This morning, while trying to get something off a high shelf, I caught a piece of flypaper with my arm. Have you ever accidentally touched flypaper? For the unenlightened, I’ll explain. Three bouts of  vigorous scrubbing, four hours of work, an hour-long jog, and three episodes of “Criminal Minds” later,  the faint residue of fly-catching […]

The post Why Flypaper Might Be Related To Business Revenue Success appeared first on INTERNET LEGAL PLANS.

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What does a thief look like in modern society? Are they strung-out crackheads? Or the devilishly good-looking James Bond types that you see on TV? Does it matter? In all honesty, no.

The Thief of Today’s Age Can Be Anyone

Your 16-year-old babysitter, the nerd you picked on in high school, and even your boss. And why is that? Because today the largest growing trend in thievery is identity theft, a crime where the criminal doesn’t even need to have a face, or even a “personality”! More than ever there has been a need to enroll in identity theft protection.

But if that doesn’t convince you of why you need the credit monitoring, restoration, alerts and even credit repair associated with something like LifeLock or Identity Guard, know this….

Even the Top Infamous Thieves of Our Age Wouldn’t Know How to Be Criminals of Identity Theft!

And that’s saying a lot right there. Ever heard of Robin Hood, the famous man in tights serving the poor?Or how about Robert Louis Stevenson’s fickle pirate Long John Silver and his hunger for treasure? Even the sexy and dangerous gangster couple Bonnie and Clyde would be scratching their heads about social media and bank accounts, because back then it was all about the tommy gun and toting bags of cash. Plus you can’t even beat Ali Baba in stumbling onto a secret lair saying “open sesame” and stealing from 40 other thieves (but he certainly couldn’t scam and hack his way into your daughter’s Facebook account, we think!).

These four thieves wouldn’t know what to do with this scheme called identity theft. It’s above and beyond them. They committed crimes, sometimes in the worst way — either fictionally or historically — yet your everyday identity thief could do so much more.

So take this advice — protect your identity. Immediately.

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The post 4 Top Infamous Thieves Having NOTHING to Do With Identity Theft appeared first on Ultimate Identity Protection Services.

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Phishing Isn't Fun If You're on the Hook

Imagine what it would be like to be a minnow on a hook. Not fun. That's what #IDTheft  feels like. Thankfully, #UIP  has the goods on what you can do to avoid being the bait right here:

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U.S. #Taxes : a Pay-as-You-Go System

You know what that means? You have a deadline to pay taxes, but you can throw money to the Internal Revenue Service AS YOU GO throughout the year. Hence why your employer would send taxes via each paycheck, and at tax time, you either owe a little more extra, break even, or possibly get a refund.

But what happens when you're self-employed? What then?

Expect to keep up with the IRS yourself if you really think you'll owe more than $1K at tax time. You can get the help with deductions and credits, though, if you sign up with #ITPN (especially given the fact that you're self-employed!). You'll get 1099 (W-9) forms, obviously, and you'll be expected to make estimated payments on a quarterly basis — as if you're your own employer, paying those taxes right out of your paycheck every single time.

Sound like a lot of work? No worries. We can help.

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Reason 11 Why #LGBT #Workplace #Discrimination Will Be No More: #Google

Even the search engine we all know and love loves the LGBT community? You got it. Google actually is one of the founders of that global coalition to eliminate workplace discrimination.

Should we even try to convince you that Google's going to continue supporting the cause? No, we won't say a word about the 50K+-strong company making their stamp on the cause for equality. Not at all.

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In today’s technology-driven world, the internet plays a massive role in spreading information. However, there are certain people and things that everyone should be aware of while using the internet. People such as cyber-criminals implementing identity theft, credit card fraud and other vices deceive internet users into revealing sensitive and critical information unknowingly.

What Is Phishing?

