Most of us couldn't live without our e-mail. It's how we communicate with friends, family, and with business associates on a daily basis. Once you have an e-mail address for any length of time the spammers (and worse!) find you.

So pay attention to your e-mail and never click on links! Not the ones that say they are from your bank, your credit card company, PayPal or any financial website. Or the ones that say they are offering a patch for some type of computer software problem or glitch.

So what if you do need to go to your bank's website? Go there directly and not by clicking on a link in an e-mail. Or pick up your phone and call them. And, if you have a computer program and need something from Microsoft - go to Microsoft's website and find what you need that way.

If a friend e-mails you a link to a singing frog video and you are absolutely sure it's safe, well, okay, you can click on that. However, you can also go to the site (youtube, cnn, etc.) and find the link yourself. If more people would avoid clicking on those links spammers will have to give up!

Is there any way to protect yourself from identity theft? Yes and no. There are precautions you can take - just like you can take precautions to keep people from breaking into your home. But there is no 100% guarantee that your identify can't ever be stolen.

By following a few simple tips, you can greatly reduce your chances of becoming a victim of identity theft.

1. Do not carry your extra credit cards, your Social Security card, birth certificate, or passport in your wallet or purse except when necessary. This practice minimizes the amount of information a thief can steal. Photocopy everything in your wallet so if it is stolen you know exactly who to call.
2. Never click on links in any emails you receive from financial institutions - even if you're 100% sure they're legitimate. Instead, go to your browser and type in the domain name of the financial institution (e.g. www.yourbank.com or www.paypal.com) and then login to your account. Some emails you receive that state they are from financial accounts are actually fake and are called "phishing" emails.
3. Have virus and spyware detection software installed on your computer and keep them updated.
4. If you can, install a lockable mailbox at your residence to reduce mail theft.
5. Take credit card receipts with you. Never toss them in a public trash container.
6. Never leave your purse or wallet unattended at work or in any public place including churches, restaurants, health fitness clubs, parties, or shopping carts. And, never leave your purse or wallet in open view in your car, even when your car is locked.
7. Destroy all checks immediately after you close a checking account.
8. If you can, do notify have you bank mail your checks to you. Tell your bank that you prefer to pick them up.
9. Always, reconcile your check and credit card statements in a timely fashion, and contact your credit card company about any purchases you did not make.
10. Do not print your Social Security number or your driver's license number on your personal checks.
11. Keep a list of all your credit accounts and bank accounts in a secure place so you can quickly call the issuers to inform them about missing or stolen cards.
12. Always shred pre-approved credit card offers before throwing them in the trash.
13. If you don't receive a billing statement from credit cards or utility companies, notify the company immediately.

The above tips are no guarantee that your identity can't be stolen. However, by following these tips and by paying attention to your statements and accounts you are making it more difficult for someone to steal your identity.

When is an internet e-mail a hoax?

E-mail is easy! With the click of a button you can send information to your friend that lives across town or to your friend that lives on the other side of the world. Maybe because sending information is so easy people get carried away. If you are most everyone else, you most likely get numerous e-mails every week warning you of internet scams or giving advice on what to do to protect yourself. One recent e-mail that went around claimed that a serial killer was was luring women out of their home by playing a tape of a crying baby. Of course, the e-mail said not to open your door for a crying baby, but instead to call the police. This story has several versions, and after doing some research, none of the stories can be substantiated

So how do you know if an e-mail you receive (most likely one that has been forwarded on from someone else) contains factual information?

Do some research on your own. If someone is claiming a "crying baby" story contact your local police or sheriff's office and see if they have had any complaints. A good internet source to check is www.snoops.com. This site has information on numerous "urban legends" and also if there is factual information to back up a story - will indicate it is a "true" story.

Another good resource is the Better Business Bureau website. It has a list of recent scams and security alerts.

7 Tips to Ease Your Pets’ Fireworks Fears

Summertime includes many celebrations that often include fireworks. This can be a nightmare for many pets and their owners it can be a nightmare. The loud noises, flashing lights, and smell of sulfur can cause excessive fear in pets. Nervous behaviors such as trembling, whimpering, and panting may be distressful to the pet, but the animal’s natural response to flee from what he interprets as a threatening situation may result in serious injury. Some dogs are so frightened by fireworks that they may run through glass windows, or escape from the yard and run the risk of being hit by a car.

Here are a few tips from HomeoPet to keep your pet calm and safe this Fourth of July:

1. Leave your pets at home and indoors. Most pets are afraid of fireworks and may try to run away.
2. Close all doors and windows and put on background music to muffle the sound.
3. Close curtains and blinds to block the flashing lights.
4. Be sure that your pets are wearing identification tags or have microchips in case they do run away or get lost.
5. Try to distract your pet with chew toys and games, or play with another pet that does not share his fear.
6. If you have time, desensitization techniques with appropriate sound CDs, such as thunder, fireworks, trains, sirens, etc. may help pets get used to the sounds at a lower volume, then as they become more comfortable, gradually increase the volume.
7. If your pet has noise phobias, speak to your veterinarian about a natural homeopathic, non-sedating remedy such as HomeoPet Storm Stress to keep your pet calm during storm and fireworks seasons.
   For more information, please visit www.homeopet.com

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