Monthly Archives: April 2015

Being Thankful Should be a Part of Every Day

The importance of being thankful can’t be underestimated. It not only makes us feel better; it makes the world a little brighter. To express gratitude towards those who are kind or helpful to us is part of the American culture. It’s why we say “thank you” when people hold the elevator or pass the mashed potatoes at family dinners.

With the holidays upon us, our thoughts turn to being thankful for family, for friends, for our professions – whatever it is that makes us remember how great it is to be a part of something bigger than us.

Ways to Express Gratitude that Don’t Cost a Thing

We want to express gratitude to our loved ones, but sometimes we feel obligated to spend money or time that we don’t think we have. So in the interest of expressing our gratefulness and thanks to those who help us along the way, we’ve developed a list of ways to say thanks that cost little and give so much.

  • Say thank you – always. It may seem obvious, but a simple “thank you” goes a long way.
  • Smile at strangers. When you smile, it shows that you’re happy and non-aggressive. By smiling at everyone you pass, you’re passing along that good mood. (Studies have proved it; a smile decreases stress and makes other people less stressed, too.)
  • Meditate, pray or sit quietly and reflect. Being thankful for what you have can increase your own good feelings and decrease personal stress. By reflecting upon those feelings, you’re giving yourself time to perpetuate them – both in yourself and for those around you.
  • Volunteer at a local charity. Volunteer work is not only good for society; it’s good for your soul. Being thankful for what you have seems much easier when you help others who have less. It’s perfectly normal to engages in volunteer activities that make you feel good about yourself, as those good feelings will, most likely, lead you to continue to do good works.
  • Keep a gratitude journal. It doesn’t have to be an arduous task. If you express gratitude in writing on a regular basis, you’ll see how much good there is in your life every time you open it. It can also help you get through more difficult times by reminding you how much you have to be grateful for.
  • Spend time with your family and friends. Even if your family is kooky, they’re still yours – and being thankful for your family and loved ones can help you appreciate them more. It may also help you build strong bonds between you and your children as an added bonus.

Being Thankful for What You Have as a Teenager

As adults, we understand the importance of gratitude. But for teens who are undergoing massive changes (culturally, hormonally, ideologically – the list goes on), it can be hard to find a reason to say “thanks.” As any private investigator or police person can tell you, teenagers around the country run away every year to escape their living situations. Perhaps that’s because most teens don’t know that being thankful can lead to:

  • Better mental health
  • Better grades in school
  • Increased confidence levels
  • Closer and deeper friendships
  • Healthier sleep
  • Healthier hearts

By teaching our kids to express gratitude more often, we’re giving them a boost of positive reinforcement that could let them have happier, more productive lives.

Inspirational Quotes for Being Thankful

To sum up, we leave you with these thoughts about gratitude and thankfulness:

“At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.” – Albert Schweitzer

“Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others.” – Marcus Tullius Cicero

“If the only prayer you say in your life is ‘Thank You’ that would suffice.” – Meister Eckhart

“In the end, though, maybe we must all give up trying to pay back the people in this world who sustain our lives. In the end, maybe it’s wiser to surrender before the miraculous scope of human generosity and to just keep saying thank you, forever and sincerely, for as long as we have voices.” – Elizabeth Gilbert

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Holiday Safety Tips to Make Your New Year Bright

Every year, the local police put out a bulletin of holiday safety tips intended to keep you and yours safe and sound during the season. As we turn to e-commerce, however, we put ourselves at risk for more than just pickpockets. Every holiday, hundreds of people become victims of identity theft online as they use their cards to buy gifts from all over the web.

This year, we want you to have a happy and healthy holiday. That’s why our holiday safety tips are geared towards protecting you and your loved ones no matter where you go.

‘Tis the Season for Avoiding Identity Theft Online

Identity thieves don’t just target shoppers; they target anyone who banks online. To keep yourself safe from identity theft while online, try doing the following:

  • Choose reputable shops. Even “Big Box” stores can get hacked, so choosing a reputable store doesn’t mean sticking with the same old places. But you should pick your online sites carefully. Many internet security programs have a feature which tells you if the site you’re on is secure. Also, choose a store with a secure check out, and one that requires you to enter verification that you’re a human being. The major credit cards also put “look for the padlock” at the top of their holiday shopping safety tips, because that little icon means your purchase is secure.
  • Consider setting up one online card. You can open a secure credit card with a specific limit at any bank. Consider using a secure card for online transactions, to limit the amount of money a potential hacker or virus can access.
  • Don’t give anyone your Social Security number. Ever. Any store that claims to need your SSN is either up to no good, or could be vulnerable to attack.
  • Don’t put personal information on social media outlets. If you want to avoid identity theft online, make sure your social media is clear of personal information. Remove your address and your phone number, don’t “friend” or “follow” anyone you don’t know in person, and don’t discuss your travel plans.

