| Passports are coming for Canadians entering the U.S. before January 1, 2008.
Phase 1 – by December 31, 2005 (this year) – U.S. citizens, Canadian citizens, and citizens of Bermuda entering the U.S. by air or sea FROM THE CARIBBEAN will require a valid passport. This will predominantly impact upon Canadians taking Caribbean cruises that operate out of the southern U.S.
Phase 2 – by December 31, 2006 (next year) – All travellers arriving in the U.S. by air or sea will require a valid passport for entry. This will impact upon snowbirds who travel back and forth by air, especially those who fly home for Christmas and then return south for the balance of the winter months.
Phase 3 – before January 1, 2008 – All travellers entering the U.S. by air, sea OR LAND will require a valid passport.
Programs such as NEXUS are being discussed, but no definitive details are available.
What is wrong with a birth certificate and driver's licence?
Birth certificate standards vary too greatly from state/provincial jurisdiction to be easily used at the border. Due to the number of variations that exist, they are also subject to a higher risk of forgery. Passport offices have database access to cross-validate the authenticity of a birth record. Border inspectors do not have this access.
Driver's licence standards also vary considerably from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, making them not the ideal document of choice. Driver's licences also do not provide any details on citizenship, which is the key to border-crossing entry.
The CSA has always endorsed carrying a passport as the one definitive and universally recognized and accepted form of documentation. In light of these new changes at the U.S. border, the need is even more real.
A Tribute to Lorne Power
 We are saddened to announce the passing of Lorne Power, former Second Vice-President of the Canadian Snowbird Association between 1993 and 1996. He passed away on February 7, 2005 in Barrie, Ontario in his 81st year.
Lorne, a native Nova Scotian and World War II veteran, served on the CSA Board of Directors from the association's inception in 1993. His service was invaluable in our formative years.
We remember Lorne as a great philosopher, storyteller and historian who loved golfing and fishing. He is survived by his wife Audrey, daughter Lori, son Andrew, and 5 grandchildren. We will miss him. |
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| Phishing
The new era of identity theft scams
Phishing attacks are "look alike" e-mails and fraudulent websites designed to fool recipients into divulging personal financial data, such as credit card numbers, account usernames and passwords, social insurance numbers and more. By purporting to be well-known financial institutions, online retailers and credit card companies, "phishers" have a success rate of a five per cent return from unknowing respondents.
The intent of the "phisher" is to entice you or excite you to reveal your personal access or financial information quickly. They may propose a risk that has to be averted, such as "we have noticed unusual activity on your account" and then they request your credit card number, with the three digits on the back. They will request that you provide your Password or Personal Identification Number.
Remember:
• Legitimate Financial Institutions and Service Providers WILL NEVER ask for your password or PIN.
• If they represent a financial institution you already have a relationship with, they already have all the information they need.
• If you are ever uncertain about any e-mail or phone call, contact the financial institution or service provider they claim to represent. Do not use a phone number provided by the potential fraudster. Phone numbers provided by the same person(s) making the claims are likely a scam as well.
Easy to spot:
• "Phishers" are bad spellers. If you notice a spelling mistake in the communiqué, then you can be certain it is fraudulent.
• You have not won a prize, gift or lottery jackpot that taxes and service fees have to be paid on an "upfront" basis in order to collect.
• People in foreign countries DO NOT need your help getting their money into the country.
• You have NEVER been "pre-qualified" for a low interest loan.
• If they are offering anti-fraud protection for a fee or require the numbers of your accounts and credit cards to protect you, they are the ones you have to protect yourself from.
Source: Phonebusters
More Info: www.phonebusters.com |
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