Search Results for: blog protecting your kids from id theft

Protecting Your Children from Identity Thieves

Identity theft doesn’t just hit adults. Children are especially vulnerable to it, since they have clean credit and financial histories and no background information or signature on file. This makes it easy for thieves to take out credit and loans in a child’s name. In most cases, the victims and their families never even realize that there is an issue until the child becomes an adult and pursues his or her own credit and financial footprint. Then it becomes obvious: years of bad debt, defaulted loans and possibly a criminal background. The web of identity-related issues can be ponderous and … Continue reading →

Identity Theft Threat to iTunes Users

Users of the popular Apple iTunes online music store may find themselves the victim of stolen identity theft. That is because a new crop of thieves are out to target iTunes users, and so far have had some limited success. The identity theft threat to iTunes users comes in the form of “Phishing,” a technique that has long been seen connected to online banking, PayPal, Ebay and mainstream retail stores. Until now, no one seems to have dared to touch Apple, but recently, however, that has changed. Phishing is a term used to describe the strategy that crooks use to … Continue reading →

Protect your Card

Whether you actually hold a Gold Card or not, you should treat your credit card like gold. The flexibility a credit card allows could easily be turned against you. To save time, more businesses are processing credit card transactions with very little verification. If you have used your credit card at the gas pump recently, you will know what I mean. A machine is all that views the card – no signature is even required. Therefore, you need to be diligent in protecting this piece of your financial picture. The following tips will help you ensure your credit card remains … Continue reading →

Prevent Identity Theft

In today’s world of computers, credit card numbers and easy transactions, a door has opened up to a whole new kind of crime. Stealing your identity in order to use your good name and open up accounts. Not only could you lose money, you can lose your hard earned credit score. Protect yourself with these easy tips: 1. Limit what you carry. Clean out your wallet, eliminating any piece of identity or credit card you rarely use. 2. Watch your incoming and outgoing mail diligently. Always use a neighbor or place your mail on hold when you go on vacation. … Continue reading →

Protecting Your Kids From ID Theft

We hear a lot about identify theft and most of us take the necessary steps to guard ourselves from thieves. What parents need to realize is that adults aren’t the only ones who may become the victims of identity theft. If you have a social security number you are at risk and that includes infants, young children and teens. And in some cases the perpetrator is known including the child’s own non-custodial parent. It is important that you take the necessary steps to guard against having your child’s identification stolen. Identity theft occurs when someone uses your information to open … Continue reading →

Earning Her Catnip: Tabby Gets a Job

Last week I told you about Tabby’s “disturbing” new behavior. This week I’ve been dealing with another bad behavior. Except, unlike the one where she wakes me up at night with her blind jamboree, this one I can work with for my benefit –and safety. Lately Tabby’s been a maniac when it comes to papers. If she sees any loose papers –receipts, newspapers, computer printouts, magazines–she attacks. She shreds it up until there is only a tiny scrap left. Mr. Meow is sort of bad about this, too. (He got Murphy in trouble one time for his antics. See: The … Continue reading →

Car Thieves Give Me A Break

I considered titling this blog: “My Spring Break Travel Woes,” but decided to save it for a future posting. We just returned from a spring break that was… well; let’s just say I learned many valuable travel lessons in last two weeks. For example, when borrowing a relative’s vehicle (that doesn’t have keyless entry) it’s a good idea to place the key in your purse or pocket before heading into the mall. Last week in a flurry of activity of getting kids unbuckled, out of the way of oncoming traffic, and into a mall I was unfamiliar with (during an … Continue reading →

The Prevalence And Effects of Sex In The Media

I recently came across these facts taken from a fact sheet titled “Marketing Sex to Children.” I guess I must be naive but I was appalled at how much sex children and teenagers are exposed to in the media. It is no wonder that so many teens are having sex themselves. They are practically bombarded with the message that it is not only fun but also appropriate. So how much sex are teens actually being exposed to in the media? “In 2003, 83% of the episodes of the top 20 shows among teen viewers contained some sexual content, including 20% … Continue reading →