Data breaches, telephone scams, and phishing emails are all facts of modern life. Even the most well-educated and careful citizens can fall victim to identity theft, and the stories that make the news are frightening. With some people losing tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars to identity thieves, a new industry has cropped up to shield consumers. But is identity theft protection worth your money? It’s no secret that identity theft is stressful, expensive, and time- consuming. The worst cases result in significant financial losses and many hours of phone calls and paperwork. Some people even lose working hours trying to resolve the problem. Identity theft protection helps guard you by offering several services. Credit monitoring and alerts notify you of changes to your credit report or score and detect new accounts, loans, or credit increases. Identity monitoring and alerts do the same for your personal information. When fraudulent actors post your information on the dark web, or someone tries to change your mailing address, you’ll know about it. Identity theft protection also usually offers insurance to reimburse you for some out-of-pocket costs. However, most identity theft protection will not cover direct monetary losses. While many plans offer impressive-sounding coverage levels, they refer only to the expenses associated with resecuring your accounts and identity. In other words, if an identity thief steals $50,000 from your bank account, there’s very little chance identity theft insurance will give you your $50,000 back. Instead, it’ll cover indirect losses like notarization or certified mail fees. With most fee-based plans ranging in cost from $15–$30 a month, experts argue it’s rarely worth paying for coverage. Even if your identity is stolen, you’re very unlikely to receive a payout worth the premiums. Further, you can perform or receive many of the same services for free. You may already have access to credit or identity monitoring services through your bank account, homeowner’s insurance policy, or credit card company. Further, everyone has the right to freeze their credit to prevent anyone from opening new accounts in their name. You can also access your credit reports for free, and IdentityTheft.gov provides free resources to help victims. Identity theft is a serious problem worth your caution and attention, but the benefits of most identity theft protection products are not worth the cost. Consider other ways to educate and protect yourself from the continuing rise of scams. WHAT IDENTITY THEFT PROTECTION DOES SHOULD YOU PAY FOR PEACE OF MIND?
TAKE A BREAK
RASPBERRY AND FIG OAT BARS
Inspired by Delicious.com.au
INGREDIENTS • 1 1/2 cups all- purpose flour
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 350 F.
Grease and line an 8x12-inch pan with parchment paper. 2. In a medium bowl, combine
• 1/4 cup cornstarch • 1 tsp baking powder • 1 cup and 1 tbsp rolled oats, divided • 2 sticks chilled unsalted butter, diced • 2/3 cup caster sugar (superfine granulated) • 2 eggs, beaten • 1 tsp vanilla extract • 1/4 cup raspberry jam • 1 1/3 cups raspberries • 3 figs, quartered • 1 tbsp turbinado or brown sugar
flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and 1 cup oats.
Using your fingertips, rub in butter until crumbly. Stir in caster sugar, then add egg and vanilla. Stir until clumpy. 3. In the pan, smooth three- quarters of the mixture evenly. Spread jam over the top, then add fruit. Mix leftover oat mixture with turbinado sugar and remaining oats, then sprinkle over the fruit. 4. Bake for 40–45 minutes until golden. Cool in pan for 10 minutes, then slice and serve.
PATRIOT WEALTH | 919.322.4113 | P3
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator