One thing about the holiday season that nobody likes is the rise in crime. Just as the retail industry sees the holiday season as the peak season for business, so do the criminals. They know that the malls are crowded, people tend to carry more cash, and people are distracted by the joys and pressures of the holidays.
So what can you do about it?
- Take care when walking alone in the dark.
- Carry only the cash and credit cards you need.
- Keep a record of your credit cards so that you can cancel them quickly.
- Avoid ATMs in places or at times when you are vulnerable.
It also seems that the criminals have gone electronic. In just the last 24 hours, there have been ten attempts to rob me either by phone or through cyberspace. Four of the calls were from the “US Government Grants Department” to tell me that I had been randomly selected to receive a $9,000 grant — and would I please pay a processing fee? I got two calls from the “Windows Technical Support Department” to tell me that they had detected viruses on my computer — and would I please give their engineer permission to enter my computer to fix it? And I had four attempts through email to draw me into a scam.
The only suggestion I can make is to tell you all to be on your guard and to have a wonderful holiday. Just take care of yourself and the people you love!
