Protect Yourself From Identify Theft

Identity theft occurs when someone “steals” your identity in the form of a credit card, social security number or debit PIN, and then uses this information for personal gain. Many people mistakenly believe that identity theft is only a problem when shopping online. In reality, identity theft is much more likely to happen in the “real world,” especially at a crowded shopping mall.

Credit Card Skimming

In the rush to hire seasonal help, some stores end up with unscrupulous part-time employees who take advantage of holiday shoppers and steal credit information. When a salesperson swipes your credit card through a card reader, this reader can capture your card’s magnetic information, allowing the data to be used for fraudulent purchases.
Protect Yourself: Whenever possible, swipe your own credit card and never let your card out of your sight.
Only use one card for holiday shopping; this will make it easier to scrutinize your billing statement and check for identity theft. Federal law limits your liability to $50 for any charges disputed within 60 days. You can also use a prepaid card and limit any potential loss to the amount of money you have on the card; this way you won’t have the added holiday headache of disputing charges with your credit card company.

Debit Card Skimming

Even with PIN codes, debit cards are not always a safe alternative to credit cards. The next time you’re making a debit purchase, take a closer look at the stranger in line behind you. In fact, that stranger may not be making a purchase at all—he may simply be “shoulder surfing” to gain access to your PIN.
Protect Yourself: Always cover the keypad when entering your PIN.
Watch out for strangers who are getting too close in line behind you. Check for identity theft on your bank statement each day; unlike credit cards, unauthorized debit charges must be disputed within two days, or your liability increases from $50 to $500.

Pickpockets

During the holiday season, your average suburban shopping mall is ground zero for holiday pickpockets.
Protect Yourself: Only carry one form of payment and identification; leave the extra credit cards and debit cards at home, and never ever carry your Social Security card with you.
Be aware of your surroundings, especially in a crowded mall. Pushing and shoving to grab a coveted toy? When we’re distracted, we’re vulnerable to pickpockets. Pickpockets often work in teams; watch out for shoppers who bump into you or otherwise create a commotion; while your attention is elsewhere, an accomplice may be grabbing your wallet.
Remember, credit card fraud does not just happen on Black Friday. Be a cautious shopper every day of the year to guard against identity theft.  Visit Allstate.com for more information about identity theft and Identity Restoration Coverage. Have you been a victim of credit card fraud? Share your story with us below.

 image courtsey of Danilo Rizzuti/Freedigitalphotos.net

Prevent Your Thanksgiving from Getting Deep Fried

This Thanksgiving, thousands of home cooks across the United States will dust off their turkey fryers in preparation for the big meal. Unfortunately, turkey fryers are one of the most dangerous appliances on the market. Every year, splattered hot oil leads to tragic, unintended house fires.

It’s not just the turkey fryer that home cooks need to worry about. If you’re like me, cooking for the big day involves juggling pots boiling over on the stove, pans of food baking a little too quickly in the oven and a microwave that’s constantly beeping. In our attempt to “do it all”, it’s all too easy to turn around and find a pot on fire.
Whether you’re a seasoned pro or cooking Thanksgiving dinner for the first time this year, a little safety preparation before the big day can reduce your risk for accidental kitchen fires.
Leave smoke alarms connected while cooking. If your smoke alarm is highly sensitive, it’s especially tempting to turn it off while you’re cooking. Who wants to deal with that annoying beeping every time you open the oven? But the smoke alarm is just doing its job. It can save your life—and those of your guests—if it’s installed and properly working.
Clean your stove prior to cooking. Grease naturally builds up on burners and cooktop surfaces. Scrub the stove down prior to cooking to prevent grease fires.
Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen. The extinguisher should be rated for both grease and electrical fires. To use it, remember the acronym P.A.S.S.: Pull the pin; Aim the nozzle at the base of the fire; Squeeze the nozzle to spray; Sweep back and forth at the base of the fire as you spray.
Know what to do in the event of a fire. If a fire starts in the oven or microwave, turn off or unplug the appliance, and keep the door closed until the fire burns out. If a fire starts on the stove, turn off the burner and slide a lid on the pan.
Less is more. Too much multi-tasking is a recipe for disaster. Declare the kitchen a no-child, no-pet zone. Keep the range free of clutter, only cook with as many pots and pans as there are burners, and never hold a child in one arm while cooking.
Beware the turkey fryer. The taste of crisp fried turkey is a delicious and traditional part of many family celebrations. However, splattered hot oil causes burns and house fires. If you want fried turkey, consider buying yours pre-cooked from the store or using an infrared turkey fryer to safely cook your bird. Infrared heat locks in flavor and moisture without the risk of hot oil burns, splatters and spills. Even better, there’s no messy clean up.

