Many people find it easy and convenient to use credit cards and ATM or debit
cards. The Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA) and the Electronic Fund Transfer Act
(EFTA) offer procedures for you to use if your cards are lost or stolen.

Limiting Your Financial Loss

Report the loss or theft of your credit cards and your ATM or debit cards to
the card issuers as quickly as possible. Many companies have toll-free
numbers and 24-hour service to deal with such emergencies. It’s a good idea
to follow up your phone calls with a letter. Include your account number, when
you noticed your card was missing, and the date you first reported the loss.

You also may want to check your homeowner’s insurance policy to see if it
covers your liability for card thefts. If not, some insurance companies will allow
you to change your policy to include this protection.

Credit Card Loss or Fraudulent Charges (FCBA).

Your maximum liability under federal law for unauthorized use of your credit
card is $50. If you report the loss before your credit cards are used, the FCBA
says the card issuer cannot hold you responsible for any unauthorized
charges. If a thief uses your cards before you report them missing, the most
you will owe for unauthorized charges is $50 per card. Also, if the loss involves
your credit card number, but not the card itself, you have no liability for
unauthorized use.

After the loss, review your billing statements carefully. If they show any
unauthorized charges, it’s best to send a letter to the card issuer describing
each questionable charge. Again, tell the card issuer the date your card was
lost or stolen, or when you first noticed unauthorized charges, and when you
first reported the problem to them. Be sure to send the letter to the address
provided for billing errors. Do not send it with a payment or to the address
where you send your payments, unless you are directed to do so.

Next post we will cover ATM or Debit Card Loss or Fraudulent Transfers
(EFTA).

Sincerely,

Trapper
http://www.sherwoodlocksmithing.com

PS…Have you requested your FREE report on Identity Theft?
Request your copy and download it at:
http://www.personalsafetyebook.com/PPP.html

Tags: bad credit, credit cards, Identity Theft, personal safety, personal security, stolen credit cards

Greetings,

Today’s post covers some basic kitchen safety rules. I know this
is not all inclusive, so i would love to read your comments on
how you keep a safe kitchen.

Kitchen safety is of critical importance in every home, and
particularly when there are children around.

Kitchen safety is important, but probably the farthest topic from
their young minds. But there lots of things you can do to make it
easy.

Safety in the kitchen doesn’t have to be expensive.

Because a kitchen is an intergrul part of our everyday life, kitchen
safety is as elementary as baking a cake. As you know there are
many potential hazards in the kitchen for children or an elder,
particularly if they are confused or unreliable. Teach them knife
safety rules, but make sure that an adult is always present.
Sad to say, but where there are sharp utensils some elders are
not reliable in the kitchen unsupervised.

Safety gates in doorways will keep children out of the kitchen
while you’re cooking, but don’t be tempted to disappear into
another room.

Safety gates, cabinet latches, corner guards, cord covers,
drawer latches and outlet covers are some of the essential ideas
for keeping your kitchen child safe.

Safety mats are used on the floor to prevent a slip or fall from a
ladder while reaching high up into a cupboard. Because of a
situation like that, safety should be a key determining factor when
considering kitchen cabinet remodeling.

Also, do you have working smoke detectors and carbon monoxide
detectors.

Until children are age 14+ they should NOT operate the stovetop
without adult supervision. Teach them this easy fire safety
Rule: Remember that when the stove is being used, that stove is
hot!

Keep a kitchen fire extingusher closeby, but also know how to
use it!

The National SAFE KIDS Campaign has created guidelines for
children in the kitchen to ensure safety and fun.

For more info on safety for your children,
Please visit http://is.gd/43Zx & http://www.safekids.org/

Remember, with children, kitchen safety is the furthest thing from
their minds. Seriously, in the kitchen safety is always first and
foremost.

We hope you have found these tips and guideline helpful and
useful.

