How To Avoid Getting Scammed

Listed below are some of the most popular and common scams:

1. Nigerian Letter Scam:

This one's been around for many years but continues to flourish. Many of these e-mails claim to be from a person in Africa, usually Nigeria. The writer claims to have access to millions of dollars, either from a relative or from knowledge of an idle account. A percentage of this money is promised to the victim if they will allow the money to be processed through their personal bank account. The victim is instructed to keep their share and send the remaining money to the scammer.

The check given to the victims is fraudulent. The victim is then liable to the bank for the check they wrote to the scammer.

Here's what will happen when you give strangers your bank account information: They will take your money. Period.

2. Phishing Scams:

"Phishing" is a high-tech scam that uses spam or pop-up messages to deceive you into disclosing your credit card numbers, bank account information, Social Security number, passwords, or other sensitive information.

Phishers send an e-mail or pop-up message that claims to be from a business or organization that you deal with--for example, your Internet service provider (ISP), bank, online payment service, or even a government agency. The message usually says that you need to "update" or "validate" your account information.

Recent phishing victims include Yahoo, Citibank, eBay, Best Buy and Bank of America among others.

If you get spam that is phishing for information, forward it to

Frequently, these schemes involve making handicrafts, stuffing envelopes, medical billing, or state, "Use your home PC to make money fast in your spare time!"

In the craft making or envelope stuffing scam, after paying fees and completing the assembly of the products, victims are told their work is low quality and unworthy of compensation.

Medical billing scams require victims to purchase supplies and lists of doctors who, inevitably don't exist or are not interested in the service.

5. Bulk E-mail Scams:

These solicitations offer to sell you bulk e-mail addresses (spam software) or services to send spam on your behalf. Example: "Reach 100 million websites, $39.95"! The software is usually of poor quality. It's spam and a scam. Don't do it.

6. Auction and retail scams:

These schemes typically offer high-value items, such as Cartier watches, Beanie Babies and computers, in hopes of attracting many consumers. What happens is the victim wins the bid, sends the money and receives nothing or receives products of much lower quality than advertised.

7. Guaranteed Loans or Credit Scams:

This scam comes in a variety of flavors: home greeneasylife.com equity loans that don't require equity in your home, personal loans regardless of credit history, etc. After you pay the application fees, you receive a letter saying that your loan request was denied. Usually, you never here from these companies again.

8. Credit Repair Scams:

These scams promise to erase accurate, negative information from your credit file so that you can qualify for loans, mortgages, unsecured credit cards, etc. It doesn't work. Not only that. If you follow their advice and lie on loan or credit applications, misrepresent your social security number, or get an Employer Identification Number from the Internal Revenue Service under false pretenses, you will be committing fraud and violating federal laws. Another variation of this scam is the promise of a brand new credit file. Don't do it.

9. Vacation, Sweepstakes And Prize Award Scams:

In these scams you receive notification congratulating you because you've won a fabulous vacation, a car or some other prize award. All you have to do to collect your prize is pay a small fee (usually several hundred dollars). In return, what you end up getting is a toy car, (I kid you not) or a vacation certificate to the Bahamas or some other exotic vacation spot. It's really a lousy deal. You have to pay for your own airfare, and the accommodations that they arrange are usually in rundown hotels. Let the buyer beware!

10. Employment Scams:

Employment scammers take advantage of job seekers. They claim to offer employment services, inside information or inside contacts to jobs. After paying a fee, victims learn they only provide advice, help writing a resume--or less. Some fraudulent employment services simply sell lists of companies that they have gotten from public directories. They usually have not contacted those companies directly or know if there really are any job openings.

11. Multi-level Marketing (MLM) or Network Marketing Scams:

I know I'm going to ruffle a few feathers with this one, so let me just say right now that all MLM or network marketing companies are not scams. Obviously, there are some good, reputable companies out there. However, there are so many bad ones that I'm compelled to include the entire industry on this list. Before getting involved with any MLM or network marketing company, investigate, investigate and then investigate some more. Don't get caught up in the hype. And here's a fact no MLM or network marketing company will ever tell you--not even the legitimate ones: Unless you have outstanding sales ability and/or people skills, it is extremely difficult to make any money in MLM or network marketing.

Here are some other things you should watch out for: Make sure the website you're visiting contains all three of the following:

A real persons name (not just a company or business name)


A telephone number


A street address (not just a P.O. Box)

If all three of the above are not present, walk away from the offer.