© 2013 Copyright Allstate Insurance Company All Rights Reserved

Winter Freeze Safety

Dressing for Winter - Wind can pose a hazard to you and your skin during very cold days.  Consider wearing multiple layers of thick clothing.  Since most body heat is lost through the top of your head, be sure to wear a hat and a scarf.

Preventing Frozen Pipes - When the mercury falls below 20 degrees Fahrenheit, the potential for pipes to freeze increases dramatically.  A pipe doesn't necessarily burst the first time it freezes.  Sometimes it takes several freezes and thaws before damage occurs.

Avoiding Ice Dams - Ice dams occur when ice forms on gutters, eaves and valleys of your roof, preventing melting snow and ice from running off.  The water then backs up and seeps under shingles or tiles, and finds its way inside your home.  Keeping your gutters clean and insulating your attic can help prevent ice dams.

CHECKLIST:
1.  Insulate outside walls and unheated areas of your home.
2.  Wrap pipes nearest exterior walls and in crawl spaces with pipe insulation or with heating tape.
3.  Caulk or weather-seal windows to cut down on wind drafts.
4.  Identify areas of heat loss in your attic and insulate.  Wrap or insulate all heating ductwork.
5.  Detach all gardening hoses and shut of water supply to outside.
6.  Try to keep the temperature in your home at 68 degrees to prevent pipes from freezing.
7.  Check water flow from all faucets before retiring for the evening and again in the morning.  Reduced       water flow can be an early sign of frozen pipes.

Photo by Suat Eman at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Daylight Savings: 9 Important Tasks Beyond Changing Your Clocks

Daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. on Sunday, November 3, when we set our clocks back an hour. Many of the devices we use to tell time will make that change automatically, but, of course, you’ll have to manually adjust some outliers: wall clocks, clock radios, microwave and stove clocks, car radio clocks, wrist watches, digital cameras and others.

Beyond changing your clocks, though, consider the day an occasion to perform other seasonal home maintenance. Making a connection between daylight saving and some of these important tasks can make a routine out of them, ensuring that they’re not overlooked. Here are a few to consider.

1. Replace smoke/carbon monoxide alarm batteries.

The National Fire Protection Association suggests replacing your smoke and CO alarm batteries twice a year, which is why they also suggest the task coincide with the twice-annual time change. When you make the rounds, consider also testing your units and making sure you have placement right.

2. Reverse ceiling fans.

Reverse the motor on your ceiling fans so they operate in the clockwise direction and you can enjoy energy savings, says EnergyStar.gov. When the blades run in a clockwise direction, they force warm air that collects near the ceiling down into the living space. This circulated air decreases the demand on your heating system and allows you to lower the thermostat a degree or two and still stay comfortable.

3. Flip or rotate your mattress.

Mattress manufacturers recommend rotating your mattress to minimize wear, but suggestions vary as to how often, and whether to rotate it and/or flip it. MarthaStewart.com offers a handy mattress rotating reminder system you can set in place this daylight saving weekend; then, use a maintenance reminder tool to schedule the remaining rotations.

4. Schedule a furnace inspection.

Twice-a-year maintenance, as recommended by Energystar.gov, can ensure peak performance for your furnace and, perhaps more importantly, can help avoid breakdowns this winter. Schedule a professional inspection now, and again when daylight saving kicks in next spring.

5. Turn off exterior faucets. 

In colder climates, water left in exterior pipes can freeze and cause pipes to burst. Start by draining and disconnecting garden hoses. Then, follow these suggestions from Denver Water: Shut off water flow to the exterior faucet from the main valve (inside many houses), and then open and close the outside tap to release any water still lurking inside the pipe.

