Everything To Know About Medical Identity Theft Medical Theft Posted on January 16, 2023 What Is Medical Identity Theft? According to the Federal Trade Commission, 19 people become victims of identity theft and fraud each minute. Similarly to identity theft, medical identity theft is when someone uses an individual’s personal information – such as their name, social security number, and health insurance account number or Medicare number. With this information, thieves can see a doctor, receive prescription drugs, purchase medical devices, and submit claims with insurance providers all under your name. And that’s not all. If the thief’s health information is mixed up with yours, it could have a serious negative impact on the medical care you’re able to get, the health benefits you’re provided, and it could destroy your credit. Identity theft criminals often target senior citizens and children. In a recent case, a certified nursing assistant was charged with stealing the personal information of several elderly individuals in retirement homes. The thief managed to steal financial documents belonging to the residents and use them to apply for credit cards online. And for children, an estimated 300 percent increase in child identity theft has occurred over the course of two years. Identity theft is becoming more common and more dangerous as thieves learn new ways to get hold of what is not theirs. By learning about the signs to look out for if someone is stealing your medical information and how to protect your medical information, you’ll be a lot less likely to face such a situation. How Can Medical Identity Theft Occur? Identity theft is prevailing, but why would a thief get out of their way and go after medical identity theft? At first glance, it’s easy to overlook the severity of these scams. Most of us are unaware of how harmful they can be to us. But unfortunately, a thief’s health information and history shared with yours can easily ruin both your credit and reputation. Because your medical information is so valuable, thieves can do a number of things with your information, from using it for themselves to selling it on the Dark Web for profit. By understanding how valuable your medical information really is, you’ll begin to think twice before leaving it in your car or procrastinating a trip to your mailbox. How To Protect Yourself from Medical Identity Theft You were billed for a prescription that wasn’t yours. Or you got a bill for a medical procedure you don’t remember requesting. Or maybe you received a misdiagnosis for a surgery you didn’t have. You probably assumed it was an error from your healthcare provider. But what if you were a victim of medical identity theft and you didn’t know it? Medical identity theft is so prevalent that most of us don’t see it coming or don’t think it will ever happen to us. A recent case of medical identity theft occurred when a mother of four was charged with giving birth to a meth-addicted baby. But the woman wasn’t pregnant, and she hadn’t recently given birth. Unknowingly, a meth addict broke into the woman’s car and stole her driver’s license. The thief then used it at the hospital to receive medical benefits during childbirth. After months of DNA testing and court appearances, the woman was exonerated of any blame but was still left having to pay over $10,000 in medical bills! Medical identity theft is a growing menace. And to obtain a person’s medical records, a thief doesn’t have to do much. By simply getting hold of your wallet with your health insurance card in it, or finding medical records you threw away, anybody can take advantage of your medical benefits and pretend to be you. To carry out any medical identity theft, all the thief needs is your Personally Identifiable Information (PII). This consists of your full name, date of birth, contact information, social security number, driver’s license, passport information or financial records. Having this information fall into the wrong hands can lead to serious consequences. Protect documents that contain your medical information To ensure you don’t become another victim of identity theft, let’s get into what you need to know about medical identity theft and what information you could be leaving out that could make you a prime target to thieves and criminals. Keep your medical records, health insurance records, and any other documents with your medical information in a safe place. These may include: Health insurance enrollment forms Health insurance cards Prescriptions Prescription bottles Billing statements Explanation of benefits statements from your health insurance company Most records consist of important information that can be useful to a thief. Such as the doctor you visited, the cost of those services, how much your health insurance company covered, and how much you’ll have to pay. Thieves are aware of the common places people may leave their medical information. The most common places thieves look for are: cars, mailboxes, garbage cans, wallets and purses. Getting Rid of Important Documents When we don’t have use in bills, receipts or documents anymore, we throw them away. Thieves take advantage of this, so you may want to take a few steps before getting rid of anything that could provide personal information about you. If you have medical bills or documents that you don’t want to keep anymore. Either because you’ve scanned them or have a digital copy available, you should shred or destroy them before disposing of them. If it’s something like a prescription bottle, you can use a marker to block out any medical or personal information that could be helpful to the thief. If you’re expecting statements with medical information in the mail, be sure to take your mail out of the mailbox as soon as possible. To limit the amount of medical information you get by mail, you can consider getting your medical bills or explanation benefits through an online portal. Protect Your Medical Information From Scammers and Thieves The most important tool to keeping your information safe and avoid medical identity theft is to refrain from giving your personal or medical information to just anybody who calls asking for it. Unexpected calls, emails or texts could lead to a scammer trying to trick you into giving their information. There are signs to look out for if someone is using your medical information. Besides taking these steps to protect your medical information, it’s important to know how to tell if someone is using your information. Here are a few warning signs to look out for: Getting bills from your doctor for services that aren’t familiar to you Errors in your explanation of benefits statement such as prescription medication or services you didn’t take Receiving a call from a debt collector about a medical debt you don’t owe Credit report and medical debt collection notices that you don’t recognize A notice from your health insurance company saying you’ve reached your benefit limit You are denied insurance coverage because your medical records show you a pre-existing condition you don’t have If you think someone is using your personal information to see a doctor, get prescription drugs, or submit claims with your insurance provider, there are things you can do that will limit the damage: 1- Get hold of your medical records Contact each doctor, hospital, pharmacy, laboratory and health insurance company where the thief may have used your information for themselves. Explain your situation and get copies of your medical records as you may have to submit records request forms. 2- Review and report errors Take action and report any errors to your health care provider in writing. 3- Observe your credit reports You can get hold of your free credit reports from three credit bureaus at annualcreditreport.com or call 1-877-322-8228. Keep Your Medical Information and History Private With FOUND ME Now that we’ve covered the importance of keeping your medical information private, there are steps you can take to help you with the process while keeping track of all your records in one place. FOUND ME is a company that can help you do just that. FOUND ME offers interactive emergency bracelets, necklaces and cards with QR codes that once scanned can provide vital medical information… but rest assured, it’s all confidential! In case of emergencies (car accident, heart failure, etc) paramedics or first responders may scan the QR code and before accessing your medical info will need to get permission from emergency contacts that you trust and have selected on the FOUND ME App. Up to five people in your emergency contacts can give permission to a first responder scanning your bracelet. However if you feel comfortable having the information provided without permission, you can simply opt for that on the settings in the FOUND ME app… Your level of security is up to you. FOUND ME App can also help you keep track of your medical records while keeping them all in one secure place. FOUND ME solutions meet the latest global data security and encryption standards to fight identity theft. To learn more about FOUND ME and everything it has to offer, visit FOUND ME About us We are all at risk of losing the people pets and valuables that mean the most to us. FOUND ME was created as a global solution to tamper this risk and provide peace of mind. We exist to protect everyone and everything important in our customer’s lives. Subscribe for content And special offers Sign up now to find out when we launch I agree to the Terms and Conditions provided by Found Me. By completing this form, I give consent to Found Me to send me SMS text messages and emails. Message frequency varies. Standard message and data rates may apply. Text STOP to opt out, reply HELP for help. You can unsubscribe at any time Leave this field empty if you're human: Follow us Try us out
