Tag: protect

I know that when my husband married me, he took on hefty responsibilities—not just for himself anymore—but for me and our future children, including promises to:

* Please (always)
* Provide (as much as possible)
* Protect (when necessary)
* Problem solve (as called upon)
* Procreate (as agreed upon)

You’ve likely joined Facebook because you understand that social networking can be a valuable tool to keep up with family and friends. Or perhaps you are a business professional and use Twitter and LinkedIn because of the value it brings to your business. Maybe you don’t use online social networks, but your friends do and you’ve heard them say, "Facebook me." Either case, you know that social networking is a powerful tool that influences all our lives.

You or your spouse’s parents are more vulnerable to identity theft because they are more trusting and less aware of the increasing variety of scams. Although they may have no interests in the complexities of smartphones, computers, the internet and online banking, the many whom give it a try leave themselves defenseless against thieves.

The elderly—particularly those who need your assistance in living—can be easily targeted online or through the mail in old-fashioned schemes to steal their identity and ultimately their money.

Medical records are one-stop shopping for identity thieves. There is no need to slowly gather bits and pieces of someone’s personal information—it’s all packaged together: Social Security number, name, address, phone number, even payment accounts.

Crooks have received everything from medication to a liver transplant using a stolen identity. And that’s only the tip of the iceberg! More than just medical treatment is at stake. Once a thief’s medical information is entered into your records, it’s extremely difficult to get rid of that information.

I hold a somewhat unpopular view on cheaters and being cheated on. I see little difference between being the one who goes outside the bounds of a committed relationship and being the one whose been cheated on, even though it might not seem that way in the moment. My opinion is that both people are looking to regain their self-worth, dignity, and self-respect during and after the affair. Both people are hurting and both people need to create and own their personal lives without blaming or using another.

You and your spouse have watched them grow. You’ve both experienced the ups and downs of living under one roof for the past 18 years together, but the time has come and they’re about to leave the nest for college—both an exciting and anxiety-ridden experience for most.

Often overlooked is the safety of your child’s identity. These young adults living away from home for the first time are particularly vulnerable to identity theft. In a 2010 survey, Javelin Strategy and Research found that young adults, aged 18-24, take the longest to detect identity theft—132 days on average