Hello Everyone,
You may or may not know that I am a small business owner and entrepreneur in the area of Identity Theft. I am a Certified Identity Theft Risk Management Specialist and recently, I have had the opportunity to sit with a few clients and explain to them the services I offer through my company. Interestingly enough, in the news in NY, there have been quite a few reports about an employee of one of the largest and most prestigious hospitals in New York City, New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Cornell Weill Medical Center, having been charged with stealing the nonpublic information of approximately 40,000 patients. Here is the Story from NewsDay, and Here is the New York Times artcle.. During these meetings, I informed my clients that there are Federal Trade Commission laws specifically, The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), Fair and Accurate Credit Transaction Act (FACTA) and the new Red Flag Rules which mandate that ALL companies both large and small have in place a program that maps out preventative measures and steps taken to prevent data breaches of nonpublic information. As the information I gave to them in reference to the fines, lawsuits and loss of clients/customers took root, I saw each and every one of my clients look at me in awe since they were not even aware of the legislature having been passed, much less how to implement it. Needless to say, when I offered my expertise to assist them in setting this program up, FOR FREE, that’s when I received the raised eyebrow as if to say “What’s the catch?” New Yorkers are notorious for their skepticism. While explaining that: 1. My services in setting this up are free, (all I ask is that I have the opportunity to offer my services as a voluntary or fringe group benefit to the employees) 2. New hire follow up training is free and 3. Documentation is free, I am met with extreme disbelief.
Picture this: I am willing to meet with your employees, train them, follow up training for any new hires, keep you abreast of any new legislation involving these laws and fully document all of the above…. And my only request is that you allow me to offer a service to your employees. Does that sound like a deal that would assist ANY business? Well, to me it does, however, many potential clients are so skeptical that they cannot believe that there is no string attached! Even after showing the fines levied against, Choicepoint, Iron Mountain, BJ’s Wholesale Club for millions of dollars, these potential clients are still bewildered by the fact that it is a free program for the taking.
I fail to understand three things:
1 – How a business owner could know the ramifications of NOT having this program in place yet still pass on a free offering that protects the product of their many years of hard work, blood, sweat and tears
2 – How a business owner could pass on a benefit that can be offered to his/her employees that not only increases productivity during at-work hours, but 24/7/365 and it can be offered at no cost to the business if necessary
3 – How an owner AND employee could possibly pass on a service that gives the most comprehensive Identity Theft protection / Attorney Access in the country after reading the above articles from the NY Times and NY Newsday.
Sometimes it’s SO hard to help people it’s painful. I once saw an article about a man that tried to GIVE AWAY 100.00 bills. 70% of the people he offered it to, WOULDN’T TAKE IT!!! I have since contacted these clients and am in the process of sitting down with them again to reassess their need for this program. If you are a business owner, executive in charge of the welfare of your most cherished asset – your employees, concerned head of household or simply someone in search of a better way to protect your identity, please feel to check these websites, For Businesses, For Employees, For I D Theft Protection, For Individual Families. If you prefer a video presentation Turn Your Speakers On. All of my websites have my contact information, so feel free to contact me.
Take Care,
Mr. William D. Calloway Jr.
Monday, April 14, 2008
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Go Ahead and Steal My Identity – My Credit Is Bad Anyhow
Someone actually said this to me the other day and I had to sit down and give them a quick and dirty lesson in ID Theft. Although it sounds funny, most people are under the false impression that identity theft is not a problem to those with bad or mediocre credit. Well ladies and gentlemen, I am here to let you know that “This aint Kansas anymore Dorothy”
Instead of giving a boatload of statistics on which types of identity theft are most prevalent, I’ll save that for a more editorial style blog at a later date, I would like to give you a few scenarios that could occur if you take the stand that your mediocre or bad credit keeps you out of the realm of having your identity stolen.
