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In 2001, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) received 86,212 complaints relating to personal identity theft. Two years later in 2003 those complaints had risen by 40% to 214,905. One wonders what would have caused a 40% increase in complaints from this new form of theft.

Its because we now make so many of our transactions without being seen or heard. We conduct our business over the internet and anyone’s fingers could be at the keyboard. Anyone who surfs the internet is aware of the multitude of passwords now needed for banking and literally most sites.

Even with unique passwords some spyware can steal your passwords, credit card and bank account numbers, and Social Security numbers.

Actually a method developed in the late 1800s by Charles Darwin’s first cousin, Sir Francis Galton, maybe the best solution to our thievery problems caused by this high tech world of ours. In 1901, Scotland Yard began using his system as a means of criminal identification. One identifying characteristic we all have at our fingertips is our finger prints.

A company named DigitalPersona now has fingerprint hardware and software for the home PC called Password Manager. For example if you were to do online banking and you click on the button that says “see accounts” a pop-up window always appears, requesting that you identify yourself. Instead of logging in a password that could be stolen from you just press your right index finger for a split second on a small scanner the size of a postage stamp that is near your keyboard. Your finger print identifies you and you can complete your transaction.

The Azteca Bank in Mexico has registered 4 million people who can now use their ATM by identifying themselves only with their fingerprint. This is an excellent method of identification for this bank since many of their customers are migrant workers who do not have existing forms of ID.

Perhaps returning to the successful methods of identifying people used in Scotland Yard in 1901 will be the best technology in the year 2004 and beyond as well.

You have decided its time to move to a bigger home as your family is growing or you have been transferred to a different city or state. Now you must choose whether to rent or sell your existing home. If you are planning on selling your home, there are many things to consider. Choosing the right Realtor to market a property and negotiate the sale is the most important step in the process, and since you normally contract to list your house with the agent for a specific period of time, you may find yourself unable to switch to another should you find yourself unhappy with the service you receive. It can also be important to choose a good real estate professional in property development. The Realtor will be your sales agent and marketing professional.

Many real estate agents will tell you what you want to hear. In the real estate profession, this is known as buying a listing and is employed by shortsighted agents who are more interested in themselves than they are in you. If your home is priced properly, many agents will show it to their buyers. If you price it too high, no one will show the house and it will sit on the market for some time. When you finally drop your price to reflect its real value, your house is old news and buyers may think you are growing desperate, and you may find yourself accepting a price that is below what you could have received had the house been priced properly to begin with.

Not all real estate agents were created equally. Look around as the real estate profession is constantly changing and, the best real estate professionals stay aware of those changes by continuing their education. Open houses are a great way for potential buyers to get a feel for the home, but make certain that you have done your best to make the home presentable. Don’t leave clutter laying around, as the home will appear smaller, and an untidy home does not give off a comfortable feeling. Fresh paint will give your home a fresh feeling, and remember to remove heavy drapes to allow the sun to shine through the windows. Dirty windows, doors, and sidewalks should be cleaned as this is the first thing a potential buyer will see upon entering the home. An inviting home will sell much faster than one that looks uncared for.