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Domestic violence is more than just a “family problem” — it is a crime! In California, and many other states, it is a crime for any person to threaten, beat, sexually assault or otherwise harm another person, even if they are married. Battering is not exclusively a crime against women, but they are the majority of victims; thus this article is primarily directed to the battered wife or woman. Although we have few statistics on the incidence of domestic violence, we do know that:
• Approximately 30 percent of female homicide victims in the United States are killed by their husbands or boyfriends.
• Females are much more likely than males to be killed by their spouse.
• Domestic violence affects at least one out of every four American families.
Why do they stay?
The most frequently asked question concerning a battering situation is why does she stay? While reasons range from children, love, guilt, fear, pride, embarrassment, financial dependence — or a combination thereof — it is very possible the woman may be locked into a violence cycle.
Three-phase theory of family violence
The family violence cycle consists of three phases: the tension-building phase, the acute-battering incident and the loving reconciliation.
• Tension-Building Phase
During this phase the woman senses her mate’s increasing tension. He is “edgy” and perhaps challenges her and tells her she is stupid, incompetent, etc. The woman may internalize her appropriate anger at the man’s unfairness and experience physical effects such as depression, tension, anxiety and headaches. As the tension in the relationship increases, minor episodes of violence increase, such as pinching, slapping or shoving.
• Acute-Battering Incident
The tension-building phase ends in an explosion of violence. The woman may or may not fight back. Following the battering, she is in a state of physical and psychological shock. The man may discount the episode and underestimate the woman’s injuries.
• Loving Reconciliation
During the last phase of the family violence cycle, both parties have a sense of relief that “it’s over.” The man is often genuinely sorry for what happened and is fearful that his partner will leave him. He apologizes and may “shower” her with love and praise that helps her repair her shattered self-esteem. He tells her he can’t live without her, so she feels responsible for his well-being and guilty for her actions and blames herself for what led up to the abuse.
Crime and ViolencePreventionCenter • California Attorney General’s Office
Increasing spiral of violence
Once violence has begun, it continues to increase in both frequency and severity. Understanding the psychological consequences of her violent relationship can help the woman take power and choose constructive alternatives, as well as aid those who intervene to help her.
If you become a victim of domestic violence
• Call the police or sheriff.
• Make sure you are safe from another beating. Whenever you believe you are in danger, leave your home and take your children with you. Also, take important papers such as your birth certificate, vehicle registration, etc.
• Get medical attention. Don’t try to treat yourself; you may be injured much more seriously than you realize.
• Seek assistance. Whether or not you file charges against your batterer, you may need to talk to a professional about your situation. Contact your local battered women’s shelter, women’s support group or victims’ assistance center.
• Save all the evidence (proof) you can. (You may even want to take photographs of your injuries.) Whether or not you file charges now, you may later change your mind and will then need proof that you have been assaulted.
A way out
Everyone has the right to be safe from threats and beatings — but you must take that first step. Once you recognize that it isn’t your fault and it is possible to change your situation, seek the help you need to correct your situation.
Help available
If you need help, look in the yellow pages of your telephone directory. Remember that your local police and sheriff’s departments exist to help you. You should always have their numbers handy for an emergency situation. Other sources of help and/or referral are the Salvation Army or your private physician or attorney. Also, look in the yellow pages under “Attorney Referral Service”or “Legal Assistance” or “Bar Association” if you have a low income and need a lawyer.
• Despite many concerns, some now argue (and we agree)that it is actually safer to buy online than buying over the phone or handing your credit card over to someone in a shop(as long as you are purchasing from a legitimate vendor). This is because if the online payment is handled properly, your banking details will be “encrypted”, which means they cannot be viewed by anyone other than those handling the transaction - usually the banks.
• If you’re still unsure, Card Watch, the UK banking group that works with the police and retailers to stop credit card fraud, offer the following “top ten tips” when buying online:
• 1. Make sure your web-browser (that’s the software that you use to view websites, most commonly Internet Explorer or Netscape) is set to the highest level of security notification and monitoring. These options are not always automatically activated when your computer is set-up, so check your manual or the “Help” option.
• 2. Check to see that you are using the most recent version of your web-browser as it often includes better security features - up-to-date versions can be downloaded free from the Microsoft or Netscape websites. If you have a different browser or use on-line services such as AOL or CompuServe, contact your ISP (Internet Service Provider) or software supplier to find out how to activate their security features.
• 3. Before purchasing from a website, make a record of the retailer’s contact details, including a street address and e-mail address. If these details are not available on the website, consider going elsewhere to buy.
• 4. Do not enter personal details unless the security icon is displayed (this is a small padlock that normally appears at the bottom of your browser when you begin your transaction over the Internet). You can click on the padlock to see if the retailer has an encryption certificate. This should explain the type and extent of security and encryption it uses. Only use companies that have an encryption certificate and use secure transaction technology. The address of the page where you enter personal details should also start https://.
• 5. If you have any queries or concerns, telephone the company before giving them your card details to reassure yourself that it is legitimate.
• 6. Print out your order and consider keeping copies of the retailer’s terms and conditions and returns policy. Be aware that there may well be additional charges such as postage and VAT when purchasing from outside your country. When buying from overseas always err on the side of caution and remember that it may be difficult to seek redress if problems arise.
• 7. Check statements from your bank or card issuer carefully as soon as you receive them. Raise any discrepancies with the retailer concerned in the first instance. If you find any transaction on your statement that you are certain you did not make, contact your card issuer immediately.
• 8. Ensure that you are fully aware of any payment commitments you are entering into, including whether you are instructing a single payment or a series of payments.
• 9. Never disclose your card’s PIN number to anyone, including people claiming to be from your bank or the police, and never write it down or send it over the Internet.
• 10. If you have any doubts about using your card, find another method of payment
It’s a scenario familiar to any business traveler. Your airline flight was delayed, the cab line at the airport was endless and check-in was a mess. Jet lag has struck. It’s very late, you’re tired and you have a breakfast meeting with a key client at 6:30 AM. You grab your key, avoid the bellman and head to your room to collapse into bed. Stop. Take the next 5 minutes to perform these safety, security and cleanliness checks and prepare for the next day. These “how to’s” will save you time the next morning, they could even save your life some day. This can also apply to holiday travel while we stay in hotels during our visit to Grandma’s house for Christmas.
