in the body's inflammatory response. Second, it temporarily speeds up the movement of mucus through the nose, helping relieve congestion and limiting the amount of time viruses are in contact with the nose lining. Researchers at the University of Nebraska compared homemade chicken soup with canned versions and found that many, though not all, canned chicken soups worked just as well as soups made from scratch.
Over-the-counter cold medications. Nonprescription decongestants and pain relievers offer some symptom relief, but they won't prevent a cold or shorten its duration, and most have some side effects. If used for more than a few days, they can actually make symptoms worse. Keep in mind that acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) can cause serious liver damage or liver failure if taken in high doses. It's common for people to take Tylenol in addition to flu medications that also contain acetaminophen, which can lead to drug overdoses. Read the labels of any cold medication carefully to make sure you're not overdosing.
Humidity. Cold viruses thrive in dry conditions — another reason why colds are more common in winter. Parched air also dries the mucous membranes, causing a stuffy nose and scratchy throat. A humidifier can add moisture to your home, but it can also add mold, fungi and bacteria if not cleaned properly. Change the water in your humidifier daily, and clean the unit at least once every three days.
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