Your Fake International Driver's Permit

(We don't suggest employing the driving techniques depicted in the above video, but it does serve as a tongue in cheek reminder that driving practices certainly can differ from country to country. There are so many things wrong in this video re: the driving that it feels like you're viewing a live action picture puzzle!)

Many of our readers may recall that several months ago, our newest partner, Richard J. Henderson, Sr. (ret., NPYD, Detective) joined BNI. Shortly thereafter, we were discussing overseas travel (sorting out our summer schedules) and Rich mentioned this week's subject matter: online businesses selling International Driver's Permits (IDPs). Rich informed me that there were actually only two organizations, authorized by the US State Department, to sell IDPs.

With many people still looking forward to vacation and college students interning abroad, we feel it timely to focus this week's Bulletin on the secure way to obtain your IDP.

Below is a very recent article from AAA; one of the two federally authorized IDP issuers:

AAA Warns Motorists Traveling Abroad to Avoid Online Driver License Scams

WASHINGTON, Aug. 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AAA is urging U.S. residents who plan to drive while traveling abroad to avoid purchasing fraudulent International Driving Permits (IDP), especially over the Internet.


Authentic IDPs and Inter-American Driving Permits (IADPs) are official translations of a motorist's driver's license for use when driving in another country. AAA is one of just two organizations authorized by the U.S. State Department to sell the documents to valid U.S. driver's license holders (the American Automobile Touring Alliance is the other). An IDP costs $15 from AAA and can be purchased by anyone 18 years or older who presents a valid U.S. driver's license at any of the more than 1,100 AAA offices around the country, or by mail following instructions at www.AAA.com/vacation/idpc.html.


"A fraudulent IDP or IADP could result in legal problems or travel delays if a person is detained while using it to drive in a foreign country," said Doug Bower, vice president of Travel for AAA. "People who buy them from fraudulent online brokers and spam e-mailers are wasting their money."


The Federal Trade Commission has previously alerted consumers to these scams, while putting the offending marketers on notice that this conduct won't be tolerated. According to AAA, these scams can lead innocent travelers to spend hundreds of dollars for false documents. The FTC's consumer alert on IDPs can be found on its web site at www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/alerts/idpalrt.shtm.


As North America's largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 51 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. AAA clubs can be visited on the Internet at www.AAA.com


AAA


If you're traveling abroad; travel with peace of mind - visit the AAA site and order your IDP there.

BNI Operatives: Street smart; Websavvy.

As always, stay safe,

Lina

Labels: aaa, driving, idp, international driver's permit, overseas, travel, vacation

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Secure Internet Access On The Road

We're a mobile society. We travel, for business or pleasure (usually a combination) and we take our communication and information needs with us.

The biggest concern then becomes, "How do I take the security bubble created around my equipment at my home or office on the road with me?" Until fairly recently, if you were away from your own secure network, you were at the mercy of whatever open (unencrypted) wireless network you could tap into, leaving a huge window for information loss or even worse, data capture by intruders.

We're not going to go tech-heavy. This week we'll offer our suggestion re: a wireless travel router and the SecureEasySetUp-enabled wireless device, working in conjunction, to bring you peace of mind via a secure, encrypted connection, on the road.

From Linksys:
The Wireless-G Travel Router with SuperBooster.

Use the Router in conjunction with Linksys's SecureEasySetup-enabler.

The router and security device are simple plug-ins. There is literally nothing else to do. (The above video gives a quick run down on router series - B, G and N. For on-the-road purposes, we are recommending the G series; the video tech can explain why much more succintly than I can!)

It doesn't get any easier than this - (although we predict these router and secure access device features will be built-in components as our mobile equipment continues to evolve at an incredible rate). But for now and the foreseeable future (which in tech terms, is, at max, 12 months), try these inexpensive Linksys products for keeping your info with you, and safe, when you travel.


NEWS: We are presenting a new segment in each week's Bulletin, Beacon's Best Site of the Week. The site may be innovative, clever, helpful or just quirky enough to capture our attention and hopefully, yours.

This week's Beacon's Best SOTW: www.woot.com. They offer only one product for sale each day. At midnight, the product changes. It could be an HP laptop at an insane price like $499 (I landed on it that day. My new HP l-top runs wonderfully.) or it could be a top of the line Bluetooth for $9.99. Warning: www.wooot.com may become addictive.


BNI Operatives: Street smart: Net savvy.

As Always, Stay Safe,

Lina

Labels: acess, bluetooth, data, hidden information, intruder, rotuer, social security number, tracking device, travel, wifi, woot

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Gaining/Boosting Your WiFi Signal While Traveling

One of the toughest issues facing travelers during the holiday season is WiFi signal access. We Americans tend to ignore the "vacate" part of vacation and, to the delight of middle managers and mother-in-laws everwhere, try to remain just as digitally connected while away as we do sitting in our living rooms or offices during our routine days.

Here at BNI, we've thrown in the towel on advocating for total relaxation (read: disconnecting from the Net) and joined management's side. This week's video will show you how to obtain and boost your WiFi signal so you can log on from anywhere in the world you decide to (allegedly) vacation.

A continued healthy, happy and sane holiday season to our readers and a Happy New Year to all.

Warmest regards,

Lina

Labels: boost, signal, travel, wifi

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