1. When you enter your room prop the door open, turn on the lights, and check the closets, bathroom, under the bed and behind the drapes. Mistakes do happen and sometimes someone else has been assigned to your room. This happens more frequently in suites with adjoining bedrooms that can be sold as separate rooms. Or there could be a thief. In any case, don’t close the door until you are sure the room is empty.
2. Check that the connecting doors, windows and sliding doors are locked. In general, avoid first floor rooms with sliding doors.
3. Once you lock the door and attach the safety chain, check the diagram on the back to review the nearest exits and mentally plan your escape route. Look out the door to check that the exit signs are illuminated. If the lights are out, be helpful and contact the front desk to let them know. The few seconds that it takes to review the exit information can save your life in the event of a fire, earthquake or other emergency. Just do it. FYI, most fire engine ladders can only reach up to the 6th floor.
4. Be sure that the heat or air-conditioner, lights, phone, radio and television are working. Turn on the shower and sink to check the water pressure and temperature. If they aren’t working, switch rooms now. It’s not worth waiting for someone to fix the problem, especially late at night.
• Even though you are rushing and thinking about a thousand things, stay alert to your surroundings and the people around you. If possible, park your car in an area of high pedestrian activity. Avoid remote areas.
• Lock your car and close the windows, even if you are only gone for a few minutes.
• Loose change is a meal for a street person; they will break you window for small change.
• Your cell phone can be sold and reprogrammed and is a sought item of theft.
• A laptop computer will keep a drug user in a high state, at your expense
• Lock your packages out-of-sight in the trunk. Place your valuables in the trunk before you get to your destination, not after, the thief may be watching.
• Be sure and lock your car, many opportunists simply look for unlocked cars.
• If waiting for a ride from a friend or public transportation, do so in busy, well-lit places.
• Consider security film for automobile’s windows.
• Always report a theft to the police.
• Teach your children to go to the store clerk and ask for help if you become separated while shopping. They should never go to the parking lot or the car alone.
• Avoid carrying large amounts of cash. Pay for purchases with a check or credit card when possible; and if the credit card receipt has carbons, ask for these too. Notify issuers immediately if your credit card is lost, stolen, or misused.
• Be extra careful with purses and wallets. They may become targets for crime in crowded shopping areas, at bus stops, and on public transportation.
• Avoid overloading yourself with packages. It is important to have clear visibility and freedom of motion to avoid mishaps.
• At home, be extra cautious about locking doors and windows when you leave the house, even for a few minutes. Leave lights and a radio or television on so the house looks occupied. Do not put large displays of holiday gifts in view of your windows or doors.
• If you go away for the holidays, try to keep your home appearing “lived in”: Get an automatic timer for your lights. Have a neighbor watch your home and pick-up your newspapers and mail.
• If you use lights on your tree, make sure that they are in good working order.
• Immediately mark your new gifts with your driver’s license number, and note all serial numbers, keeping records in a safe place.
• Remember to be a good friend and neighbor this holiday season: Share these tips with others in your family and neighborhood. Also, why not get your neighborhood together and go caroling. Do not forget the elderly and other people who might be especially lonely during the holidays. Soon, you may wish to form a neighborhood watch group. People helping people, that’s what it is all about!
• And lastly, when hosting a party, find alternative transportation for intoxicated guests; and when going out drinking, please remember: Don’t Drink and Drive.
Encountering explosive devices/substances are
potentially life threatening. The smallest devices,
however plain or innocuous in appearance, have the
potential to injure, maim, or fatally wound.
Generally, explosive substances come in many
shapes and sizes and are classified as either “safe” or
“dangerous.”
“SAFE” Explosive Substances:
• “Safe and Sane” fireworks;
• Emergency highway flares/fuses; and
• Fixed ammunition and “blank” or saluting cartridges of less
than .50 caliber.
There are different signs that a person can look for which might indicate a
possible explosive device.
• Foreign mail, airmail and special delivery
• Restrictive markings such as confidential, personal, etc.
• Excessive postage
• Hand written or poorly typed addresses
• Incorrect titles
• Titles but no names
• Misspellings of common words
• Oily stains of discoloration
• No return address
• Excessive weight
• Rigid envelope
• Lopsided or uneven envelope
• Protruding wires or tinfoil
• Excessive securing material such as masking tape, strings, etc.
• Visual distractions
If you believe that the suspicious package may possibly be a bomb, consider the following: Bombs can be detonated by a variety of methods including the slightest touch. In any suspicious object is located, the device should not be touched or disturbed
under any circumstances. Immediately evacuate the location and notify the police from a neighbor’s house or a business. Only conventional telephones should be used as cellular telephone transmissions have the potential to detonate a bomb. If a suspicious item is found that might be a “bomb”, call 911 immediately to request assistance and clear the area. It is imperative that individuals observing suspicious and/or unfamiliar devices take the following precautions:
-DO NOT TOUCH OR HANDLE THE DEVICE
-STAY AWAY FROM THE DEVICE
-IMMEDIATELY CALL THE POLICE
What should a community member do if they find a suspicious item that might be a “bomb”?
Community members should not move or touch the suspected item, they should immediately call 911 to report it.
Explosive devices can be contained in almost anything. Small bombs have been disguised in everyday type of items. Bombs can be detonated by a variety of methods including the slightest touch. Therefore, if any suspicious object is located, IT SHOULD NOT BE TOUCHED OR DISTURBED UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE.
What should a someone do after receiving a telephonic bomb threat?
Immediately call 911. Patrol officers will respond and give advice regarding bomb threat procedures and options, as well as complete a “Bomb Threat” report. Bomb threats represent a serious and deadly situation that can quickly turn tragic. The destructive potential of even a small device must be seriously considered. Any person that receives a bomb threat over the phone should immediately evacuate the location and notify the police from a neighbor’s house or a business. Only conventional telephones should be used, because cellular telephone transmissions have the potential to detonate a bomb.
What should someone say to a caller when he/her warns of a bomb at the location?
