Lawrence Borgens, Author at Delta Protective Services - Page 2 of 2
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SCAM Alert

SCAM Alert – “Terrible News…”

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Friends,

This scam has been around for a while but seems more prevalent lately because I’ve received the below message from three of my friends in the last week.

Here’s the message to watch out for.

“TERRIBLE NEWS...HELP !!!

I'm sorry this is coming so sudden, I am in some terrible situation right now and need your urgent assistance. Some days ago,I came down to Scotland,UK on a short vacation,unfortunately I got mugged by some hoodlums. All my cash,credit cards and phones were taken at gunpoint!

It's such a traumatic experience . right now I'm stranded and need help getting back home. I've been to the embassy and the Police here but they're not being helpful in any way. the good thing is I still have my passports. Just don't have enough money to get back home. Please I need your help here ! promise to refund you right as soon as I'm back home in a couple of days.

waiting to hear from you.”

What’s this scam all about?

The scammers hacked your friends email account and then sent this message out to EVERYONE in your friends contact list. The idea is to use the subject’s credibility and personal relationships with their friends to get a gullible friend to send the scammers money, usually via Western Union.

What to do if you get this message:

1. Don’t send money – your friend is fine. Call them and check on their welfare if you like.

2. Let your friend know – In most cases the subject of the scam doesn’t even know that these messages went out. Contact your friend and let them know that they’ve been the subject of this scam.

3. Did I mention “Don’t send money”?

What to do if you’re the subject of this scam:

1. Try to change your password – In all likelihood the scammers that got your email password changed it as soon as they could. This way they lock you out of your own email account and prevent you from interfering with the scam.

2. Try to use the “password recovery tool” – In all likelihood they changed the codeword for this tool also, again to keep the scam going.

3. Contact your email provider – Let the support department of your email provider know what’s going on and ask them to put a stop to it. You’re not the first person that this has happened to so they’ll know what to do and will take action right away.

4. Change your other passwords – If you use the same password on OTHER websites then change them immediately. Since the scammer now has access to your email they may see that you get emails from a bank, Facebook, etc. and try to use the same password on those accounts as well. This is a good reason to use different passwords at different websites.

5. Let your friends know that your OK – post a message on Facebook or text / email your friends to let them know that you’ve been subject of this scam and that you are OK and to NOT send money.

What to do afterword:

1. Getting your email address back - In all likelihood you’ll get access to your email address again, it just might take a while. Follow-up with the email provider and ask them how to get access to your email account again. There is no telling if your contacts will still be there or what you’ll find when you get access to your account again but at least you’ll have the email address back.

2. Email lists – You and your friends may end up on the email lists of other scammers so be wary of other scams & solicitations sent to that same email address.

3. Use caution – the scammers got your email address because of something that you did, something that you clicked or something that you typed in. Use better judgment in what you do & enter on-line to avoid falling victim again.

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5 Tips to Protect Your Privacy

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Identity Theft:


5 Tips to Protect Your Privacy


The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) estimates that as many as 9 million Americans have their identities stolen each year. This means that an identity is stolen every 3 seconds, costing the average victim nearly $4,000 and nearly 175 hours to straighten out their problems and their credit. How can you protect yourself from the dangers of identity theft? Here are some suggestions.

Conduct a Credit Check-up – Visit www.annualcreditreport.com to obtain a free credit report every 12 months. Review all three of your credit reports and look for any suspicious activity, unusual or inaccurate names or addresses, or any inquiries that were done without your knowledge. In many states, you may place a 90-day "Fraud Alert" on your credit report, which further restricts access to your credit information. Simply call one of the three main credit bureaus to activate the alert. Here are the toll-free numbers: Equifax 1-800-525-6285; Experian® 1-888-397-3742; or TransUnion® 1-800-680-7289.

Don't Give It Up – Avoid falling prey to phishing scams, both over the phone and through email. In a phishing scam, identity thieves pretend to be someone from your bank or a credit institution and simply ask you for your personal information. If someone contacts you and requests any personal information, don't give it to them. Verify who is requesting the data and why, and then call the institution yourself. One extra phone call could save you a lot of trouble and money.


Stay off the Pharm – While phishing enables thieves to pilfer information from you, pharming is another kind of scam that consists of hijacking your computer and stealing your personal information. A pharming site is designed to look just like the website you're trying to visit. However, enter your information on this fake site and not only can it track your moves within it, it may also direct your computer to give up other personal information at a later time. Be sure you are visiting the correct site, that the address in the navigation bar is correct before entering any information.

Return to Sender – Some scammers simply fill out a change of address form and divert your mail to another location. Others simply steal the mail they want right from your mailbox. The key to avoiding this scam is to know your statement delivery dates and pay close attention to any unusual delays in delivery. A lot of identity thieves do things the old-fashioned way: They rummage through your trash to collect your information that way. Be sure to shred any junk mail or other documents that may contain your personal information before you throw it away.