Sincerely,

Thomas “Trapper” Sherwood
www.sherwoodlocksmithing.com
www.personalsafetyebook.com/PPP.html

PS….Teaching kitchen safety is a fundamental obligation of
parents, more so than pool safety or bike safety.

Tags: bike safety, fire, kitchen, kitchen safety, knives, pool safety, safety

Greetings,

Here’s the question of the day.

Do you have a home security system or burglar alarm?

If you do, GREAT! If not, WHY?

A home security system is like an electronic eye looking
out over your house while you are away.

Please take a quick read at this post and discover why
you really should have one.
Burglars dislike noise - it attracts attention. A barking
dog is a good deterrent in preventing burglaries. However,
never totally depend on a watch dog. Some professional
burglars have been known to carry delectable “dog snacks”
in their pockets and with a full stomach, some watch dogs
make friends easily and forget their purpose of guarding
the premises. The most reliable safeguard to protect your
home and possessions is a reliable alarm.

Many types of burglar alarms can be obtained for residential
use. It is advisable, however, that basic hardware security
measures be followed first.

If additional security is desired, the following
recommendations could be helpful:

1. Have a home demonstration with the alarm done in your
home, not at their office.

2. An audible alarm is recommended over silent alarms for
residential use in order to first - protect persons and
secondly - property.

A RELIABLE ALARM SHOULD INCLUDE:

A. A battery-powered fail-safe backup.

B. A rearming capability and siren timer shut-off.

C. Read-out ability to check working system.

D. Siren sounding device that can be installed on exterior
of home to alert neighbors of possible intrusion.

When shopping for an alarm system, please take this list with you.

SECONDARY BARRIER

If the value of small personal items warrants protection, a
secondary barrier is an additional safeguard. On a hinging
closet door, install a 1″ deadbolt lock. Store your jewelry,
furs, cameras, guns, silverware and other valuables behind
this barrier. Be sure to “pin” the hinges and disguise the
door as best as possible.

For any questions concerning the above article, please feel free to
contact me.

Sincerely,

Thomas “Trapper” Sherwood
615 355-5886
www.sherwoodlocksmithing.com

PS..do you know what Identity Theft really is,
and how you can protect yourself from it?

FREE Report available at:

http://www.personalsafetyebook.com/PPP.html

Tags: burglar alarm, Home and House Security, home security system, house

Hello,

Our previous post was part one about bump keys.

Here now is part two. I hope the previous and following
tips and guidelines are useful for you.
Grade one hardware: locks that are classified grade one generally are made
for commercial installations and can be used hundreds of times each day and
still work for many years.  Even though they are commercial grade, many are
used on homes where people want the strongest hardware possible.

Grade three hardware: this is the lowest quality type of hardware usually sold
in most hardware stores and many internet stores that are not really familiar
with quality hardware.

We strongly suggest you never use this cheap hardware.

ASSA is one the predominant high security lock manufacturers in the United
States and has been trusted for more than thirty-five years to provide cylinder
and hardware security for the private, commercial and government sectors.

“No, you cannot go to the local hardware store or Home Depot and obtain
ASSA blanks or have ASSA keys copied.” says Sherwood

The real threat to the public is in not taking responsibility for their own safety
and not taking criminals seriously.

The Associated Locksmiths of America (ALOA) has issued press releases
to the public advising concerned individuals to contact and consult with a
Certified Locksmith (CRL, CPL, CML) or we also reccommend a State
Licensed Locksmith.

ALOA is located on the web at www.aloa.org

Instead we are giving you a broad range of security tips that will help make
your home less inviting to an opportunistic criminal, the above solutions
overview gives you an idea of what you can do immediately to improve your
security.

The final message is simple and some good news: Fit a bump proof lock to
your door today as there are several locks available that aren’t vulnerable to
bumping.

If you are concerned your safety is at risk feel free to call us for a security
consultation.

Ask us about ASSA high security locks that resist bumping.

