Search CompleteMarkets

It’s hard to believe that the copy machine just recently celebrated its 50th birthday. There’s no question that these popular technological devices have proven to be worth their weight in gold for countless consumers and businesses. From copying to scanning and even e-mailing documents, copy machines are a must-have for most modern day companies. However, there’s a secret lurking inside the common copy machine that has identity thieves across the nation salivating. Nearly every copier that was built since 2002 includes a hard drive. This relatively small unit, hidden inside the copy machine, stores an image of every single document scanned or copied by the machine. An identity thief’s dream Most copiers store up to 20,000 document images, which might include Social Security numbers, birth certificates, bank records, income tax forms, medical records, and other valuable information. In other words, these hard drives contain the type of data that identity thieves are itching to get their hands on. Perhaps even more frightening is this fact: Anyone can easily buy used copiers from office supply vendors. Oftentimes, a used copier that initially cost thousands of dollars is sold for just $300 or less. Quite a few vendors sell these used copiers to overseas buyers. Most sellers do not erase the hard drive before selling a used copier. That means the buyer gains immediate access to all the invaluable information stored on the hard drive for just a few hundred bucks. With a special device, an identity thief can easily scan and download all the document images stored on this hard drive. However, an identity thief doesn’t even have to buy the copier to gain access to the profitable data inside. He could simply hack into the office copier’s hard drive to get his hands on the wealth of information stored there. Understanding the risks Unfortunately, most of the general public is completely unaware of the potential risks associated with copy machines. A recent study revealed that 60% of Americans do not even realize that copiers store images on a hard drive. Luckily, there are ways to combat the threat of identity thieves stealing data from copy machines. Some copy machine security companies have the ability to “scrub” or delete all of the info on copy machine hard drives before a business gets rid of the copier. Additionally, some new copy machine models include a feature allowing users to erase images from the copier’s hard drive automatically. This extra feature typically costs about $500. It could be worth the added expense. After all, this feature could end up saving you thousands of dollars in identity theft damages.

...a variety of factors such as your driving record, mileage, the car you drive a...

Here are some featured markets we thought you might be interested in taking advantage of: Film and Media Insurance, Guardian Program, Commercial Auto Program, Sports Insurance, Fabricare Dry Cleaners, Coastal Builders Risk Insurance, Workers Compensation Insurance

...ity of injuries happen outside of driving. ...

...rs in pollution filled traffic to driving some of the most, interesting, peopl...

We advise boaters to take necessary precautions to be safe during the summer season, the time of year when boat accident claims increase in frequency, according to an analysis of claims incidence at Travelers, a leading provider of boat and yacht insurance. “Substantially more people are on the water during the summer, so that is the time boaters should be extra careful to protect their family, friends and watercraft from a loss,” said Tony Scurich of Scurich Insurance.  “It’s also a good time to review your boat and yacht insurance with an independent agent to be sure you have adequate coverage.” We recommend the following boat safety tips: Wear a life jacket:  80 percent of drowning victims were not wearing a PFD (Personal Flotation Device) or life jacket.  Most states require that children under a certain age wear a life jacket and that every boat be equipped with one life jacket per passenger. Take a boating course:  Even if your state does not mandate the completion of a boating course prior to obtaining your boating license, both you and your passengers will benefit from a formalized course.  To learn more about boating safety classes, visit http://cgaux.org/boatinged. Schedule a vessel safety check:  The Coast Guard auxiliary offers free safety checks.  For more information, visit www.vesselsafetycheck.org/getvsc or http://www.uscgboating.org/default.aspx. Equip your boat with an emergency kit and be familiar with how to use each of the items.  Travelers recommends including the following:  fire extinguisher, first aid kit, visual distress signal and/or a Coast Guard-approved throwable PFD, such as a life ring or a horseshoe.  Organize an emergency plan and make sure that passengers are familiar with it.  Remember to test equipment and be knowledgeable of the suggested guidelines for usage and replacement. Be prepared for the weather:  Check the weather forecast before going on the water and be equipped for changes. Know where you are:  The Coast Guard recommends having charts, a GPS (Global Positioning System) and a reliable means of communication on board. Know how to contact the Coast Guard:  Marine radio is the preferred method to communicate on the water because it broadcasts to other boaters in the vicinity.  If using a cell phone on the water, test it for a maritime emergency by dialing *CG (*24).  There is no charge or penalty for calling to test the signal. Do not drink and drive:  According to the Coast Guard, a boat operator with a blood alcohol level of .10 percent is 10 times more likely to be killed in a boating accident than a boat operator with a blood alcohol level of zero.  Operating a boat while drinking is illegal in several states.  Remember that the effects of alcohol are exacerbated when combined with sun exposure and being on the water. Established in 1924, Scurich Insurance is an independent insurance agency offering a full range of insurance products including Auto, Home, Life, and more…  Scurich Insurance is a member of [ASSOCIATIONS] and supports [LOCAL CHARITIES OR ORGANIZATIONS]. For information and quotes on insurance coverage, please visit Scurich Insurance at 320 East Lake Avenue, Watsonville, CA 95077-1170 or call (831)-722-3541. About Travelers The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE: TRV) is a leading provider of property casualty insurance for auto, home and business.  The company’s diverse business lines offer its global customers a wide range of coverage sold primarily through independent agents and brokers. A component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, Travelers has operations in the U.S., Canada, U.K. and Ireland. For more information, visit www.travelers.com.

Medical laboratories are a 32.5 billion dollar industry with over 175,000 labs in the United States. With a range of settings including hospitals, public health facilities, and independent medical labs there are several different types of testing being conducted nationwide.

With the coverage of K&K's Resort and Guest Ranch Program, your clients can spend time on important things like keeping guests happy. We'll take care of the rest with an insurance program specifically tailored to the individual needs of your operation.

From sun and sand to riding horseback, K&K’s resort program provides vital business protection for a variety of destination and vacation resorts and guest ranches. The resort program is for operations that offer hotel, lodge or cabin rentals and include full service restaurants, bars, spa services and many leisure activities.

K&K’s bowling and entertainment center program provides coverage for bowling operations and associated exposures, including arcade/video games, food concessions, liquor exposure, bars/lounges, restaurants, special events and tournaments. Premium is based on gross receipts and offers competitive pricing for facilities depending upon individual exposures.