Quick Holiday Tips to protect yourself from Fraud!

In-store:

• Don’t lose sight of your debit or credit card, swipe it yourself. It takes only a few seconds for the bad guys to make a copy.

• Don’t worry about offending people, shield your PIN (personal identification number) and don’t give it to anyone.

• Don’t keep written records of your PIN or social insurance numbers in your wallet or purse.

Online:

• Use your home computer not one at a library or Internet cafe.

• Don’t click on links even if you know who sent it. Instead, manually type in a retailer’s website.

• Use a credit care with a low limit, a single use payment card or a reliable third-party payment system.

• Verify secure connections and look for an https:// address or the padlock symbol on websites.

• When buying from auction sites or unauthorized retailers, remember that legitimate goods are rarely heavily discounted.

• Monitor your financial statements online and alert institutions immediately to any suspicious transactions.

At home:

• Don’t leave mail in you mailbox.

• Shred pre-approved credit card applications, bills and receipts.

• Don’t provide personal information over the phone and don’t fall victim to telephone solicitations.

And if you believe you’ve been caught in a scam, report it to police or your financial institution immediately.

Merry Christmas

It's that time again when we all start scurrying around preparing for Christmas celebrations. The activities include shopping, decorating, planning, and preparation of sweets and meals. The atmosphere around public places slowly turn to reflect cheerful hello's and smiling faces. As Newfoundlanders we also celebrate Christmas as a time when many of our friends and family make the trek back to this Island to be with us. Simply put, Christmas is a wonderful time of year. It is a time for reflection and gratitude and certainly we are all in control of how we individually mange the next few weeks.

Personally, I look at this time of year as an opportunity to show gratitude and be thankful for all that has been provided to me. The commercialization of Christmas can easily create unnecessary stress as we seek out to find that perfect gift or get concerned about if we have enough for our family members. In the end, really what is important? The fact that we have friends and family around us this time of year trumps the one day that we embellish on gifts. There is a quote from Sarah Ban Breathnach that I would like to share, it goes as follows,
"When we choose not to focus on what is missing from our lives, but are grateful for the abundance that is present...we experience heaven on earth."

During the holidays, make one kind act of gratitude and truly feel the power that this Holiday brings. Visit an old friend, mentor, or family member and have an old fashion talk. In a world so caught up in instant messaging, and technology, take the time out for socialization. Do not forget the less fortunate and do something special and out of your ordinary character. The power of gratitude can take many forms and make a huge impact on someones life. I opened my mailbox this week and I had the below letter from a Child, Henry who I sponsor in Africa. The message is short, simple, but powerful. The main point here is he took the time to draft this letter and personally showed how I have impacted his life.

On behalf of the Staff of Leading Edge Credit Union I want to wish each of you a Merry Christmas. We look forward to our relationship in 2012. We certainly appreciate all of our memberships support of the last year.

Sincerely
Cory

I forgot to mention that I will be traveling to Uganda in January and will meet Henry