Tipping Around The World Scam Travel Posted on January 9, 2023 Everything to Know About Tipping Etiquette Tipping Around The World! In a world where service jobs are growing, and the earning potential of these positions isn’t very high. Tipping around the world has become increasingly important for those in the industry. Whether it’s servers, bartenders, hair stylists, and others in the service industry, tips make up for low wages. Essentially, tips make up a substantial part of income. Tipping around the world is not only a sign of respect and appreciation for good service. It has become an essential part of the American culture of hospitality. Unlike in Europe and a few other countries, customer service workers are encouraged to provide excellent service to customers with the hope of a well-deserved tip. While it isn’t mandatory – tipping around the world is greatly appreciated and expected. Why Do We Tip? So, why do we tip around the world? We tip for a number of different reasons. The appropriate tipping range is 15, 18, 20, and 25 percent. Tipping projects your satisfaction with the service received. In fact, it’s not uncommon for a waiter or manager to come up to you and respectfully ask you why you tipped so low. Generally, they will word it in a more professional manner, asking you if anything was wrong with the service. This may seem condescending to some customers. But most restaurants in the United States and around the world rely on constructive criticism, and if a customer tips low, it usually suggests that the service wasn’t great. Tipping Around the World Can Be Perceived as Offensive and Unnecessary As I mentioned, tipping around the world is generally appreciated and encouraged, especially in the United States. This is because the federal minimum wage for tipped workers in the United States is $2.13 an hour, making tips crucial. But what if I told you that in some countries, tipping can be considered rude or offensive? And in others, tipping is unnecessary? I moved to the United States when I was 18, and having lived in France prior, I was unaware of the importance of tipping. One evening my friends and I treated ourselves to dinner at a restaurant downtown. The waiter divided the bill into four and I owed $82. I gave exactly that. When the waiter came back with the checkbook to let us sign our receipts, he asked me if anything was wrong with the service. I was confused and embarrassed. I explained that I was new to the United States and should’ve educated myself on tipping etiquette prior. The waiter was relieved to know that it was nothing personal and I tipped extra that night. I got home and spent the rest of the night researching the difference in tipping around the world… and made sure to never make a mistake like that again in the United States. So, why didn’t I tip at the restaurant? Because tipping around the world is not the same! In Europe, a 15 percent charge is automatically included in a bill, whether it’s a restaurant, a cafe, or a bakery. If you’re feeling generous and you’re very happy with your dining experience. You can leave around 5 or 10 percent and it’s more than appreciated, but certainly not encouraged or necessary. Have you ever heard the saying that “the French are so rude!” Well, it’s no secret that servers in Europe make a lot less effort than those in America, and it all comes down to the tip. Servers in the United States work harder to receive a tip, whereas servers in Europe already know 15 percent is included. This is why the United States is known for its incredible customer service. Why and Where you shouldn’t tip? And since tipping around the world is so different… Let’s talk about where you shouldn’t tip. Japan is one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations but is notoriously the one where you should not tip. It’s considered a rude gesture and can even be offensive. The Japanese philosophy is that the workers work as a team, and their form of a “tip” is a return. Gratitude and consistency is the best tip. Similarly to Japan, tipping could be considered rude in China. Some places in China offer a 10 percent service charge on your receipt. But there’s no need to tip on top of that or give extra cash even if a service charge wasn’t included. South Korea is another East Asian nation where tipping can be considered offensive. You may be sensing a theme here, but the philosophy remains somewhat the same. With all these different etiquettes on tipping around the world, it can be difficult to remember where and where not to tip. So, it’s important to do your research before visiting a country so you avoid that embarrassing mistake I made when dining in the United States for the first time. Tip Recommendations If you’re not a numbers person like I am. Then you probably rely on the tip recommendations at the bottom of a receipt. Most receipts have conveniently listed the 15, 18, and 20 percent tip amounts, but if you do the math, most of those recommendations aren’t exactly correct. More and more people have noticed a couple of extra dollars than they were supposed to be. While it can also just be a generated error by the cashier system, it still remains incorrect and is worth looking out for. So don’t get upset with your server if you notice that the tip recommendations aren’t calculated correctly. How to Ensure You Won’t Get Scammed While Tipping Around the World Unfortunately, you can get scammed when tipping around the world. Whether it’s at a restaurant or through a taxi service, if you aren’t familiar. The correct tipping etiquette of the country you are visiting. You’re likely to be scammed. Tourists are a perfect target for scamming a couple of extra bucks. Because most of the time, it goes unnoticed. A New Yorker is familiar with fees and tips and can easily notice if they’ve overpaid, whereas a tourist will just accept it. Speaking of New York, yellow taxi cabs are a tourist’s favorite form of transportation. They’re everywhere all the time and it almost feels wrong to go to New York and not ride in a yellow cab. But these taxi drivers can easily take you and your money for a longer ride, by taking a substantially longer route, charging you for luggage, charging you for extra people, or increasing the tip recommendations on the credit card machine encouraging you to pay more than you should have to. Thankfully, there are a few things you can do to avoid getting scammed while tipping around the world. The first thing is to learn about tipping in the country you are planning to go to. Whether it’s a state or a different country, tipping around the world can be very different. Knowing how much to tip can save you a lot of stress, embarrassment, and money. Another thing you can do is calculate a bill yourself. If you’re like me and numbers just aren’t your thing, that’s okay! We live in a tech-savvy generation where you can simply calculate how much to tip online. There are even tipping calculator apps on your phone and Apple Watch that can become handy when in hesitation. Travel Tips You May Want To Consider Before Taking Your Next Trip We’ve covered the stresses of tipping around the world but I want to go into one more thing that I think is important to deal with when traveling. Leaving belongings behind is something that seems to go hand in hand with traveling. It almost seems inevitable, whether it’s your phone, keys, backpack, or luggage – we all face the risk of leaving something behind. I personally experienced leaving my credit card at the restaurant after paying and tipping the server for his excellent job…not to mention sunglasses, an item that I lose at least once a year! FOUND ME is there to help you in case you lose your belongings. FOUND ME provides interactive tags and labels with QR codes that can be attached to any of your belongings (credit cards, passports, sunglasses, PC, keys…anything that is valuable to you). When Good Samaritans find your lost item, they have to simply scan the QR code. The FOUND ME tag to open up a secure and anonymous chat with you. The owner, and start the returning process. To learn more about our tracing mechanism and everything it has to offer, visit FOUND ME About us We are all at risk of losing the people pets and valuables that mean the most to us. FOUND ME was created as a global solution to tamper this risk and provide peace of mind. We exist to protect everyone and everything important in our customer’s lives. Subscribe for content And special offers Sign up now to find out when we launch I agree to the Terms and Conditions provided by Found Me. By completing this form, I give consent to Found Me to send me SMS text messages and emails. Message frequency varies. Standard message and data rates may apply. Text STOP to opt out, reply HELP for help. You can unsubscribe at any time Leave this field empty if you're human: Follow us Try us out
How to Return a Lost Wallet Objects Posted on January 2, 2023 Did You Ever Lost Your Wallet? It’s Valentine’s Day and you’re taking the girl of your dreams on a romantic date. Just as the evening is coming to an end, you reach into your pocket only to realize that your wallet is missing. Your face gets red. You have anticipated this moment for weeks and not only are you worrying about the whereabouts of your wallet. But you have no idea how you’re going to ask the girl of your dreams to pay for the both of you considering you asked her out. With extreme embarrassment, you explain the situation and uncomfortably watch her pull her wallet out from her purse under the table. This is a moment you will never forgive yourself for. Losing wallets is common, more common than you’d probably think. Essentially, wallets hold our identities, we need them all the time; when we get pulled over, when we need to prove our age at a bar, and we pretty much need to prove our identification for everything. Whether it’s checking in a hotel or opening a bank account, wallets contain the most important cards we hold. Can Anything Bad Happen If You Lose Your Wallet? When you find a wallet in the street, do you think about the story behind it? Is someone currently on a date and just realized they lost their wallet? Is a mother at the grocery store holding her five-year-old son’s hand unable to pay for food and basic necessities due to the misplacement of her wallet? Do you know how to return a lost wallet when you find one? Are you eager to read about it? Well, you’re in the right place. This article will cover everything you need to know about lost wallets. Moreover, give you solutions as well as advice on how to track the owner down and how to return a lost wallet. What To Do When You Lost Your Wallet Being worried and anxious about losing your wallet is completely valid. Any cash in the wallet is probably the least of your concerns. Inside that wallet are your driver’s license, debit card, credit cards, health insurance card, and maybe a few gift and loyalty cards. In a situation like this, you have every reason to be frustrated and feel helpless. But try to remain calm and do as much research as you can about lost wallets and how to search for one. Instead of panicking and thinking the worst, try to follow these steps: Look in the last spot you had it (a restaurant, gas station, car) Contact your debit and credit card issuers and speak about getting a new card, even if it’s temporary, you can’t do much without your cards Freeze your credit Contact the police Contact the department of motor vehicles Contact your health