4 / thebillericagreen.com / July 2011
A Commitment to Protect StonehamBank Combats Identity Theft By Liana Measmer
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At a recent Shred-It Day, hosted by StonehamBank three years running, the topic of identity theft was the ‘buzz’, as car after car pulled up, and people brought bags and boxes of documents to be destroyed. “We plan to continue this,” said StonehamBank Billerica Branch Manager Rebecca Scott. “It offers our customers and the community an opportunity to protect themselves.” According to www.ezinearticles.com, the most commonly used method of stealing another’s identity is dumpster diving for a bank account statement. This was why Scott and Marketing Director Josh Mahoney both encourage customers to shred anything with names or social security number and recommended e-statements and e-billing as a way to combat identity theft. One of the more recent scams came to light following a reported debit card compromise at Michael’s Craft Store. Scammers were calling people to tell them their card had been shut off and they needed to give out personal information over the phone. Scott advised hanging up and calling the bank to confirm this information was accurate. StonehamBank’s live call center (888-402-2265) always has a rep available after hours to answer questions. Sometimes, if a call isn‘t placed, an email can be tailored to look like the bank when it really isn’t. “Never give info over the phone if you didn’t initiate the call,” said Mahoney. Mahoney pointed out that many times identity theft happens at the hands of someone known to you. This is especially true for senior citizens and he recommends ensuring all private documents be put away and not left out on counters or kitchen tables. “Anything you leave out is fair game,” warns Mahoney. Mahoney said call the bank immediately if you think your information has been compromised. He explained that once an account is compromised, the scammer will start with small transactions before attempting a large transaction. “We can usually limit the damage if we know,” said Mahoney. “It’s never too late to call.” StonehamBank hosts Shred-it day at their branch on Boston Road each spring following tax season and an identity theft workshop for senior citizens in the winter at the Council on Aging. For more info, call 978-715-1311.
Voice of the Artist
What Am I Needing?
By Colleen Sgroi
This week I finished a three month tele-seminar course called ‘The Feminine Shift’. Twice a week, I listened to amazing women speak about how to live in our own authentic self. Whenever there is a paradigm shift, it seems the pendulum will swing far to the right and then to the left before settling in to the balance of being centered. This happens to awaken us to change. In this case, we are talking about women living and working from their core feminine self with confidence that who they are as woman is just what the world needs. We can co-create together with the masculine and be accepted as equals. I so see this happening everywhere I look and I am finding that the more I live from my own authentic self the easier life becomes. It is as if our life is a river. When you look at the flow of the river and you want to go tubing, would you put your tube in the water and start paddling up stream? Of course not. You get in the tube and enjoy the ride. We accept that the river is taking us down stream and we go with the flow. That is how I see each of our lives and the moment we try to be what others want us to be or what we think they want us to be, it is like trying to paddle upstream and we can feel the struggle. When I start to feel myself struggle with anything in life, I am learning to stop, take a deep breath and ask, “What am I needing?” This one question brings me back to myself and I find myself flowing down stream again. Saying what we need and loving our true self is the shift we all need to make so that our own unique self can shine and bring light to the world. This week when you find yourself stressed, afraid, or upset, ask yourself this one loving question “What am I needing?” Write to me at Colleen@colleensgroi.com and tell me what is shifting inside of you. Colleen is a teaching artist at ColleenSgroi Gallery & Art Classes - ColleenSgroi.com