Use these tips to greatly reduce the risk of being robbed.

• Don’t throw away any paper that has numbers that identify you, such as Social Security, Identity Card, etc. - Shred them!

• Delete personal information before passing on your old computer.

• Don’t charge things over a cell phone in public, especially saying your credit card number out loud…

• Don’t publish personal information on social sites like your phone number, address, personal email…

• Carry with you only what you need. Those extra cards are much safer indoors.

• If you need more checks, order from the bank directly and pick them up at your local branch, it’s safer than waiting for the postman to bring them. It’s also far more secure ordering your checks directly from the bank, and not from other vendors. (For those who don’t know, here you can buy checkbooks that way too).

• Keep an eye on the calendar. If the credit card bill doesn’t arrive on time, notify the issuer. Someone may have changed the address of your account.

• Don’t be ashamed about hiding the touch screen when you’re punching in your identification numbers at stores. Sometimes I feel self-conscious, but even so, I turn the keyboard away from people in line behind me.

Be sure to warn others!

Recognize small and large ‘signs’ that someone cheated or stole your identity, and do the following:

√ - If you notice something is different that you don’t recognize on your credit card, bank account, or emails that you never sent to friends or relatives, (especially messages about debt), house payments or sales receipts that you never made.

√- Talk to your bank or credit card company immediately. The faster you act, the faster you can take some action. It’s a good idea to make a copy of both sides of your cards and keep it somewhere safe. If any item is stolen, you have the numbers you need.

√ -File a complaint with the police. Some credit card companies require this as confirmation that a crime was committed. Make sure that the police report contains a full list of your cards and accounts, and keep a copy for yourself.

√ - Notify agencies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion, once you have evidence of identity theft. They will put an ALERT on your credit report. You also can ask to ‘FREEZE’ or restrict any access to your credit report.

http://www.anualcreditreport.com has a list of links to the agencies that you should report the crime to.

√ - If your ID, Social Security or passport was stolen, cancel it immediately, don’t only ask for a new one, and:

If I.D. contact the DPS site.

If social security number go to: socialsecurity.gov.

SIf it was your passport, go to  http://www.travel.state.gov/passport.

And I hope you never have to do any of that.

Tell your friends.

That old thief is still very active and still alive, always counting our unawareness and naiveness.

Last year, thousands of people were arrested for taking advantage of something that people are super accustomed to doing here in America: putting checks in the mail box to pay debts.

The thieves, of course, know that and increasingly have discovered how to modify checks and cash them.

And then, with your bank account number, they also have access to your money!

DON’T DO THAT ANY MORE. Leave your payments, at the Post Office, or boxes at the USPS. Or else, pay online  (as Mr.Slipper Socks Man has done for many years).

And if you believe you have been the victim of postal theft, immediately notify the inspector of your local branch, or go online and report it at:

http://www.postalinspectors.uspis.gov.

If by now, you still don’t feel safe about paying bills online, it’s time to reconsider. Banks, public utilities and cable companies, now have very well prepared teams, dedicated and trained to protect clients and their personal information.

If your bank does not offer this kind of convenience, use the site:

http://www.mycheckfree.com, which prompts you with “ALERTS” when any account is coming due and sends payments in the form of secure digital checks.

It may not seem so, but mail boxes at the Post Office are safer than the one you have in front of your house — any child can open it with ease.

I’ve said this here before, but it’s something worth remembering:

If you need a medical consultation here in America, you can go to the “Health Clinics” inside your pharmacy or supermarket…

And instead of paying $120, pay $20 !

And going to an ER, you would spend hundreds of dollars!

They are called “Walk-in Clinics,” and are for routine problems such as a cough that will not go away, etc, they offer the same quality of care of a doctor or an ER

The place’s nurse or assistant physician, can diagnose the problem and prescribe medications. Usually they treat: common pediatric problems, small fractures, X-rays, vaccinations, physical terapy, if you cut yourself and need stitches and laboratory services.

Even though many of these Walk-in Clinics accept health insurance,  this is not necessary.

Below there is a site that shows many of these mini clinics in the entire country. Click on your state and then the location closest to you, in to the city you live in.

go urgent care

(Ateew Mehrotra M.D. – University of Pittsburgh )