insurance company Prepare for it if it happens again Consider something that could help you if you happen to lose your wallet again. You could purchase a Bluetooth tracker designed for your wallet. You can use your smartphone to find the Bluetooth tracker inside your wallet by directing you to its exact location. However, you will have to consider distance and radius as disadvantages. What Should You Do If You Find Someone Else’s Wallet That They’ve Lost? When finding a lost wallet, the first thing you want to consider is the location of where you found it. Ask yourself: Is it by a restaurant? A parking lot? A public restroom? The location of where you find the wallet will help you determine where you could hand it in. You could also consider taking the wallet to any branch of the bank where they have a card, most of the time the bank will know how to contact the owner. Unfortunately, there are not many things you can do to track a person down and return a lost wallet, especially if there are no locations or business cards that could direct you to a specific location. And if you do happen to find the owner, it’s not uncommon that a random stranger will claim the wallet and act like it’s their own. There is, however, a simpler solution than trusting a stranger with a person’s belongings. Although you may be a good samaritan, it doesn’t mean everyone is. Locate A Missing Wallet With The Help Of FOUND ME FOUND ME provides a very easy and fast solution on how to return a lost wallet or any lost belongings you care for. FOUND ME markets interactive labels and tags with QR codes that can be place inside or outside of a wallet and will encourage just about anybody who finds it to scan them. Once scanned, the finder will automatically be connected with the owner through an automate secure chat. They can discuss details on where and how to return a lost wallet (or any other belonging). Whether you left your wallet during a connection flight in Tokyo, or left your wallet at the gas station down the street, FOUND ME will help you reunite with your lost wallet as the secure chat can be translated into 46 different languages. Lost Wallets Are Rarely Returned: Research and Statistics According to CNN, only one in five people who discover a wallet in the street would hand it in or try to track the owner down. The study shows that over fifty percent of people say they would return the wallet which throw’s people’s honesty into question but also shows the importance of taking care of your belongings. Researchers conducted an experiment and dropped twenty wallets and purses in five different cities over the course of the summer. Each wallet and purse contained $10, tickets, receipts, a photograph, and business cards that linked the item to the research team. The wallets and purses were purposely left at cafes, museum, bookstores, shopping malls, on the street, and in public transportation. The researchers found that only twenty percent of the wallets. And purses were returne, and only fifty percent of those contained the original amount of money. The researchers then interviewed a random sample of adults and found that ten percent had lost their wallets in the past five years. While eight percent had their wallets stolen. The research concluded that people carry an average of $130 in cash and more than $10,000 in credit in their wallets every day. The average person will spend more than 110 hours replacing their personal items as long as credit and debit cards. Sarah Blaney, a card fraud expert, expressed “losing your wallet is a highly stressful experience and causes great inconvenience and worry.” She then went on to explain that “with a vast majority of people carrying their credit and debit cards, as well as vital personal information in their wallets. Millions of people are putting themselves at risk of fraud.” The five cities The study concluded that within the five cities, London proved to be the most honest, with all returned wallets still containing the original amount of money. Researchers also found that a wallet or purse has a higher chance of being return. If it’s been lost in a museum, with 47% of the ones dropp there having been return successfully. None, however, were returne in cafes or on public transportation. FOUND ME protects your belongings, but also your pets and even your loved ones. Its interactive tags, labels, bracelets, and even medical cards that can help you or a family member in case of emergency! you can learn more about FOUND ME and how to protect your world. About us We are all at risk of losing the people pets and valuables that mean the most to us. FOUND ME was created as a global solution to tamper this risk and provide peace of mind. We exist to protect everyone and everything important in our customer’s lives. Subscribe for content And special offers Sign up now to find out when we launch I agree to the Terms and Conditions provided by Found Me. By completing this form, I give consent to Found Me to send me SMS text messages and emails. Message frequency varies. Standard message and data rates may apply. Text STOP to opt out, reply HELP for help. You can unsubscribe at any time Leave this field empty if you're human: Follow us Try us out
Did You Know Airlines Can Lose Your Pets? Pets Posted on December 26, 2022 Your Guide To Successfully Traveling With Your Pet What You Should Know Before Traveling With Your Pets Traveling is thrilling and exciting, but it can also be chaotic and nerve wracking. There’s so much preparation that comes with it, and rushing to your gate is just one of the things we anxiously anticipate as we enter the doors of an airport. Flying with your pets can be as stressful, if not more stressful than flying with your children. Whether your pet is in a carrier on your lap, or your pet is in the cockpit of the airplane, you face the terrifying risk of losing them. Every airline is different and has different requirements, but according to an article on The Dodo, animals are sometimes treated worse than luggage. Carriers can get crushe and break open during transportation if not handle with proper care, enabling your frightene pet to flee. What happens if your beloved pet happens to escape? Chances are, an airline worker, baggage handler or traveler will come across your lost pet either in the cockpit or inside the airport. But how do they reunite the pet to its rightful owner? In this blog, we’ll get into everything you need to know about traveling with your beloved pet, and what you can do to increase the chances that your pet is returned if and when found. With knowledge and a few helpful tips on what you can do to increase the chances of having your pet returned to you, your next trip can be less stressful. What To Consider When Traveling With Your Pet On An Airplane Successful travel with your pet begins weeks, or even months prior to the day of your trip. Traveling with your pet requires a lot of planning and preparation in order to make the experience as pleasant as possible for both of you and your furry friend. Let’s dive into a few steps you should take to ensure a positive experience with your pet. Homework and research about the airline you choose to travel with is crucial. This includes: Type of travel Determine whether your pet qualifies to fly with you on your lap or under your seat, or in a crate in the cockpit. This usually depends on the size and weight of your pet. Smaller dogs have a much higher chance of flying with you in the cabin than larger dogs. Emotional support dogs can usually fly with you in the cabin regardless of their size. Requirements Every airline requires paperwork, but some airlines require more than others. Vaccinations and health certificates are a must. If you’ve travelled with your pet before and you think you know all the steps to take, ensure that you use the same airline and confirm that the requirements haven’t changed or updated since your last trip. Crates While you are getting paperwork at the vet, ask your vet to take precise dimensions of the weight and dimensions of your pet to help determine the right size of your transport carrier. Once you have the crate, familiarize your pet to its crate by leaving it open for your pet to get in and out of prior to traveling. This will help your pet with the stress of being in a new and unknown space. Sedatives Most pets are anxious when traveling or experience separation anxiety. Consider giving your pet a sedative prescribed by your vet to help them stay relaxed during the flight. It’s important to test the sedative prior to flying as every pet is different and may react to the drug differently. Ensuring you have the right drug that helps your pet relax is crucial to helping your pet have a positive travel experience. A QR Code on a Dog’s Collar Can Help a Finder Contact the Owner. Collars – we put collars on our dogs and cats to help identify who their owners. But there’s not a whole lot of information on them, and the information that is on them can ultimately be take advantage of. Found by the wrong kind of person, your phone number and address can lead to a number of privacy issues. In a previous blog, I discussed the dangers of sharing your phone number and the privacy issues that may follow. Sharing your phone number with strangers is never a good idea, and by labeling your phone number on your dog or cat’s collar allows just anybody who comes across your lost pet to take advantage of it. And if found by the right hands, your phone number can be hard or even impossible to read. Over time, dog tags deteriorate and many owners don’t notice that their information is unreadable. Save your pets with Found Me Thankfully, FOUND ME has come with an alternative for these issues. A tag with a QR code can protect your privacy by keeping your information completely confidential, even your phone number and address. When the QR code is scanned, the finder is automatically connecte to the owner through an automate chat. Your phone number, location and home address is not shared unless you choose to do so when chatting with the finder and discussing options for return. No Language barrier As we all know, airports are usually busy and chaotic with millions of people from all over the world racing from terminal to terminal, and gate to gate. But there is no language barrier with FOUND ME. If your pet’s finder happens to speak a different language than you do, you’ll still be able to successfully communicate with the finder as the chat will automatically translate your language and the finder’s language according to the language or nationality your respective smartphones are set to. Scan me for a reward Some dog