Holiday Shopping Safety Tips for In-Store Purchases

No list of holiday safety tips would be complete without a list of ways to keep yourself safe when you’re not at home. Those who work in the areas of security, law enforcement and private investigations recommend the following holiday shopping safety tips for everyone:

  • Avoid dark parking lots or alleyways. If you have to shop at night, bring a friend with you, and try to park near the lights.
  • Keep your car keys where you can reach them.
  • If you carry a purse, keep the closure as close to your body as possible.
  • If you carry a wallet, keep it in your front pocket.
  • Make multiple trips to the car with smaller amounts of bags, rather than one trip with multiple packages.
  • Ask a security guard or police officer to escort you to your car if you feel uncomfortable.
  • Report all suspicious looking activities.
  • Bring only the credit cards you intend to use. Leave passports and Social Security cards at home.
  • Avoid wearing expensive or flashy accessories.
  • Try shopping during “off-peak” hours to avoid being crushed by crowds during big sales.
  • Keep your cell phone accessible in case you need to call for help.

Even if your packages aren’t physically stolen from you, you could risk losing much more if you don’t know how to avoid identity theft while out shopping. By following these holiday safety tips, you’re protecting yourself from those who view the holiday season as a way to make a quick buck. Your safety and security should always come first, so that you can enjoy every part of the season.

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How Cyber Crimes Are Changing the Way We Communicate Online

How Cyber Crimes Are Changing the Way We Communicate Online

For most people, cyber crimes are what happen to other people; other people have their internet hacked or their credit card numbers stolen. But after the latest security breach at Target, cyber crimes have become much more real in the eyes of the average American. Because internet scams and viruses are so prevalent, we’re actually changing the way we communicate online – and rightfully so. Recent studies have shown that we’re putting less personal information on social media outlets, to avoid hackers and advertising. To make up for this loss, however, companies are extrapolating that same information through purchase history, and search providers are using your page views as a direct line to push other sites.

That’s why it’s so important that you take your cyber safety seriously. Protecting yourself from cyber crimes in a digital world isn’t always easy, but it’s absolutely necessary.

Common Internet Scams and Theft Techniques

By now, most of us know there is no foreign prince interested in giving us millions of dollars simply for using our bank accounts for a little while. These types of phishing scams are relatively passé, but criminal entities aren’t giving up so easy. The more common internet scams include:

  • Receiving emails or calls from the IRS. These phishing scams pop up around tax time, but some thieves use them throughout the year. Since the IRS never contacts anyone unless it’s through certified mail, you can assume all phone calls and emails are fraudulent.
  • Hacking e-tail and service websites. Much online identity theft can be avoided by simply checking the security of the site you’re visiting. Virus and malware protection companies will certify certain sites and warn you about others. You can also look to see if the little padlock icon pops up when you’re on a payment page.
  • Using your mobile devices to access information. We use our phones and tablets for everything we can – and often rely on “hot spots” or open wireless networks to do it. Using an unsafe network makes it easier for thieves to commit cyber crimes because your tablet or phone isn’t as protected as it should be on your home network.

It’s worth noting, too, that the demographic for most internet scams is changing. As we age, our ability to spot “fishy” scenarios decreases, making an elderly online population ripe for online identity theft and scams. Encouraging older relatives and loved ones to be careful when online will make it harder for criminals to retrieve sensitive and personal information.

Avoiding Online Identity Theft

To protect yourself and your loved ones from cyber crimes, it’s important to take the proper precautions. Aside from deleting emails that are obviously internet scams, you should also:

  • Buy protection software that blocks malware, viruses, phishing software and spyware, and that offers firewall protection.
  • Change your passwords often, and use combinations that aren’t easy to guess.
  • Keep your computer up to date when it asks.
  • Use software protection in public hot spots.
  • Set your social media settings to private, to keep strangers from learning about your likes and tastes.
  • Report suspicious emails to the proper authorities.

