Category: Travel

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Credit Card Fraud the Holiday Season: Things to Consider for Next Year

Congratulations! You made it through another holiday season, hopefully, unscathed by fraudulent use of your credit cards.While the winter holiday season is generally a time full of goodwill, a time when people try to see the best in each other (or at least be less pessimistic), criminals aren’t dissuaded by the thought of getting coal in their stockings. They think nothing of the problems that their unlawful behavior causes for the rest of us. In 2014, criminals cost Americans nearly $15 billion over the holiday season through credit card fraud, retail theft, fraudulent returns, and even counterfeit money. There’s no way of calculating the amount of time lost by victims of credit card fraud in the resulting hassle of straightening out the situation with their credit card company or the police.It’s never too early to start getting ready for next winter’s holidays, and many of the sensible shopping tips designed to keep your financial information safe can be practiced at any time of the year. As with many things in life, making the effort to take precautions can save you a lot of aggravation in the long run. When you are out shopping, stay alert. Don’t leave your wallet in your coat or in your purse unattended – not to use the dressing room, go back to the buffet line or visit the restroom. Don’t leave it in plain sight in your car, either. Criminals who want to steal your personal information are very good at watching and waiting for you to step away. They are also known to work in teams with one person distracting you while another snatches your wallet. Many times, purchases are made before the card’s owner even knows it’s missing.Of course, many of us prefer the convenience of shopping online. A recent study shows that card, not present (CNP) fraud attempts occurred in 2015 in one out of every 86 transactions, up significantly from one of every 114 transactions the previous year. Furthermore, the popularity of “buy online and pick up in-store” is a fresh opportunity for many cyber thieves, because most retailers don’t mandate re-running cards when consumers come for their purchases.While banks and credit card companies absorbed 90 percent of the fraudulent transactions reported in 2014, unsuspecting consumers continue to put themselves at risk by browsing in free Wi-Fi zones, using public mobile hotspots, or shopping online at unverified websites. Also, clicking on links in emails rather than going to the websites of well-known retailers by typing them in the address bar can lead to trouble. All of these scenarios make it much easier for hackers to intercept online transactions, passwords and financial information.Credit cards are preferable to cash, which could be counterfeit and is virtually impossible to track and to debit cards, which do not offer much protection against future loss. And credit card companies are supposed to help their clients in cases of fraudulent use. If you suspect someone has hijacked your card or card number, notify your card issuer immediately to cancel the card and arrange for a replacement. Most card companies cap your liability at zero dollars if you report the unauthorized credit card charges soon after discovering them, and under the Fair Credit Billing Act, you can be held liable only for the first $50. You should also file a police report. If you have several credit cards, stick to using just one for shopping to help contain the damage in case the worst happens. And it never hurts to check your credit report. Federal law allows you to get a free copy of your credit report every 12 months from the three credit reporting companies. Consider spacing out your requests to every four months to ensure year-round coverage. The reports can be requested by visiting the annual credit report website, by calling 1-877-322-8228, or by writing to:Annual Credit Request Service PO. Box 105281 Atlanta, GA 30348-5281While credit card fraud cases tend to increase around the winter holidays, your personal and financial information can be misappropriated at any time. By being vigilant, you should be able to prevent thieves from stealing your identity and ruining your cheer, any day of the year.About the AuthorThomas Bunch is a business bankruptcy attorney in Lexington, Ky at the Bunch and Brock Law Firm. He has served Central Kentucky for over 5 decades and is an active participant in the Lexington Community.

