Search Results for: blog how to protect yourself from being scammed on social networking sites

Job Hunting – Myths

Looking for a job is probably one of the most frustrating things we do. In part, it’s because obtaining a job is crucial to the individual and family survival. Modern corporate America can take as long as two months to call you back after receiving your resume and while their human resource departments may have plenty of time to find an applicant, you don’t always have plenty of time to wait to be found. So let’s talk about some myths associated with job hunting and resume submission in order to help speed your personal process along: Blanketing Every Available Job … Continue reading →

Recreation…A Great Time to Talk Business…Sometimes

There is a bit of a stereotype about all the business that supposedly gets conducted on golf courses, during racquetball games, and at the health club—some of this is actually true and recreational activities can be a great time to work on business, but sometimes it can be inappropriate. Recreation really can be a great time to make contacts and get some business done—people are relaxed and feeling open and conversational, there seems to be less pressure when you are out of the office having a meal or walking a golf course on a lovely sunny day. It does take … Continue reading →

Travelers’ Checks Scam

My mother swears by travelers’ checks. They are a vital part of her travel itinerary: make airline reservations, pack toothbrush, pick-up travelers’ checks… If you routinely use travelers’ checks –be warned–you could be a target for scam artists. The scam involves a computer and a person who plays on the sympathy of vacationers who are regularly use travelers’ checks. It starts with an email message asking for help cashing travelers’ checks. The person sending the email claims to be stranded in another country and is unable to use his/her travelers’ checks. The email plays on the emotions of travelers who … Continue reading →

Thank Goodness For My Computer

I am thankful for my computer for many reasons: it allows to me to work at home, it helps me stay connected to family and friends, and in 2006 it helped preserve a piece of my sanity. For a few months this year we didn’t have cable, which meant my 2-year-old daughter was without her beloved “Wonder Pets,” “Wow! Wow! Wubbzy,” and her best friends, “The Backyardigans.” At first she was a bit shell shocked that her daily routine was being altered (she gets to watch 30 minutes of TV in the morning and 30 minutes at night). But, I … Continue reading →

Congrats—“Person of the Year”

Did you know that I am on the cover of TIME magazine? You are too… and you…and you… and you. If you used or created content on the World Wide Web at any point in the last 350 days then you are being honored as TIME magazine’s “Person of the Year.” Quite an honor, huh? I was a bit shocked the award was bestowed on each and every one of us, though I believe it’s a savvy marketing move to say the least. After all, why honor the institutions when you can recognize the individuals who use them? I’m sure … Continue reading →

BEWARE—The Holiday Gift Card Scam

I don’t know where you live, but if you reside anywhere around the Midwest portion of the United States then you may have heard about a new scam involving gift cards. Thousands of victims have flooded area Better Business Bureaus with their tragic stories of being ripped off. Here’s how the scam works: Scammers go to a store where gift cards are hanging on a rack. They then copy numbers and merchant names from these gift cards. They wait a week or so and then call the 800 number that was on the back of the card to find out … Continue reading →

A Warning To Oprah Fans

If you are an Oprah fan and are currently trying to get tickets to see the queen of talk in person, be on guard. According to officials, online thieves are using the lure of tickets to “The Oprah Winfrey Show” to rip off the identities of consumers. The scam was exposed after several Oprah fans notified Winfrey’s Harpo Productions, Inc. that they had been ripped off. According to the state Attorney General, the thieves have been sending unsolicited e-mails asking people to send them personal information, verify financial information or wire money to a third party for tickets to the … Continue reading →

A Warning To Potential Job Seekers

I have two cousins enrolled in nearby colleges, both are excellent students who hold down part time jobs in addition to carrying full academic loads. They also spend quite a bit of down time on the Internet–one has even contributed Spring Break photos to a MySpace page. Sounds innocent enough, but I don’t think it is a coincidence that recently both received school-wide warnings from their respective universities warning all students about what they post online, and how it could impact future job searches. I read the form letter the schools issued. It cited a new study that found employers … Continue reading →

A Warning For People Who Pay Bills Online

Did you know that Americans pay one in four bills online? Paying your bills online is convenient. But consumer advocates say that convenience comes with a risk, especially if you have ditched all of your paper bills for cyber statements. According to the Anti-phishing Working Group, there is a new scam out there preying on people who are familiar with the online bill paying process. The scam works like this: an email similar to statements you receive from a company you owe money to is sent in a format that looks exactly like the bill you’re used to getting. Con … Continue reading →