This week we once again use our blog to try to help our community avoid the pitfalls of identity theft. This time, we write from personal experience. A colleague’s email was taken over and caused frustration for us and our network of family, friends and business colleagues. Everyone was getting spammed because this colleague’s email…
Lately, it feels like we are getting a lot of calls from businesses tired of the hassle of slow/burnt out/ or just plain broken down office shredders. Outsourcing could be a cost-effective option depending on the volume of paper an office produces or simply the value of people hours currently being dedicated to one of…
It’s important to strike a balance in our goals to save money and the environment but still maintain sound business practices. One of the easiest things to do is to work on reducing printing and paper consumption. It is possible to take a good thing too far with potentially dangerous consequences. Many companies have a…
As Chair of the Dutchess County Regional Chamber’s Green Life Committee, I am happy to share that our June Electronic Recycling Days were another huge success. Thanks to the support of the local community, we safely and securely disposed of another 22 tons of unwanted monitors, printers, keyboards, VCR’s, batteries, cell phones, terminals, cables, fax…
Among the useful resources for ID Theft protection, we have found the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) to be helpful. Here’s a handy list compiled on their website with best practices regarding ID Theft: • Ensure websites are secure prior to submitting your credit card number. • Do your homework to ensure the business or…
Again, courtesy of Stop.Think.Connect.org, here are some valuable resources if you think your computer or personal information has been compromised. The following is a list of agencies equipped to help fight cyber-crime. You can file a complaint about Internet-related frauds, scams, and suspicious activity with the following organizations. • The Federal Trade Commission – The…
In recognition of National Internet Safety Month, the National Cyber Security Alliance offers the following tips on Internet Safety. When it comes to Keeping your devices clean: • Keep security software current: Having the latest security software, web browser, and operating system are the best defenses against viruses, malware, and other online threats. • Automate…
Though it’s a grim topic, when it comes to identity theft, it is critical. The deceased are a major target for identity thieves, and we want to help minimize the vulnerability in our community. When someone dies they are placed on the deceased list by the Social Security Administration. The credit bureaus get updates occasionally…
Here’s another scam to be mindful of and share with you family and friends. Criminals gather publicly available data on Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites. Then, they locate a vulnerable relative — generally a grandparent — and call them pretending to be a grandchild travelling abroad and in trouble. A typical “grandparent scam”…
As more and more children are having their credit ratings damaged by identity theft before they think of borrowing a dime, Maryland lawmakers have approved a first-of-its-kind measure to enable parents to take steps to protect their kids. The Maryland Child Identity Lock bill will allow parents to take the step of freezing their child’s…