State of FINCOM April 2014

REPORT

From Linda,
As of this writing, the quartermaster PayPal function is still not working.  I am accepting quartermaster orders and processing them thru the STARFLEET PayPal account.  I have transferred $101.25 for two orders that were received earlier this month and will be transferring more as soon as the statements are available and I can compile the total received for SFMC orders.  This should be in the area of $160.55 less the PayPal fees.

Checking account balance (Beginning March) – $4603.33
PayPal transfer – $261.80
Debits in the amount of $39.60
USPS – $39.60 (quartermaster postage)
Merchandise total – $316.95
Postage collected – $30.85
PayPal fees  – $8.98
Actual postage – $34.42
Closing balance (End of March) – $4763.88
Scholarship current balance $2728.81

As stated above, the PayPal part of the Quartermaster website is still not working.  The COINFOCOM is waiting for the PayPal account API signature ID and password.  Once he gets that, he should be able to get the PayPal part working.
As stated previously, the only SFMC Quartermaster items that cannot be purchased and have been removed from the Quartermaster site is the shoulder patch and the SFMC flag.  These will have to be replaced.  All other items including Branch devices, etc. can be purchased and worn on current uniforms.  These devices will be “Grandfathered” in and may still be worn even if we replace these devices later.  Please buy from our Quartermaster repeatedly and often.

I will be posting for a DCO of FINCOM later this week or the first of next week.  When Patrick was COFINCOM he posted for a DCO and nobody responded.  He later posted again and since I was the only one that responded, I got the job.  I will be using the SFMC requirements and a couple of my personal requirements.  Please get those resumes ready.  As DCO of FINCOM you will be granted access to the SFMC staff email posts.  As with any General Staff DCO you will prohibited from posting directly to the General Staff list.  Any comments posted by you as a DCO will have to be approved by the staff moderator before it can be posted to the General Staff list.  You can either email directly to me if you have comments.  You will also be charged with assisting the CO in overseeing all operations of the Command and will be ultimately responsible for all Command duties and responsibilities. You must be ready to take over the duties of COFINCOM as needed or on an interim basis in the event that COFINCOM is unavailable to perform their duties as required.

PASSWORD/BANK CARD SECURITY
With the advent of online banking and online line banking using smart phones/tablets, the protection of your password is a crucial item.  As with your credit report, you need to check your online banking accounts at least once a week.  You need to change your password at least every 30 to 60 days.  If unauthorized access is gained to your banking information, account numbers, bill payees and accounts balances can be seen.  I can assure you that if access to this information is gained, you will be in a world of trouble trying to fix this intrusion.
Only use ATM machines that are associated with your bank or some other well recognized banking institution.  Several years ago when ATM’s were becoming popular, two guys approached a mall manager and stated that they wanted to install an experimental ATM to test its functionality.  The manager agreed and the guys set the ATM up with all of the bells and whistles.  Problem was every time someone tried to use the machine, the ATM gave the same message, “This transaction cannot be completed”.  After numerous complaints, the two guys came back and picked up the ATM, which had recorded the bank card number and pin of everyone who had tried to use the ATM on a hard drive.  You can use the ATM at the mall which is free standing beside a wall or roof support or you can use the ATM that is built into the wall of your bank.  I will let you decide which is better.  Enough said.
Everyone please have a Happy Easter weekend.

BGEN Barry Jackson
COFINCOM