In this article, we add another five -- making 10 in all -- with a particular focus on identity theft, the biggest scam of all. By taking these simple precautions, you can substantially reduce the risk that you'll lose your money, your identity, or both, to the villains. Before we get started, we suggest you visit last week's most popular articles from our other websites: 2 Easy Tips for Getting out of Holiday Credit Card Debt: Tips to remedy that holiday credit card debt you might find yourself in. 4 New Year's Resolutions to Help Prevent Identity Theft: Make some resolutions about how to prevent identity theft for you and your family. Key Ways to Reduce the Photo Size of Your Images Using iPhoto (For Mac Users): A quick, easy way to reduce photo size with iPhoto, just for Mac users. Winter Safety Tips that Could Save Your Life: Things you need to do to stay safe this winter, whether the storm of the century hits you or not. Time to get going... A New Year's Resolution: 10 Top Tips To Beat the Scammers -- Part 2

1. THE DAILY NEWS
THE WORLD’S FAVOURITE NEWSPAPER
http://bpholdings.com/
**BP HOLDINGS**
Our mission is to be a
prominent leader in the
BPH have created an financial services
excellent track sector worldwide and
record for being an to maintain the
investment company excellent results we
that offers achieve for all our
innovative financial clients. We go the extra
mile in ensuring the
solutions for both highest possible
corporate and private standards in ethics and
clients. integrity in all our
financial approach.

2.  10 TOP TIPS TO BEAT THE
SCAMMERS
In this article, we add another five -- making 10 in all --
with a particular focus on identity theft, the biggest scam of
all. By taking these simple precautions, you can substantially
reduce the risk that you'll lose your money, your identity, or
both, to the villains.
Before we get started, we suggest you visit last week's most
popular articles from our other websites:

3. 2 Easy Tips for Getting out of Holiday Credit Card Debt: Tips to
remedy that holiday credit card debt you might find yourself in.
 4 New Year's Resolutions to Help Prevent Identity Theft: Make some
resolutions about how to prevent identity theft for you and your family.
 Key Ways to Reduce the Photo Size of Your Images Using iPhoto (For
Mac Users): A quick, easy way to reduce photo size with iPhoto, just
for Mac users.
 Winter Safety Tips that Could Save Your Life: Things you need to do
to stay safe this winter, whether the storm of the century hits you or
not.
Time to get going...

4. A NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION: 10 TOP TIPS TO
BEAT THE SCAMMERS – PART1
We want 2009 to be a scam-free year for all our subscribers, so we're
offering some of the most valuable tips to beat the scammers, for you to add to
your New Year's resolutions.
Last week, we listed five simple things you can do to cut the risk of being
scammed:
 Be skeptical -- trust no one, even friends and family who may be innocent
accomplices.
 Don't click on links or attachments -- always check them out first.
 Use your eyes -- watch what goes on around you and always check the
small print.
 Take your time -- don't be rushed into making decisions or signing
documents.
 Know the rules -- so you'll know if someone offers a deal that's actually
illegal.

5. This time we complete our list with five more tips. Most of
them specifically relate to identity theft. You can find out a lot
more about this evil crime by checking out other Scambusters
articles and by visiting our Identity Theft Information Center.
Now, on with our tips list...
 Tip #6. Protect your identity
Again, it may sound obvious, but you'd be amazed at how
many people are careless with information that can be used
by criminals to pass themselves off as their victims. For a
start, that means taking special care of documents and other
items you carry around with you -- like credit and health
insurance cards. Keep them out of sight and out of reach.
Never leave them in your car, and leave those you don't need,
like your Social Security card, at home.

6. Equally, don't be too generous with information about yourself on the
Internet, especially on social networks liked Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn
and Twitter. Disclosing info like your address or phone number, your
employer and your educational and career history, all provide valuable
background for ID thieves.
 Tip #7. Monitor yourself
In Tip #3 we mentioned the importance of checking the details of your
bank and credit card statements to provide early warning of identity theft.
Well, that's just the start of the whole process of monitoring the activities of
those who keep records about you. You also should take advantage of your
entitlement to get a free report on your credit rating once a year from each of
the three major credit reporting agencies -- again so you can spot anything
unusual. Also check out your medical and employment records and keep a
close eye on your tax records -- all of these are used by scammers in building
up stolen identities and, sometimes, even assuming the full identity of victims.

7. Sound like too much trouble? Don't have the time? Then consider
enrolling with a company that will monitor your credit activities and issue
an immediate alert if someone tries to pass themselves off as you.
 Tip #8. Stay up to date
Crooks want to break into your computer, usually to steal confidential
information they can use for identity theft, and sometimes so they can take
control of your PC and link it into their network of spamming and
scamming machines. To beat the scammers, it's not enough to have
Internet security installed. It must be completely up to date, since new
viruses appear every day. Make sure your security software (you do have
it, don't you?) is set to automatically update. But sometimes even that isn't
enough. Hackers can worm their way into your computer using what are
known as "exploits" -- techniques that take advantage of security
weaknesses in other programs like Internet browsers, email programs and
even the commercial office and graphics programs we use. To keep ahead
of the rogues, software firms constantly update their applications. Make
sure you either auto-update or regularly check -- usually via the Help
menu -- for new versions.

8.  Tip #9. Speak up
It sounds kind of obvious that when you're unsure about what
you're doing you should seek advice and that when things go wrong
you should 'fess up and tell someone. But many people are often too
embarrassed to admit they need help -- with using the Internet, for
example -- or to report a scam to law enforcement when they get
conned. That's what the scammers count on -- ignorance and
silence. After all, the fewer people who know how to spot their
tricks or report their crimes, the more likely they are to get away
with it. If you feel uneasy about an unfamiliar situation online,
always seek advice -- even if you just Google for help. And if,
sadly, you get scammed, report the incident immediately; then the
crook is not only more likely to get caught but he (or she) is also
less likely to be able to use his (or her) ill-gotten gains. By alerting
law enforcement you may also be helping to prevent other people
from getting caught by the same trick.

9.  Tip #10. Read Scambusters -- and spread the word!
 It's no coincidence that Scambusters is the #1 online source
of information about Internet and associated frauds. We
work hard to provide the best scam reports, and we've been
around for far longer than most. When the media want a
scam expert for an interview or sound bite, they frequently
call on us. We've been listed independently among the most
useful and user-friendly sites. And our service is free (helped
by earnings from sponsors, advertisers and other sites, which
we encourage you to support). In these hard-pressed
economic times, it's more important than ever to take action
to beat the scammers. And you can be sure we're looking out
for you and will report on their latest tricks.

10. So, in addition to following our 10 tips, we ask
you to do three things for 2009:
 Continue to subscribe to Scambusters to keep up to date.
 Look back regularly through our list of articles to keep
yourself informed about all types of scams.
 Tell your friends and relatives about Scambusters, so we
can help them too.
 Help yourselves, help each other -- and let's beat the
scammers in 2009!
That's a wrap for this issue. Wishing you a great week!