OSC Guardian - Safety Advice

OSC GUARDIAN - SAFETY ADVICE
www.OramSecurity.com

Monday, March 22, 2010

Do you know how to Deter, Detect and Defend against Identy Theft?

Identity Theft. Those words strike fear in people right through their skin, deep down into their credit report! The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) estimates that as many as 9 million Americans have their identities stolen each year. Now most people tend to think that the biggest threat to their identity is “on line” these days, but it isn’t. The tried and true methods of ID theft still work just fine. The FTC recommends 6 simple ways to help deter ID Theft.

First is the easiest, and its just one word. SHRED. That’s it. You don’t need to hire a large company to come by your home with a truck to shred all your documents like you might see at an office. All you need to do is go to your local “Target”, “Staples” or “Office Max” type store and buy a small shredder. Then, make sure each day to shred all your financial documents and paperwork before you throw it out. Now, you might ask why you should do it each day, rather than once a week like taking out the garbage or the recycling? The reason is, if your home is broken into, do you want all this ID theft friendly documents in one place for the bad guys to find? Dumpster Diving is still one of the easiest ways for criminals to find documents. Documents that you are going to keep should be stored in a safe place with a lock.

The next thing is to keep your Social Security number safe. Don’t carry the card in your wallet, or put the number on your checks. If you have it on your checks, and I steal your check book, or find a discarded check that wasn’t shredded…… I have your name, address and SS number. Just imagine what I could do with all that info.

Don’t give out any personal information unless you are sure who you are talking to. This includes on websites. If you feel unsure, ask them for a number that you can call them back on.

Don’t click on links in emails. The link can be changed to look like it will take you to your bank etc’s website but will bring you to one with other motives. Instead, type in web address that you know for your institution and work your way to the page. Or you can call them to confirm the site address in the email.

On your computer or phone, don’t use an obvious password. Your date of birth, last four numbers of your ss, or your mother's maiden name. Years ago, I was told not to write down my passwords, but now that recommendation has changed. Write it down. Make it complicated enough that you have to. We are not overly worried that someone is going to break into your house and use your own laptop to log into your accounts, but rather someone in their own home trying to “crack” your password.

Keep your personal data at home in a safe place. A safe place is one that locks and is out of obvious view.
The 5 most active ways that ID theft takes place is; Dumpster Diving, Skimming, Phishing, Address Change and good old stealing. The good old stealing is the easiest to explain. They steal your wallet, purse or mail. Your mail you ask? What do you get in your mail? Credit cards, tax forms, bank statements, new checks (when you order new checks, if you do it through your bank, ask to pick them up there rather than having them sent to your home) letters from creditors, and pre-approved credit cards. All of those are just what the bad guys are looking for.

Next we will cover Dumpster Diving. This is basically those same bad guys looking for all that great stuff that came in the mail, which you then tossed in the garbage without shredding. Only difference is that they have to go through last nights Chimichanga and banana peals to get to it.

Skimming is the one of two “High Tech” ones. They put an attachment on an ATM and steal your Credit Card or Debit Cards info when processing your card.

Phishing is when you receive a fake email from your bank or financial institution asking for information. (You hear about this happening on Facebook, Twitter and other places as well).

Finally we get to the Address Change. This is like the lazy Mail thief. They mail in change of address forms to your credit card companies to get your billing statements sent to another address.

Identity theft is a serious crime. It can cost you time and money. It can destroy your credit and ruin your good name. You can receive s free copy of your credit report each year. Go to www.annualCreditReport.com or call 1-877-322-8228 to request one.

Oram Security offers a “Bag Lunch” Identity Theft Training Course for business and organizations. Contact us for more information.

Stay Safe
Oram Security

Friday, March 12, 2010

Spring is almost here....Do you know where your First Aid kit is?

Do you have one in your car?  In your home?  If we were to go look at it right now, what would be in it?  I have two in the house and I know one of them is full of red, neon green and Scoobie Doo Band Aids.  That is great for helping keep my kids happy, but not so great at keeping them alive.  My second kit has what I might really need in the event of an emergency. 
 
