Home Emergency Preparedness

This is an article I have updated a few times over the past few years.  I thought that it is worth posting again.

Are you prepared for an emergency?  There are some areas of the world where they have become accustomed to evacuating their homes at a moments notice.  Hurricanes, tornadoes, and forest fires are just some of the   natural disasters that affect people’s lives annually.  As a result, people who live in areas plagued by these events have 72 hour kits that allow them to leave home quickly, and be prepared to live away from home for at least 3 days.  Many have suitcases packed to help them live for up to a week without access to their home.

The basics around a 72 hour emergency kit are:
1. Know the risks
2. Make a plan
3. Get a Kit

New type of debit card skimming

Updated from September 2012.

Over 86% of Canadian adults have at least 1 debit card and about 74% have at least 1 credit card. Despite the convenience and popularity of these cards, there is a risk of fraud. It is important to protect your cards, just as you would cash or cheques. Some of the risks associated with debit/credit card fraud are the same as carrying around your account numbers, so protect your card information in your wallet, online and over the phone.

There is, however, another threat to card users that is unique - it's called "skimming." Skimming occurs when thieves set up a device that captures the magnetic stripe and keypad information from point of sales terminals.   It is important to note that debit card fraud has been decreasing in Canada because of the conversion away from magnetic striped to chip cards, but skimming with magnetic stripe cards still occurs.  

Crooks are now trying to get around the CHIP protection by somehow replacing a store/restaurant/gas station’s debit keypad with their own version.  The criminal’s keypad makes you push your debit card in over half of the length of the card so that a scanner can copy the magnetic strip.  The keypad then records your PIN as you enter it.  To combat this keypad switch many retailers are putting locks or other types of protection on the keypads themselves.  

Prepared for an Emergency?

This is an article I have updated a few times over the past few years.  I thought that with the hurricanes shutting down much of the eastern coast this week that it was worth posting again.

Are you prepared for an emergency?  There are some areas of the world where they have become accustomed to evacuating their homes at a moments notice.  Hurricanes, tornadoes, and forest fires are just some of the natural disasters that affect people’s lives annually.  As a result, people who live in areas plagued by these events have 72 hour kits that allow them to leave home quickly, and be prepared to live away from home for at least 3 days.  Many have suitcases packed to help them live for up to a week without access to their home.

The basics around a 72 hour emergency kit are:
1. Know the risks
2. Make a plan
3. Get a Kit

Avoid Skimming Crooks

Over 84% of Canadian adults have at least 1 debit card and about 74% have at least 1 credit card. Despite the convenience and popularity of these cards, there is a risk of fraud. It is important to protect your cards, just as you would cash or cheques. Some of the risks associated with debit/credit card fraud are the same as carrying around your account numbers, so protect your card information in your wallet, online and over the phone.

There is, however, another threat to card users that is unique - it's called "skimming." Skimming occurs when thieves set up a device that captures the magnetic stripe and keypad information from point of sales terminals.   It is important to note that debit card fraud has been decreasing in Canada because of the conversion away from magnetic striped to chip cards, but skimming with magnetic stripe cards still occurs.  By doing the following you will reduce the risk of having your information stolen.

Safe Online Shopping

I posted the following advice over a year ago, but with so many more people shopping online this year I figured it would be worth re-posting.


Online purchases have grown dramatically over the past decade.  Whether you are looking for auto parts, books or even clothing, you can buy them online.  While many people want to see and touch the items they are buying, more and more feel safe about purchasing their goods over the internet.

 There are security risks, but if you follow the tips below you can have more confidence in your online shopping experience.

1. Make sure your information is being entered on a secure site. 
2. Look for the latest credit card password procedures
3. Know who you are buying from. Use stores you are familiar with or people you know have dealt with.
4. Beware of refurbished items, often a detail buried in small print.
5. Check the store’s return policies before you buy.
6. Use a separate credit card for online shopping, preferably one with a low limit in case the number gets stolen.
7. If the deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
8. Online deals can seem great, but what do you do if something goes wrong with the product?  Check out local retailers too as they can often provide faster service than the online merchants.

Christmas is coming, so if you are looking for a specialty item you just can't get nearby, feel free to do some online shopping, but keep safe.  Jerry

In Case Of A Car Accident

An opinion piece by Jerry

A few weeks ago my wife and I were involved in a collision that could have ended much worse than it did.  While traveling north on a primary highway a car coming south turned left across our lane.  I was able to stomp on the brakes and yank steering wheel to the left so that we just clipped the other car's right rear bumper at about 50 km/hr.

Fortunately no-one was injured. We each were able to drive off the road into the nearby gas station.  There we exchanged insurance information and business cards.  We pulled off the pieces of our right headlight and duct taped the wires down so we could continue driving.  Both vehicles were quite functionally usable.

This was the first time I had ever been in an accident when I needed to make a claim.  It was a learning experience for me.  Here is what I learned from this incident:

7 Tips To Keep Safe While Online Shopping

Online purchases have grown dramatically over the past decade.  Whether you are looking for auto parts, books or even clothing, you can buy them online.  While many people want to see and touch the items they are buying, more and more feel safe about purchasing their goods over the internet.

 There are security risks, but if you follow the tips below you can have more confidence in your online shopping experience.

1. Make sure your information is being entered on a secure site. 
2. Look for the latest credit card password procedures
3. Know who you are buying from. Use stores you are familiar with or people you know have dealt with.. 
4. Beware of refurbished items, usually a detail buried in small print.
5. Check the store’s return policies before you buy.
6. Use a separate credit card for online shopping, preferably one with a low limit in case the number gets stolen.
7. If the deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Christmas is coming, so if you are looking for a specialty item you just can't get nearby, feel free to do some online shopping, but keep safe.  Jerry

7 Tips For Safer Online Shopping

More and more people are doing their Christmas shopping online.  The selection is great, and you can definitely find some good deals, but you want to be careful about how you shop online.  The following are 7 tips to make your online shopping safer:

1. Make sure your information is being entered on a secure site.
2. Look for the latest credit card password procedures
3. Know who you are buying from. Use stores you are familiar with or people you know have dealt with.
4. Beware of refurbished items, usually a detail buried in small print.
5. Check the store’s return policies before you buy.
6. Use a separate credit card for online shopping, preferably one with a low limit in case the number gets stolen.
7. If the deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Online shopping can be a great convenience, and by following the above tips you can have a safer online shopping experience.
Jerry