Daily Archives: August 27, 2010

Assets, Business, Financial, Financial Services, Security

ProtectmyId.co.uk Reveals British Public Lending A Hand To Online Fraudsters

New research by ProtectmyID.co.uk has revealed just how relaxed the Great British public are when it comes to protecting themselves in the digital world. In the face of one of the fastest growing crimes in the world, the research has shown that millions of online users are readily making the information required to steal their identities available to digital fraudsters.

The online study commissioned to mark the launch of the new ProtectmyID.co.uk fraud protection service by Experian, revealed that three of the most regularly used passwords (town of birth (24%), date of birth (18%) and name of past schools (18%)**) also feature in a top ten of personal details which the public include on social networking and dating sites. By making these personal details so accessible online, people are making themselves easy targets for digital criminals who are ready to maximise this information for fraudulent activities such as ID theft.

The new study looked at how willing the public are to display personal details online compared with the information they are prepared to give out to people/companies contacting them by phone. The figures are vastly different, with minimal numbers of people admitting to give out such personal information directly to strangers (Town of Birth (7%), Name of past schools (1%), mother’s maiden name (6%)**).

In addition, the research revealed that over half the population (51%)** use the same online password for some or most of their online accounts, with 52%** admitting to never changing their online passwords, or only changing their passwords when they believe their online account may have been compromised or have been prompted to do so.

Speaking about the research results, Pete Turner, Managing Director of Experian Interactive, said: “The results of our research show that the message of identity fraud is still not being heard. The Internet is accessible to almost everyone and as the number of users grow, so do those using it for criminal purposes. Users need to be aware of what information they are giving out online and who might be accessing it. People are clearly aware of the dangers of giving away personal details to strangers calling them up on the phone, so why are they giving this information away to a huge audience online?”

Via EPR Network
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Financial, Financial Information, Financial Services, Insurance, Insurance Services

Children Life Insurance And The Need to Purchase A Policy Early On In Life

Lifeinsurance.org Resource and Information Center today reported the need for parents to acquire Children Life Insurance. Looking down on your bouncing little bundle of joy, the last thing you ever want to think about is – do I need to have life insurance for my child? As unpleasant a thought as it may be, the truth is tragedies do happen to children, and our job as parents in all things regarding our families is to hope for the best, but be prepared for the worst.

Be it homeowners, flood or auto insurance that kind of “being preparedness” is the very purpose of any kind of insurance – and life insurance for your child is one of those better to have it and never ever need it kind of things, then to need it, and not have it.

There are some circumstances where there is no question that you need to have life insurance for a child. What if they actually are the primary breadwinner in the family? If you are the parent of a working child in movies, TV or the like – then absolutely you need life insurance on that child. But even for those of us who are not the Mom or Dad to the next Hannah Montana – it still could make sense to have life insurance for your child. Here are a few good reasons why:

* By buying a life insurance policy for your child now – when they are young and healthy you lock in low rates for future premiums, and insure that they will not be without life insurance should they experience some health problems later in life.
* Purchasing a Whole Life Insurance policy now, becomes a perennial investment for your child, one that will eventually pay for itself.
* In the event of the tragic loss of a child, at least you will know funeral and burial costs will be taken care of

As an alternative to buying a separate life insurance policy for a child, if you have a current life insurance policy you may be able to add you child as rider to that policy. Such riders are most often applicable only until the child reaches a certain age, usually 21.

Via EPR Network
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