Surf The Net, Walk Dangerously
Don’t you know that while you’re surfing the Net, you’re like walking dangerously? Dangers abound — avoid these menaces by getting yourself familiar with them. Get yourself aware with these landmines that litter the internet.
Are you new on the internet? You will get invitations as fast as you can say yes. You’re surely come across pop-up advertisements or e-mail messages inviting you to join a program and you will receive rewards or will make you rich.
I believe that there is really this dark side of cyberspace. And the American watchdog, the Federal Trade Commission has warned and has listed these scams that are most likely to arrive in your e-mail inbox.
Here are some of them:
- Bulk E-Mails. This is considered spamming. Internet service providers prohibit their users to send bulk e-mails. This scam will send you e-mail offering from a list of e-mail addresses. This is by the millions, where you can send your own bulk solicitations. With the promise of scammers that this will make you rich. And they will offer you the service of sending bulk e-mail solicitations on your behalf. Or software will be offered to you that will automate the sending of e-mail to hundreds or even millions of recipients.
- Business Opportunities. This is an illegal pyramid scheme. Scammers will entice you to start a business without investing on it, without much work and promises lots of income. That you’ll receive cash without selling anything and someone will do it for you.
- Chain Letters. Don’t believe it. Chain letters are only chain letters, there are no valuable in them. You’ll be ask a small amount of money, let’s say $5, to each names on a list, replace one of the names on the list with your own. Then you will be instructed to send the revised e-mail via bulk.
- Work-At-Home Schemes. You’ll pay a small fee to get started. A promise of income while you stuff envelopes at home. But you will be offered to buy supplies or even equipment. Spammers promise to buy those later, but never will.
- Health And Diet Scams. These are pure gimmicks. Scammers will brag about their herbal formulas and pills. About cures for hair loss and impotence. Believe me, this will never ever work.
- Effortless Income. This is what they call, get-rich-quick schemes. This will give you promises of unlimited profits or income. Newsletters with a variety of easy-money opportunities, exchanging money on world markets. The perfect sales letter — the secret to making $4 million in one day! Hahaha.
- Free Goods. Another form of pyramid schemes. The scammers will get all the money — little or none at all goes to people who pay to participate. You’ll receive e-mail messages offering valuable goods, such as computers, phone cards or electronic items. You’ll be asked to pay a fee to join a club and you have to bring in a certain number of participants.
- Vacation Prize Promos. An electronic certificate will be received, congratulating you on winning a grand vacation for a very attractive price. Believe me, the cruise ship you will be book on may look like a tugboat. Huh!
Don’t allow yourself to be a victim of these landmines that litters the internet.
Income after retirement for today’s seniors
Retired? Or are you planning for retirement. Is there life after retirement? Or income that is after retirement? Let’s face it, the trauma of a retiree is the loss of regular income. Luckily, this can be planned for, with less pain, if one starts early enough. When a former baby boomer reached his retirement age reality takes over. It’s like launching your second life. Designing your life with financial affluence. This includes the planning tools, tips and advice for enjoying life after retirement. Here are the several ways to stay active and make money after retiring for today’s seniors.
- Plan. Retirees typically need at least 70 to 80 percent of their pre-retirement income. Be sure you are on track for a secure retirement. Perhaps you can also look at a Pension Plan to augment your income in the future.
- Make your money last. Be sure to outlive your money. Your money must last as long as you do. Save enough, invest wisely and have a pension life that pays for life.
- Consider working. Older people decide to continue working in some way after retirement. Many continue working because they like their work and enjoy being productive when the real and major reason is financial need.
- Give gift, why not? Gifts help you reduce your taxable estate to a level that is free of federal estate taxes. They don’t have to be related to you. Give away as much as $12,000 to anyone without paying taxes. The gifts are nontaxable. However, don’t give away this money if it will leave you short of funds.
- Homemade money. Your financial needs after retirement can be augmented by your home. The equity in your home can be a source of cash in retirement. And because you don’t want to lose your home in the process, be cautious about it. Borrowing against your home’s value has several advantages:
o Tax deductible. The interest you pay to your loan is tax deductible. Ask your tax advisor.
o Benefit from low interest rate. Interest on loan secured by your home is typically lower than other types of loans.
o Manageable risk. Use the loans instead of cashing in stocks or withdrawing from an IRA prematurely. Remember, both are taxable.
- Social Security. The largest source of income — Social Security provides a strong base for retirement security.
There is no clear cut answer or choice on the best course of action. It makes sense to take less investment risks when you reach retirement. Why not go too far, investing is not really money—but your health — worth its weight in gold.
Check Fraud Happens
Will you allow yourself to be a victim of a Check Fraud? Want to lose your hard earned money to criminals? If your answer is yes, stop reading here.
Criminals today can defraud you quite easily with a blank check taken from your check book, a canceled check found in your garbage, or a check you mailed to pay a bill.
Fraud professionals have become increasingly skilled and sophisticated. Technology has made it increasingly easy to criminals. Readily available technology like a personal computers, scanners and color photocopiers can be used by criminals to defraud you. To avoid if not eliminate Check fraud is one of the largest challenges facing account holders and financial institutions as well.
Fraud schemes involving checks take many forms, checks may be:
- Altered, either as to the payee or the amount. This fraud occurs after a legitimate maker creates a valid check to pay a debt. A criminal then takes the good check and uses chemicals or other means to erase the amount or the name of the payee, so that new information can be entered. The new information can be added by typewriter, in handwriting, or with a laser printer or check imprinter.
2. Counterfeited. Checks are presented based on fraudulent identification or are false checks drawn on valid accounts.
3. Forged, either as to signature or endorsement.
4. Drawn on closed accounts.
5. Used in a variety of schemes. Example of this is the Telemarketing fraud, wherein it appears that the account holder has given permission to have money withdrawn from his or her checking account to pay bills for goods and services.
Preventing or avoiding such Check Fraud is not only the responsibility of the account holder alone but also by the bank as well. A combination of precautions that an account holder might undertake could greatly reduce the likelihood of check fraud. A simple negligence or carelessness in handling of personal checks may lead these criminals to copy, steal, alter and forge checks.
It is important to follow a common-sense, logical approach with the way you use and store your checks. Store your checks and canceled checks in a secure and locked location. It is suggested that a reconciliation of bank statement shall be made within thirty (30) days of receipt in order to detect any irregularities. Be aware of unsolicited phone sales and never give your account number to people you do not know. Destroy old canceled checks and account statement, unless needed for tax purposes. Account all check orders and issuance and report missing checks to your bank at once. The longer it takes to detect any of your checks have been taken, the more time the criminal has to use them successfully.
If you cannot eliminate Check Fraud, you can prevent or reduce it by being cautious and being well informed. Make check fraud difficult by complicating the criminal’s task.
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