Many of us are look forward to the chance to hop a plane and land in a foreign country, ready to soak up the food, history, and culture, we find there!But take some time before leaving home to prepare yourself. Following a few easy safety steps before you go can save you countless hours of
What is cloud computing? In simple terms, cloud computing is a method of storing files and data in a centralized network that can be reached from anywhere and by any type of device, including mobile phones, tablets, laptops, and desktops. Do you have a social media presence on sites such as Facebook or LinkedIn? Do you
Thinking about getting a new pet? It’s tempting! But be sure to do your homework. Experts believe at least 80% of sponsored advertisements about pets may be fake. It’s a frustrating story: you see a cute animal listed for sale online, often on a classifieds website like Craigslist.org. Next, you reach out to the prospective
As we all try our best to contribute to our community’s health and well-being during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, it’s wise to remember that there are also those who look at stressful events as an opportunity for criminal activity. Even as we celebrate how far we’ve come in managing the pandemic and look forward to
Do you know anyone who’s had their car stolen? Though it’s a fairly rare event, it does still happen, and the ripple effects can be far reaching. Car security measures are important because when a car is broken into, wallets, passports, and IDs might be included in the list of stolen goods, even if the
The beauty of online banking is that you can monitor your accounts almost in real time. This makes it much easier to catch any attempts at fraud, long before your paper statement arrives in the mail. Here are some tips for shielding your money and protecting your online accounts. Create strong passwords and user IDs,
These days, there are many different flavors of scam out there. The precautions we take to avoid falling victim to any particular scam are very similar—never give out personal information such as Social Security numbers or bank account details over the phone or via email; never click on suspicious links; never send cash or wire
For some people, aging is a tricky balance of maintaining independence and learning to rely on other people for help. This is especially true when it comes to taking care of personal finances. Many of us, as we age, need assistance when it comes to making sure bills are paid, understanding changing investment needs, and
Not only do we need to stay alert to the dangers of identity theft for ourselves, but we need to keep track of how our children’s identity is being used or abused as well. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), child ID theft happens when someone uses a minor’s personal information to commit fraud.
Do your children play with smart toys? These are toys that have some kind of internet connectivity capabilities, whether it’s a teddy bear with a camera and microchip or a doll that uses artificial intelligence to develop a relationship with its owner. Toys like this might be fun, but parents and kids should be aware
How many emails are in your inbox?Email has become a ubiquitous part of our lives, both professional and personal. It’s the first thing many of us do upon waking up in the morning and the last thing we do in the evening. It’s on our desktops, laptops, and phones. Email happens everywhere. Which makes it
If you’re like many people, you don’t leave home without your phone. Someone might call, but more likely, someone will text, send an email, you’ll have a few free moments to scan social media, you’ll need to check your bank balance, or you need directions to where you’re going.Mobile phones are a constant part of
Social media is a terrific way to stay connected with people, even those who live on the other side of the world! For more than a decade, social media has been a part of our lives, and every week it seems there are new platforms to choose from. Beyond the benefits of community building and
Ready for your trip? Once you’ve packed your bags, left your home secure, and organized your wallet, it’s time to think a little bit more about those credit and debit cards in there. While cards can make spending money on trips a lot easier and more efficient, there are some steps you should take to
Sometimes a payment needs to be stopped. For example, when a duplicate payment has been sent by mistake, the sender needs a way to halt payment. There’s also the case of fraud. Criminals launder billions of dollars overseas through financial fraud schemes like wire transfer fraud, corporate account takeovers, business e-mail compromise scams, and other
We are lucky to live in a region where mail theft or tampering is a rare occurrence. But rare doesn’t mean nonexistent! By taking just a few precautions, you can rest assured that you’ve done everything you can to minimize the risk of someone tampering with your mail and stealing valuable personal information.Here are some