Now for your car......Whether you are planning a long distance drive, day trips or just use the car for carpools and shopping, a first aid kit is an important item to bring along. With spring poking its head out, we find ourselves going into the great outdoors more often. With that in mind, it doesn't matter if you are headed out to go...... deep breath before you try to say all these at once..... Hunting, Angling, Shooting, Archery, Cycling, Dirt Biking, Skateboarding, Boating, Paddle Sports, Camping, Hiking, Rock Climbing, Bouldering, Mountaineering, Skiing, Snowboarding, Sledding or one of the million of other reasons we go outside, you should have a kit on you that can help you survive in case of a medical emergency.

In your car, you should have a small yet comprehensive kit with all that you might need. Your car gives you the room to carry one, but what do you do when you leave your car? When I was in the Marines, we used to carry survival kits on our person. For a short trip out, I don't see most of you carrying a full survival kit on your person, (even though you should), but we have found a great in between. Its an all-season, watertight/airtight lightweight package that can fit in a pocket. Inside is almost everything you could need. Now, before you read what comes in this kit, remember what I have said before; It is better to have and not need, than need and not have. Right? Makes sense doesn't it. So, here is what comes in this kit.


  • 25g Quik–Clot® (blood coagulator)
  • Tegaderm 2 3/8" x 2 3/4" dressing (sterile wound cover)
  • 5" x 9" ABD pad
  • 4" x 75" roll bandage
  • 40" x 40" x 56" triangular bandage
  • two sets 4" x 3" cover sponges
  • aspirin, two 325 mg tablets
  • Benadryl (R),  two 25 mg tablets
  • combat medic tape
  • non-latex gloves
  • rescue whistle
  • mylar survival blanket
It's a great small kit that weighs only 7 oz. I keep one in my range kit as well as in the glove box in my car. Any time I head into the park, woods I tuck it into a pocket. Hit our website to see some other kits that may be of use. As the Boy Scouts say, “Be Prepared”

Stay Safe
Oram Security

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Violent French husbands 'may be tagged'.


Men seen as likely to be violent towards their wives could be forced to wear an electronic tag under a law being debated by the French parliament.

The tag would have to be worn by men who have received a court order to stay away from their partner. The proposal is part of a draft law on conjugal violence. It has cross-party support and is expected to pass easily. According to the proposed measures, men who have received court orders to stay away from their partners will wear an electronic bracelet and if they break the order and approach, police are alerted.
Psychological violence can be hard to prove in court. Another key clause has caused rather more argument - at least outside parliament, says our correspondent.  This is the creation of a new crime of psychological violence inside the home.
The bills' supporters say it is important to recognise that actual violence against women is always preceded by psychological bullying, and that this too needs to be outlawed.  But many lawyers and professionals in the field are nervous, our correspondent says.  They say it will impossible to say at what point verbal abuse - for instance in an argument - suddenly becomes a criminal offence.
Critics argue the psychological violence clause is unlikely to make any practical improvement to the lives of women who suffer domestic violence
Click HERE to read article.

Twelve states in the US have passed similar legislation and about 5,000 domestic abusers are being tracked nationwide, said George Drake, who oversees Colorado’s Electronic Monitoring Resource Center, which gathers data from equipment vendors.


It is hard to protect families who live in rural areas or where there are not enough police officers to respond quickly. With the economic downturn, states have cut money for training the police and judges in GPS use, and some places with legislation in place say they cannot afford it.

“Using GPS monitoring to enforce an order of protection makes the order more than just a piece of paper,” said Diane Rosenfeld, a lecturer at Harvard Law School and a longtime advocate of using GPS in domestic abuse cases. “It’s a way of making the criminal justice system treat domestic violence as potentially serious. By detecting any escalation in the behavior of a batterer, GPS can prevent these unnecessary tragedies.”
There are many questions that will all require answers.  That being said, it is a very interesting idea that I think deserves more development and can obviously be a great asset to law enforcement.
 
Oram Security