If you believe that you may have been hacked or scammed, a computer forensics investigator can help you track where and when the cyber break-in took place. Here at She Spies, our computer investigator, Mike Adams can assist you with all your computer forensic needs. His expertise is often put to good use for our clients who need to put their lives back together after a cyber crime.

We live in a world where cyber crimes are a reality. But as the old saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

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Preventing Identity Theft & Holiday Shopping Safety Tips

The holiday season is upon us, and unfortunately so are thieves just waiting to steal your identity. Recently in the news, you may have heard about major corporate stores such as Target and Home Depot falling victim to credit card hacking. Identity theft and credit card hacking are serious violations of your privacy, as well as your financial affairs. When it comes to preventing identity theft, you have to stay one step ahead of the bad guys. This may seem to be challenging, but with some vigilance and attention to our holiday shopping safety tips, you will be less likely to find yourself the victim of credit card hacking and fraud. Below we’ve shared with you some of our useful holiday shopping safety tips and ideas for preventing identity theft.

Only carry documents and credit cards with you that are essential: Passports, your social security card and birth certificate are not needed when shopping, so do not bring them with you. If you accidentally drop any of these important documents, they are more than likely to fall into the wrong hands.

Exercise caution when using your credit card over the phone: The easiest way for thieves to apply their credit card hacking techniques is by asking you directly for your information. Especially around the holiday season, scammers will call and falsely claim to be part of a non-profit organization looking to solicit a donation. A quick way to verify that they are who they say they are is to ask for a phone number, in case you get disconnected. If they seem apprehensive, it is most likely a scam. If they do provide you with a phone number, be sure to enter it into a search engine such as Google or Bing, and see if the number is registered to a legitimate organization.

Safeguard your social security number: This is key to preventing identity theft. Never verify or give your social security number to a customer service representative, instead ask to verify some other account information.

Watch your back at all times: When it comes to holiday shopping safety, it is hard enough to tell who may be peering over your shoulder behind you in line, but consider the employee monitoring the security camera in the store, as well. In order to avoid credit card hacking, it is a good idea to use your thumb to cover the engraved card numbers on your card when swiping your card and cover the key pad entirely when entering your pin number or zip code. There were recent reports in multiple states where employees were engaging in identity theft by watching customers as they used their credit cards at gas station pumps. Some security cameras feature a zooming and angling capability that makes credit card hacking incredibly easy.

Identity theft can be a very scary and frustrating event if you experience it. These holiday shopping safety tips are designed not only for use during the holiday season, but all year round. Credit cards and other forms of valuable financial information and personal documentation make all of us very vulnerable to identity theft. This is why it is imperative to take active measures in preventing identity theft and credit card hacking before they happen. To learn more about identity theft, contact us today.

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10 Signs of a Cheating Spouse

Is My Spouse Cheating?

Statistics prove women who feel their lover is a cheating spouse are correct 80% of the time. Talk about the power of female intuition! For men however, they guess correctly 50% of the time.* Facing the unfaithfulness of a cheating spouse is a heartbreaking situation. If you suspect this is the case, you need to know the truth. But do you know how to catch a cheater?

Do You Know the Signs of Infidelity?
She Spies Private Eye Does!

1) Your own intuition and instinct: Are you feeling as if something isn’t right?

2) Obsession with his/her cell phone: How to catch a cheater? Is he or she constantly on the phone and at “bizarre” times?

3) Sudden changes in appearance: Your cheating spouse lost a ton of weight or suddenly, is dying his or her hair. Hmm. Suspicious.

4) Change in your sex life: Suddenly, your honey isn’t interested in bedroom play.

5) Working longer hours: The office really needs him or her.

6) Secrecy with computer and phone passwords: Don’t have access to those accounts anymore? Suspision, suspicion.

7) Never reachable on his/her cell phone: Catch a cheater by his or her phone activity—each and every time!

8) Unable to provide straight answers: What’s the truth, honey?

9) Distancing themselves from you and the family: Not present anymore mentally or physically, for the family.

10) Unusual purchases or credit card transactions: Did you really go to that store for yourself? We think not!

Contact us today at (512) 246-9889 to discover the truth!

*Source:  Menstuff.org

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