I hope you will share this information with your family friends… and that you
will contact us when you are ready to upgrade from that less than ideal
lockset on your front door.

Sincerely,

Thomas Sherwood
615 355-5886
www.sherwoodlocksmithing.com

PS…Update about the so-called “WD-40 fix.” There are news media
agencies reporting that spraying WD-40 in the lock prevents the bump key
from working, however this information is absolutely wrong.

If you want more information or if we can advise you further on the security
of your home or business, we will make ourselves available at your
convenience.

Tags: ALOA, bump keys, high security keys, high security locks, Home and House Security, house, personal safety, personal security

Hello,

This post has to do with “bump keys”.

On August 2nd, 2006, Newsweek ran a web article on bump keys that
started a public media spread of the information.

Bump Keys are an old locksmith method of opening or bumping locks.
Bump keys are usually considered to be a lock pick, so if lock picks are illegal
to possess in your geographic area, the bump key is probably also illegal.

Bump keys are “basically an old-fashioned way of picking a lock,”
said Jerry Cunningham, of the Danville Police Department.

Bump keys are certainly not the only way a criminal can enter your home,
business, or vehicle.

Police say burglars also tend to break-in in a more straightforward way, like
smashing a window.

Bump keys are just one more example of a threat to your personal safety.

Bump keys are no more a threat than any of the hundreds of other ways of
getting in your home, but now thanks to the internet and video sites,
lock bumping and lock bump keys are sweeping the internet and America.
So how can you provide the much needed security of your house against
bump keys?

First, you should be aware of this security vulnerability to your home and two,
you should consider buying a better lockset with more pins to make this
attack harder to execute.

In America, almost all the locks sold in hardware stores can be opened with
just two different bump keys.  ” Most consumer-grade deadbolt locks and
keyed doorknobs made by companies such as Kwikset and Schlage and
sold at home-improvement and hardware stores are easily opened with
bump keys.”

“Bump keys are able to bypass both the standard lock in your knob and the
deadbolt and it’s not just locks at home that concern security experts “It can
be pretty serious especially when you consider that more than five million post
office box locks can be bumped open in the same fashion which is perfect for
identity thieves.”

“High security locks add extra locking features within the cylinder which
makes the bumping much more difficult,” said Clyde Roberon of Medeco, Inc.

Police say there’s more to home security than just locks.

Police do say spending all that money won’t matter if you don’t take the next
step of locking your doors in the first place, or activating your home security
systems.

In part two, to be posted soon, we will discuss the different grades of locks,
High Security locks, and an internet rumor that is FALSE about bump keys.

Thanks for reading, stay safe,

Sincerely,

Thomas Sherwood
615 355-5886
www.sherwoodlocksmithing.com

PS….if you have any questions, please feel free to
contact us.

Tags: bump keys, family, high security keys, high security locks, Home and House Security, house, personal safety, personal security

Greetings and hello,

Even though most of the boating season is over,
here are some tips about keeping your boat secure.

• Thieves are always on the lookout for easy targets.
  Don’t make yourself an easy target.
  Always follow these simple steps.
• Never leave anything valuable on display, however small
  and insignificant it may seem.
  Thieves steal first and think about value later.

• Don’t leave anything loose in the cockpit or on deck.

• Don’t leave your engine key in the ignition - always take it with you..
  Keep your boat keys separate from your engine keys.

• Always keep your boat locked when no one is on board,
  even for a short time.

• Use strong padlocks or rim locks on all your hatches,
  entry points and cockpit lockers.

• Constantly check and improve the security on your boat.
  It’s a good idea to fit an alarm and use a visible sticker to say
  that one is fitted.

• Make sure your cockpit lockers can be properly locked,
  and check that your main hatch and fore-hatch are strong.

• Also think about having a strongbox down below. I
  f you don’t think something is secure, get it fixed.

IMPROVE YOUR SECURITY

Once you’ve tied up alongside, always do a quick security check before going ashore.

