SnowbirdAlert Credit card fraud is increasing− what to do if you’re scammed With new technologies making our personal and financial information more accessible to fraudsters, Canadians are increasingly worried about fraud and identity theft. According to a new survey conducted for Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada (CPA Canada), 70 per cent of us are more concerned about fraud today than we were five years ago. Meanwhile, almost one in five are aware of having been the victims of credit card fraud – the most common type of fraud experienced. To keep you and your finances safe, it’s important to follow some essential safety tips: ▶▶ Review your bank statements each month to check for discrepancies. Thieves don’t necessarily make large purchases with stolen information – they may make smaller purchases that are harder to spot, so make sure that you monitor your accounts on a regular basis. ▶▶ Shred personal documents before disposing of them. ▶▶ Cover the pin pad when at the ATM or cash register. ▶▶ Avoid using public Wi-Fi to buy anything from retail websites or conduct online banking. Wait until you get home or use your cellphone’s data plan instead. ▶▶ Set up electronic alerts to notify you of banking activity. Your financial institution can automatically notify you of purchases, payment deadlines and payment posts, enabling you to keep track of all your transactions. These alerts can also tip you off to fraudulent activities, such as unauthorized payments. Find more information at cpacanada.ca/financialliteracy Source: www.newscanada.com Packing tips for SKY-BOUND SENIORS Retirement can open up more opportunities for travel. If you’re a senior preparing to hit the skies this summer, the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority has some packing tips to help make flying a breeze. For example, when packing your carry-on bag, most liquids, aerosols and gels must be in containers of 100 millilitres or less. But did you know that this rule doesn’t apply to medications? To assist screening officers, just be sure to remove any liquid medications from your carry-on bag for inspection. Solid tablet non-prescriptionmedications (such as ibuprofen and vitamins) aren’t subject to the limit, but note that certain powders and granular materials (such as mineral-based supplements that are primarily calcium, magnesium or iron) are limited to a total quantity of 350 millilitres or less – that’s roughly the size of a soda can. If you’re travelling with these items, consider putting them in a smaller package, such as a daily pill sorter. Another note about carry-on bags – the limit is generally two per passenger, but medical supplies, equipment andmobility aids don’t count toward that limit. This includes things such as respiratory devices. Distilled water for CPAPs and similar machines is also exempt from the liquid restrictions and doesn’t have to be in the original container. Findmore tips and info, including a page dedicated to seniors and special sections for people with limited mobility and those travelling with medically necessary equipment, at catsa-acsta.gc.ca. Source: www.newscanada.com 6 | www.snowbirds.org
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MzMzNzMx