Scenario One: Your credit is horrendous, but you have a decent job with medical benefits for you and your family. This sounds relatively innocuous and serene right? Well, take this scenario and add a little medical identity theft. Now in one case, the thief gets your medical card and goes to a local doctor’s office and gets a prescription filled for oxycontin. Then another and another and another and another at different medical facilities. Now they go out and hit the club with some friends and sell some of them. WOOPS!!! One of those sales was to an undercover police officer. (Extreme case right?) Now they ask where they got them. Hmmmm..don’t all of the prescriptions have YOUR name on them? OK, that was too drastic. Let’s say the thief goes to the emergency room and it is found out that they are diabetic. Well, they get an insulin prescription and low and behold, YOU are now a diabetic. Go to the hospital in any kind of unconscious state and … You guessed it, you’re going to get insulin! Sound drastic? Well it happens.
Scenario Two: Your credit is mediocre but you have a driver’s license. Another relatively mild sounding affair correct? Well your friendly neighborhood thief gets a few speeding tickets and low and behold, YOU are now a scofflaw subject to arrest when stopped for ANYTHING. “Excuse me officer, I didn’t know my tail light was broken…Huh? What do you mean step out of the vehicle?” I make it sound kind of funny but these things happen. One man was jailed for three days because he had an argument with his girlfriend and the police ran his ID and found that he was wanted for possession of a controlled substance, trafficking in narcotics and quite a few speeding tickets. All because someone stole his license and had decided rather than go to jail they’d give someone else up instead. Let’s be for real people, we may not think these things can happen, but they can and will. When it comes to identity theft, it’s not IF it can happen, it’s only a matter of time until WHEN it happens.
I know it’s scary, but the best thing is to be covered. Not just credit, but Social Security, Medical, Driver’s License AND Criminal. The service I market through my business offers all these coverages for less than you can imagine. In addition, it includes access to a SYSTEM of provider law FIRMS…..in case you need an attorney. What more can I say besides, contact me for any additional information you might need.
Be Careful, Be Safe,
William D. Calloway Jr., CITRMS
Instead of giving a boatload of statistics on which types of identity theft are most prevalent, I’ll save that for a more editorial style blog at a later date, I would like to give you a few scenarios that could occur if you take the stand that your mediocre or bad credit keeps you out of the realm of having your identity stolen.
Scenario One: Your credit is horrendous, but you have a decent job with medical benefits for you and your family. This sounds relatively innocuous and serene right? Well, take this scenario and add a little medical identity theft. Now in one case, the thief gets your medical card and goes to a local doctor’s office and gets a prescription filled for oxycontin. Then another and another and another and another at different medical facilities. Now they go out and hit the club with some friends and sell some of them. WOOPS!!! One of those sales was to an undercover police officer. (Extreme case right?) Now they ask where they got them. Hmmmm..don’t all of the prescriptions have YOUR name on them? OK, that was too drastic. Let’s say the thief goes to the emergency room and it is found out that they are diabetic. Well, they get an insulin prescription and low and behold, YOU are now a diabetic. Go to the hospital in any kind of unconscious state and … You guessed it, you’re going to get insulin! Sound drastic? Well it happens.
Scenario Two: Your credit is mediocre but you have a driver’s license. Another relatively mild sounding affair correct? Well your friendly neighborhood thief gets a few speeding tickets and low and behold, YOU are now a scofflaw subject to arrest when stopped for ANYTHING. “Excuse me officer, I didn’t know my tail light was broken…Huh? What do you mean step out of the vehicle?” I make it sound kind of funny but these things happen. One man was jailed for three days because he had an argument with his girlfriend and the police ran his ID and found that he was wanted for possession of a controlled substance, trafficking in narcotics and quite a few speeding tickets. All because someone stole his license and had decided rather than go to jail they’d give someone else up instead. Let’s be for real people, we may not think these things can happen, but they can and will. When it comes to identity theft, it’s not IF it can happen, it’s only a matter of time until WHEN it happens.
I know it’s scary, but the best thing is to be covered. Not just credit, but Social Security, Medical, Driver’s License AND Criminal. The service I market through my business offers all these coverages for less than you can imagine. In addition, it includes access to a SYSTEM of provider law FIRMS…..in case you need an attorney. What more can I say besides, contact me for any additional information you might need.
Be Careful, Be Safe,
William D. Calloway Jr., CITRMS
Better to Have and Not Need, than to Need and Not Have
We’ve all heard this mantra, however, have you ever thought about what it really represents? I have been thinking about a few things over the last few weeks in dealing with having lost my father, and this happens to be one of the many items that I have come across within my mind.