Always:

· Lock anything valuable out of sight in a strong locker secured by a strong padlock

· Lock up emergency money away from other valuables;

· Keep your curtains closed so that no-one can look in;

• Keep unused ropes, fenders and other items out of sight in your cockpit,
  lockers and cupboards - and always lock them;

• Make sure that your life raft and outboard motor are secure, as these are
  valuable and attractive to boat thieves.

• When you go ashore from a dinghy, always remove your oars or paddles,
  rowlocks or pump, and secure the dinghy with a strong chain and padlock.

• If you are the victim of boat theft, call the police immediately and tell the
  harbormaster or boatyard manager.
  Check to make sure that your boat is still seaworthy and hasn’t been badly damaged.

• And, if you can, check that neighboring boats haven’t been broken into as well.

• Get to know other boat owners in your marina and work together to keep the marina secure.
  You can do the following.

• Keep an eye on other boats, as well as your own.

• Report any strangers at the marina to the harbormaster or yardmaster.

• Don’t give your marina access card or key to other people.

• Never tell anyone else the access code to the marina.

• Don’t let strangers into the marina, however genuine they may seem.

• Keep the marina gate closed at all times.

  
  Enjoy your time out on the water, you deserve it, but remember to
  watch out for your personal security, and keep your boat secure.

  Trapper
  

Tags: boats, grand theft, Home and House Security, personal safety, personal security, robbery, thieves

Greetings,

Todays post deals with bogus or fake phones, and undesirable people at your door.

They call may say that their car has broken down and they need to phone someone for help.
They may pretend to be a workman, saying that they need to check your electricity or water.
They might even claim to be from the council and that they are carrying out a local survey.
Whatever reason a caller gives, you need to be sure that they aren’t just trying to get into your
home to steal something.

There are around 12,000 incidents of “distraction burglary” each year, where callers get into
homes and then steal cash or valuables while the occupier is distracted in some way.
Sometimes they work in pairs, with one doing the talking while the other is stealing and they
often target the elderly.

Be on your guard every time the doorbell rings, or there’s a knock at your door.
Look out of your window to see who’s there first and if you don’t know who the person is,
open the window slightly and talk to them that way, rather than opening your door.
Alternatively, have a viewer fitted in your front door so that you can take a good look at
who’s there first. If your eyesight isn’t so good, don’t worry as you can now get wide-angle
viewers to help you see better.

Put the door chain or door bar on before opening the door and talk through the gap.
You could even fit a small mirror to the wall next to the door so that you can easily see
the person you are talking to. When the caller has left and you’ve closed the door, don’t
forget to unhook the chain so that any friend or relative you have given a key to can still get in.

Make sure your back door is locked if someone knocks at your front door.
Sometimes thieves work together with one coming in the back way,
while the other keeps you talking at the front.

Keeping the chain on the door, ask callers from the councilor any other organization to pass
through some identification. If you need your glasses to check this don’t think it’s rude to close
the door and go and get them. A genuine caller won’t mind. If you’re still not sure, ask the caller
to leave and tell them to write and make an appointment so that someone else can be with you
the next time they call. The basic rule is if you don’t know the person at your door don’t let them in.

As part of the Government’s “Stop, Chain, Check” campaign, local councils, social services and
Age Concern centers have further information they can provide to older people.
They can also help with door viewers, chains and mirrors, and in certain circumstances, may be
able to supply a personal attack alarm that connects through to a control center.

Bottom line, ALWAYS ask for ID!

Even if you have called your local locksmith with your concerns, and he is coming out
to install a door viewer, or a door chain or deadbolt, AS FOR ID!

Most locksmiths are required by state law to nowadays be licensed, he or she will
not mind showing you their licensed.

Heck, as a licensed locksmith in Tennessee, I am proud to show my ID.

As always, hope you are finding these tips and guidelines useful.