Before purchasing anything, you should always check first to see if the company has had any complaints lodged against it. The following websites publish complaints and/or scams:

scamwatch.com scamwatch.com



worldwidescam.com worldwidescam.com



bbb.org bbb.org

If you do get scammed, report it to the aforementioned websites immediately. You probably won't be able to recover your money. Few people ever do. But at least by reporting the crime and making it public record, you make it harder for that company to scam anyone else.

In closing, always carefully investigate any business opportunity, and remember: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!

About The Author

Dean Phillips is an Internet marketing expert, writer, publisher and entrepreneur. Questions? Comments? Dean can be reached at mailto:

Home Based Business - A Good Opportunity For Disabled People

A home based business is a great business opportunity for disabled people because a home business provides control and flexibility so that they can participate in a business of their own and have the same opportunity to succeed in business as everyone else does. They will have better control of their lives then they normally would if they were working in conventional workplaces.

Business success for the individuals with disabilities serves not only to fulfill their financial needs it also helps them to regain their agility, vitality and self-confidence.

Disabled people face a lot of unusual challenges in their journey towards building their own business. They are faced with a wide spectrum of different obstacles as compared with the able bodied person and may even lack of business knowledge and experience necessary to manage a home business. Due to their specific disability, they may not have had the opportunity or the mobile ability to obtain any on the job training or special business management training classes. That is why it is important that they choose wisely when determining their niche market so as to find a product or service that provides high quality, on line training that is free and readily available.

Regardless to this fact, the success rate among disabled home based business owners is unprecedented. According to the statistics from the Disabled Businessman's Association, it is estimated that 40% of the home businesses are run by the disabled people. This is a very good percentage because 95% of the overall people tend to fail with their businesses from homes.

The government also helps disabled people to start businesses from their homes. There are many authorized resources and grants available to aid the disabled in starting and operating a business.

Benefits of home businesses for the disabled:

o The freedom and flexibility to run a business of their own

o To work in a friendly, quite environment

o Reduced need to commute

o Work space that accommodates their personal disability issues

o The potentials to create an accessible work environment

o Increased income to support their Social Security Disability Insurance.

Resources for the Disabled:

Below is a summary of some useful business resources for disable business owners:

If disabled people consider starting a home based business, they should make sure that they check out and utilize all of the resources and grants which are made available for them by the government organizations.

They could gather more information on websites, online forums, seminars, and information guides for disabled people. The guides will be particularly helpful in making them understand the common issues which the disabled entrepreneurs normally face. A simply Google Search will give them tons of valuable information and resources to help them setup and manage their business.

Many agencies like s Start-Up USA, Social Security Administration Ticket to Work Program and The Office of Disability Employment Policy provide technical assistance, funding and mentoring services to encourage and to support disabled entrepreneurs.

The state government of the respective countries where they want to set up their business also provides loans on low interest rates as well as state sponsored finances and grants which are beneficial for starting a business from home. However, they will need to satisfy their terms and conditions in order to reap the benefits.

The fast changing world has brought with it worries like unemployment, bankruptcy, health care costs, and numerous other personal life style concerns. It is not just the disabled who are looking for work from home anymore. As a matter of fact, a lot of healthy people find this option very attractive. Regardless of the competition, there is no reason why a disabled person can't compete on a par with anyone else with a home based business.

The Foundations of Social Work

Social work is defined as the organized work which is intended to improve or advance the social conditions of a society or community. Particularly, it pertains to the improvement of the disadvantaged or the poor, the mentally ill or those otherwise unable to care for one's self.

Social workers, or the professionals who try to improve the lot of the disadvantaged, provide psychological care through counselling, guidance and assistance, particularly in the form of social services. Social Workers are well trained for these roles and have a solid educational background either in a university for a BSW or MSW or at a community college for a diploma programme.

Social work is pervasive throughout modern society in the form of counselling at addiction centres, hospitals, clinics and offices. Trained social workers will talk with patients or clients who face difficulties in returning to society, offer them job training and career choices and guide them back into mainstream society. They will also assist the client in choosing to live back at home or in a group home with trained workers on site.

Social workers also work for the municipal and county governments and offer counselling, income assistance in the form of welfare and finally housing assistance when rent and securing jobs are too difficult to handle. The mentally ill and addicted will receive special treatment for their needs in the form of rehabilitation, group home living quarters and job-seeking assistance.

