"Stay in the Loop" with KESS INFORMANT

Give out any of this information and bingo,

your identity was just stolen.

The fraud has been reported so far in 11 states, including Oklahoma , Illinois , and Colorado .

This (swindle) is particularly insidious because they use intimidation over the phone to try to bully people into  giving information by pretending they are with the court system.

The FBI  and the Federal Court System

have issued nationwide alerts on theirweb sites, warning consumers about the fraud.

Snopes site: says this is real fraud.

http://www.snopes.com/crime/fraud/juryduty.asp

FBI site: warns about the fraud.

http://www.fbi.gov/page2/june06/jury_scams060206.htm <http://www.fbi.gov/page2/june06/jury_scams060206.htm> 

A group of rapists and date-rapists in prison were interviewed on what they look for in a potential victim and here are some interesting facts:

1.       The first thing men look for in a potential victim is hairstyle. They are most likely to go after a woman with a ponytail, bun, braid or other hairstyle that can easily be grabbed. They are also likely to go after a woman with long hair. Women with short hair are not common targets.
2.       The second thing rapists consider is clothing. They will look for women whose clothing is easy to remove quickly. Many of them carry scissors specifically to cut clothing.
3.       They also look for women on their cell phone, searching through their purse, or doing other activities while walking because they are distracted, off-guard and can be easily overpowered.
4.       Men are most likely to attack & rape in the early morning, between 5:00 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.
(I found this very surprising. I can’t believe this applies to date-rapists.)
5.       The number one place women are abducted from or attacked is grocery store parking lots. Number two is office parking lots or garages. Number three is public restrooms.
6.       These men are looking to grab a woman and quickly move her to another location where they don't have to worry about getting caught.
7.       Only 2% said they carried weapons because rape carries ONLY a 3-5 year sentence but rape with a weapon is 15-20 years. (How much of those sentences do you think are actually served?)
8.       If you put up any kind of a fight at all, they get discouraged because it only takes a minute or two for them to realize that going after you isn't worth it because it will be time-consuming.
9.       These men said they would not pick on women who have in their hands…umbrellas or other similar objects that can be used from a distance. Keys are not a deterrent because you have to get really close to the attacker to use them as a weapon. So, the idea is to convince these guys that you're not worth it.
10.   Several defense mechanisms he taught us are: If someone is following behind you on a street or in a garage or is with you in an elevator or stairwell, look them in the face and ask them a question, like "What time is it?" or make general small talk, i.e. "I can't believe it is so cold out here, we're in for a bad winter." Now you've seen their face and could identify them in a line-up; you lose appeal as a target.
11.   If someone is coming toward you, hold out your hands in front of you and yell "STOP!" or "STAY BACK!" Most of the rapists this man talked to said they'd leave a woman alone if she yelled or showed that she would not be afraid to fight back. Again, they are looking for an EASY target.
12.   If you carry pepper spray, yell "I HAVE PEPPER SPRAY!", and holding it out will be a deterrent.
(This instructor was a huge advocate of it and carries it with him wherever he goes.)
13.   If someone grabs you, you can't beat them with strength but you can by outsmarting them. If you are grabbed around the waist from behind, pinch the attacker either under the arm (between the elbow and armpit) or in.  One woman, in a class this guy taught, told him she used the underarm pinch on a guy who was trying to date-rape her and she was so upset she broke through the skin and tore out muscle strands - the guy needed stitches. Try pinching yourself in those places as hard as you can stand it - it hurts.
14.   After the initial hit, ALWAYS GO for the GROIN. I know from a particularly unfortunate experience that if you slap a guy's genitals it is extremely painful. You might think that you'll anger the guy and make him want to hurt you more, but the thing these rapists told our instructor is that they want a woman who will not cause a lot of trouble. Start causing trouble and he's out of there.
15.   When the guy puts his hands up to you, grab his first two fingers and bend them back as far as possible with as much pressure, pushing down on them, as possible. The instructor did it to me without using much pressure, and I ended up on my knees and both knuckles cracked audibly.
16.   Of course the things we always hear still apply. Always be aware of your surroundings, take someone with you if you can and if you see any odd behavior, don't dismiss it! Go with your instincts!!!
You may feel a little silly at the time, but you'd feel much worse if the guy really was trouble.
Please pass this on and DO NOT open the door for a crying baby…This should be taken seriously because the “Crying Baby” lure was mentioned on America's Most Wanted when they profiled a serial killer in Louisiana.
Please forward this to all the women you know. It may save a life.

The Grinches Who Steal Your Christmas...

By Bert and Bing Howard
Certified ID Theft Risk Management Specialists
10-Year Homeschooling Family

Don't let identity thieves be the grinches who steal your Christmas.
They are working over-time this holiday season! The time between
Thanksgiving and Christmas is the biggest travel and shopping season
of the year. As we enter the holiday season, we would like to remind
everyone to be aware and take the following precautions against
identity theft. After all, tis' the season to enjoy, not be stressed
as an identity theft victim. Follow these simple but practical steps
to reduce your risk from identity theft:

1) Computer & Car Theft Issues: NEVER leave your laptop, purse,
or any item with credit cards, checks, a driver's license or Social
Security Numbers visible in your car (even just for a second – that's
all it takes for a thief to strike). It's an invitation to steal. A
great way to handle this is to lock these items in the trunk of your
car while you are in the garage and not when you arrive at your
destination.

