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Identity theft is moving a lighting speed.  Credit scores get destroyed, bank accounts and investments get heisted, and people's lives are ruined.  And it's so swift, it's practically unnoticeable until you get to the bank. Unfortunately, you may be giving the thieves everything they need to take everything you have.  Here are a few tips that you can start doing today to protect yourself from identity theft. Log off all public computers.  Using the public library's computer is a good tool if you don't have your own computer.  But be cautious while you are using it.  Make sure you log off from all of your programs and applications.  Staying logged in may give the person who uses the computer after you, all the information they need. Change your passwords.  Don't write your passwords out for everyone to see.  Keep your passwords in a safe location that only you know of.  Every so often, change out your passwords.  Hackers can get your information if you have a weak or the same password for everything. You fall for phishing scams.  Phishing scams are commonly seen in your email.  You receive a notification from your bank telling you that you have a problem with your account, and they need you to sign in.  Don't fall for it!  Those are scams trying to get your information.  You may also find emails that say you're entitled to a large sum of money when some unknown relative in a distant country died and left you all of their fortune.  If you don't know this unknown relative, chances are they never existed, along with this large inheritance. Get that paper shredder out.  Don't just throw out papers with your personal information on it.  Shred them. Shop on secured sites.  Make sure when you do your online shopping the address starts with https://.  Make sure your anti-virus program is up to date. Don't give out information over the phone.  If you get an unsolicited call from your bank or credit card company chances are, they are scammers. Hold on to your belongings.  Keep your bag and your phone with you at all times.  It may seem like a quick  trip to the store and, "Why not?  I'll be out in a jiffy."  Problem is, it takes just a jiffy for thieves to break into your car and grab your belongings.  It's not worth it. Don't text confidential information.  Your phone can easily be hacked by hackers.  Keep your confidential information off the phone. Don't store your personal information on your computer.  If your computer gets stolen, so does all of that information. Public WiFi.  Don't use public WiFi to do transactions.  It's never a good idea, your information is out there and ready for others to grab a hold of. Keep your personal information safe and out of the hackers grasp. Content provided by Transformer Marketing.

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Contrary to popular belief, identity fraud does not always begin online. According to Travelers claim data, 44 percent of ID fraud cases happen when a person's purse or wallet has been lost or stolen. Thieves can use the information they find inside for ID fraud, so here are some critical steps to help protect yourself and your identity. Watch Your Wallet and Purse Many people store personal information in their purses and wallets, making it easier for thieves to commit identity fraud. Help secure your identity by keeping your purse and wallet in a safe place and carrying only essentials when you go out. Leave credit cards you will not be using in a secure place at home. Unless it is absolutely necessary, avoid carrying Social Security cards, birth certificates or passports as they contain key pieces of personal information thieves could use to steal your identity. Monitor Your Mail Whether you are sending or receiving mail, take steps to help keep it safe from prying eyes. Never put outgoing checks, bill payments or financial information in your unlocked home mailbox. When you need to send out sensitive documents, consider using a secure postal mailbox or send them from the post office. If you have not signed up for electronic statements, be aware of when your credit card statements are scheduled to arrive. If they are late, call the credit card company to confirm if the statement was sent. Be sure to shred old bills and unnecessary financial records containing personal information. Keep a Careful Eye on Your Credit According to our data, nearly half of ID fraud cases are committed using the victim's current accounts. On a regular basis, review your credit report and bank statements to monitor your accounts, and take these extra precautions: Make a list of all your credit card and bank account information, and store the list in a secure place, such as on a password-protected flash drive or in a fire-proof safe. Include account numbers, expiration dates, credit limits and phone numbers or emails of the customer service and fraud departments. If your card is missing or stolen, you will then be able to quickly notify your credit card provider to prevent fraudulent charges. Review your credit report and notify the credit bureaus of any mistakes. The U.S. Government Fair Credit Reporting Act gives consumers the right to receive one free copy of their credit report every 12 months from each of the three main credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax and TransUnion). Order one report from a different bureau every four months to see credit activity throughout the year. To order your credit report, visitwww.annualcreditreport.com. Keep Your Social Security Number Safe Social Security numbers are often used to open fraudulent accounts or to access financial information or assets. Do not have your Social Security number printed on your checks or allow merchants to write it on them. If a business requests your Social Security number, ask them why. If it is not a valid reason, do not provide the information they request. Also, never give confidential information to an unsolicited phone caller who claims they represent a financial institution or creditor. Instead, get the caller's name, location, phone number and reason for the call. Then call the phone number on your billing statements to verify the caller's identification. Get additional tips for helping protect your identity while you are online. Consider buying identity fraud insurance, a relatively inexpensive add-on to your renters or homeowners insurance policy. This coverage typically reimburses the cost of reclaiming your identity and rebuilding your credit, such as attorney's and notary fees and replacement of IDs. It is a low-cost investment against a high-expense crime.

...mary targets as mega-corporations; banks, credit card providers, online retail...

Most medium-sized and smaller companies protect themselves against their property and liability exposures by purchasing Commercial insurance, while large corporations and government agencies prefer to use some type of alternative risk financing. However, businesses of any size can employ this tool to enjoy such benefits as improved cash flow and a lower total cost of risk. Insurers have developed a number of colorful terms for alternative risk financing techniques. These methods include: Excess insurance Reinsurance Guaranteed cost Retrospective rating Large deductible Self-insurance Captive insurance Using alternative risk financing requires management discipline and a willingness to commit resources. Size isn't that important. The main criterion is losses. As a rule of thumb, alternative risk financing makes sense for a business whose claims have these characteristics: (1) Reasonable predictability; (2) moderate volatility; (3) minimal exposure to a catastrophic event; and (4) high frequency and low severity. For example, a large hotel or bank would probably experience a number of small Workers Compensation claims, but few large claims. Casualty insurance products (such as Workers Comp, General Liability, and Auto Liability) are the best candidates for alternative risk financing. Because Comp and Liability claims tend to be paid over one to five years or more, insurance companies that write these policies generate substantial investment income on their premium reserves until losses are paid fully. By using alternative risk financing, your company can invest your funds elsewhere, rather than paying premiums. Our specialists would be happy to review your business and see if alternative risk financing make sense for you.

You need to protect and insure your business. Accidents happen. Fires, floods, slips, falls, sicknesses and even fatalities. They all happen. Everyday. That's why no matter what size business you're running, from a two-man operation or a corporation worth millions of dollars, you SHOULD ALWAYS have commercial property insurance. Not everyone who is looking for business insurance actually understands what it is, though. Or why they need it. Here's our brief but informative round-up of information to get you started. 3 Frequently Asked Questions about Commercial Property Insurance My Business is Brand New...Do I Need Insurance on my Commercial Property Already? Absolutely. Think of it this way: If you could suffer a loss then you need insurance. It doesn't matter if you're on day 1 of business or day 1000...you need the insurance. If I Work From Home Do I Still Need Commercial Property Insurance? Yes. In most cases you'll only be insured and reimbursed for up to $2,500 of damage or loss to business assets that occurr within a homeowner's insurance policy. It is best to purchase additional insurance and protection under your home coverage or add on a commercial property insurance policy to cover anything over the $2,500 amount. What Steps Can I Take to Lower My Commercial Property Insurance Premiums? Every policy and insurance premium is based upon the amount of risk involved. Show high risk and you'll pay more. Mitigate that risk and you'll pay less. Here are some simple steps you can take to mitigate the risk and lower the premium on your commercial insurance policy: Have a well-lighted work place (in and out). Keep electrical systems maintained. Install adequate sprinkler and fire safety systems. Teach and preach on the job safety to every employee and keep records of safety training. Keep the minimal amount of cash needed on hand. Make daily or twice daily bank deposits. Those are our most FAQ and the answers we give. If you have any more questions or require any further detail, please contact and ask. Source: http://legalzoom.com

"But he that filches from me my good name/Robs me of that which not enriches him/And makes me poor indeed." - Shakespeare, Othello, act iii. Sc. 3. Identity theft is a huge problem in the United States. Did you know that identity thieves stole approximately $21 Billion from victims in 2012? This equates to one incident of fraud every three seconds. That’s scary. In every minute, 20 acts of fraud occur. When you keep adding up the numbers it looks horrific. Most victims don’t know until it’s too late that they have become a victim of identity theft. If you are one of the victims of identity theft, we have listed a few things for you to do: Contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) whether online or by phone, 877-438-4338. If necessary, send mail certified and request a return receipt. Contact your bank and let them know of the fraud. Contact all of your credit card companies and credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian and Trans Union) and inform them of the situation. Contact your insurance companies and make them aware of the theft. Keep a detailed filing system. Keep all your originals, only send copies of originals to requestors. Follow all deadlines. Keep a timeline of when you spoke to a person and set up a follow up date. Following the above guidelines will help minimize any future thefts. We hope that you never have to use this list.

The beginning of the new year is a good time to take stock of your financial situation. One of the best ways to put yourself on firm ground financially is to look over your homeowners insurance. While this insurance is mandatory when it comes to bank-financed mortgages, there is often much you can do to reduce your premiums. Complete a Yearly Deductible Review It is a good idea to get into the habit of looking over your homeowners insurance deductibles every year. If you are like many people, you probably have not thought about your deductibles since you first purchased your policy. Low deductibles that seemed like a good idea when you bought your first home could be costing you money now. Purchasing a home is a big financial step that can leave you with little disposable income in the event of an emergency. It can make more sense to lower your deductible for your homeowners insurance at that point. As you begin to feel more secure in knowing just how much money home maintenance and other necessities take of your paycheck, you can add to your emergency fund. Raising the deductibles of your homeowners insurance can help you balance out the premiums you pay. With a suitable emergency fund, for example, that is equipped to cover those emergencies like the deductible for a replacement roof caused by a storm, you can enjoy savings all year round. Talk to Your Insurance Adjuster For the best results, it is a good idea to make an appointment with your insurance company to sit down and go over your insurance policy. A few adjustments for your deductibles could save you hundreds of dollars each year.

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