Dangers of "Smishing"

There is a new venue for scams: your smartphone.

"Smishing" is phishing that is conducted over short message service (SMS)- or your texts.
Mobile phone users send and receive approximately 40 text messages a day. At some point you are likely to encounter smishing. If your smartphone is not secure, your personal information could be vulnerable.

Messages you might recieve 
Common smishing messages often appear to require immediate attention. They may take a format such as:

-A message "from your bank," telling you your account has been shut down and asking you to call a number to reactivate your account.
- A notification that you have been signed up for a service and will be charged unless you take some form of action, such as visiting a bogus website.
-A confirmation of a purchase that directs you to call a number if the confirmation is inaccurate.

If you take the action as prompted by these messages, you may be sending your personal information right to the scammer. Some programs will spread malware or a virus on you phone or PC and others may give the scammers the means to eavesdrop on your phone calls.

How to protect yourself

-If the message appears to be from a legitimate source. Contact the sources main phone.
-Delete messages from unknown sources without reading.
-Do not click on links or download apps from an unverified source.
-Never provide sensitive information to an unverified texter.
-Avoid messages that appear to come from the number 5000.
-Add security software to your mobile phone.
-Look into your setting up a "text alias." This cell phone feature hides your actual phone number from the smisher sender.

To learn more or to file a complaint, contact the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftc.gov and visit the FTC's identity theft website www.ftc.gov/idtheft.

After Years of Being Dismissed As An Outdated Metal, Gold is Making a Huge Comeback

Five years ago, the design community turned its nose up at anything that was gold or brass. In the past year, we've seen a resurgence in interest in golds and bronzes.

People are returning their homes to more traditional looks. Gold is almost like custom jewelry for the home - it can feel handmade and bespoke - whereas silver can feel more run-of-the-mill and mass market.

Gold is classic. It can give a rich pop to modern decors. Mixed metallics can work throughout the home, no need to go all-in on gold.

The new golds aren't nearly as brassy. It's evolved into a richer, warmer color than brass.There is a gold with a brushed finish to it, another that almost feels like a white gold and even a brushed bronze that has a rustic, deeper tone than normal bronze.

Think about everything that's silver in your home: lighting fixtures, dishware, flatware. All of those items are trending toward gold now.

Long-Time Occupant Homeowner Exemption for Cook County

Homeowners residing in their homes 10 years or more will receive additional tax relief if:

• A total household income of $75,000 or below will have an increase limited to 7% over the prior year's taxable value.
• A total household income greater than $75,000, but not exceeding $100,000 will have an increase limited to 10% over the prior year's taxable value.

The Long-Time Occupant Exemption cannot be received with the 7% Expanded Homeowner Exemption or the Senior Freeze Exemption. 

If you would like additional information regarding this exemption, go to www.cookcountyaseessor.com.

Helpful Hints For Heating your Home this Winter

A few simpler items:
- Caulk around windows and replace weather stripping around doors.
- Draw curtains closed to decrease drafts at night; open curtains to let in sunshine to help warm the room during the day.
- Lower the thermostat a few degrees at night and when you are not home.
- Put on a sweater instead of turning up the heat.
- Install a programmable thermostat.
- Tune up your furnace yearly and change furnace filters often.
- Insulate your attic

Ceiling fans can help heat homes, too.
Save as much as 40% on the cost of cooling your home because a fan creates airflow that cools the people in the room, reducing the need for air conditioning. In the winter, ceiling fans recirculate the warm air at the top of the room, which raises the temperature in the living space below. Fans should be switched from running counter clockwise in the summer to running clockwise in the winter. Ceiling fans can trim heating costs by 10%.

Turn on the oven!
Here is a delicious recipe for Mrs. Field's Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Cream together: 2 cups butter, 2 cups sugar 2 cups brown sugar

Add: 4 eggs and 2 teaspoons vanilla

In a separate bowl: Mix 4 cups flour, 1 teaspoon salt, 2 teaspoons baking soda, and 5 cups of oatmeal (pour small amounts of oatmeal in blender until it turns to powder)

Add: 24 oz. bag of chocolate chips, 1-8 oz. plain Hershey bar (cut in small pieces), 3 cups chopped nuts (any kind)

Place golf ball size cookies 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 375F for 6 minutes. Makes 112 cookies. Enjoy!