Opt-out of Special Offers – Visit www.optoutprescreen.com to cut down on the pre-approved offers from credit card and insurance companies. It's also good idea to have your clients opt out as well, especially if they're thinking about buying a home. When people apply for a mortgage, they often become "trigger leads" to the credit bureau, who sell your clients' information to any number of companies. It only takes a few minutes to opt out, but it could spare your clients a ton of junk mail and could possibly save them from identity theft.

Veterans Day

The Meaning of Veterans Day

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Dear Friends,

Today is Veterans Day and during a busy life it's sometimes easy to forget what this day is meant to celebrate. Here is a short reminder...


It is
the VETERAN,
not the preacher,
who has given us freedom of religion.

It is
the VETERAN,
not the reporter,
who has given us freedom of the press.

It is
the VETERAN,
not the poet,
who has given us freedom of speech.

It is
the VETERAN,
not the campus organizer,
who has given us freedom to assemble.

It is
the VETERAN,
not the lawyer,
who has given us the right to a fair trial

It is
the VETERAN,
not the politician,
Who has given us the right to vote


Have a great Veterans Day. Enjoy being with your family and friends and, if the opportunity presents itself, thank a Veteran personally. I know it will mean a lot to them.

Lawrence D. Borgens, CPS
USMC Veteran, 1984 - 1988

Lady Justice

Law Addresses Misclassification of Security Officers as Independent Contractors

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The issue of employers classifying security officer and protective agents as “independent contractors” continues to be on ongoing problem in California and is, generally speaking, illegal.


To see an article about California State Licensing Requirements click here: http://deltaprotectiveservices.com/licensing-requirements-private-security/

California Security Officer Licensing Requirements

Despite this many employers do this to avoid overtime, payroll taxes and workers compensations premiums and many security & protective personnel, desperate for income or just trying to “break into” the field, accept these positions despite the risks. Some of these employers are based in California but many are based outside California and operate intermittently within the State. Since California offers no “grace period”, any security work done must be conducted by employees of a State licensed company and not by independent contractors.

This law will hopefully encourage some unscrupulous employers to change their illegal practices in the hiring of security & protective personnel and help level the playing field for businesses following the letter of the law.

SENATE BILL 459 INCREASES PENALTIES FOR EMPLOYERS AT FAULT

On October 9, 2011, California Governor Jerry Brown signed into law Senate Bill 459, the “Worker Classification Bill,” regarding independent contractors. The law significantly increases the risks and penalties for misclassifying workers as independent contractors by imposing substantial penalties on employers found to have engaged in misclassification, as well as on advisors (other than attorneys) who advise an employer to engage in such treatment. The new law also includes what many have characterized as a “Scarlet Letter” provision that will require the offending employer to make a public confession of its unlawful behavior.

The new law, which was authored by Senate Majority Leader Ellen Corbett, a Democrat from Alameda County, applies to “willful misclassification” of a worker as an independent contractor. The law states:

“Willful misclassification" means avoiding employee status for an individual by voluntarily and knowingly misclassifying that individual as an independent contractor.


The law provides no standards for what is “voluntary and knowing.” Since an employer is presumably aware when it engages an individual as an independent contractor rather than as an employee, the above definition provides little defensive assistance to an employer. Even in the unlikely event that an employer does not have actual knowledge of the treatment, the “knowing” standard would likely be interpreted to include constructive knowledge, which, in turn, includes what the employer “should have known.”


Violators are subject to civil penalties between $5,000 to $15,000 per violation, in addition to any other penalties or fines permitted by law. Violators who are found to have engaged in a “pattern or practice” of violations are subject to a larger civil penalty of $10,000 to $25,000 for each violation. The law also provides no definition of “pattern or practice,” leading to the possibility that the higher penalties might be assessed where an employer has misclassified more than a single individual.

Employers found to have engaged in any violation must post a prominently displayed notice on the employer’s Internet website advising employees and the general public of its violation. This is the so-called “Scarlet Letter,” a reference to the badge of shame worn by the principal character in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s famed novel. Employers without a website must have the notice “displayed prominently in an area that is accessible to all employees and the general public at each location where a violation occurred.” The notice, which must (i) remain for one year and (ii) be signed by a corporate officer, must state, in essence, the following:

The employer “has committed a serious violation of the law by engaging in the willful misclassification of employees.”

The employer has “changed its business practices to avoid committing further violations” of the law.

“Any employee who believes that he or she is being misclassified as an independent contractor may contact the Labor and Workforce Development Agency” [and the notice must list the agency’s mailing address, email address and telephone number].

This “notice is being posted pursuant to a state order.”

