Rita noticed a black snake slithering across the front lawn as she backed her car out of the driveway. She was meeting her colleagues for lunch.
The restaurant at the inlet served delicious food and the historical views of the old fort sitting peacefully on the side of the beach was breath-taking. She immediately spotted her friends talking and eating appetizers as she entered the restaurant. She glanced at the coastal waterway through the large glass door that was near her table.The Porpoise playfully swimming in their own care-free world fascinated her. Rita and her friends had a delicious meal accompanied by variety of funny stories about their past careers. Life was good; and she enjoyed her precious time with these former colleagues who were now good friends. The next morning Rita received a phone call from one of the agents at the meeting. His bank account hacked. His ten thousand dollar balance was now fourteen dollars. As the day progressed Rita received more phone calls from friends who had attended the luncheon. Their bank accounts empty within a twenty-four hour time frame. Rita called her bank only to find out that her bank balance was eight dollars. She felt helpless. Later she learned that the people who sat at a table near them had a visit by the Phantoms of Identity Theft. How could that happen? Someone (a Phantom) used a small microchip scan to the debit and credit cards of the people at the restaurant. The Phantom thief scanned the information on the credit and debit cards just by walking past the victims. Unfortunately, the Phantom thief will likely never be caught. Phantoms either sell their victim's identity or set up other accounts using stolen information. No one is immune to the Phantoms of Identity Theft. It happens every day. How would you feel if you experienced this tragedy? No one is safe from Identity Theft. It can happen to anyone, any place at any time. Are you protected? Do you understand being stripped naked of your money? No one can prevent all Identity Theft but there are ways to become aware and prepare for the unseen Phantoms. Nothing is more dangerous than sincere ignorance. Learn how to help prevent Identity Theft from happening to you or your family. The Phantoms of Identity Theft have tools to move forward with their evilness. A microchip that reads credit and debit cards remotely is only one of many. Identity Theft is the fastest growing crime in the world. Keeping abreast of the Phantom thievery requires awareness and knowledge. We keep you informed monthly about being safe and building a fortress around your financial life. It just makes sense to seek help for protection.
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 With the recent hacking of social sites, Equifax and countless other businesses, my thoughts reveal memories that are still raw. The traumatic experiences that are in my book about identity theft and identity fraud, give me even more reason to pause. Use your computer with caution. Take the time to protect yourself and your family. Working in the financial industry for many years, I saw the same head in the sand mentality; it will never happen to me. Many of these people would tell me God would take care of them. Had it ever occurred to these people, that working through my services, was God's way of helping these folks? People are in our life for reasons. Our journey on this earth is not by random. Perhaps you are reading this not by chance. My life education came from the stories and experiences told by my clients; and because of the people who came into my life's journey, I now write stories. I left because of my identity theft that escalated my lessons of life. Never did I feel I would be targeted by the Phantoms. Can it happen to anyone. Yes it can. Identity Theft is a stigma that is difficult to overcome. With retirement funds stolen, reputation ruined, bank accounts depleted, and credit cards maxed out and new ones surfacing, I felt life had ended. This experience brought a depth of betrayal resulted in a lifetime of work to gain trust, and feel secure. Learning to protect our identity is work. Neglect of awareness is one of many habits that need changing, and new habits learned. Most Identity Theft situations begins with a piece of paper. Begin to shred all documents with private information. Learning ways to protect ourselves is not nearly as endless as the repercussions of the theft. Our identity is unique. No one else is exactly like us. When we lose our financial or professional identity, our spirit is left stark naked and ready for the Phantoms to clothe us in depression, hurt, anger, and lack of trust. This was my lesson to learn. Now, with lessons learned, I can take that trauma and teach other people how to not let it happen to them, and if it does happen to them, how to overcome and start over. No one can prevent all Identity Theft. Always be aware of how you give your information to other people. It's your life and your identity. The choices we make have consequences. Predators lurk in the shadow looking for easy target to prey upon.They search out and find private financial and medical information then pilfer the banks, credit cards and investment accounts of their victims. For the most part, these predators are seldom caught. You can learn valuable lessons that will secure your identity. Stay informed of what to beware of in your own life to ensure that you are protecting your identity. |
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