tags have a “scan me for a reward” on them which can encourage those who come across your missing dog to scan the tag without wasting any time. So once your pet is returne, FOUND ME will send a company reward to the finder to thank him for his act of kindness. You will also have the option to add an extra personal reward for the finder (you will set the amount you want) and send them a thank you note. This doesn’t mean you need to reward your finder with an amount of money, and you don’t need to reward the finder if you don’t want to. FOUND ME’s ultimate goal FOUND ME’s goal is to help owners reunite with their pets, children, vulnerable family members and valuable items. And as we all know, looking for a lost pet or child in a crowded area, such as an airport can be like looking for a needle in a haystack. Learn more about FOUND ME and everything it has to offer and to increase your chances of reuniting with your fur baby. About us We are all at risk of losing the people pets and valuables that mean the most to us. FOUND ME was created as a global solution to tamper this risk and provide peace of mind. We exist to protect everyone and everything important in our customer’s lives. Subscribe for content And special offers Sign up now to find out when we launch I agree to the Terms and Conditions provided by Found Me. By completing this form, I give consent to Found Me to send me SMS text messages and emails. Message frequency varies. Standard message and data rates may apply. Text STOP to opt out, reply HELP for help. You can unsubscribe at any time Leave this field empty if you're human: Follow us Try us out
What You Don’t Know About Healthcare Fraud Could Affect More Than Your Health Scam Posted on December 19, 2022 Common Types of Healthcare Fraud What Is Healthcare Fraud? There are many types of healthcare frauds, some obvious and some so disturbing you may think twice before going to your next doctor’s visit. Not to worry, armed with this information and knowledge, you will know what to look for and become the best advocate for your own health. Healthcare fraud is a crime of theft and a crime of deception. Due to this deception, the fraud looks like the provision of regular healthcare services. It may not be apparent to the naked eye that something is actually seriously wrong. As we dive into healthcare fraud investigations, we come across a variety of common schemes and trends. Healthcare fraud has been a continuing and ongoing issue, the advent of Medicare and Medicaid have unfortunately made it possible for physicians to engage in this type of abuse more than ever before, leading to the beginning of the fraud epidemic as we know it today. Healthcare professionals are taking advantage of innocent people and their lack of knowledge in this area, causing healthcare fraud to progress and become more prevalent. Most Common Types Of Healthcare Fraud: Money and Greed Can Be More Important Than Your Well-Being. Billing Scam The first and most common type of healthcare fraud is billing for services not rendered. It’s as simple as billing for things that never occurred such as a wheelchair or back brace that the patient never received. It’s something so easy for us to miss as we don’t tend to look at our medical bills and observe them as thoroughly as we should. Make no mistake, an added wheelchair to your insurance bill could increase your chances of your coverage being rejecte should you ever truly need one. And it won’t even be your fault. Over Billing for inflating services Another very common type of healthcare fraud is inflating services. For instance, a patient will get their blood drawn for some lab work, but in addition to the tests that actually occurred the lab or the provider will bill for additional tests that didn’t actually happen in order to inflate the reimbursement for Medicare or Medicaid and increase their profits. Unnecessary Medical Services The misrepresentation of services happens all too often and this is seen through non-covered services that are instead billed as cover services, such as physical therapy. In the world of pharmaceuticals, expensive drugs are billed and not dispensed and this follows to medically unnecessary services such as DME supplies (back braces, knee braces, or neck braces). And once again, lowering your chances of coverage should you ever truly need one. Almost sounds hard to believe, right? The truth is, we are being over tested and over treated and it’s affecting us financially and physically. Many of these overused procedures and services can even cause potential harm to our bodies, such as CT scans and X-rays as they expose you to unnecessary radiation. Healthcare fraud is ranked as one of the most prosecute crime, according to the FCA (Federal False Claims Act) resulting in billions of dollars on behalf of taxpayers from dishonest hospitals, pharmacies, doctors, and pharmaceutical companies. These services will show up and become part of your permanent medical record, and you could be receiving care you don’t need. Most of the procedure that are most commonly unnecessarily use are: EKG’s ($175-$299) Imaging tests performed on the lower back ($500-$1,000) MRIs and CT scans for headaches ($1,200-$2,000) Bone density scans ($100-$383) Antibiotics for sinusitis ($200-$400) PSA tests for prostate cancer ($40-$150) Mammography for breast cancer ($449-$600) Above are only some of the thousands of medical procedures that are being over prescribed for the sake of profits. Before you agree to these kinds of procedures, be mindful if it is absolutely necessary, or seek a second opinion. How To Avoid Healthcare Fraud The first step to avoiding healthcare fraud is knowing what to look for. There are many types of healthcare fraud, but the most frequent and costly is fraud committe by service provider, such as doctors, nurses, equipment providers and pharmacist. Think of anybody who orders or provides healthcare services, supplies or treatments. It’s hard to believe, but the people we depend upon and trust the most can be the ones responsible for these types of crimes. First and foremost, you need to look at your medical bill and observe the list of what items and services your insurance is covering. The date of the service line up with the date you were last seen by your provide. Try to recognize your doctor’s name on the bill to confirm that the provider’s name is in fact one of your doctor’s. Keeping track of your medical bill is crucial, but it’s easier said than done. Especially when most of the medical terms are difficult to understand resulting in us overseeing them as we skim through our medical bill. Found Me will help you stay safe from fraudsters The things and people you love can act as the angel on your shoulder you need to help you keep track of your medical records. FOUND ME offers bracelet, labels and medical cards with a QR code that in case of emergency can be scanned and provide first responders with your medical record and history. Furthermore by scanning the QR code, 5 emergency contacts can be notified and a confidential chat or video chat can be started between first responders and emergency contacts. FOUND ME app can also be the safe place where you can keep all of your important medical records and information safe, so you can securely access them wherever and whenever you need them (date of a procedure, time of the procedure, list of services, treatments and drugs, and name of your provider…) And being aware that carrying any kind of personal information could be dangerous, FOUND ME has ways to help you protect them: The app is password protected. By keeping your medical information on the FOUND ME app you do not have to carry a physical card in your wallet. Medical profile release: if you wear a FOUND ME bracelet or medical tag, you can require your emergency contacts to release your medical info to first responders only after confirming the emergency through the app. You can block your medical identifier (bracelet, card, tag…) any time through the FOUD ME app, so if you lose your bracelet or medical card and someone scans it, nothing will appear. Impacts of Healthcare Fraud: Physical Harm, Financial Harm Medical tests and producers are not a pleasant experience. They’re stressful and scary. Blood draws, biopsies, and MRI scan of the brain and body are being use for the sole purpose of profit. Patients who fall victim to these scams can also face financial risks as well as risks to their benefits. Fraudulent billing directly affects both cost and quality and is reflecte in higher premiums, more expensive service, and potential exposure to unnecessary procedures. Typically, many insurance benefits have limit, and when those limit are overuse in the eye of your insurance, your risk of being denied can be much higher leaving you in trouble if something serious does happen. This can cause real issues for the patient’s benefits should they really need them at a later point in time. Being scamme is never fun, especially when it come to your health and it’s happening from the one place you’d least expect. Due to these unnecessary tests and examinations, there has been a study reporting an oncologist falsely diagnosing cancer and giving patient’s radiation therapy as well as chemotherapy. And all in the eyes of greed and money. What To Do If You’ve Fallen Victim To Medical Fraud If you have fallen victim to medical fraud, you are not alone. The National Health Anti-Fraud Association estimates that health care fraud costs the nation about $68 billion annually. Here are some ways you can ensure you don’t fall victim to such a heinous crime: Validate all member ID cards prior to rendering service. Be sure to be accurate when submitting bills or claims for services rendered. Submit referral and treatment forms. Avoid unnecessary drug prescriptions and medical treatment. You Don’t Have To Be A Victim Of Healthcare Fraud Learning about fraud and scams can be nerve-wracking, it definitely was for me. Educating yourself on the many different ways of any type of fraud can help you avoid it from happening to you. You’re in the right place, and you’re doing your homework. With this knowledge, and these tips, you can fight against healthcare fraud and those around you from falling victim. To ensure protection and gain better knowledge and track of your medical records, visit FOUND ME to learn more about everything it has to offer. About us We are all at risk of losing the people pets and valuables that mean the most to us. FOUND ME was created as a global solution to tamper this risk and provide peace of mind. We exist to protect everyone and everything important in our customer’s lives. Subscribe for content And special offers Sign up now to find out when we launch I agree to the Terms and Conditions provided by Found Me. By completing this form, I give consent to Found Me to send me SMS text messages and emails. Message frequency varies. Standard message and data rates may apply. Text STOP to opt out, reply HELP for help. You can unsubscribe at any time Leave this field empty if you're human: Follow us Try us out
