6. If someone calls you asking for your personal information on telephone – do not provide any personal information to anyone over phone.

7. Don’t leave your mail out overnight. If you will be away from home for any period of time: have your home mail delivery stopped. If possible, secure a locked mail box at your local post office or a retail store mail box service for your home mail delivery.

If you go on vacation, have your mail and newspaper delivery stopped and arrange to have your yard maintained. Include post office, newspaper service, and your friends or neighbors to insure that your home looks as if it is occupied while you are gone.

For a checklist for your home security while you are away see – ProtectionConnect.com/homesecurity www.ProtectionConnect.com/sitemap. www checklist.html or html#home.

8. Write “Check ID” on back of your debit or credit cards next to your signature. In that way, when a retail store checks your signature on your card, they will verify that card is being used by proper individual.

9. Be aware of people standing too close to you and “shoulder surfing” you while you conduct your ATM transactions.

If you do become a victim of an identity crime – do following:

1. Demand to file a police report no matter how unwilling law enforcement office may be. Make sure to get a copy or at least report number.

2. In case of card fraud, make sure to cancel your card and report it as stolen to your credit card company as soon as you find out.

Immediately, fill out affidavits with appropriate financial institution denying that you were one who made relevant purchases. In most cases, banks will respond with up to a 30-day process that requires businesses that accepted fraudulent transactions to repay banks.

3. Report fraud to three major credit bureaus:

~ TransUnion Post Office Box 2000 Chester, PA 19022

~ Equifax, Equifax Equifax Credit Information Services, Inc Post Office Box 740241 Atlanta, GA 30374 1.888.766.0008

~ Experian Consumer Information Post Office Box 1909 Orange, CA 92865

4. The U.S. Secret Service handles fraud cases that cross state borders. If you know that your case applies, contact their local office to make them aware of your case. If it is part of a broader fraud case, you may be contacted by an agent.

5. You can also fill out a complaint form with Federal Trade Commission, although this is strictly used to track national identity theft statistics.

Copyright Steven Presar

“It was such a relief to speak with liaison at QCO. I honestly didn’t know where to start when my mother was released from hospital after cancer treatment. I had envisioned need to take family leave and even to retire early,” says Ruth D., a writer for a national greeting card company located in Cleveland Ohio.

The QCO Employee Benefit Option provides a unique and complete service to elderly senior, family caregiver and those convalescing of any age. The QCO Community of Resources includes both medical and non-medical services, all of which have a documented history of excellence in care and quality of service.

The Employee Benefit Option is a ‘One-Call-Solution’ for those who seek a nationwide resource to service their parents, grandparents, spouse, sibling, life partner, friend neighbor or any other loved one. Areas of current support include medical and non medical home care, caregiver support, nursing homes, rehab facilities, assisted living facilities, financial planning, LTC health insurance, Alzheimer’s services and facilities, memorial planning, medical equipment, counseling, elder law attorneys and handyman services.

The QCO Employee Benefit Solution offers employers an added employee benefit which reduces costs associated with distraction of employees caring for their loved ones while also offering a competitive advantage when recruiting and retaining those employees. For additional information, please go to Employee Benefits or contact Angel Kearney at 440-476-0026 or via email at Angel