2) Credit, Debit, and Bank Accounts:
- Sign all new credit cards immediately to prevent someone else
from doing so. Immediately report lost or stolen credit cards.
- Watch your credit card expiry dates, if you don't receive a
replacement card prior to the date - contact the issuer.
- Write checks with a gel pen with specially formulated ink
that absorbs into the paper fibers or one with non-erasable ink.
This makes it harder for a thief to alter.

3) Credit Report: There is no better time to start reviewing and
monitoring your consumer credit report than now! Go to
www.AnnualCreditRep ort.com and request your FREE credit reports.

4) Financial Statements: Be aware and note when your monthly
financial statements arrive in the mail. Notify your financial
institutions when they don't arrive when expected. Watch your
financial statements and ensure all charges made are yours.

5) Keep a list: List all your financial accounts such as account
numbers, expiry dates, and customer help telephone numbers. Ensure
this list is kept in a safe place & use this to notify these
institutions in case of lost or stolen cards.

6) Lock-Up and Protect: Lock up any documents with financial,
credit or Social Security information on them BEFORE allowing guests
into your home for that holiday party.

7) Mail Alert: Bring your mail in daily. Don't leave incoming
and outgoing mail in your mailbox without a lock. We recommend that
you mail envelopes containing checks or sensitive information inside
the post office before the last pickup of the day.

8) Online Shopping: Keep a printout of the web page(s)
describing the item you ordered, any email messages, and the page
that shows the seller's name, address, telephone number and return
policies should you have any problems. For online purposes, it is
not necessary to provide a Social Security Number. A credit card
number is preferred for on-line purchases. Make sure the company is
on a secure server with "https" and a locked padlock.

9) Passwords & PIN: When creating passwords or PINs, do not use
digits of your social security number, mother's maiden name, your
birthdate, any part of your name (first, middle, last). A strong
password combines eight or more random letters and numbers. Add
passwords to all your credit card accounts, financial accounts and
utility accounts to verify your identity.

10) Phone & Mail Solicitations:
- Never reveal your bank account, credit card, mother's maiden
name or social security number over the phone (unless dealing with a
trusted business or organization) . Ask the caller for a phone number
for you to call them back or ask them to send information by mail.
- Consider making your telephone number unlisted or listed
without your address.
- Beware of mail or telephone contacts informing you of prizes
and awards - especially if they ask for personal or financial account
information.
- Beware of charitable solicitations for donations by phone.
Never give your financial information over the phone to make
donations. If you want to give to charity, contact them directly.

11) Purse snatching and pickpockets: Minimize what you carry
with you. Credit cards, debit cards, check books, and deposit slips
are the easiest items for a thief to use. Make it difficult for a
thief to access your information. Unzipped purses, backpacks or open
bags are open invitations to pickpockets. If carrying a purse, loop
the strap over your shoulder and have the clasp-side of the purse
against the FRONT of your body.

12) Receipts: Keep your ATM and Debit Card receipts, do not leave
these behind. It is now mandatory that businesses truncate all but
the last 5 numbers on credit card numbers and the expiration date on
the customer copy of receipts. If the number is not truncated, place
it in a secure location in your wallet. Do not throw receipts in
purchase bags. Pickpockets and thieves most likely won't steal
grandma's new sweater, but they will be happy to take the receipt
that may have your credit card number on it.

13) Shopping & Shoulder Surfing: Shoppers often open new credit
cards to cover large holiday purchases. This makes it a perfect time
for shoulder surfers to "borrow" sensitive information. Take a few
extra moments to protect credit cards, driver's licenses and checks
from wandering eyes. Instead of verbally sharing requested sensitive
information, write it down for the clerk and take that slip of paper
home with you.

14) Shred: Shred and destroy unwanted documents and mail that
contain personal and financial information. Shred mail order catalog
order forms and labels pre-printed with your information.

15) Social Security Number: Do not carry your social security
card or your birth certificate. Keep these tucked away in a safe
place. Your Social Security Number is more valuable than gold to
identity thieves. Be stingy with your Social Security Number- there
are only a limited number of reasons a company might need it.

16) The holiday season doesn't have to be an open door to identity
thieves. According to the FBI and FTC, you cannot stop Identity
Theft, but by following these simple tips you can minimize your risk
and not make yourself an easy target. For Federal Trade Commission
resources on identity theft, visit www.idtheft. gov.

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Contact Bert and Bing Howard for additional information on Identity
Theft, legal solutions, and no-cost presentations for your business,
church, association or group. Websites: www.iHelpFamilies. com,
www.BizForFamilies. com, and www.ChristianHomesc hoolers.com.
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*article provided by

www.iHelpFamilies.com.