6. Seal air leaks.

Not only do air leaks cause uncomfortable drafts, they also run up your energy bill. Locate the air leaks in your windows, doors and other areas of your home and seal them with spray foam, caulk or weather stripping. If you don’t know how to do this, read Energy Star’s useful guide for advice.

7. Call a chimney sweep.

The U.S. Fire Administration suggests having your chimney inspected annually (along with your wood stove, if you have one). A certified chimney specialist is best qualified to do this, and will perform a visual check of the interior and exterior accessible portions of your chimney, looking for obstructions, basic soundness and soot build-up that are all potential fire hazards.

8. Drain your water heater.

Many people don’t think about their water heaters—until there’s a problem. Energy.gov suggests draining a quart of water from the tank every three months (check your manufacturer’s directions on how to do this for your unit). It helps remove sediment to promote better heat transfer and improve the efficiency of your unit.

9. Wrap deciduous tree trunks.

Deciduous trees sometimes need extra love to get through the winter. Colorado State University Extension suggests wrapping their trunks (up to the first branches) with crepe paper, which can help prevent sunscald, a detrimental condition that can occur when intense winter sunlight is absorbed by the tree’s bark
Photo by Twobee/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Before you get rid of your Cell Phone

If your are getting ready to toss or recycle your cellphone, make sure you've removed all your personal data beforehand.  Why?  ComputerWorld magazine says that if you don't the personal details of your life could become public or could fall into villainous hands.

Here are ComputerWorld's tops for making sure you "sanitize" everything you need to:
 - Terminate your account with your cell phone carrier.  Then double-check to make certain the account is no longer active.
 - Return you phone to its original factory settings.  Do a complete reset on the phone so that all information related to you - directly and indirectly - is deleted, including the record of incoming and outgoing calls, text messages, your notes, your address book, even the alarm clock and wallpaper!  Check out ReCellular at www.recellular.com to find out how to expunge info from phones brand by brand.  Under the Online Tools tab, select Cell Phone Data Eraser.

Photo by ampro/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

                                                                   

Except for skin cancers, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, but it can be successfully treated. Screening tests can find cancer early, when chances for survival are highest.
1. Know your risk
             Talk to both sides of your family to learn about your family health history
             Talk to your provider about your personal risk of breast cancer
2. Get screened
              Talk with your doctor about which screening tests are right for you if you are at a higher risk
              Have a mammogram every year starting at age 40 if you are at average risk
              Have a clinical breast exam at least every 3 years starting at age 20, and every year starting at age 40
              Sign up for your screening reminder at www.komen.org/reminder
3. Know what is normal for you
See your health care provider if you notice any of these breast changes:
              Lump, hard knot or thickening inside the breast or underarm area
              Swelling, warmth, redness or darkening of the breast
              Change in the size or shape of the breast
              Dimpling or puckering of the skin
              Itchy, scaly sore or rash on the nipple
              Pulling in of your nipple or other parts of the breast
              Nipple discharge that starts suddenly
              New pain in one spot that doesn't go away
 4. Make healthy lifestyle choices
              Maintain a healthy weight 
              Add exercise into your routine
              Limit alcohol intake
              Limit menopausal hormone use
              Breastfeed, if you can

From the Susan G Komen website
Image by scottchan/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

This Fall Prepare your Home for Winter

Knowing winter is just around the corner there are several things you can do this fall to prepare your home for the cold months ahead.
 CHECKLIST
1)  Insulate outside walls and unheated areas of your home.
2)  Wrap pipes nearest exterior walls and in crawl spaces with pipe insulation or with heating tape.
3)  Caulk or weather-seal windows to cut down on wind drafts.
4)  Identify areas of heat loss in your attic and properly insulate.  Wrap or insulate all heating duct work to reduce heat loss through your attic
5)  Detach all gardening hoses and shut off water supply to outside faucets.
6)  Try to keep temperature in your home at 68 degrees or higher to keep pipes from freezing.

