Recover From Identity Theft with Help From IdentityTheft.gov

The Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) has tracked data breaches since 2005. In the first seven months of 2015 (through July 28th) there were 450 significant data breaches in the U.S., with over 135 million reported records breached. And in the majority of breaches, the number of exposed records is not even known. 

Breaches can be caused by insider theft, hacking, data on the move, subcontractors/third parties, employer errors/negligence, accidental web exposure and physical theft. What breaches have in common is that they usually compromise personal identifying information, such as Social Security number, credit/debit card number, email/password/user name and/or protected health information. And this information is easily read by thieves because those entrusted in protecting your personal data have not encrypted (e.g. concealed so that the data cannot be utilized so easily).

I don't know about you, but I'm getting overwhelmed with warnings about my personal information being breached by large organizations that one would think would have adequate safeguards in place. Target, Anthem, UCLA Health, to name just a few. One source for helping alleviate this feeling is IdentityTheft.org.

IdentityTheft.gov is the federal government’s one-stop resource for identity theft victims, providing checklists and sample letters to guide you through the process of recovering from identity theft.

The website is simply laid out to help you quickly address the following matters if you believe your identity has been compromised:

What Should I Do Right Away? In order to quickly address issues resulting from identity theft, there’s a checklist that covers 1) calling the companies where you know the fraud occurred; 2) placing fraud alerts at the major credit bureaus; 3) reporting identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission and 4) filing a report with the police.

What Do I Do Next?  The next steps in the process include 1) closing accounts opened in your name; 2) removing fraudulent charges from your accounts; 3) correcting your credit report; and 4) requesting extended fraud alerts or credit freezes with the credit bureaus. The site provides a variety of form letter templates to help expedite this process for you.

What Other Steps Should I Take? There are a variety of other actions highlighted that may apply to your situation, including 1) resolving tax-related identity theft; 2) reporting misused Social Security numbers; 3) responding to debt collectors trying to collect on debts that are not yours; 4) replacing government IDs, like driver’s licenses, passports and Social Security cards; 5) resolving the particular issues of child identity theft; 6) resolving medical identity theft and 7) clearing your name of criminal charges if the thief used your personal information while committing a crime.

And there’s a section covering additional steps that might be needed for identity theft used to initiate utilities, checking accounts, student loans, investment accounts and bankruptcies filed in your name.

Visit www.IdentityTheft.gov to learn more.

Now, if you want to cut off one type of identify theft in it tracks...credit theft, strongly consider doing a security freeze!

Find an American Red Cross Blood Drive In and Around Ventura County

The American Red Cross is the nation’s largest blood collection organization, supplying approximately 40 percent of the blood and blood products used in the United States.  

There is a constant need for blood in our society. Donated blood benefits accident victims, cancer patients, surgical candidates, children with blood disorders and many others. Consider donating blood if you are looking to make a difference in the lives of others.

Facts about the blood supply (courtesy of the American Red Cross):

• Nearly 16 million blood donations are collected annually in the U.S.
• There are 9.2 million blood donors in the U.S. in a year.
• 38% of the U.S. population is eligible to donate; less than 10% actually do.
• Blood cannot be made; it must be donated.
• Type O-negative blood (red cells) is always in high demand (and short supply) as it can be transfused to patients of all blood types.
• Type AB-positive plasma can be transfused to patients of all other blood types and thus is also usually in short supply.

So the most important question now is, how does one find a local blood drive in the Ventura County (as well as Greater Southern California) area? Easy! Simply visit www.redcrossblood.org/socal and enter your zip code to find a blood drive near you. You can find dozens of upcoming blood drives usually in the local area.

California Department of Motor Vehicles Now Offers 1960s Legacy Plates

image is for illustration only. final design of the plate will differ. (Image courtesy of dmv)

State legislation introduced the California Legacy License Plate program offering car owners the chance to purchase replicas of California license plates similar to those issued in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. Out of these three decades, only the 1960s plate reached the required 7,500 orders before January 1, 2015. As a result, California drivers can now relive the 1960s with a black and gold replica available for your motor vehicles.

The plates are available  at www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/detail/legacyplates/index or by mail or at your local DMV office or auto club.

The plate costs $50 for either a sequential or a personalized plate. Renewal fees are $40.

The plates will not look EXACTLY like plates issued in the 1960s because current law requires plates to be reflectorized, but I don't think most folks will really notice the difference!

First 5 Ventura County Invests in the Future of Young Children

Because the first 5 years impact a lifetime, First 5 Ventura County is making sound investments in the future of children. Early brain research tells us that ages 0-5 are critical years for developing lifelong social, emotional and learning skills. By working with parents, school districts, community leaders, social service and healthcare agencies, First 5 Ventura County helps to design and fund a network of essential services for young children and their families.

Proposition 10, the California Children and Families Act, was approved by voters in 1998, giving rise to First 5. Through a 50 cent tax on tobacco, First 5 develops locally designed systems of support for children 0-5 and their families in 58 counties across the state.