Thieves Love The Beach Just As Much As You Do Scam Posted on December 12, 2022 How To Avoid Beach Theft Why Beach Theft Is So Common Going to the beach is a classic summer activity. There’s nothing quite like it – taking in the beautiful sun rays while getting into the warm salt water. It’s a time for us to decompress and relax while taking a break from our hectic lives. Unfortunately, beach theft happens all too often, and realizing that your belongings are missing can ruin that blissful moment away from reality. Thieves are aware of why we go to the beach in the first place, and they know that the last thing on our minds is responsibility. It’s too easy to get carried away and lose track of time when you’re floating away in the ocean. The beach is one of most common places thieves tend to go, and they typically target specific people based on a number of things. The first being based on where you choose to set up camp for the day. If your ideal spot is far from people, a thief is less likely to get caught because people are less likely to see that someone is going through your things. If you’re in a crowd, people can also just assume the thief is the rightful owner. The best thing to do is find that perfect middle – no crowds, but no isolation either. When packing your beach bag, be mindful of what you bring. Ask yourself what you do need versus what you want to bring. You’re likely to need your phone, keys, and wallet. But you could do with leaving your watch and jewelry. Making a mental list of what you need versus what you want to bring can be helpful. Here are some tips to help you decide what you should and shouldn’t bring to the beach to help avoid theft. Clever Hiding Techniques To Avoid Beach Theft There are methods that can help prevent theft and give you peace of mind when you go for a dip in the ocean and leave your belongings behind. Before getting into that, as mentioned above, the first thing you should do is decide if you really need all or any of the things you are bringing with you. Here are some things to keep in mind when going to the beach: Locate yourself near people and make friends with the people in your surrounding. You could even ask somebody to watch your stuff as you leave for your hourly dip in the ocean. It will also make it that much more likely for them to speak up if they see someone rummaging through your belongings. Put your valuables in a zip-lock bag and put them under your towel. Thieves know they’re on a time crunch and will not waste any time looking in places that aren’t obvious, like your beach bag. According to The Washington Post, most thieves are actually really bad at what they do. Another clever method is by putting your belongings in a Pringle container or a cookie bag. Again, since thieves are under pressure, they’re less likely to be looking in places that don’t make sense. Use a waterproof container that will allow you to bring your valuables, such as phone and wallet with you while you go for a swim. There are anti-theft waterproof bags that you can purchase to ensure your valuables are safe. Here are the 5 best anti-theft beach bags you can purchase online to ensure more peace of mind. Think Like A Thief To Catch One Thinking like a thief is the key to crime prevention. When you’re packing your beach bag, think of what a thief would love to take home with them. Probably some cash, credit cards, expensive sunglasses? Think of where a thief would look at first glance, considering they are under pressure and ready to run. Distracting a thief can also be a good idea – put your valuables in an uncommon place that nobody would think to look. Thinking like a thief goes for any type of situation – whether you leave the keys in your car ignition to grab something in the house, or leave your house unlocked telling yourself you’ll be back in just a moment, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Thieves will take note of your carelessness and consider you a prime target. Losing Valuables On The Beach While beach theft is common, losing a belonging can be just as common. Sunglasses, cameras, phones – they all tend to disappear in the most inconvenient moments. It’s probably happened to you, and it’s happened to me. I went to the beach one morning hoping to relax and catch up with my friends. We went for a swim and ended up spending two hours in the waves exchanging stories about life. As we headed back to our belongings, we noticed our bags had been rummaged through. Instantly, I knew my keys were gone. I didn’t even have to look. It was the only thing I had left in my bag, my phone with me in a zip-lock bag, and my credit card was in my phone case. I still looked, panicked and overwhelmed. I was filled with anger and disappointment towards myself, how could I let this happen? I should’ve been more careful. When we go to the beach, we don’t expect strangers to come and take as they please. But as I mentioned, it happens more often than you think. Whether we lose something, or it’s been stolen, the feeling is never pleasant. If this has happened to you before, or you’re concerned it may happen to you, you’re in the right place. Learning about beach theft can help you be more cautious, and considering some of the clever tips and tricks can help you avoid this unfortunate situation. Theft, Scams, And Missing Items I think it’s fair to say that we have all lost something of value to us at least once in our lives. It’s an overwhelming feeling that we all try to avoid on a day-to-day basis. Nobody likes looking for their keys, phones, or wallets. Especially when you’re going in circles and looking in the same places. There are many studies on the psychology of losing things, how it makes us feel hopeless and helpless. It’s a disruption to our sense of control and some of us never seem to learn from our mistakes. Losing or misplacing an object can turn into a habit we just can’t seem to shake. And unfortunately, losing or misplacing something can lead to theft, especially valuables such as wallets as they usually provide your address and identity. But what happens if you come across somebody’s belongings and you’re unsure of how to return it? It’s an issue that many of us have probably faced throughout our lifetimes. Even if our intentions are to return it, it still feels like theft. I will go into a few ways to overcome this issue, that help both finder and owner. An Innovative Solution Having your valuables get lost or stolen is inevitable, or is it? There are ways you can outsmart a thief, and even your forgetful self. FOUNDME is a company whose main goal is to help you reunite with your missing or lost valuables, and can even help you return a lost belonging to its rightful owner. As I mentioned earlier, finding something that is not yours and wanting to return it can be a frustrating and agonizing experience that leaves you feeling helpless. FOUND ME tags and labels with QR code can be used on any valuable belongings, such as phones, cameras, glasses, or wallets and once scanned will automatically connect you, their owner, with the good samaritan who found them. In the case of a stolen belonging, thieves tend to grab a purse or bag, take what’s valuable in it and leave it behind. Somebody may then come across that favorite beach bag with your vintage camera in it, or that purse you just got for your birthday. If a good samaritan were to come across it, they would be encouraged to scan the QR code on the FOUND ME tag, typically out of curiosity, and finally be able to reach out and connect with you (along with 5 additional contacts you selected) through a secure chat. And if you are in a different country, FOUND ME chat will be translated to your language for you, and the finder’s language for them making the returning process easy and fast! Learn more about FOUND ME, and everything it has to offer when it comes to protecting the things you care about. About us We are all at risk of losing the people pets and valuables that mean the most to us. FOUND ME was created as a global solution to tamper this risk and provide peace of mind. We exist to protect everyone and everything important in our customer’s lives. Subscribe for content And special offers Sign up now to find out when we launch I agree to the Terms and Conditions provided by Found Me. By completing this form, I give consent to Found Me to send me SMS text messages and emails. Message frequency varies. Standard message and data rates may apply. Text STOP to opt out, reply HELP for help. You can unsubscribe at any time Leave this field empty if you're human: Follow us Try us out
Taillights Stay on When Car Is Off: Why Your Car Battery Is Dead and What to Do Travel Posted on December 5, 2022 You wake up and get ready for work. It’s your average Monday morning and you feel great. Everything is organized, you’re on time, and you’re ready to go. You get in your car only to see nothing happening. The car is not turning on. Fear surges over you. You can’t be late for your job, But you have no way of making it to your destination without your car. In this blog, we will cover what to do when your Car Battery Is Dead, how to avoid your car battery from dying, and go over a few solutions that can help you and your car remain on good terms! Car Batteries – What Drains Your Battery? A number of things can make you feel drained; an unbalanced diet, a long day at work, or even spending too much time around other people. And although your car battery isn’t attending social gatherings, there are plenty of things that can leave it feeling just as drained. A dead car battery is a driver’s nightmare. Especially when you’re on a time schedule and can’t be late to wherever you may be going. However, it can be avoided. To prevent a dead car battery, you need to find out what causes your battery to die. In order to determine what it is that is draining your battery, check these things: 1-Your Headlights If your car battery keeps draining, the first thing to check are your lights. Your tail lights are the number one most common reason for draining car batteries. Most of the time, we don’t realize they are on because most cars take a minute or so to turn off. 2-The Parasitic Draw This one has always surprised me – Even if your car is off, your battery provides power to things such as the clock and radio. These things shouldn’t have a major impact on your battery. What may drain it are your interior lights, door lights, or even a bad fuse. 3-Your Battery Connection. The positive and negative terminals connected to your battery can sometimes mess up over time. These terminals may have also become corroded over time. This may cause trouble to your vehicle and explain why your car isn’t starting. 