Image courtesy of Porbital /FreeDigitalPhotos.net

September is Life Insurance Awareness Month

Don't wait to get life insurance.  The people who depend on you would be devastated if something were to happen to you.  After a loss life insurance can help make life a little easier for those left behind. Whether you're a parent, spouse, life partner or business owner, life insurance could be one of the most important financial decisions you make.  It can help provide more security for your loved ones.

-Image from google

Motivating Yourself to Keep Fit

Here are a few ways to get yourself going on a fitness program:

• Get an audio book that you think you will love.  Only allow yourself to listen to it while you exercise.  That way, if you want to find out what happens next, you'll get moving.
• Only allow yourself to watch your favorite TV show while you're exercising.
• Keep track of your exercise days by putting a gold star on the calendar for every day you exercise.
• Lay out your workout clothes before you go to bed.  When you wake up and see them, you'll be a lot more likely to get on that treadmill.

-Adapted from Real Simple

-Image from Google

Fun Quote - At least half the exercise I get every day comes from jumping to conclusions.

Congratulations Vienna!

CNN/Money Magazine has ranked Vienna THIRD in its list of the 50 “Best Places to Live – America’s Small towns.”  In its profile of the town, the magazine noted that Vienna offers “walk ability, a historic center and unique businesses that give Vienna an identity all its own.”  The town also has “one-of-a-kind stores and homegrown eateries.  Vienna Congratulations on your Ranking!

-From the Sun Gazette
-Image Google

Safe Grilling Tips for Labor Day Weekend

Fire in the grill, under hot dogs and burgers, is a welcome sight at the family cookout. But fire anywhere can make your Labor Day barbecue memorable for all the wrong reasons.

• Propane and charcoal BBQ grills should only be used outdoors.
• The grill should be placed well away from the home, deck railings and out from under eaves and overhanging branches.
• Keep children and pets away from the grill area.
• Keep your grill clean by removing grease or fat buildup from the grills and in trays below the grill.
• Never leave your grill unattended.

-from the National Fire Protection Assoc.

Try a new refreshing beverage at you picnic - Green Smoothie

Ingredients

1 banana, thickly sliced, frozen                     1 tablespoon coconut oil (optional)

2 cups chopped kale                                    1/4 cup milk

1 tablespoon flax seed meal (optional)           1/3 cup orange juice

Directions:

Place the banana, kale, flax seed meal, and coconut oil into a blender, pour mile and orange juice.  Cover, and puree until smooth, serve.

School Bus Safety

To ensure your child's safety, it's important to know some important facts.  For instance, there's a 10-foot blind spot in front of the bus in which the driver cannot see anything.  It's important that children know that although they see the bus, the driver may not see them.  Other tips on bus safety include:
- Stay out of the street
- Cross the street at least 10 feet (or 10 giant steps) in front of the bus
- When boarding or leaving the bus, walk in single file
- Use the handrail to avoid falls
- Wait until the bus comes to a complete stop before exiting
Wishing both parents and kids a safe and happy school year.  

-Adapted from SafeKids.org

Fun Quote - I have enough money to last me the rest of my life, unless I buy something - Jackie Mason

Grand Opening of Walmart

Stop by and check out the brand new Walmart store in Tysons Corner, Virginia.  If you get a minute stop in and say hello.  Our agency, Fowlkes Insurance Services, Inc is directly across the street on Westwood Center Drive.  Happy Shopping!

Tips for Nervous Parents of New Drivers

Nationwide, car accidents are the leading cause of death for young adults between the ages of 15 to 20.  State patrol troopers across the country are recommending that young drivers take driving courses.  The average $300 it costs for the class will more than make up for the expenses incurred in the first accident and could even prevent it.  The following are a few tips for parents who want to keep an eye out for their children and make sure they don't become the latest sad statistic.

-Keep driving sessions short but frequent, about 15-20 minutes each day, slowly working up to an hour.
-Lead by example.  Examine your own driving habits to see if there is anything that can be corrected.
-Try not to burden your child with too many instructions at once.  It will only confuse them.
-Try to give directions one at a time, and not all at once.
-Try not to criticize teens while they are driving.  Talk to them when they are no longer behind the wheel.
-Discourage eating, drinking and talking on cell phones while they are driving.
-Urge your children not to take unnecessary risks, whatever the situation.