As a licensed driver in the fine state of NY, I have the responsibility of carrying auto insurance. Most of us may complain about the cost of our insurance policies, however, when you think about it, it is relatively cost effective. I personally drive a 2007 VW Jetta and the financial cost to me was less than 25,000.00. Not too expensive in as much as automobiles and what they cost these days. But when I cut my insurance check, I noticed that my payment for insurance is not as much as I felt it was originally when considering the fact that if my auto is in an accident and is a total loss, I will receive payment back (albeit a depreciated value amount) far and above what I have paid in premiums. Let’s take an example…..
I have already stated that my car is a 2007, so for arguments sake, let’s say that the depreciated value of my car is 19,000.00. Let’s also say that I bought the car in January 2007, and began my insurance payments then at ummm…. Say 200.00 per month. In this scenario, I have paid out 3,200.00 assuming that I have paid April 2008’s premium. Now, if my car, GOD forbid, is in an accident and is totaled out, I will receive a check for 19,000.00. Where else can I get this type of value except for the insurance industry. I’m receiving 19,000.00 for my premium payments of 3,200.00. Now this is a simplified version of what takes place, (considering all of the assigned risks and pooling of premiums etc.) but you have to agree that the prepayment of coverage is well worth the peace of mind.
Now let’s look at our legal system. We have to all agree that we live in one of the most litigious (meaning you can sue a ham sandwich if you so choose) societies on the planet. We all have come across situations where having an attorney on our side, even if it is just for advice, would benefit us. Let’s say for arguments sake once again, that you need an attorney for ummm…an out of state speeding ticket. What attorney would you call? Which one knows the traffic law in the state where it took place? Is the attorney admitted to the bar in that state? And a slew of other questions, in addition to the hourly rate. (Many attorneys give a first consultation free, but after that even a relatively cheap attorney will cost you 200 – 300.00 an hour) If you have ever been to traffic court, you notice that the judge comes in and immediately says “All attorneys step forward please”, and then proceeds to take those cases first while you languish at the back of the courtroom waiting for your name to be called to step up. When your name is called, are you able to talk to the prosecutor, police officer or judge to possibly lessen the points on your license? I’m a living testament to the statement “No, you cannot!” Been there done it and found a better way to handle it.
Don’t get me wrong, I am not trying to do anything other than give you the same information that was given to me 2 years ago, there is a better way! For less than the 300.00 per hour an attorney charges in most cases, there is a service that can give you the benefit of having an attorney on your side, and for most things, at NO additional costs, FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR!! Sounds too good to be true? Well, getting 19,000.00 for my totaled car after only 3,200.00 in prepaid premiums looks too good to be true also when you think about it….. I’d rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it. Imagine having a law FIRM, not an attorney, a firm, to represent you in ANY area of law. Now imagine further that you have a network of firms that can represent you in ANY STATE!!! Now I know you have your eyes open waiting for the down side, and here it is…………. You can get this service today, but you have to contact me, I can’t call you, because I don’t have your number nor do I have your email…. And that really is the downside. You can email me, you can call me, or you can wait until you are sitting in the back of traffic court, or when you are thumbing through the yellow pages for the biggest prettiest ad, or maybe until you try and return that cell phone with the defective battery and you get “Sorry, but we don’t carry that model anymore, so we can’t accept any returns”.
Would you rather HAVE it and NOT NEED it
Or NEED it and NOT HAVE it?
Take care,
William D. Calloway Jr., CITRMS
As a licensed driver in the fine state of NY, I have the responsibility of carrying auto insurance. Most of us may complain about the cost of our insurance policies, however, when you think about it, it is relatively cost effective. I personally drive a 2007 VW Jetta and the financial cost to me was less than 25,000.00. Not too expensive in as much as automobiles and what they cost these days. But when I cut my insurance check, I noticed that my payment for insurance is not as much as I felt it was originally when considering the fact that if my auto is in an accident and is a total loss, I will receive payment back (albeit a depreciated value amount) far and above what I have paid in premiums. Let’s take an example…..