When a bomb threat is called in to you, attempt to keep the caller on the line as long as possible. Ask him/her to repeat the message and be sure to record every word spoken. If the caller does not indicate the location of the bomb or the time of possible detonation, you should ask him/her for this information. It is a good idea to inform the caller that the building is occupied and the detonation of a bomb could result in death or serious injury to innocent people. As you attempt to keep the caller on the line, listen for any particular background noises such as motors running, background music, and other noise, which may give a clue as to the location of the caller. As you are gathering information about the caller write down as much information as possible (see bomb threat checklist). When the police arrive at
your location, be prepared to give an accurate description of the caller’s voice. As the caller speaks, listen closely to the voice quality, for any regional accents, and for any speech impediments the caller might possess.
What should someone do if they receive a suspicious package in the mail?
Explosive devices can be contained in almost anything. Bombs can be constructed to look like almost any item and can be delivered in any number of ways. Most bombs are homemade and are limited in their design, only by the imagination of their maker. Letter and package bombs are not new. While the latest incidents have involved political terrorism, such bombs are made for a wide variety of motives. The particular form of these bombs varies in size, shape, and components. They have electric, nonelectric, or other sophisticated firing systems.
Report anything suspicious to the authorities. There are no penalties for being too careful. These days, you never know. Don’t be a victim.. Be Prepared.
This time of year brings out the shopaholic in all of us. It also brings out the hackers and e-theives in droves. According to the people who keep track of this kind of thing, more identities are stolen on Cyber Monday than any other day of the year.
Protect yourself from identity theft by taking a few precautions.
Buy from reputable websites. Don’t buy from the sloppy little site just because they have the cheapest price on something, do your homework and investigate a little bit and find out what you can about the business before you purchase something.
Don’t surrender any information that isn’t absolutely necessary. Most reputable e-tailers won’t make non-essential information mandatory on the checkout page.
Be sure that the website checkout page is secure before entering your credit card information. Be sure the URL of the page starts with “https“, “s” standing for secure.
Periodically check your credit report. I believe as a resident of the US, you are entitled to one free copy of your credit report every year. You can keep an eye on your situation and may be able to head off trouble before it finds you when you’ve decided to make a big purchase. You can also add flags to your credit report requiring the credit granters to ask for more identification before granting credit. This may alert you to some fraudulent activity before it gets started.
To sum it up, be careful, be prepared, and don’t become a victim.
Neglect
Rita Young is a confused and incontinent 91-year-old woman who is cared for by her granddaughter. On one occasion she was found in saturated adult diapers, and on another, she was restrained with ropes around her waist and had several small cuts over her eye. While the granddaughter appears to care a great deal for her grandmother and tries hard to meet her needs, Mrs. Young requires around-the-clock care. Her doctor stated that she needs nursing home care. Adult protective services staff investigated and successfully placed Mrs. Young in a nursing home.
What You Can Do:
We all have the right to be free from abuse and neglect. If an elderly person you know is being victimized, it is important for you to take action to stop it. Without intervention, abuse almost always escalates. Because victims are often reluctant to report, an elderly person’s well-being may depend on you to recognize and report suspected abuse. Together, we can be a lifeline.
Reporting Elder Abuse:
Reporting suspected elder abuse is simple. Call the local Long-Term Care Ombudsman or local law enforcement to report abuse in a long-term care facility, such as a nursing home or board and care home. Abuse occurring anywhere other than a long-term care facility should be reported to the county Adult Protective Services agency (APS). But, if you suspect abuse that seems to be life-threatening, don’t hesitate. Call the police or sheriff’s department. They will notify any other agency which may need to be involved.
Don’t let this happen to your loved one. Keep your eyes open. Report anything suspicious.
It’s a High Tech Business The Associated Press touted the headline, “Judge unplugs 2 teens who hacked into U.S. computers.” The two teens, ages 16 and 17, hacked into government and military computers apparently just to prove that they could. The punishment – three years probation that
excludes the teens from possessing a computer and modem, 100 hours of community service and $4,100 in reparations.
The term “hacking” means breaking into a computer system or network. These two teens broke into government computers. Imagine the type of personal and financial information that our government collects! More shocking is the military information that is accessible to hackers. What happens next? Is all information stored on computers vulnerable? Maybe. If you are connected to the Internet and have a Web page, you can be a target for hackers. Many government agencies, including the military, as well as businesses and home computer owners take great precautions to keep hackers out of their sensitive information. Encrypting files is the easiest and most common method of securing information before sending it over the Internet. Quite simply, encryption software scrambles the information. With the proper code,
the intended recipient’s computer can then unscramble it. Unfortunately, for every prevention method consumers employ, there is a “genius” out there trying to defeat it. The Back Orfice program, for example, was created to attack online users without their knowledge. If someone is using the Back Orfice program, they can literally infiltrate your computer while you are online. Once in your computer, the perpetrator can look at all your files and even delete files – again, while you have absolutely no clue that this is happening. This possibility brings up a question that every computer user should ask, “What type of information is on my hard drive?” If you have personal and
financial information on your hard drive, that information may be vulnerable. Consider storing personal and financial information on disks instead. Once the information is stored on disks, put the disks in a fireproof safe. BUSINESS SAFETY
It is wise to consider people who may work for you and have access to your company computers as potential liabilities. It isn’t always the unknown people who cause irreparable damage to businesses. Often, information theft comes from within the ranks. Fred Jones has a problem. An employee with administrative access to the company’s computer system suddenly quit and went to work for a competitor. Fred suspects that this employee stole proprietary information (sensitive company information) and took it to his new employer. Did Fred’s former employee commit a crime? And if he did, how can Fred, or law enforcement, prove that the former employee committed the crime of theft?
What do you think about this hypothetical situation? Did the employee commit a crime? Some say yes, some say no, some say maybe. The big unanswered question: did Fred have any type of written company policy pertaining to computer access and the storage of data? This is key. If you own any type of business and utilize computers, you should have a solid, written policy regarding computers. Without an acknowledged policy, it would be difficult to convict an employee of theft. Additionally, theft is not the only thing you need to worry about. Should your employee steal personal information on other employees or clients and that information is used to commit crimes, you may be held liable in civil court if you did not take reasonable measures to safeguard that information. Business owners, take note: create and implement a computer-related policy. Make sure that your employees read the policy and acknowledge it in writing. Preventing computer crime in a business doesn’t stop at creating a policy. If you own a small business and are computerdependent, secure the information on your computers. Use the following crime prevention tips:
1.Conduct thorough background checks on all employees, including temporary help. If you need assistance, contact a firm that specializes in conducting background checks.