Inside the Sublime Environs of Kalpa – A Guide to Best Places

Kalpa stands geologically at the juncture of Kinnaur that is majorly dominated by Hinduism and Spiti Valley that has the influence of Buddhism. You can see the intersection and concurrence of both the beliefs at Kalpa. Kalpa Tourism, furthermore, has such intriguing sites and landmarks under its umbrella that can literally stir the soul of anyone and everyone visiting this picturesque town. Read ahead to know about the best of Kalpa that you must visit during your trip.1. Reckong Peo [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="679"] image credit:hpkinnaur.nic.in[/caption] Reckong Peo or Peo, is the capital of the district of Kinnaur and is situated 260 km away from Shimla. The spot rests at an elevation of 2290 m above sea level. It hosts one of the four Buddha Mahotsav, a noteworthy Indian celebration, which is annually organised by the state government. Voyagers going by this spot can appreciate the pleasant perspective of the Kinnaur Kailash Mountain and adventure junkies can undertake the trek to Kinnaur from Reckong Peo, which is a four to five days long affair.2. Sangla ValleyThe Sangla Valley is situated on the banks of the river Baspa, around 8900 ft above sea level. The valley is set in the midst of wandering streams, snow clad mountains and rich green scenes. Apart from the Baspa valley, Sangla has many touring opportunities like the Sapni, Kilba, Rackchham, Kamru Fort and the exceptionally well known Naga sanctuary.3. Batseri Batseri is a quaint town located on the banks of the Baspa River. This spot can be reached by strolling through a conventional bridge that is built over a river that flows by. One of a kind structures, cobbled ways, and the sanctuary of Badri Narayan are the vital attractions of the town. If you are an art lover, then you can see the delightful conventional design of the area called 'Kathkuni' where flat wooden sleepers are packed with the wooden stones. In closeness to this town, there is a sanctuary committed to Lord Buddha which you can visit.4. Kamru Fort Situated at a height of 2600 m above sea level, Kamru Fort is situated around 2 km from the Sangla Valley. This grand structure has numerous doors with a photo of Lord Buddha at the main entryway and a wooden gallery decorates the upper parts of the fortification, while the idol of Kamakhya Devi is housed in the third floor. There also is a fifteenth century temple of Badrinath situated in the Kamru Fort.5. Suicide Point Suicide Point is one of the famous places to visit in Kalpa, which is only 10 minutes away from the prominent apple gardens. Dangerous trenches and steep slants are the highlights of this district which make it a thrilling locale to visit. Be careful; do not forget the name of the spot! Anusha Dixit is a travel writer working with an Online Travel Guide. She guides travelers to various resources where they can read all about Kalpa tourism. Read More:Top 5 Tourist Attractions Within And Around Mumbai 5 Irresistible Reasons To Embark On A Golden Triangle Tour Discover Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos With Private Indochina Tour Packages Planning For A Religious Tour? How About The Birthplace Of Lord Rama, Ayodhya?

Cycling – Learning to Safe Cycling

Cycling is considered to be among the most enjoyable activity that one can do as they maintain fitness/keep fit. For anyone interested in learning to cycle, there are basic things/lessons that one must learn and simple instructions that one must follow to minimize accidents and have fun learning how to cycle. Below are some of the basic factors one needs to know about cycling.To learn cycling, you do not need to have a special bicycle to use. You can use any functional bike you can find. After you have learned to cycle, you can invest in a good bike. Ensure you have gotten your saddle right. You will not be comfortable riding a saddle that is either too low or too high. You have to set it to fit you perfectly for you to enjoy learning. You will need to ensure that your bike is well greased and has no leaks for smooth cycling. There is the important gear you need to have that will enhance safety in this experience. These are; mountain biking helmets - A full-face mountain bike helmet that protects your head in case of a fall, a water bottle- for water in case you get dehydrated, Repair Kit- in case something goes wrong, you may need to do repairs on your bike. Reflective gear is especially important if you are cycling at night for visibility by other road users. You could use your exercise clothing and shoes for the cycling training. It's important though that you put on something reflective if you will be using a road used by other types of vehicles. You must remember to be slow, you will eventually learn. Secondly, be safe while cycling. Whether on park roads, estate roads, ensure that you are safe while training to cycle. At this point, straddle your bike and life off and start peddling forward. Try to maintain your balance by using the front brake levers to ensure you stay in balance. Keep a firm grip on the pedals. When using a road with vehicles, ensure that the drivers can see you avoid accidents and also watch out for car doors opening. Also, while riding into intersections, try as much as you can to stay and lean into the intersection this could help you stay on the bike and not fall off.Taking the above instruction when learning to cycle will keep you safe and keep you learning to ride. Be sure to never start cycling without a bicycle helmet. You can buy the best mountain bike helmet online at thebikehelmets.com