I have already stated that my car is a 2007, so for arguments sake, let’s say that the depreciated value of my car is 19,000.00. Let’s also say that I bought the car in January 2007, and began my insurance payments then at ummm…. Say 200.00 per month. In this scenario, I have paid out 3,200.00 assuming that I have paid April 2008’s premium. Now, if my car, GOD forbid, is in an accident and is totaled out, I will receive a check for 19,000.00. Where else can I get this type of value except for the insurance industry. I’m receiving 19,000.00 for my premium payments of 3,200.00. Now this is a simplified version of what takes place, (considering all of the assigned risks and pooling of premiums etc.) but you have to agree that the prepayment of coverage is well worth the peace of mind.
Now let’s look at our legal system. We have to all agree that we live in one of the most litigious (meaning you can sue a ham sandwich if you so choose) societies on the planet. We all have come across situations where having an attorney on our side, even if it is just for advice, would benefit us. Let’s say for arguments sake once again, that you need an attorney for ummm…an out of state speeding ticket. What attorney would you call? Which one knows the traffic law in the state where it took place? Is the attorney admitted to the bar in that state? And a slew of other questions, in addition to the hourly rate. (Many attorneys give a first consultation free, but after that even a relatively cheap attorney will cost you 200 – 300.00 an hour) If you have ever been to traffic court, you notice that the judge comes in and immediately says “All attorneys step forward please”, and then proceeds to take those cases first while you languish at the back of the courtroom waiting for your name to be called to step up. When your name is called, are you able to talk to the prosecutor, police officer or judge to possibly lessen the points on your license? I’m a living testament to the statement “No, you cannot!” Been there done it and found a better way to handle it.
Don’t get me wrong, I am not trying to do anything other than give you the same information that was given to me 2 years ago, there is a better way! For less than the 300.00 per hour an attorney charges in most cases, there is a service that can give you the benefit of having an attorney on your side, and for most things, at NO additional costs, FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR!! Sounds too good to be true? Well, getting 19,000.00 for my totaled car after only 3,200.00 in prepaid premiums looks too good to be true also when you think about it….. I’d rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it. Imagine having a law FIRM, not an attorney, a firm, to represent you in ANY area of law. Now imagine further that you have a network of firms that can represent you in ANY STATE!!! Now I know you have your eyes open waiting for the down side, and here it is…………. You can get this service today, but you have to contact me, I can’t call you, because I don’t have your number nor do I have your email…. And that really is the downside. You can email me, you can call me, or you can wait until you are sitting in the back of traffic court, or when you are thumbing through the yellow pages for the biggest prettiest ad, or maybe until you try and return that cell phone with the defective battery and you get “Sorry, but we don’t carry that model anymore, so we can’t accept any returns”.
Would you rather HAVE it and NOT NEED it
Or NEED it and NOT HAVE it?
Take care,
William D. Calloway Jr., CITRMS
Do You Realize Everyone Needs a Will?
Sorry to have been away from blogging for such a long time, however, as you may or may not know, I lost my father last month (March 1st 2008) and have had a tough time dealing with this tragic loss.
Having two parents on opposing coasts causes its own problems, My father and mother were divorced over thirty years ago and were living on two different sides of the country (my mother in NY and father in CA). But the major headache to having lost my father is getting his final affairs in order. As an independent associate with my company, I have a distinct knowledge of the necessity of a Last Will and Testament. However, getting others to understand the need is comparable to a dentist pulling an infected and impacted molar. I had spoken at great length with both of my parents on the need for a Will and had them both tell me, “I’ll get to it.” Needless to say, my father passed away prior to getting enrolled in the service I market, which provides for a Will for both member AND spouse, in addition to updating it annually for free. Now my siblings and I are tasked with going through mountains of paperwork to try and find what funds, debts, accounts, policies and commitments he had.
Being that our country is run on the issuance and use of creditor accounts,(we all have credit cards, loans, mortgages, 401k’s, IRA’s, 529’s and the like), leaving these things to our family seems as though it is as easy as allowing them to roll into our estate upon our passing and allow the estate to be divided equally. Such is NOT the case. Any fund accounts MUST be transferred to an estate account,(assuming your surviving spouse, children or relatives know where your accounts are held and which cannot be done until a certificate of death is obtained). Subsequent to that, there must be publication of the passing of the person whose estate is being setup, then an executor must be chosen. (Yes, this a daunting and complicated affair) Finally, all debts are paid out of the aforementioned estate account and any remainder can de divided equally amongst survivors of the deceased.