Social work is found in every public and private sector in which people, families and the destitute require assistance. Families can apply for assistance at the city level or be nominated by friends and neighbours when they are unable to seek help for themselves or their children. Children take a large proportion of a social worker's role in looking after those who have been abused, neglected, or exploited. Children are 80 per cent of the impoverished and ill-equipped to be at risk for sexual abuse, physical assault and death.

Teachers, police and church workers are under the obligation to report any suspicion of abuse of a child and a social worker will investigate the situation at the home or at the school. If the home life is found to be lacking in basic necessities, such as food or supervision and care for the child or his siblings is detrimental to their welfare, then the children become the ward of the government and the parents are charged. However, it is in the best interests of the family to remain together with counselling and assistance with the basics of life.

The homeless need the most help during the cold winter months, and soup kitchens have to be open to feed the hungry and destitute. Once again, volunteers and church people help the social workers to set up safe hostels and places to stay, food stamps and allowances and soup kitchens with meals for the families to stay healthy. Social work is available at every level and is readily able to assist the needy.

Sarah James works as a content writer for many web site, she is currently working on careworks.ie case management software for social workers. This software enables careworks.ie social workers to be better organized with their ever increasing case load.

Getting Down Payment Assistance With Grants For Homes

New home owners often fail to realize just how much money they need when it comes to buying their new home. With grants for homes, down payment assistance can help those first time home buyers who may be under prepared financially, but ready to purchase their first home.

Generally home buyer grants are provided by state and local government agencies, and can be found by contacting the various offices in your area. There are also online resources that will give you access to grant search databases, which may be beneficial in many ways. Not only will these programs help you quickly find down payment assistance, they can help identify the offers that you are most likely to qualify for.

Once obtained, the down payment assistance received through first time home buyer grants generally never have to be paid back. There are specific terms and qualifications that must be met when awarded the grant, but the money is typically provided tax-free, with no interest and no repayment terms. That means instant equity for the new home owner.

When applying for these funds, be sure to review the qualification requirements carefully. The grant database you choose to access will typically provide some guidance as to how to properly apply for the grant you need and get the most amount of money. While there is no guarantees that your application will be accepted, you can follow the model documents and guidelines to help increase your chances of getting approved for the money you need, and quickly.

Find newgrantsource.com/blog/real-estate-grants Real Estate Grants by requesting access to the grant database. Once you find the money you may qualify to receive, you could have your cash grant in as little as 7 days.

=> newgrantsource.com Home Buyer Grants

Searching For Reputable Home Caregivers? Here's Where and How to Look!

Hiring home caregivers is a popular option, explored by many families every year. Some communities have become aware of the increased need for in-house care and have started developing volunteer services, drop in centers as well as help-lines which people can use to seek advice, suggestions and guidance. However, when it comes to hiring in-home caregivers, it can be difficult to know who to hire and where to find the services needed for your family.

If you are one of the many families searching for home caregivers here are a few tips which may help;

It is important when trying to find a reputable and trustworthy caregiver to treat your initial interview the same as you would if hiring for any other position. For example, before starting an interview process to find any potential caregivers, take the time to list your own personal needs and preferences. Some points to consider could be additional responsibilities, night hours, food preparation or even light housework. If you are unaware of these other responsibilities, you are likely to hire a caregiver, only to find out that he or she will not complete all of your extra requirements. This mistake can be incredibly inconvenient, not to mention costly if you need to hire additional help.

Another point to consider is choosing and ultimately hiring only home caregivers who have a medical-based background. Depending on the health of your elderly family members, you may need someone who is comfortable with prescription drugs, physical therapy and even mental illness. By limiting your potential home caregivers to only those who have worked in a medical field you can ensure that you hire a responsible and capable professional.

In addition to the two points mentioned above, it is also important to consider your budget. Though home caregivers can be covered by some medical plans, most are not and can easily become a financial burden. If you are limited to a certain hourly rate, consider finding a caregiver through a placement agency. This way you can be upfront with the amount you wish to pay and they will only send you possible applicants who are comfortable with your budget.

And finally, when searching for any service the best way to find a reputable company is to ask others, and finding home caregivers is not an exception. Ask family and friends about their past experiences and see if they have any reputable referrals.

Denise Glenn is an avid researcher and daughter of a beloved parent with Alzheimer's. She strives to present accurate and helpful information regarding elder care resources. Check out her newest website at medical-alert-devices.org Medical Alert Devices and learn about the latest in medical-alert-devices.org/medical-alarm-system Medical Alarm Systems.