If you have comments, please share with the rest of the class.

Thanks for reading,

Trapper

PS…If you need more info about locksmiths, please visit:

http://sherwoodlocksmithing.com

Tags: deadbolts, door viewers, Home and House Security, locksmith, personal safety, personal security

Greetings,

Along with physical safety and security, let’s not overlook ID theft.

The following article will help you with safer emails.

1. Don’t reply to ANY unsolicited emails. Even unsubscribe will alert the senders that your email address is being used.

2. Use your messaging software’s filtering tools to reject mail from your frequent spammers’ email addresses or with certain words (sex, for example) in the subject line.

3. Find out if your ISP has a spam blocking service. If not, sign up for a third party spam- blocking service such as Brightmail (www.brightmail.com).

4. Contact the large directory services such as Bigfoot, Infospace, Switchboard, Yahoo People Search and who where, to tell them you don’t want to be listed.

5. Encrypt and digitally sign all your sensitive email messages. If your messaging software doesn’t support robust encryption, download PGP Freeware encryption software (http://web.mit.edu/network/pgp.html) and use that.

6. Use WinZip (www.winzip.com) software to compress and password protect your attachments.

7. To avoid cookies sent via email, use email client software, such as Eudora Pro, that lets you shut off its automatic Web Browser rendering engine.

8. Don’t read email on a machine that doesn’t belong to you or someone you trust. If you use a browser to read email on someone else’s machine, use the browser’s Clear History tool when you finish to prevent subsequent users from getting into your mailbox.

9. Don’t send sensitive personal messages on your work machine.

10. Keep your antiviral software updated at all times.
    
    
    Thanks for reading and stay safe!

    Sincerely,

    Trapper

Tags: antiviral software, brightmail, email, google, ISP, personal safety, personal security, spam, winzip, yahoo

Greetings,

In a previous post we wrote about personal safety when using an ATM machine.

Knowing your surroundings play a major role in keeping yourself safe.

Let’s continue with part 2 of Personal safety at an ATM machine.

• Choose an ATM that looks and ‘feels’ safer, even if it is a couple of miles
  out of the way.

• Try and limit your use to daylight hours. Take someone with you after hours,
  if you can.
  
  
• When you drive up to an ATM location, scan the area for any suspicious persons.
  If you see anyone suspicious standing nearby or sitting in a car, drive away.

• When you approach an ATM on foot be prepared and have your access card ready.

• Memorize your personal PIN number to prevent loss and speed the transaction.
  After inserting your card and your PIN number keep an eye out behind you.

• Never accept an offer to help or request for help from a suspicious male ahead of
  you at the machine. If anyone suspicious or seemingly dangerous approaches
  terminate your transaction and leave immediately, even if it means running away
  and leaving your ATM card in the machine.

• First, tell the suspicious male in a loud, firm voice to “back-off’ and leave you alone.
  This is designed to startle the person and give you time to flee, if appropriate.
  When you receive cash from the machine put it away immediately, extract your
  card, and walk away.

• If you use your car at a drive-thru ATM machine the same rules apply.

• Keep the car in gear, with your foot firmly on the brake, while using the
  ATM machine.

• Keep a close eye on your rear and side view mirrors during the transaction.

• Robbers almost always approach from the rear on the driver’s side. If you see
  anyone approaching, drive off even if it means leaving your A TM card behind.

If an armed robber confronts you, just give up your money without argument.
The cash is not worth serious injury or death.
Get to a safe place and call the police immediately!

As always, we hope you find these tips and guidelines useful.

If you have some comments on personal safety or security and you would like to share,
please help your fellow man or woman and leave us your comment.

Thanks for reading and stay safe,

Trapper

PS…have you picked up your copy of our 40 reports on personal safety and security?

It’s available at: http://www.personalsafetyebook.com/PPP.html

Tags: atm machines, crime, personal safety, personal security, robbery