2. Do not allow temporary staff access to sensitive data.
3. Require employees to use passwords that are a combination of letters and numbers. These passwords should be kept confidential and changed often.
4. Initiate a company policy on backing up computers once a day. Secure all back up tapes or disks in a fireproof safe.
5. Secure client and personnel information. Access to this information should be limited.
6. Use surge and anti-virus protection on all computer systems.
7. Remove all data from the hard drive before disposing of computers.
8. Ensure that every computer operation can be handled by at least two trusted employees.
9. Adopt written procedures for Internet usage by employees. This discourages downloading inappropriate material and viruses.
10. Purge old records and information properly. Shred or erase the information so it cannot be used by others.
11. Adopt a zero tolerance approach to high tech criminals. Insist on prosecuting and pursue all civil remedies.
The $400 check looked real. The bank called and notified you that it was a fake. What happened? Your employee followed all of the check acceptance procedures and you even okayed it. The check looked real…
Another hypothetical situation, but businesses are being swindled out of merchandise through this means at an alarming rate. It is the world of high technology crime and the bad guys are working diligently. Computer-generated personal checks, money orders, food stamps and traveler’s checks are being manufactured on home computers and being passed off to the business community. For the bad guy, start-up costs are minimal, and many times, the bad guy uses stolen credit cards or fictitious checks to purchase the computer equipment. As a business owner, how do you know if the check is real or fake? Calling the bank to verify every single check is not an option, so it is up to you and your employees to weed out the bad ones. This can be extremely difficult since the majority of fake checks have a valid bank account number, and check verification machines will accept and endorse the document. The problem is that the account is good, but the name on the check does not go with the verified account.The account number was stolen and placed on the fake check. Additionally, fake picture identifications are also produced on home computers that match the checks. With all of this going on, how does a business owner combat this invasion of fake documents?
The following steps will help protect you and your company:
1.Review your check and credit card acceptance policies. Many businesses and banks have started to require a thumb print on all checks. Some businesses feel that this
practice may inconvenience their customers, and it is a controversial practice. The decision is yours.
1. Train your employees to check identification when a customer is using a credit card.
2. Employees should also make sure that the account number on the credit card matches the account number printed on the credit card receipt. Obviously, you won’t be able to spot every fake document, but alert employees can make a difference. Producing counterfeit or forged checks is not the only way criminals may
affect your bottom line. The bank calls to inform you that your company’s account is overdrawn, but your records indicate there should be more than sufficient funds left in the account. An investigation reveals that several substantial checks have been cashed which look identical to yours with what seems to be your signature
on them. However, the check numbers do not match your records. Welcome to desktop forgery. Criminals have learned that many companies, small and large, routinely pay small billing invoices without checking their records to see if the product or service was ordered or received. If they send a fraudulent billing invoice in a small amount for some vaguely described product or service, there is a good chance it will be paid. But they are not interested in cashing the check. They are interested in scanning the check into their computer, making a duplicate copy, changing the payee and the amount. They may make several or several hundred copies and you won’t know anything
until you receive a call from the bank or receive your monthly statement. Encourage your bookkeepers to track all invoices, whether large or small.
Identity Theft With interest rates at an all-time low, the Smiths decided to refinance their home. They contacted their local banking institution and started the necessary paperwork. They ordered their credit report and were shocked to find that they had three credit card accounts with delinquent balances. They had never applied for the credit cards and the outstanding balances totaled over $20,000. The nightmare started.
The Smiths soon learned that they were victims of identity theft. They began the very long, tedious process of clearing their credit. Adding to their grief, the refinancing of their home was also delayed. The Smiths were, therefore, victimized again because they missed out on the lower interest rates.
Sounds unbelievable, but it could happen to you! Think about your daily activities. You go to the grocery store and write a check. What type of information is on your check:
name, address, telephone number, driver’s license number, social security number? Wait a minute! Take that social security number off your personal checks. In fact, your social security number should be your most protected information. If a thief has access to your name and social security number, that information can be used to open fraudulent accounts. Innocent people have discovered utility, department store and other credit accounts opened in their name and it is usually accomplished using a stolen social security number. Do not give out your social security number unless it is absolutely necessary. Many forms have an area for the social security number, but you should question why the number is needed. A social security number is needed for loan/credit applications and certain other financial transactions. But the video store and car rental agency certainly don’t need it. Be aware that your social security number is not necessary for check cashing or credit purchases. If you are asked for this information, ask to speak with the store manager to verify the need for this information. Aside from guarding your social security number, guard all your personal information. Do you receive pre-approved credit applications in the mail? What do you do with them? Throw them in the trash? Think again. This mailer contains your name, address, and perhaps other personal information. If you carelessly toss it in the trash, a dumpster diver can use this information to steal your identity or pass it on or sell it to someone else. Your mailbox is an excellent source of information. Many thieves wander through neighborhoods looking for “easy” mailboxes. These are unlocked mailboxes that are usually adjacent to the curb or affixed to a house. A red flag indicating outgoing mail is an invitation to a thief. What’s in your outgoing mail? A Visa payment? A card and a check for your nephew’s sixteenth birthday? Checks that a thief can easily alter. Additionally, if you are mailing credit card payments, the thief now has not only your personal checks, but also your credit card account numbers. He can then fraudulently charge items to your account without your knowledge. Remember that personal information is easy to obtain.
Consider the following safety tips that will help prevent you from becoming a victim of identity theft:
1. Shred or tear up pre-approved credit card applications, and other mail with your social security number, bank account and credit card account numbers before throwing
them into the trash.
2. Never throw mail with personal information into trash bins at post offices.
3. Do not leave information with personal and financial information in your vehicle.
4. Review bank and credit card statements each month for fraudulent activity. If anything is amiss, immediately report the problem to your bank or credit card company.
5. If your bills do not arrive in a timely manner, contact your creditors. Your bills may have been lost in the mail or stolen.
6. Before giving out any personal information to a company, ask how the information will be used and whether it will be transferred to third parties (mailing lists).
7. Periodically, order your credit report from the three major credit reporting agencies and check for accuracy.
8. Do not leave receipts at the ATM machine and gas pump.
9. Limit the amount of credit cards and personal information that you carry in your wallet. If you have old credit accounts that you don’t use, cancel the accounts and
cut up the cards.
