| Protecting your employees from identity theft
Name, address, Social Security number, date of birth, bank account information, copy of drivers' license and Social Security card -- sounds like the contents of an employee file to some. But it could be a veritable cornucopia of valuable information to an identity thief. According to the FBI, identity theft is the fastest-growing crime in the United States. It occurs when an individual's sensitive or personal information, such as their Social Security number or credit information, is used to commit fraud or other crime. Most everyone is aware of the possible threat of identify theft; however, many employers still grapple with the question of how to protect themselves and their employees from becoming victims in the workplace. Banning the use of Social Security numbers as identifiers isn't an option because the IRS must have those digits in order to track wages and Social Security earnings for employees.
Money markets bend, don't break
One of the safest and, lately, most attractive places for people to park some of their savings -- the money market account -- is suddenly looking a little less secure, thanks to fallout from the mortgage mess. Bank of America Corp. announced plans Tuesday to shore up a group of money market funds, in its case with a $600 million reserve. The move raises questions about whether this category of savings might suffer hits that are serious enough to cause losses for investors. The notion that some money market funds might give investors less than a dollar-for-dollar return on their investment, an occurrence known as "breaking the buck," is a sobering thought. Some experts say it remains unlikely, however. The Bank of America funds have run into trouble with a type of investment known as a structured investment vehicle, or SIV, which uses borrowed money to invest in perhaps risky but high-yielding investments.
Webroot(R) Research Finding: Convenience Outweighs Caution for Online Holiday Shopping -- Lack of Concern for Internet ...
Webroot Software, Inc., a leading provider of Internet security software for the consumer, enterprise and SMB markets, today reported the results of its latest research, "State of Internet Security: Protecting Consumers Online." According to the report, shopping online is expected to increase worldwide this holiday season along with the threats to online shoppers. The report revealed that a surprisingly large number of Internet users are not taking the steps necessary to ensure their privacy and personal information while online shopping. This lack of precaution will put them at risk of becoming a victim of cyber crime. The report further discusses specific risks, how to identify them and how to protect against cyber threats. .
By Jon Stewart News-Post Staff
WOODSBORO -- A local community bank expects to offer mobile banking services by 2008. Customers of Woodsboro Bank will be able to balance checks, and make account transactions and payments through their mobile devices, such as cell phones or PDAs. "It is a product that all banks will need to embrace," said C. Richard Miller Jr., Woodsboro Bank's president and chief executive officer. "We expect to have it available in 2008." Miller said the advent of mobile banking could be very similar to drive-through banking and ATMs. When they were first introduced, many people didn't see the need for them; now banks couldn't do without them, Miller said. "Mobile banking will be popular because our society is mobile; customers will expect banks to have it and those that don't will be at a significant competitive disadvantage in the future." Corporations are poised to embrace mobile banking, with eight of the top 25 banks poised to transact that way in 2008, according to a new report from Celent, a Boston-based financial research and consulting firm.
Post Office reveals first Scots closures
MAJOR cuts in the post office network across Scotland will be announced today - with 44 offices initially earmarked to go, The Scotsman can reveal. The move - the first round of closures to affect Scotland under the controversial restructuring plan ordered by the government - is set to lead to post offices shutting in some of the most deprived constituencies, angering MPs, MSPs and campaigners. .
Medium-term budget
In tabling the 2007 Medium Term Budget Policy Statement, we can affirm that economic growth and investment in public services are steadily bringing a better life to millions of South Africans. We can look back with pride on the course we chose in implementing our Reconstruction and Development Programme, because we can see the fruits of the new Constitutional order we built, of the transformation of policy and service delivery we undertook, of the tough decisions we made and the dedicated efforts of South Africans from all walks of life who have contributed to our social progress and economic renewal. Today is better than yesterday, and tomorrow will be better than today. We can assert this confidently because our progress is recorded and measured, and the facts speak louder than any rhetorical flourishes. Yet the message of today’s Budget Statement is not that we have reached our destination or that victory can be claimed.
Why women must ensure they are in the black financially
WHILE many women are in control of their finances, there are still worrying signs that significant number neglect the money side of things, especially when they are in a relationship. For example, recent research from Scottish Widows revealed the "gender pension gap" is a growing issue. Some 54 per cent of men who "could and should" be saving for retirement are doing so adequately, compared with just 41 per cent of women. And 7.3 million women are financially dependent on their husbands or partners. .
Australia's Largest Private Client Stockbroker Launches New Online Trading Platform Offers Market Trades for just $15
Please find attached and in the body of this email a media release announcing the launch of Bell Direct, a new online share trading business part owned by the Bell Group of companies. A backgrounder is also attached. Bell Direct key points: The first new online share trading technology to be developed in Australia for more than a decade; New online share trading and wealth creation platform; Only independent offering in online share trading, following CBA's takeover of IWL; Share trades for just $15 - cheapest and best value in the market; Bell Direct was created by Steven Goh, the founder of Australia's first online stockbroker, Sanford Securities; Bell Direct is headed by former IWL general manager Lee Muco and a team of former IWL specialists; Also backed by Bell Group of companies, so is Australian owned and operated; Aims to be a top three player in the next 3 to 5 years; Cutting edge, web 2.0 proprietary technology developed from the ground up.
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