It’s 2013, and something that needs to be on the forefront of everyone’s minds is protecting yourself against identity theft. The FTC estimates that about 9 million Americans have their identities stolen every year. Identity thieves steal your private information in a variety of different ways. Be sure to shred up old bills and personal information before throwing them in the trash as thieves commonly rummage through bins looking for this stuff. Also be on guard for phishing on your computer. This is when you get an email that looks like it’s from a financial institution like Bank of America, but isn’t. The institution is asking you to reveal personal information, but never do it! This is not the way a legitimate bank will do business. Furthermore, watch out for the old-fashioned method of stealing wallets and purses. Hold on to your purse under your arm or across the front of your body when out in a busy, public area and don’t leave your purse in a shopping cart unattended. Also, be sure to hide anything of value in your car so a thief can’t see it in plain sight when looking in your car window.
A major item that thieves are going for these days is your Smartphone. It is loaded with a ton of personal information and criminals know how to navigate the system to get a hold of data you have stored in it. Don’t leave your phone out on the table at a restaurant or somewhere it can be easily swiped or forgotten. It’s also a good time to review all your privacy and security settings on Facebook to make sure that you aren’t sharing any information publicly that is meant to be private.
Everyday there are new stories in the news about identity theft. Today a man in Louisville, Kentucky will need to take at least a 10-hour theft class for his exploits at a local Target store. According to authorities, a man tried to steal about $95 worth of products. When store security asked for his ID, he allegedly presented an ID card and social security number belonging to a deceased man.
If you are indicted for a theft offense, you will most likely need to complete a theft education class as part of your retribution. You will have to pay fines, spend some time in jail, perform community service work and learn how and why you need to alter your behavior. At this point you have probably spent a lot of time missing work or school to handle this charge. The most convenient, affordable and educational way to address your theft class court order is to take one online.
Online theft classes are designed for people of all ages and are easy to use. All you need is an Internet connection and a desire to improve your thinking and resulting illegal behavior. Simply log on to the website, choose the length of course you need to take, register and the class will become available on the screen in front of you. There is no need to drive to a classroom, or share your story with strangers as online classes allow you to stay in the complete privacy of your own home. A high quality program will provide all the same information you get in a traditional classroom environment, but you can finish the course more quickly because you don’t need to wait for your one hour a week session. Clients can take online classes at their own pace. So, if you need a 10-hour class, you can learn a little bit each day, or sit down and finish the class over one weekend. Classes are interesting and enjoyable and you will come away with a new way to approach the impulse control and poor judgment involved with theft behavior. Take an online theft class today!