10. Do not carry your social security card in your wallet. Memorize the number.
11. Do not write credit account numbers on checks or the outside of envelopes when paying bills.
12. Be extremely careful about divulging personal information such as place of employment, employee identification number or mother’s maiden name. These are key components in identity theft.
13. Buy a shredder, and use it.
If you become a victim of identity theft, take a stand!
Contact law enforcement and complete a crime report. Report the theft of your credit cards or numbers to the fraud units of the three major credit reporting agencies* and ask that your accounts be flagged. Add a victim’s statement to your report (up to 100 words) that includes a statement such as “ … my ID has been used to apply for credit fraudulently. Contact me by telephone to verify any and all credit applications.” Find out how long the fraud alert is posted to your account and extend it if necessary. This fraud alert is not a guarantee that your credit is safe. It is a precaution. Continue to monitor your credit reports. If your social security number has been used in an identity theft, it is imperative that you notify the Social Security Administration Hotline as soon as possible. Next, contact all creditors with whom your name has been used fraudulently – by phone and in writing. Send all corrspondence by registered mail. This will establish documentation of your efforts. Keep all receipts of expenses and document the amount of time that you spend clearing your name. Ask creditors for replacement cards with new account numbers for the accounts that have been used fraudulently. Ask that the old accounts be processed as “account closed at consumer’s request.” Creditors may request that you fill out and notarize fraud affidavits. In California, the law does not require that a notarized affidavit be provided to creditors. A written statement and a copy of the police report may be enough. After you have taken these steps to protect yourself or re-establish your good credit, check your credit reports again. This is the only way to determine if someone has taken your identity. Many victims have no idea how their identity was taken, but they will always remember their wasted time, the many telephone calls to creditors and police, and most of all, the invasion of their privacy.
Is it over yet? Maybe. Maybe not. Even though you may have spent hundreds of hours restoring your good name, your personal information could have been sold to someone else. Inaccurate information may still appear on your credit report in the future. That is why you need to check your credit reports on a regular basis. Don’t rely on law enforcement to make this problem go away. Often, the identity of the perpetrator is unknown. Some cybercrooks do not use your personal information to commit identity theft themselves – they obtain the information and sell it to others who do. So, even if law enforcement makes an arrest in your case, your personal information may still be out there waiting for the next thief to steal your identity. The bottom line is this: be careful with your personal information.
In the next part, we’ll look at hacking and business fraud. Don’t be a victim…Be Prepared.
In part 1 yesterday, we discussed the importance of monitoring your child while on the internet. Today, we’ll get into it a little deeper…….
When You Least Expect it …Protect Yourself The jilted ex-boyfriend had a plan. Using personal information from his ex-girlfriend, he sent a message over the Internet that lured men to her door who thought they were going to fulfill a rape fantasy. The information included her name, address, telephone number, physical description and detailed instructions on how to circumvent her security system. The woman was not harmed, but half a dozen men tried to visit her. Fortunately, the jilted ex-boyfriend was charged under California’s cyber-stalking law.
The Internet is supposed to be the information super highway, not an instrument used for violence. Unfortunately, some individuals choose to turn the Internet into their personal playground of destructive messages, threats and illicit pornography. And you’re probably thinking, where are the laws prohibiting threats and pornography? Defining Internet crime is a unique challenge; therefore, lawmakers are continually updating and introducing new laws relating to Internet safety. Because the First Amendment protects freedom of speech, there is little, at this point, that law enforcement can control on the Internet. The cyber-stalking law does not inhibit free speech, it prohibits computer-based harassment. The issue for law enforcement now becomes one of jurisdiction. Where did the crime occur? This is the first question that law enforcement asks a victim. Did the crime occur in your home because that is where the computer is located? Or, did the crime occur where the message originated from, which could be in another state or country? This is a law enforcement dilemma. ISP often cooperate with law enforcement, but it isn’t always easy to find the suspect. In fact, a hacker can compromise your Internet account and send harassing messages under your name and profile – and get away with it. The best and easiest way to prevent personal information from getting into the wrong hands is to be very selective in the information that you divulge. Use the following commonsense tips when using the Internet:
1. Do not give out your name, address, telephone or credit card numbers or other personal information, such as your
social security number, unless you are dealing with a reputable company and you have initiated the contact.
2. Think twice before submitting your personal information profile through your ISP.
3. If you decide to meet someone from online, use common sense. Meet in a busy, public place and consider taking a friend with you to the meeting.
PROTECTION AGAINST INTERNET SCAMS
The Internet has also become a vehicle for criminals to use to perpetuate tried and true scams. If it sounds too good to be true … it probably is! Have you heard this before?
Believe it! Being on the information super highway does not legitimize a get-rich opportunity. Simply type “get rich quick” in a search engine, and you are on your way to new-found wealth or a scam. Many old confidence schemes, such as pyramid schemes, have resurfaced on the Internet. The scams are the same. People are contacted via e-mail or notice a Web page touting a sweet deal. They are encouraged to invest some money, and if they can convince others to do the same, they are promised a huge return. The first few people make money, but two or three levels down, the pyramid crashes because the initiators are the ones receiving profits. Pyramid schemes focus on recruiting new members, not on selling products. In 1999, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) launched a sweep of the World Wide Web to locate sites that host illegal multilevel marketing scams. These sites are under ongoing investigation. Additionally, the FTC offers the following tips to consumers to guard against illegal pyramid schemes:
1. Avoid any plan that offers commissions for recruiting additional distributors.
2. Beware of plans that ask new distributors to spend money on excessive amounts of high-priced inventory. These plans can collapse quickly and also may be
illegal pyramid schemes in disguise.
3. Be cautious of plans that claim you’ll make money through continued growth of your “downline” (the commissions on sales made by the new distributors you recruit) instead of through sales you make yourself.
4. Beware of “shills” – decoy references or endorsements that the promoters pay other people to describe fictional successes in earning money through the plan.
5. Do your homework. Check with your local Better Business Bureau about any plan you’re considering, especially if the claims about your potential earnings or the product sound too good to be true. Pyramid schemes aren’t the only scams to be wary of on the Internet. There are many and they tend to recycle periodically. Beware of “free gift offers” for completing a simple survey or because you won a prize in a drawing – especially if you did not enter. These typically ask you for your name and credit card number to cover the nominal cost of shipping. Their real purpose is to commit credit card fraud.
