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[T541]The Internet Help Desk

by Michael Russell, Mic

Identity theft has quickly become a serious issue, not only in America, but around the world as well. Some of the recent cases of stolen personal data are overwhelming in size. LexisNexis, who specializes in the personal and financial data of individuals, had more than 300,000 clients personal data stolen.

In another case, MasterCard had over 400,000 credit card customers' personal files stolen. The list just goes on and on.

With the explosive growth of the Internet over the last 10 years, many people believe that doing online transactions can put them in jeopardy of becoming a victim of identity theft. The truth is completely the opposite. Approximately 10% of all reported identity theft cases involved Internet fraud. The largest percentage of cases occurs from phone scams and documents left in trash cans.

The Internet can actually help protect you against identity theft in several different ways.

- Use online banking and credit card reports whenever possible. Nearly every bank and credit card company utilize secure Internet web sites that gives you access to your statements and accounts online. This allows you to have up to the minute access to your bank accounts and credit cards. If you see anything suspicious you can immediately take action and report it.

Be sure to only use secure sites that have the padlock icon on the screen. Another important point is to never click on a banking or credit card site from a link in any email message you get. Do not fall for the emails that ask you to "verify" your personal information. If you do you will have your identity stolen and your account cleaned out.

Always type in your credit card or bank website address in your browser. By doing this you will never have to worry about this problem happening

- Know what is on your credit report. By keeping a close eye on your credit report you will know if there is any fraudulent activity going on. If someone has stolen your identity you will see new accounts on your report that you didn't know about. You can then take action and report the activity.

There are three main credit reporting companies; Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. You can use the Internet to check your credit history with all three of these agencies at no cost to you. The government has made it a law that everyone can have a free copy of his or her credit report on an annual basis.

- Consider signing up for a credit monitoring service. You can find a number of these services by doing a simple web search. These companies will monitor your credit activity on a regular basis and report any unusual activity to you immediately. Of course you will also have access to your credit report on a daily basis. Most of these companies will give you a free 30-day trial to try out their service before paying the regular monthly fee. The cost for this service should be under $10 per month. It is a very safe and convenient way to keep track of your credit.

Take your personal credit information seriously. Keep track of your credit report and protect yourself against identity thieves. It can help prevent you becoming the next victim.

Moving can be overwhelming. Not only must you deal with a thousand details on this side of the move - packing, gathering medical and dental records, canceling services, forwarding mail - there are at least as many if not more details on the destination side of the move - getting the kids in school, finding and adjusting to a new job, unpacking, getting services turned on and working right. Turning to the Internet for a little help may be just what you need to keep your head above water.

Lucky for you, there are sites dedicated to helping you do just that. They combine all the resources you will need to make your move as smooth as possible. Moving.com is one such site. Like any good moving site, they offer the following sections:

* Moving - Find movers, boxes and supplies, and relocation information assistance.
* Mortgage - From getting you a quote for a mortgage to helping you figure out how much you can afford and getting it insured, they'll help you find a new home.
* Real Estate - If you're not in a position to buy, they'll help you find an apartment
* Insurance - Home, renter's, and auto are all covered here.
* Storage - Before you go or after you get, they'll help you find a place to store your stuff until you can find a better place for it.
* Utilities - Get Internet access, set up your phone service, and schedule a day for your utilities to be turned on in your destination long before you get there.

They even have a link to a site that will do all your address changing for you. Checklists, planning guides, and city profile reports - there's nothing that you will need to move that you won't find here. They'll help you sift through all the information and pinpoint the exact resources that you need by entering a few details about your move, and then you're on your way.

If you need a little how-to information on handling different aspects of your move, then Helpful Resources at http://www.2c.com/wb_hrpages/hr_gen_moving.html is the place to go. Have you figured out how you're going to move your plants across the country? What about the plants in your garden? How are you going to bring your pets with you if you're not driving? Are there environmentally friendly options to all that packing material? Find the answers to these questions and more.

Another place to find moving resources is northAmerican's site at: http://www.navl.com/MoveResource/MonsterTools.aspx. In addition to offering to move you, they offer resources that include:

* Online Move Planner
* Community Information
* Mortgage Calculators
* Education Resources
* Online Forms To Ship Your Stuff

If you haven't figured out exactly where you want to go yet, The Riley Guide at http://www.rileyguide.com/relocate.html should be your next stop. You will find a ton of information on a variety of destinations withal the information you will need to decide if it's right for you and your family. Sections of information include:

* Moving and Relocation Guides
* Cost of Living and Demographics Information
* Real Estate Links
* School and Health Care Directories
* Local Information and Travel Guides

They offer a ton of links that specialize in the specific information that you need.

Using the Internet to help you figure out the details of getting you and your stuff out of town and to your new home is a great way to simplify the process of moving. With a little planning, moving doesn't have to be a hardship.

Article Source : Pg. 78

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Both Michael Russell & Madison Lockwood are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Michael Russell has sinced written about articles on various topics from Celebrities, Dieting and Diabetes Treatment. Michael RussellYour Independent guide to . Michael Russell's top article generates over 2240000 views. to your Favourites.

Madison Lockwood has sinced written about articles on various topics from Dogs, insurance agents and Auto Insurance. Madison Lockwood is a customer relations associate, specializing in small business development, for Apollo Hosting. Apollo Hosting provides , ecommerce h. Madison Lockwood's top article generates over 368000 views. to your Favourites.