4-Your Battery Connection The positive and negative terminals connected to your battery can sometimes mess up over time. These terminals may have also become corroded over time. This may cause trouble to your vehicle and explain why your car isn’t starting. 5-Temperature Freezing winter weather and extremely hot summer days can potentially cause problems to your car’s battery. Although rare, it does happen. If your battery is older, intense cold or heat could weaken its performance or even cause it to die completely. It’s important to have regular checkups and make sure that your can is suitable for your weather conditions. 6-The Battery Isn’t Charging While You Drive Your car relies on your battery when you start the engine. However, when your vehicle is running, your battery relies on the alternator to help it remain fully charged. If your alternator isn’t working, it can’t power your battery effectively. 7-You’re Not Driving Enough If you’re not driving long enough the alternator may not have enough time to properly recharge your car’s battery between pit stops, especially if you have an older battery. So keep in mind that regular short trips can shorten your car battery’s life. What To Do When Your Car Battery Dies The most common way to deal with a dead battery is by jump-starting it. All you need to jump-start a car is a set of jumper cables and another car with a working battery. If you don’t know who to ask, you can always ask a stranger to help you out. In other words, a good samaritan. Chances are, people are going to want to help you, especially if they’ve been through what you’re currently going through. And, I’m sure we’ve all been through the struggle of discovering a dead car battery at least once before. I know I’ve had my fair share of dead batteries. *It’s important to remember that you should never try to jump-start a car if its battery is crack or visibly leaking acid.* In order to safely jump-start a car, you’re going to want to take out your jumper cables. If you happen to be reading this and educating yourself on what to do if it happens to you one day, make sure you have a set of jumper cables and keep them in your car at all times. If you happen to be in a situation where your car is dead and you do not have jumper cables in your car, you can also find and ask a good samaritan who is not only willing to help you out but has cables handy. Once you have a hold of jumper cables, place both vehicles in park or neutral, and shut off the ignition on both cars. Make sure to engage both parking brakes too. Attach one of the red clips to the positive terminal of your battery. Usually, you will be able to read “POS” or “+”, and it’s usually bigger than the negative terminal. Attach the other red clip to the positive terminal of the helping car. Attach one of the black clips to the negative terminal of the helping car’s battery. Attach the last black clip to a metal surface on your car that isn’t beside the battery. Here, you will want to use one of the metal struts that hold the bonnet of your car open. Attempt to start your vehicle. Warning Signs Your Car Battery is Dying: How to Notice The Problem Before It Happens As mentioned earlier, age affects a car’s battery more than you would think. Diagnosing a dead or dying battery can be difficult and leave you unsure of what to look for. If you’re not sure how to look for a dying car battery and you’re not very talented in knowing about cars like me, then you can go get that checked! Yabby Casino has quickly made a name for itself among Australian online gaming enthusiasts. 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Another sign of a car battery dying or draining quickly is a bulging battery case. Due to weather, your battery may bulge and swell which can be dangerous and cause cracking or leaking of battery acid. It’s crucial to know about this and refrain from jumping your car if you smell or see battery acid. A bad-smelling battery is just another sign of a dying battery. If you attempt to start your can and then open the hood, you may smell something like rotten eggs or sulfur. This is a crucial sign of a leaking battery, which can be caused by old age, damage to the battery, or an internal short circuit. In this case, you’ll want to plan a visit to your repair shop. Have you ever been driving and noticed dim headlights? Your car’s headlights will appear both duller and dimmer than usual if there’s not enough power to keep them fully on. Have you ever been driving and heard a clicking sound? And you weren’t quite sure of what it was and assumed you probably heard something else? Or do you just feel like you’re going crazy? Personally, ticking noises have always gotten under my skin, especially when I don’t know where they’re coming from. Ignition clicks are the worst kind of clicks as they signal that there is no amount of power being supplied to the battery. Make sure to listen out for clicks and get them checked out before it’s too late! Finally, checking the engine dashboard light is on will help you distinguish if your car battery is dying. The check engine light is a catch-all warning telling you something is wrong, but it may not be related to your battery. Regardless, it’s important to take it seriously. Solutions! I’m pretty sure we can all agree on how frustrating a dead car battery can be. And if you haven’t yet experienced it, I hope this blog prepares you for the hassle and stress you will face but also educates you more on what to do and how to deal with a dead car battery as safely and efficiently as possible. Unfortunately, I have dealt with dead car batteries more times than I can count on my fingers. I can be a forgetful person and simply forget about my tail lights. I’m so used to getting out of my car and focusing on it being locked, I forget to keep an eye out for the lights. There is a solution that I have found to be not only efficient but life-saving. FOUND ME is a company that focuses on protecting the things and people you care about most. Even your car battery life! FOUND ME presents you with a supersized tag with a QR code that you can place on the dashboard of your car after parking it. The Qr code can be scanned from the outside of your car by a good samaritan who might notice you left your lights on. He would then be redirected to a multilingual secure chat with you, the owner of the car. There, you can be reminded about your tail lights, open windows, flat tires, and any other complication that cars tend to face… and even be notified that your car is about to be towed because you were poorly parked! In The Last, Living on campus, I would count all the cars with their tail lights left on as I walked to my dorm. It bothered me not knowing how to tell the owner of the car as I could picture them walking to their car already late for class, only to realize they left their lights on and their car wasn’t starting. FOUND ME’s goal is to help people communicate in a secure and confidential way and can help you help others. To learn more about FOUND ME and how to protect your information click here. About us We are all at risk of losing the people pets and valuables that mean the most to us. FOUND ME was created as a global solution to tamper this risk and provide peace of mind. We exist to protect everyone and everything important in our customer’s lives. Subscribe for content And special offers Sign up now to find out when we launch I agree to the Terms and Conditions provided by Found Me. By completing this form, I give consent to Found Me to send me SMS text messages and emails. Message frequency varies. Standard message and data rates may apply. Text STOP to opt out, reply HELP for help. You can unsubscribe at any time Leave this field empty if you're human: Follow us Try us out
Why Does My Dog Run Away From Me? Pets Posted on November 28, 2022 Dogs Fleed and Owners Panic As a dog-sitter, owners trust me with their pets. They trust me to feed them, walk them, and most of all – not lose them. Bunker, a yellow lab I had been looking after, decided to make a run for it while I was walking her around the block one evening. She was trained off leash by her owners and she had never done this on our previous walks. In fact, she was the type to be clingy and walk by my side wherever I went. As I chased Bunker in the Colorado heat, all I could think about were her owners. How would I tell them that I had lost their beloved Bunker? After what seemed like an hour of chasing her around the block I got hold of her, and I was never able to trust her off leash again. I was overwhelmed with relief, but I was also confused. Why did Bunker take off? Most of us dog owners spoil our fur babies, we spend money, time and energy on ensuring that they are healthy, happy and comfortable. Yet, they still tend to run away from us. In this blog, we will dive into the psychology of why dogs run away from their owners or pet-sitters, and what we can do to prevent losing them as well as increase our chances of being reunited with them both quickly and safely. Dogs On The Run Any dog owner whose dog has run away from this knows how it feels. It’s an overwhelming rollercoaster of emotions: panic, fear, frustration and confusion. The search process is frightening, as you think of the possible worst scenario. But then comes the confusion. Why did my dog run away? Dogs are supposed to be pack animals and bond with their humans, after all, they are “man’s best friend”, right? Firstly, rest assured, you are not alone and your dog is not trying to leave you because they don’t love you. According to a blog on Peeva, one in three pets will go missing at some point in their life. To put this into perspective, each year more than ten million dogs run away from their loving owners. It can happen to any pet owner, and it does not determine whether you are a good pet owner. When dogs take off, there are usually reasons as to why they do it. Let’s get into a few common reasons your dog may take of or has a habit of running away: Your dog is bored. Boredom is one of the most common reasons a dog runs away or makes a break for it when you’re least expecting it. Dogs require attention and stimulation. Without