Although the California Labor Commissioner is charged with enforcement of this new law, individuals may file their own complaints judicially. As a practical matter, by creating a private right of action with significant penalties, class action litigation potentially presents a greater threat than government enforcement.

Ironically, Governor Brown’s signature came just days after the Internal Revenue Service announced its new Voluntary Classification Settlement Program (VCSP). The VCSP provides forgiveness of most of the amounts that would otherwise be due at the federal level for those employers that reclassify independent contractors as employees. Acceptance of the VCSP may be seen as a trap because it could make defense of non-IRS actions almost impossible. However, if the classification of workers as independent contractors is not well-founded, the new California law provides still another reason to make changes.

The law is codified as Sections 226.8 and 2753 of the California Labor Code.


Guarding Christmas

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The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light, I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight. My wife was asleep, her head on my chest, my daughter beside me, angelic in rest.

Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white, transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree, I believe, completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.

My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep, secure and surrounded by love I would sleep in perfect contentment, or so it would seem. So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near, but I opened my eye when it tickled my ear. Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.


My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear, and I crept to the door just to see who was near. Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night, a lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.

A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old, perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold. Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled, standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.

"What are you doing?" I asked without fear "Come in this moment, it's freezing out here! Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve, you should be home on a cold Christmas Eve!"

For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift, away from the cold and snow blown in a drift, to the window that danced with a warm fire's light then he sighed and he said "It’s really all right,

I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night. Our freedom comes first 'til the dawn's early light. Its my duty to stand at the front of the lines, that separates you from the darkest of times.

No one had to ask or beg or implore me, I'm proud to stand here like my father’s before me. My Gramps died at 'Pearl on a day in December, then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."

"My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam and now it is my turn and so, here I am. I've not seen my own son in more than a while, but my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile".

Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag, the red white and blue... an American flag. "I can live through the cold and the being alone, away from my family, my house and my home, I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet, I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat...


I can carry the weight of killing another or lay down my life with my sisters and  brothers, who stand at the front against any and all, to insure for all time that this flag will not fall." "So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright, your family is waiting and I'll be alright."

"But isn't there something I can do, at the least, Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast? It seems all too little for all that you've done, for being away from your wife and your son."

Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret, "Just tell us you love us, and never forget to stand your own watch, no matter how long. Have faith in our country, be bold, and be strong

For when we come home, either standing or dead, to know you remember we fought and we bled is payment enough, and with that we will trust that we mattered to you as you mattered to us".


Officer Down

Security Officer On the Job Fatalities

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Private Officer International today released their year-end report of security officer deaths for 2010.

According to Rick McCann, Founder/Executive Director, the association identified and confirmed 76 on duty deaths of security officers but estimates that the number is actually closer to 90. The discrepancy always comes from the way that security officer positions are classified by numerous federal and state agencies.

While the job title may be doorman or watchman or pool guard, they all perform security related duties but are not categorized as security officers on federal statistical records, the press release stated. A practice that McCann hopes will change soon so that those who die while in the performance of their security duties are properly recognized, he said.

The 2010 death total is up by 17 % from the previous two years and McCann attributes that to the increased duties and responsibilities of security officers, the increase in proactive response rather than the old "Observe and Report" method previously used which means that more security officers are being put into direct contact with active criminal activity, violent offenses and increased dangers.

The Top 8 states for security officer deaths were:


  • California - 8
  • New York - 8
  • Florida - 6
  • Georgia - 6
  • Tennessee, Washington, Ohio & Maryland - 5 Each

Injuries of private security officers substantially rose during this same period with a major jump in the life threatening area such as gunshots, stab wounds and trauma and McCann said that this increase is due in part to the more visible and active security duties of the private officer who often find themselves apprehending criminals, facing armed suspects and involved in confrontations as they protect their employers property, staff and customers.


Many more security officers are involved in apprehensions and arrests of shoplifters, trespassers, robbery suspects and others who are committing crimes on properties under guard and security officers are playing a much bigger part in going after these people and being proactive in their duties. There is also a much wider use of private security in retail, residential, special events and other areas where there is more contact with the public, including criminals which makes the security officer more vulnerable to attack, assault and death.


As security officer duties and scope of authority continues to increase and the profession takes on a more proactive rather than reactive response, injuries and unfortunately deaths of security officers will also steadily increase McCann said.

That is why we, as an international association with members across the U.S. and in 16 countries are pushing for increased security officer training standards and qualifications so that these private officers will be better prepared and equipped to handle the added responsibilities and better safeguard themselves during the performance of them, McCann added.


McCann also stated that they are also drafting legislation in more than two dozen states to make assaulting a security officer in the performance of their duties a felony and so far similar laws have passed in Texas, Illinois, Vermont, Florida and Missouri.


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