Other tips to keep you safe online include:
1. Never send money to an unsolicited e-mail or a posting you spotted on the Web.
2.Watch out for the buzzwords: downline, matrix, network, recruitment and cell. These words and their synonyms are often used to dress-up classic pyramid schemes.
3. Never agree to a meeting with someone who has posted a fabulous offer. In-person meetings give the con artist a chance to turn on high-pressure sales tactics or even rob you.
4. If you are setting up an online identity for e-mail, be very vague. Do not give out personal information in a profile.
5.Contact your ISP or local law enforcement if you receive suspicious or threatening e-mail.
6. Be alert for any responses to e-mail that you don’t believe you have sent.
7. Be alert to e-mail bearing a return address you recognize, but with content that does not match the personality of the sender.
8. Look carefully at message headers for discrepancies between sender and provider.
9. Acquire and use encryption software if you send e-mail containing confidential or sensitive information.
10.Web sites whose purposes are to commit fraud appear and disappear quickly, making it difficult for them to be tracked. If you find a suspicious Web site, print the screen and any correspondence. Present this information when filing a complaint with your ISP or law enforcement.
Finally, use the Internet to find information regarding online safety. Your ISP may also provide useful prevention tips and most encourage you to report suspicious online activities.
If you are a victim of online crime, contact your local law enforcement agency. Do not purge any information from your computer – law enforcement needs this documentation to assist in their investigation.
BEWARE OF CELLULAR PHONE CLONING The cellular telephone bill arrived and the amount due exceeded $500! Many of the numbers called were in foreign countries. When the cellular telephone carrier was contacted about the bill, the truth came out. The cellular telephone had been cloned.
Cloning cellular telephones is relatively easy, and as a consumer, you won’t know your cellular telephone was cloned until you get your monthly statement. Cloning is the act of making one cellular telephone “act” the same as another. This is accomplished by copying the identity and phone number of one phone and inserting it into another. The phones do not have to be the same model or even the same brand. The cloned phone is now the same as the first – it will ring when the original phone rings and any
charges incurred will be billed on the original phone’s monthly billing statement. If you own an analog cellular telephone, or if your digital phone can also revert to analog, then there is a chance that your phone can be cloned. The best way to prevent your analog cellular telephone from being cloned is to keep the power off when it is not in use. When your cellular telephone is on, it sends out an electronic serial number (ESN), and there is technology available that will capture this signal. Once the ESN is captured, it is then used in the cloning process. If your cellular telephone is off, the ESN is not transmitted. As technology advances, cloning is likely to become obsolete. The digital cellular telephones are somewhat secure from cloning. However, with any cellular telephone, remember that your actual conversation is not private. The cellular
telephone is a transmitter, and your conversation is out on the airwaves and vulnerable to interception by radio scanners. Finally, never give out any personal or financial information over cellular telephones. If you notice unusual and excessive charges on your monthly billing statement, contact your cellular service carrier’s fraud division.
In the next installment, we’ll be discussing Identity Theft. Don’t be a victim…Be Prepared.
Part of being a responsible babysitter means protecting yourself, as well as, the children youare watching over. Therefore, it is important to learn a few safety tips that will assist you in performing your duties and make you a more dependable babysitter.
First, before accepting a babysitting job, it is important for you to know the person who will be employing you as a babysitter. Check with their neighbors to find out what type of people they are before working for them. Also, prior to accepting the babysitting job, get specific information about the following:
• Number and ages of the children you will be watching.
• Bed times.
• Food and eating requirements, medicines taken or
special medical needs.
• Information about personal habits of the children
and what is expected of you.
Once you decide to accept a babysitting job arrive early and confirm all of the above information and get any additional instructions, such as where the parents will be while you are babysitting and how you may contact them in the even of an emergency.
Additionally, you may want to consider learning first aid and CPR before taking a babysitting job. This will make you a more reliable babysitter and will also provide you with valuable life saving skills in case an emergency arises.
Things To Remember
While You Are Babysitting.
Do Not allow strangers into the house unless your employer specifically informs you to let someone in.
Do Not tell a caller that you are the babysitter and you are alone with the children. Take a message and tell them that the employer will return the call momentarily.
Do Not go outside to investigate suspicious noises or activities. Turn on outside lights and call the police. Be sure that all doors and windows are locked.
Consider Having The
Following Babysitter
Checklist
• Name, address, and phone number of employer.
• Directions to the job location.
• Transportation arranged for you to get to the job and return home.
• Location and phone number where the employer can be reached in case of an emergency.
• Alternate person to contact for emergencies if the employer cannot be reached.
• Special instructions from the employer.
• Locations and instructions on the use of safety equipment such as fire extinguishers and first aid supplies.
• Walk through the house with the employer to ensure that all doors and windows are locked
• Turn the outside lights on.
• Have emergency phone numbers and note taking materials by the telephone.
Learn to recognize it before it’s too late. Here are some common frauds to watch out for:
False identification
Contributing to losses from bad checks and credit cards is the use of false identification.
To minimize this problem, require at least one primary I.D., preferably backed by at least one secondary I.D.
Primary I.D.s are:
• State driver’s license. Do not accept a temporary license.
• State identification card or US Military I.D.
• Employee identification card with laminated photo (check for alterations).
Secondary I.D.s:
• Check guarantee card. Check expiration date and maximum amount of coverage.
Never accept the following as I.D.:
• Membership cards.
• Library cards.
• Any card or I.D. that appears to be altered.
• Social Security cards.
• Temporary driver’s licenses.
Credit card fraud
Do not accept credit cards without proof of identity. Do not accept credit cards without checking a “Hot Sheet” or telephoning issuer for authorization. Watch for these telltale signs of credit fraud:
• The card has been altered, has expired, or is not yet valid.
• Signatures on the card and sales slip don’t match.
• The customer makes several purchases in the same department, all under the amount of the floor limit or that which would require an authorization call to the card issuer.
When suspicious, Call for an authorization from card issuer, indicate your suspicions and follow instructions.
Remember, Always destroy carbons from credit card invoices or offer carbon copies to customers so that credit card numbers and names do not fall into the wrong hands.
Check fraud
There are a number of ways that fraudulent or stolen checks can be forged. Legitimate checks can be altered to show much higher amounts.
Set up check cashing guidelines
• Require two proper I.D.s to cash a check. Make no exceptions.
