• Do not sign the back of your credit cards, instead put “photo ID required”.
  

• When you are writing checks to pay on your credit card accounts, do not put the complete account number. Instead just put the last fourt numbers.  The credit card company knows the rest of the number and any one who might be handling your check as it passes through all the check processing channels wont have access to it.
  

• Put your work phone number on your checks instead of your home phone.  If you have a PO box, use that instead of your home address. If you do not have a PO box, use your work address. Also, do not have your social security number printed on your checks, if you do that anyone can get it.
  

• Place the contents of your wallet on a photo copy machine, do both sides of each license, credit card ect.  That way, you will know what you have in your wallet if it is stolen. You will also have all of your credit card numbers along with the 1800 numbers to cancel your accounts.
  

• Immediately call the 3 national credit reporting organizations to place a fraud alert on your name and also call the Social Security fraud line number. The alert means any company that checks your credit knows your information was stolen, and they have to contact you by phone to authorize new credit.

Equifax- 1800-525-6285

Experian- 1-888-397-3742

Trans Union- 1-800-680-7289

Social Security Administration (fraud line) 1-800-269-0271

Ladies, don’t ever let your guard down. Here are some tips that may make a difference if your life. Don’t let yourself become a victim!

Before going out for a night on the town, prepare yourself and be in your “power”. A lot of things can happen to you, so the best thing is to mentally prepare yourself for any situation.  For example, as you are walking to your car, think of different situations that could arise and how you would combat them.  If someone grabbed you as you were putting something in your trunk what would you do?  Get that adrenalin running, quick and get mad.

Yell for help! Many attackers will leave if you attract attention, so yell “Fire,” “Call 911″ or “Help,” knock over a trash can or do anything else you can to make some noise. Another idea is to keep a bottle of Lysol in your trunk.  Spray your attacker in the face.

Some ways to use your body are to kick your attacker in the shins as hard as you can. Flail your elbows around.  Use an open palm when trying to hurt your attacker, meaning hit with your palm open, using the heel of your hand under their chin, going upwards. If you can do this, you are effectively performing a brachial stun and that can get you loose so you can use the tools around to fend off your assailant.

Don’t punch, as this can break your fingers. Instead, use your fist like a hammer and come down on the attacker’s head or collarbone. Use anything you can as a weapon. This could be your purse, an ashtray, keys (keep one in between your fingers when you strike), belt buckle, brief case, hairspray, book, or bottle. Keep your hands in front of your face to protect it.

Practice a defensive stance in the mirror at your house. Weak foot forward. Bend your knees to get your balance. Use your knee or foot (the bottom of your flat foot) to kick the attacker in the groin. Poke your thumbs into the attacker’s eyes. Use your elbow to hit your attacker in the face, chin, or throat, which can damage his airway.

Strike at the most vulnerable body parts, which are the:

• Eyes
• Nose
• Knees
• Groin
• Ears
• Throat/Neck (front or back)
• Stomp down on the attacker’s foot with your heel.

If you are not able to scream keep your mouth closed with your teeth clenched to protect your jaw (as opposed to leaving your mouth open). If you are small make yourself smaller by crouching. Avoid facing a larger opponent head-on, instead use your size to dodge punches and use your strongest body parts (your elbows, your legs, your knees) against the attacker’s weakest areas (face, groin, knees, throat). Push your thumbs into the hollow of the attacker’s neck (below the Adam’s apple on men).

That’s using your head! Use your head as a weapon. To do so, quickly bang your head against their chin or face (this works well if you’re grabbed from behind). If necessary, use your teeth and bite your attacker (this could potentially transmit a disease to you, if the attacker has one, but it’s worth the risk if it saves your life). Do anything you can to get loose.  Visualize different scenarios and how you would defend yourself.

Remember, always be on your guard and if it doesn’t seem right, go back the way you came and get help. You may only have one chance, make good decisions and if you find yourself in a bad situation, remember how you have practiced to defend yourself.

So put on your lip stick and have a great night. Stay in your power and keep yourself safe!