it, they can get bored and crave a sense of adventure and excitement. Running out of the house and jumping over the fence can seem like a great idea in moments of boredom for a dog. Your dog isn’t secureAnother common reason a dog may take off is simply because it can. Maybe you don’t have a fence around your yard. You’ve made it easy for your dog to escape. As a dog owner, it’s your responsibility to ensure your dog is secure all the time. Your dog just loves to run It can be as simple as that. Some dogs love and need to run. Depending on the breed, age and personality of your dog, some dogs may take a run for it – to take a run. Your dog saw something Dogs are curious creatures, and when they see something interesting they may want to get a closer look at it. Dogs can see much farther than we can. Your dog is scaredEvery fourth of July, animal shelters notice a huge spike in runaway dogs and cats. Fireworks frighten them, and when animals are scared, they attempt to remove themselves from the situation they are in. Loud noises can often have the same effect on your dog. Your dog’s routine has changedWhen dog owners travel and leave them with a dog-sitter, they are in a new environment with a new “owner”. Dogs are sensitive to disruptions in their lives and routines. They may take off and try to find their way back to their original home. If my dog escapes, what should I do?As a dog-sitter, I have faced many dog runaways. From dogs breaking the leash by pulling too hard, to dog’s I trusted off leash making a run for it when I least expected it. But there’s something I did that I noticed was most helpful when trying to get a fleeting dog to come back. Remain calm. Dog’s hear and feel stress in a human’s voice. When we scream for their name and hear the panic, they may want to run even further. From my experience, dog’s are more likely to come back to you if you have a positive tone in your voice and if you get down on all fours with your hands spread apart as if you’re requesting a hug. Whether your dog ran away from fear, from seeing something in the distance or from change of routine, this will give a sense of comfort to your dog rather than screaming at them making it seem as though they are in trouble. Dog’s are intelligent animals, and they know when they do something wrong. Your dog may be smart enough to know that you will get angry with them for running off, making them fearful of returning back to you mid-run. By remaining as calm and collected as possible, your dog may feel safe enough to turn around and abort the mission. For leash dogs, the same kind of behavior is important. When a leash breaks and your dog is free, they may want to enjoy the thrill of being off leash for a little longer, resulting in them taking off. If you act as though nothing happened, your dog may not even be able to notice the leash has broken. If your dog has noticed and begins to make a run for it, try calling their name and getting down on all fours with a positive tone in your voice. Always keep treats in your pocket for the food motivated pups out there. A yummy bacon strip may be worth coming back for. FOUND ME Dog Tags To Help Reunite You and Your Dog Collars – they’re helpful. They identify your dog as well as provide a phone number and address to help someone who finds your dog bring them back to you. Personally, I don’t like sharing my phone number. There are so many risks that come with it, and put into the wrong hands, too many breaches of privacy can be done with just your phone number and address. Typically, we buy an engraved dog tag once, but over time they deteriorate and I have come across too many dog tags I just couldn’t read. The phone number was half erased due to damage and water, making it lose all of its purpose. Thankfully, FOUND ME has come with an alternative for this issue. FOUND ME dog tags, with QR code on them help a finder contact the owner through a chat that does not share your phone number or address. All it takes is for a good samaritan who has found your lost pup to scan the QR code. The rest is done by FOUND ME. The chat is automated, secure, and breaks language barriers by translating the conversation to the language that is set on your phone. About us We are all at risk of losing the people pets and valuables that mean the most to us. FOUND ME was created as a global solution to tamper this risk and provide peace of mind. We exist to protect everyone and everything important in our customer’s lives. Subscribe for content And special offers Sign up now to find out when we launch I agree to the Terms and Conditions provided by Found Me. By completing this form, I give consent to Found Me to send me SMS text messages and emails. Message frequency varies. Standard message and data rates may apply. Text STOP to opt out, reply HELP for help. You can unsubscribe at any time Leave this field empty if you're human: Follow us Try us out
Anticipating Your Next Marathon? Let’s Cover What You Need To Know Medical Posted on November 21, 2022 Can Running a Marathon Be Dangerous? Are you a marathon runner? Or is this upcoming race your first one? Whether you’ve been running for years or you’ve just gotten into it, there’s never too much you can learn in regard to your health and safety. Marathons are both thrilling and rewarding, but like any other sport, running doesn’t come without risks. A simple buildup of lactic acid can cause pain and muscles to cramp, leading a runner to collapse. An undetected heart condition can lead to serious medical emergencies. Too much water can lead to hyponatremia. Heat can lead to a heart stroke. There is so much that factors into running a marathon. In this blog, we’ll cover everything you need to know as a marathon racer. With knowledge and simple tips and tricks to help you prepare and be aware of the potential dangers of racing a marathon, you’ll be ready to go! Causes of Runners Collapsing During and After Marathon Heat Stroke: A heat stroke is one of the most common reasons that lead to unconsciousness during a marathon. When you run and exert tremendous energy, your body generates a lot of heat. Over time, this will result in an abnormally high body temperature which can lead to confusion, dizziness, vomiting or collapsing. Dehydration can increase your risk of heat stroke. While a heat stroke is more common on very hot days, it can also happen on days with moderate weather. Hyponatremia: Typically, this occurs in runners who drink too much water during a race, which dilutes the sodium into their blood to such an extent that it disrupts their body’s normal biochemistry. Hyponatremic runners can result in vomiting, confusion and unconsciousness. For a more in-depth look at hyponatremia, here is a great article that can give you insight into how to avoid facing such consequences when drinking water before, during and after a race. Heart conditions: Heart disease can lead to a heart attack during a race, even in younger runners. Many runners train and race with undetected congenital heart conditions. You should consult with your doctor before a race or serious physical activity. Gamemania Online Casino offers an unparalleled gaming experience for both novice and seasoned players. With a wide variety of games, including slot machines, table games, and live dealer options, there is something for everyone. The platform prides itself on providing a safe and secure environment, ensuring that your personal information and funds are always protected. Players can enjoy seamless gameplay on both desktop and mobile devices, making it easy to access your favorite games anytime, anywhere. Gamemania also features generous bonuses and promotions, enhancing the excitement and giving you more chances to win big. For those curious about the latest offerings, you can find more information by visiting https://little.co.ke/. The site provides detailed reviews and insights into various online gaming platforms, helping you make informed decisions. Join the vibrant community at Gamemania Online Casino today and experience the thrill of winning in a fun and engaging atmosphere! Postural hypotension: According to Runners Connect, the majority of runners who collapse after reaching the finish line of a race are most likely suffering from a relatively benign condition called postural hypotension. Postural hypotension usually happens because you’ve stopped running which affects your blood pressure producing dizziness, nausea, and fainting. There are several very serious life-threatening medical problems that can cause a runner to collapse, during or after a race. Any collapsed runner needs medical attention right away, so it’s important to listen to your body and get help. Many runners are overwhelmed with adrenaline and will not take collapsing after a race seriously. Knowing the various reasons why a runner may collapse during or after a race could potentially save a life, so it’s really worth learning. Race With FOUND ME As the amount of training miles per week increases, so does the risk of injury. With such a large number of training miles to prepare for running a marathon, it’s not surprising that 29 to 43 percent of runners develop injuries during the training process. Exercise is supposed to make us healthier, and it does. But there are some medical conditions, aside from physical injury, that you are more likely to experience if you’re a runner. One of them being dizziness and collapsing. A runner may collapse for a number of reasons; it could be an undetected heart condition or simply going from a standing and running position to a laying down position. The medical term for this exercise associated is postural hypertension, also known as EAPH, and it’s common. Thankfully, there are tips and tricks you can involve to help yourself if such a situation does happen to occur. FOUND ME offers rubber emergency bracelets that are comfortable and easy to wear. On the bracelet, a QR code will help just about anybody during an emergency. When the QR code is scanned, the scanner, most likely a paramedic or professional, will gain access to important medical information and history of the individual, including height, weight, allergies, whether the individual is diabetic or not, and any other information that may be helpful during an emergency situation. The bracelet also holds something precious – it lets your loved ones know you’re in trouble. When the QR code on the bracelet is scanned, up to five emergency contacts are immediately contacted. About us We are all at risk of losing the people pets and valuables that mean the most to us. FOUND ME was created as a global solution to tamper this risk and provide peace of mind. 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Everything You Need To Know About Two-Factor Authentications Scams: Phishing Attack Techniques & Scams Theft Posted on November 14, 2022 Phishing attack A Phishing Attack You’ve just gotten home from a long day at work. You make a cup of coffee and sit at your coffee table to check your emails. As you’re scrolling through your inbox, you notice an email from a company that you know and trust on Netflix. It has the big red Netflix logo and header. The email tells you that your account is on hold or frozen due to a billing error and invites you to click on a link to update your payment details. Without too much hesitation, you click on it. You haven’t heard of phishing attack techniques and scams before? right! You’ve just fallen for one of the most common scams in the US. At a glance, this email may look convincing, but in fact, this email has nothing to do with Netflix. Your email typically filters out phishing emails and puts them into the spam box, but unfortunately, some scammers have been able to outsmart spam filters, making it even more difficult to trust whether or not the emails you are receiving from reputable companies are legitimate. What Exactly a Phishing Attack is? A phishing attack is a form of social engineering attack used to steal an individual’s personal information and data, login credentials, and card numbers. It is one of the easiest forms of cyberattack, and also one of the easiest to fall for. Through these phishing attack techniques and scams, a hacker can receive everything they need from their targets’ personal accounts. Phishing emails can have serious consequences for people who provide their personal information. Thankfully, there are telltale signs that can help you pinpoint a scam and avoid falling for one. How Phishing Attack Technique and Scam Works? Bait, Hook and Catch Step 1. The Bait The first of the three steps of a phishing scam is preparing the bait. This requires details about the target, which can be as simple as knowing what services they use or what they are subscribed to, such as Spotify, Apple Music, Hulu, Netflix, and HBO Max. To bait you, the scammer will ensure that everything looks normal and they won’t expect you to think twice about a company you trust. By mimicking the logos and headlines of these trusted companies, they are likely tricking you and luring you into their scam and gaining unlimited access to your personal information. If they have your name and email you might have given them sufficient information to start the scam process. Step 2. The Hook Once the scammer has received the necessary information to use as bait, they need to catch your attention. Typically, they will tell you that you need to re-verify personal information, or that you’ve been logged out of your account and to sign back in, you must click on a link. In many scam cases, the hook involves making the target believe that one of their accounts has been compromised. This creates a sense of urgency making a target act quickly and sometimes, mindlessly. The scammer will then redirect the target to a link where they can harvest all of the victim’s information necessary to complete a successful scam. Step 3. The Catch The third step of the phishing scam is the actual attack. The attacker’s next action will depend on the scam. For example, they may use a landing page to gain access to emails and passwords so that they can log in to the victim’s email account in order to collect more information and utilize it for themselves. Once logged into your accounts, they will share the scam with friends and family from your account, catching more and more people. Phishing Techniques Email phishing is a total numbers game. When scammers are sending out thousands of fraudulent messages, they can gain access to significant information and money, even if only a small percentage of people fall for the scam. Phishing emails and text messages often tell a story to trick you into clicking on a link or opening an attachment. They will say something to grab the reader’s attention and even make them worried and concerned. Here are some of the common things scammers will say: They will tell you they’ve noticed some suspicious activity log-in attempts. Insist there is a problem with your account or your payment information. Insist on confirming some personal information. Fake invoices. Insist on clicking a link to make a payment. Tell you you’re eligible to register for a government refund. Offer a coupon for free things. When receiving a convincing email from a reputable company, there are key signs of recognizing a phishing email. The most common signs include unfamiliar greetings, grammar errors or misspelt words, email addresses and domains that don’t line up, unusual content or requests, and most importantly, a sense of urgency. If a company is insisting that you “act now” or “immediate action is required”, it’s probably a scam. A safe bet is to contact the customer service line listed under the company’s page and get in contact with them over the phone. What Actually Happens If You Click The Link Depending on your situation, a few different things can happen when you click a phishing link: A hacker may receive information from or about you. This includes basic data, deciding statistics, approximate location and any other information you may have provided. Malware may be installed on your device. Dangerous software such as spyware, ransomware, or viruses can be installed in order to collect confidential data. Your network and contacts may be in danger. Breaches to your network can happen when clicking on a phishing link and hackers can easily send people in your contact list the same email. This often happens on social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram. Phishing in Social Media Armed with personal information such as your birthday, social security number, middle name, maiden name and an educated guess on the whereabouts of your bank or retirement accounts, a hacker can reset your password and gain full access to your social media accounts. And they may even pretend to be you. A surprising amount of detailed information is found on social media and can make it easier than ever for a hacker to learn about you. A few months ago, a close friend from high school made an Instagram post stating that she had just made $5,000 within 10 minutes. At first, it sounded a little odd, but coincidentally she had always been great at making a couple of extra bucks here and there on website questionnaires and surveys. In fact, she was so good at it; she would post TikTok on how she did it. The more I thought about it, the more it made sense. Her Instagram post was convincing – so convincing it even sounded like something she would write. Before clicking on the link posted at the top of her page, I called her. We needed to catch up anyway, so it seemed like the perfect time to give her a call and ask her about her post. She picked up the phone within seconds of me calling her and screamed “don’t click the link, I’ve been hacked!” When a link is clicked, the victim is routed through a series of screens and web pages where important information is leaked. Clicking on these kinds of links can pose a serious threat and put you in danger, making you fall victim to one of the worst scams out there: the phishing scam. Social media is a continuing threat, and with convincing posts designed to entice you and click the link, all of your information can be at risk and stolen. You may even be locked out of your account forever. How To Prevent A Phishing Attack In order to protect yourself from an attack, it is crucial to understand the threat and how it works. Here are a few steps to follow when identifying and preventing phishing scams: Know what a phishing scam looks like. New tactics and methods are being developed over time, but they share commonalities that can be recognized if you know what to look for. The more you find out about the latest attack strategies, the more likely you’ll be to think twice about clicking on a link. Don’t click the link. As tempting as it may be, resist the urge of clicking on any link that is sent through email or private messages. Do some research and digging. Most attackers are familiar with the destination of a URL and can make it look like a copy of a genuine site. Don’t let them outsmart you. Add free anti-phishing add-ons. Browsers will always let you download add-ons that can help pinpoint signs of malicious malware or alert you to scamming sites. Although an anti-phishing add-on can’t 100 percent guarantee full protection, it’s free and there’s no harm in adding protection. Never give your information to unsecured sites. Observe the URL, if it doesn’t start with “https”, it’s probably linked to a scam. Sites without security certificates don’t always suggest a scam, but it’s better to avoid them and be safe than sorry. Change your passwords regularly. Getting into the habit of changing your passwords can prevent a hacker from gaining unlimited access to them. By adding an extra layer of protection through password rotation, you can prevent ongoing scams or even lock out potential attackers. Odibets Online Casino Kenya has rapidly become a popular destination for gaming enthusiasts across the country. 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Keep Your Personal Information, Personal If you really want to avoid facing these kinds of issues, the best thing you can do is keep your personal information as private as possible. With FOUND ME you can do exactly that. By using FOUND ME’s tags and labels to help good samaritan’s contact you regarding your found belongings. You will be increasing your chances of reuniting with what is lost while keeping your information secure and only sharing what you are comfortable with, such as your home address and phone number. To learn more about FOUND ME and what it has to offer, visit: Foundme About us We are all at risk of losing the people pets and valuables that mean the most to us. FOUND ME was created as a global solution to tamper this risk and provide peace of mind. We exist to protect everyone and everything important in our customer’s lives. Subscribe for content And special offers Sign up now to find out when we launch I agree to the Terms and Conditions provided by Found Me. By completing this form, I give consent to Found Me to send me SMS text messages and emails. Message frequency varies. Standard message and data rates may apply. Text STOP to opt out, reply HELP for help. You can unsubscribe at any time Leave this field empty if you're human: Follow us Try us out