By building an integrated network of early childhood development services, and 11 model Neighborhoods for Learning (NfL), First 5 Ventura County enhances the emotional, physical and intellectual foundation for every child during the years when a majority of all learning and behavior development takes place. First 5 works to help children enter school healthy, supported, prepared to learn and ready to greet their full potential.

Local NfL locations in Ventura County are in Thousand Oaks, Moorpark/Simi Valley, Oak Park, Oxnard (3), Ojai, Camarillo, Port Hueneme, Santa Paula and Ventura.

Programs provided by local area NfLs include family education and training, preschool programs, infants and pre-K programs, health services, enrichment programs, community events and more.

To learn more about First 5 Ventura County, visit www.first5ventura.org.

SoCal Water$mart 2014-2015 Turf Removal Rebates Available to Local Residents

UPDATE 1: Due to high demand for this rebate program, MWD announced that new terms and conditions are applicable to rebate requests submitted after 1 p.m. on May 12, 2015. Residential turf removal rebates are now capped up to a maximum of $6,000 per property.  Those who received a previous rebate may apply for additional rebates up to a maximum of $6,000 per property for all past and current rebate requests.  The program was increased from $100 million to $450 million

UPDATE 2 (7/9/15): Believe it or not, MWD announced yesterday that the additional turf rebate funds have been depleted due to extraordinary public response and that applications will no longer be accepted later this week.  A waiting list for future rebates will be maintained by MWD to allocate any rebates earmarked for turf removal that are not claimed by approved applicants.

The average homeowner uses over half their water on outdoor irrigation and water-intensive turf grass is the primary culprit. The State of California offers a rebate of $2 to $3 per sq ft of turf removed in the SoCal Water$mart 2014-2015 Turf Removal Program.

To qualify for a rebate, customers must remove actual grass in a designated area and be replaced with a new landscape that does not include live turf or turf-looking plants, but must include some non-turf plants and follow and additional municipal/city requirements. The new landscape must be permeable to air and water; areas with concrete and other surfaces do not qualify for the rebate. Synthetic turf is eligible for rebates unless otherwise not states in your area's terms and conditions.

Funding is available on a first come, first served basis based on available funding. Work must be done within 120 days after receiving approval for the rebate.

Learn more and file for a rebate at socalwatersmart.com.

Find out if your specific property address is eligible, and how much your rebate will be based on estimated square footage at mwdturf.conservationrebates.com/13-TRM1-HT/estimate.php.

If you are served in the Calleguas Municipal Water District, including Camarillo, Moorpark, Oxnard, Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks (including Newbury Park and incorporated portion of Westlake Village), Port Hueneme and unincorporated areas including Camarillo Heights, Fairview, Las Posas Valley, Oak Park, Santa Rosa Valley, Lake Sherwood, Somis, and Naval Base Ventura County, you are most likely included in this rebate program.

Conejo Valley Guide Facebook Followers Share How They Are Saving Water

Governor Jerry Brown issued mandatory statewide water restrictions with a mandatory 25% reduction in water use through February 2016. This 25% reduction is a statewide, aggregate goal, not a specific goal directed at individual residences. That said, we all need to do what we can to cut back water use.

In a recent drawing on the CVG Facebook page, local residents were asked what they are doing to cut back on use of water. Here's what they said:

• No more car washes

• Watering lawn less

• Put in artificial grass*, flush toilets less, take shorter showers

• Shorter showers and gave up flower bed

• Water lawn once a week instead of twice a week

• Stopped watering lawn...planning to change the landscape

• Turn the water off when brushing and washing

• Bricks in the toilet tank to reduce water per flush

• Took out the grass

• Rain barrel system

• Shorter showers was mentioned numerous times

• Washing more clothes in bigger loads

• Put buckets out when it rains

• Rarely wash the car

• Using water saving shower heads

• Showering together (hmmm)

• Shower timers

• Showers instead of baths

• Take baths every other day instead of every day

• Soaking and washing dishes with half-filled sink instead of running water

• "If it's yellow, let it mellow...etc."

• Got rid of lawn and installed drip system

• Fixed all leaking faucets

• Buckets in showers to collect water as it warms up to use outside

California American Water provides low flow shower heads like this one as, well as faucet aerators and other conservation supplies to customers.

There are a variety of water conservation rebates available for Southern California residents under the jurisdiction of the Metropolitan Water District.  Visit socalwatersmart.com for more information. In addition to turf replacement rebates (which due to huge demand, as of May 12th stopped taking applications...but they they indicate checking back May 26th for possible new funding, terms and conditions), rebates are available for items like properly implemented rain barrels, high-efficiency clothes washers and toilets, weather-based irrigation controllers and rotating sprinkler nozzles.

* Artificial grass: California American Water explains why artificial turf is not included in turf exhange programs. Artificial turf is not a living landscape and does not increase biodiversity of plant, animal and insect populations, provide habitat for local fauna, foster healthy soils, cool surrounding air temperatures (artificial turf can get significantly hotter than surrounding air temperatures) or sequester carbon or produce oxygen like living plant material can. Artificial turf is not water free. It must be watered periodically for cleaning and may require chemicals periodically. And because artificial turf can get very hot in direct sunlight, water may be needed to cool it for comfortable use.