Therein lies the need for a Will. Within a will, an executor can be designated, all accounts can be detailed, all debts can be listed and all property can be designated to survivors of the estate such as land, autos, homes, momentos, heirlooms and the like. I cannot stress this enough, without a Will, you are considered to have died “intestate”, meaning without a will. As such, all of the procedures that my siblings and I are dealing with must be gone through. Granted, it is easier with my siblings because we all are on the same page. However, if not for that, the estate could go into probate and that is another set of issues and problems.
I cannot stress this enough, everyone needs a Will, not for yourself, but for those who survive you, whether it be children, siblings, spouse or parent. Consider it a “Last Love Letter” to your family and give them the peace of mind knowing that at their most vulnerable time, YOU have considered them and made the grieving process easier for them to bear by letting them know exactly how to handle all that you have worked so hard to build for them.
Any assistance I can give would be my pleasure. Most attorneys can create a Will and set up a trust for you, however it can be relatively expensive. (which is probably why most Americans do not have an updated Will) So feel free to email me and I will contact you directly and show you how to begin the process of getting your “Last Love Letter” written and executed through the service I market. By the way, did I mention that the membership cost is less for an entire YEAR than the cost many attorneys charge per HOUR!
Do you see ANY reason why you shouldn’t have a Will?
Take care,
William D. Calloway, CITRMS
Having two parents on opposing coasts causes its own problems, My father and mother were divorced over thirty years ago and were living on two different sides of the country (my mother in NY and father in CA). But the major headache to having lost my father is getting his final affairs in order. As an independent associate with my company, I have a distinct knowledge of the necessity of a Last Will and Testament. However, getting others to understand the need is comparable to a dentist pulling an infected and impacted molar. I had spoken at great length with both of my parents on the need for a Will and had them both tell me, “I’ll get to it.” Needless to say, my father passed away prior to getting enrolled in the service I market, which provides for a Will for both member AND spouse, in addition to updating it annually for free. Now my siblings and I are tasked with going through mountains of paperwork to try and find what funds, debts, accounts, policies and commitments he had.
Being that our country is run on the issuance and use of creditor accounts,(we all have credit cards, loans, mortgages, 401k’s, IRA’s, 529’s and the like), leaving these things to our family seems as though it is as easy as allowing them to roll into our estate upon our passing and allow the estate to be divided equally. Such is NOT the case. Any fund accounts MUST be transferred to an estate account,(assuming your surviving spouse, children or relatives know where your accounts are held and which cannot be done until a certificate of death is obtained). Subsequent to that, there must be publication of the passing of the person whose estate is being setup, then an executor must be chosen. (Yes, this a daunting and complicated affair) Finally, all debts are paid out of the aforementioned estate account and any remainder can de divided equally amongst survivors of the deceased.
Therein lies the need for a Will. Within a will, an executor can be designated, all accounts can be detailed, all debts can be listed and all property can be designated to survivors of the estate such as land, autos, homes, momentos, heirlooms and the like. I cannot stress this enough, without a Will, you are considered to have died “intestate”, meaning without a will. As such, all of the procedures that my siblings and I are dealing with must be gone through. Granted, it is easier with my siblings because we all are on the same page. However, if not for that, the estate could go into probate and that is another set of issues and problems.
I cannot stress this enough, everyone needs a Will, not for yourself, but for those who survive you, whether it be children, siblings, spouse or parent. Consider it a “Last Love Letter” to your family and give them the peace of mind knowing that at their most vulnerable time, YOU have considered them and made the grieving process easier for them to bear by letting them know exactly how to handle all that you have worked so hard to build for them.
Any assistance I can give would be my pleasure. Most attorneys can create a Will and set up a trust for you, however it can be relatively expensive. (which is probably why most Americans do not have an updated Will) So feel free to email me and I will contact you directly and show you how to begin the process of getting your “Last Love Letter” written and executed through the service I market. By the way, did I mention that the membership cost is less for an entire YEAR than the cost many attorneys charge per HOUR!
Do you see ANY reason why you shouldn’t have a Will?
Take care,
William D. Calloway, CITRMS
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