The Blog of P.U.R.E. and Sue Scheff

With the expanding Internet we hear more about identity theft and fraud.  Teaching our teens about the dangers of identity theft as well as how to protect their private information is part of parenting. Fraud Facts: Your bank will never email or call you for your account number.  Talk to your teen about not giving out their account numbers, PIN's or their social security number. Don't wire money to people you don't know.  With the growing social networks and online shopping, teens have to beware of all scams that can involve wire transfers. Check out the company with the Better Business Bureau.  Although there may be many businesses that are not members, you can do a simply Internet Search to detect if there are any valid issues against a business.  There are no legitimate jobs that involve reshipping items or financial instruments from you home. Foreign lotteries are illegal in teh U.S. You can't win money no matter what they say to you. Check...

Teen driving.   There is more to teaching our teens how to drive than just being behind the wheel.  Responsibility is " key " - and that is literally! Have you ever locked your keys in the car or simply lost your keys?  What do you do?  Of course years ago the hanger was a simple solution, however with newer model cars, you can potentially damage them that way. Safety matters in all situations and when your teen hits the road solo it can be a moment of stress and anxiety for most parents.  However many have been called when they have lost their keys or locked them in the car?  It is a call, although it could be so much worse, it is stressful and time consuming. Many parents have a membership to AAA which can save you a lot of money and grief, since getting help is only a toll-free call away and usually the costs are minimum. Some insurance plans also offer emergency roadside services. American Family Insurance offers a fantastic Teen Safe...