• Only accept local checks.
• Only accept checks with the name and address imprinted on them.
• Only accept payroll or government checks when you know the person or verify the check.
• Consider limiting the check to the purchase amount.
• Do not accept two-or-more party checks.
• Do not accept postdated checks.
• Do not accept checks with alterations.
Fraudulent refunds
Refunding is a courtesy extended by the store and no store is compelled to honor any request. If merchandise is defective, you may refund, exchange, or follow the posted policy. To minimize losses on fraudulent refunds, consider the following:
• Issue cash refunds only to persons who have a receipt verifying the purchase.
• Establish a policy for returning merchandise without a receipt:
– Refund by check, to be mailed from bookkeeping department.
– No refund. Exchange only.
– Always require valid identification, and maintain a file of returns.
Schemes to defraud manufacturers, suppliers or distributors
Schemes to defraud manufacturers, suppliers or distributors can be used by all sorts of dishonest persons on all kinds of businesses. It’s a favorite ploy of con artists and organized criminals. Often, they will establish a fake company, buy materials on credit, and vanish. Sometimes they’ll set up a company with a name and address almost identical to a well-known, respected company. That way, many suppliers are fooled into granting them credit. Finally, organized crime may buy a legitimate business, and use it (and its credit rating) as a starting point for such schemes.
Sometimes these types of frauds are hard to detect. Watch out for conditions like these:
• A sudden change in your customer’s management, without any public notice.
• The customer’s payments start to lag behind, and the credit balance starts to climb.
• A new customer suddenly orders unusually large amounts of merchandise on credit.
• Trade references for the customer cannot be verified.
• Suddenly company increases its orders; sales become “too easy.”
If you notice these signs, take action. Get to know the new management of a company.
Do a careful credit check on the customer. Make sure that new orders are not filled until a credit check has been completed.
Special thanks is extended to the International Association of Credit Card Investigators and the California Check
Investigators Association for assistance in developing this article.
Just got through watching the evening news. We had another police involved shooting today. Making 24 for the year and 3 in the last 8 days. Justified for the most part, these have been more and more frequent. There are more and more break-ins, more muggings, more carjackings all of which have happened here in Jacksonville in the last 24 hours. These thugs are becoming more and more bold.
The current economic conditions are making these criminals more and more desperate. Crime is happening all around you whether you know it or not. these times call for us as law abiding citizens and just normal people to protect ourselves and our families from these blazen outlaws.
If I may use a phrase from my friend the Big Kahuna, you need to “tool up” to defend yourself from the “mooks”. Don’t get caught unprepared. The criminals are carrying weapons, shouldn’t you? I’m not saying that everyone should carry a .44 magnum Harry Callahan piece, but you need to be prepared just in case. These crimes will be getting more frequent. You don’t have to become a victim. Fight back. Join the war on crime.
I was talking with Ken the other day and he told me this story about his Stun Baton.
Ken loved his work. As the night watchman for a warehouse, he got paid to exercise. Spending seven hours a night taking laps of the facility gave him a good workout, and he enjoyed the relative peace and quiet of working overnights in the city.
Ken wasn’t crazy about the neighborhood he worked in, but he figured he was far better off being locked inside the warehouse overnight than running into some of those lowlifes on the street.
As he made his rounds one night, Ken heard a clattering from one of the storage lockers. He wrapped his hand around the handle of his Stun Baton, which hung in a holster from his hip. He convinced his boss to let him carry one after a friend of his who works as a prison guard shared stories of how the same piece of equipment had saved his life during a riot.
Ken crept around the corner and observed a looter busting his way through dozens of cardboard boxes, tossing precious looking items into a burlap sack. With a flashlight in one hand and his Stun Baton in the other, Ken approached the criminal.
“You there!” yelled Ken, “put your hands up!”
Mistaking the Stun Baton for a plain old nightstick, the looter tried to hustle past Ken toward the exit.
Big Mistake.
As the criminal ran past, Ken reached out with his Stun Baton, its twenty-inch length easily closing the gap between Ken and his target. Three seconds later, the Stun Baton had emptied
500,000 volts of energy into the looter’s quivering frame.
Ken managed to stop the criminal cold and recover a family’s prized personal belongings, all without breaking a sweat.
So much for his workout!
Yours in safety,
Dozier McKendree
P.S. Although popular with security companies, the Stun Baton offers extended reach protection for you while you are in your home or car - go to tlmpersonalsecurity
P.P.S. If you order either the 500,000v or 300,000v Stun Baton within the next five days, I will give you a FREE Stun Baton Holster…a $15.00 value. Just mention FREE Stun Baton Holster in the comments box when you check out. Don’t forget…if you don’t mention FREE Stun Baton Holster, we won’t know to send it to you.
If you have been missing things from around your house lately, it’s about time to catch up to the little sticky-fingered person with the latest in hidden camera technology. You can test your perseverance and ingenuity at the same time. Mind you, spies are not born. They are made and perfected with practice.
Protecting your domain…your home.
Your home should be the most secure place you have. That’s where your life and family are. When things go wrong, you have to know what’s going on. In this age of electronic spying, you can do something about it. You can snoop on the snoop going through your things. After all, you’ve got evidence from your reliable home surveillance cameras.
Home surveillance cameras are not just miniature cameras to hang on the ceiling or wall anymore. You can get those creative cameras in clocks, vcrs, and dolls. You can also get those dime-sized spies and hide them all over the house, or even hide them on your person.
Spying may sound easy, but those spied on are getting smarter too. They can go online and check out what the enemies are getting. It becomes a stalemate if you insist on using those telltale wires for your home surveillance cameras. Perhaps you can deter them from getting too bold by mounting those outrageous fake cameras on the most obvious places. They may back off, but they can find out too, so read up on the latest home surveillance cameras to get ahead of them.
Why should you have surveillance?
People spy for a host of reasons. Some of them are conventional, while some are just downright weird. People spy because they are inquisitive like Pandora of Greek mythology. As they say curiosity killed the cat, but not on this case.
Indeed, spying is not only a boy thing. It is also a girl thing, so both sexes have all the reasons to spy on each other. Men spy on their girlfriends and vice-versa. Teachers monitor their students as a form of academic spying, and students spy to get a good thing going. Business owners spy on their workers because they fear theft and laziness. In extreme cases, people spy for the sheer thrill of it. Voyeurs use home surveillance cameras to spy on unsuspecting people in the neighborhood and real spies want to get military secrets. The list is so long, it could fill a book.
You should have some type of surveillance in place to protect those you care about and the property that you have. With surveillance, you’re able to watch your stuff even when you’re not there. If something does happen, there’s video evidence of the crime that could help catch the criminal.
How to beat them.
Put one over on the crooks. Be smarter than the abusive nurse or nanny. Get a jump on the thief looking to break in through the patio door in the back yard. You don’t have to be a ninja and blend into the shadows. Simply acquaint yourself with the tools of the trade and browse online for the latest home surveillance cameras. You’ll eventually catch that creep or make yourself an unfriendly target. You’ll be much happier knowing that you and your family are safe.
Visit our store for all of the latest in video surveillance gadgets to protect your home and business. TLMSURVEILLANCE.COM
When it comes to video surveillance, the security of your business is the deciding factor. So, read on to determine your options for wired or wireless video surveillance equipment.
When wireless video surveillance counts
With a wireless video surveillance system, you can do two things at the same time. You can go over your receipts and check on your kitchen staff in the comfort of your own office. This saves you time from going to the kitchen just to see how work is progressing when urgent paper work needs to be done. The convenience of monitoring the waiters and the counter people is also yours with a wireless video surveillance system. By adding additional cameras, you can also have an electronic eye keeping watch over the cash register and the restaurant’s entrance and exits.
The flexibility of the wireless video surveillance system is enhanced when you add a mobile viewer. You can see all the important nooks and crannies whether you are in the office, in the kitchen, or at the counter. This will deter your staff from loitering or wasting their time, so you get your money’s worth for their services. Like other restaurant owners, you want to prevent theft in the kitchen and at the cash register. A wireless video surveillance will give you piece of mind and control over your business.
Going fully wired
The advantage of going for a wired video surveillance system is the confidence that a particular quarter of your restaurant is permanently covered. Other areas in the restaurant that need your constant scrutiny are the cash register, bar, wine cellar, front door, and exits. A wired surveillance camera cannot be transferred from the kitchen to the cash register, so you have to add more cameras and have these installed in these important areas. The wired and wireless video surveillance versions give the same advantages when it comes to your business security.
Wired or wireless?
The option to go wired or wireless may depend on your needs and convenience. Many restaurant owners get both versions. The also get the pan-tilt surveillance cameras to get more viewing angles. The infrared cameras are also a hit for outdoor surveillance.
Depending on your budget, you can start with a four camera package or go full time with 16 cameras – whether your system is PC or DVR based. Wired or wireless, you can be flexible. If you want to be discreet about your surveillance, go for the wireless option. This will cost more, though. However, in consideration of your dine-in customers, this will be just perfect. In addition, a wireless system installation will blend well with your interior.
Cost versus security
Surveillance security systems may not prevent accidents from happening, but you and your staff can be alerted immediately to prevent more damage from happening. Petty theft can be averted and your staff will be encouraged to perform better. It is not cheap to have a system installed, whether it is wired or wireless video surveillance. It will all depend on the number and type of cameras you will get, and the floor area of the establishment. A package may cost anywhere from $1,000 to $25,000. Wired or wireless, the installation per camera will depend on if you install them or if you have an electrician do it.
Indeed, when it is about security and your business, you need to be protected the right way.
Whether you go for wired or wireless video surveillance, we’ve got you covered, so visit TLMSURVEILLANCE for more tips in choosing your security camera system.
Go to this site now and see the different security camera systems to suit your budget and needs.
You Are Going On Vacation - Help Burglars Take One Too!
An empty house is a tempting target for a burglar. Use this checklist of tips to help safeguard your home while you’re away.
• Have good locks on all doors and windows and USE THEM!
• Ask a neighbor to watch the house while you’re away. It’s a good idea to leave your vacation address and telephone number with a neighbor so you can be reached in case of an emergency.
• Never leave your house key hidden outside your home.
• Stop all deliveries, or arrange for a neighbor to pick up your mail, newspapers and packages.
• Arrange for someone to mow your lawn, rake leaves and maintain the yard to give the home a lived-in look.
• Plug in timers to turn lights, a radio or television on and off at appropriate times. This helps to disguise the fact that you are away.
• Don’t announce your absence on answering machine messages.
• Leave your blinds, shades and curtains in a normal position. Don’t close them unless that is what you do when you are home.
• Close and lock garage doors and windows. Ask a neighbor to occasionally park in your driveway. If you leave your car at home, park it as you normally would. Vehicles parked outside should be moved occasionally to appear that they are being used.
• Tell your local police you plan to be away. Patrol officers may have the opportunity to periodically check your home.
• Engrave your valuables. This simple step will allow your stolen property to be identified and returned to you if recovered by the police.
Traveling Safety
• If you are driving, make sure your vehicle has been properly serviced and is in suitable condition for the journey.
• Try to have specific directions and routes to your destination.
• If you get lost, call the local police for directions or assistance.
• Always keep your vehicle doors and windows locked.
• At stop lights and other traffic delays, leave enough space in front of your vehicle so that you have an escape option in case of an emergency.
• Let someone know the route you intend to travel and your itinerary. This will help authorities in locating you if there is a need to do so.
• Plan your trip carefully and allow for factors such as weather, fatigue, facilities for lodging, food and fuel. Be sure you have sufficient finances, either cash, travelers checks or credit cards.
• Ask the hotel or motel staff about their security measures so you know what to expect.
• Use the hotel safe to store your valuables during your stay.
A few weekends ago, my family and I went to Disney World. We take these quick weekend trips because we can’t just get away for a week long vacation.
We stay in our favorite hotel almost every time. This time we found a disturbing note on the bulletin board in the lobby. It was a warning to the guests not to open their room door for anyone claiming to be housekeeping. There had been a few guests being disturbed by people posing as hotel staff.
We always use the security latch anyway, however this time I wished I had brought our door stop alarm. I would have felt better about our stay had I been able to put it under the door.
It is a small little item that does a large job. It can be used as a door stop to hold open any door, but it doubles as a burglar alarm when it is placed under a closed door. If a protected door is open, it gives off a 120 decibel blast. The trigger is pressure sensitive so it will work with almost any door.
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