Phishing scams are classified as an email fraud method in which legitimate-appearing emails are sent by the perpetrator (phishers) to gather personal and financial information from the recipients. Usually, the phishing scams appear to come from trustworthy and well-known websites such as Google, Yahoo, PayPal, or from banks and financial organizations.

Information usually sought by perpetrators of phishing scams can include requests for:

• Usernames and Passwords
• Debit or Credit Card Details
• Personal Identification Numbers
• Bank Account Numbers and Details
• Mothers’ Maiden Names
• Birth Date and Year
• Social Security Numbers

Phishing scams usually come in emails and even instant messages that would contain some link(s). Once you visit the link, you are taken to a “fake and replica” website. It is commonly seen that the phishing email request you to perform an action like “verify your account” or “confirm your card or billing information.” These emails also include a threat like “Your bank account will be deactivated if you do not click here“. If you provide information, you are a victim of phishing scams, a very effective form of identity theft, among many other chameleon styles of the crime.

How Do You Avoid Being a Victim of Phishing Scams?

1. Do not respond to email solicitation for personal and/or financial information in emails.
2. If you receive an email asking for details, contact the company directly but NOT with information provided in the “phishing” email.
3. You should check security of the website before providing sensitive informative over the internet.
4. Contact your financial institution on an immediate basis if you believe someone has compromised with your financial accounts.
5. Hide your email address from social networking sites and online profiles or just allow specific people to view your information.
6. Always update your contact information with financial institutions like banks so that you receive updates for all, including fraud transactions.
7. Check your bank and financial statements regularly.
8. Use strong passwords that should be large and a combination of special characters, digits, and alphabets both in small and upper cases. Never write or share your password.

If you do receive a phishing email, do not forget to report it to legitimate institution so you know there is someone to deal with it.

The post Secret Tips on How to Avoid Phishing Scams appeared first on IDENTITY THEFT PROGRAM REVIEWS.

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Strong #GrandRapidsMI Job Growth Means Better Mortgage Down Payments

We at #CBB  take pride in the job economy. It fuels #business. Brings more to the table in terms of ROI, job growth, workforce stabilization and competition. It's healthy.

So when we see that a beautiful city like Grand Rapids in Michigan growing their employment economy, ranking 22nd in the entire nation (and that's saying something for being in Michigan) and a 3.5% job growth rate, you know what that means: better down payment competition between buyers looking for a home.

What's great for real estate is great for business.

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Why is #creditrepair  so important? Think about it…. What's one thing you need in order to get that home mortgage secured: a GOOD CREDIT SCORE! That's why #realestate  plays a massive role for us at #ICS, whether it's #RTO  or simply standard home ownership. We'll help you get there.

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Truthfully, we hate labels. And titles. And name placements. Political correctness: it’s a fickle beast, especially when talking about something as touchy as credit repair. But no worries — we’re not going to sugar-coat or bounce around the topic like some organizations or professionals out there, and we’ll tell it like it is. It’s very simple: when talking to a credit counselor, you have to ask specific questions just to be sure you’re talking to a real credit counselor for the right reasons. Why? Just remember this important fact: credit repair walks a fine legal line. You want to make sure you stay within it.

Here Are Eight Real Questions You Absolutely Must Ask a Credit Counselor — Just to Be Sure You’re Dealing With the Real McCoy

There are a lot of credit repair scammers out there, in other words. Many will label themselves as a credit counselor, but that’s not what they do. As a consumer, you have a right to know what you’re dealing with before potentially getting yourself in hot water, so ask the potential credit counselor you’re consulting with, and interviewing, these specific questions:

• Can You Approve My Bankruptcy Filing? — What we mean by that are the legal requirements to filing for bankruptcy. The credit counselor you’re talking to has to have the certified approval to sign off on the legally mandated requirement to seek credit counseling before filing for bankruptcy. So make it a point to ask this question immediately.
• Are You a “Debt Counselor” or a “Credit Counselor”? — Like we said, we hate the labels. They may sound so similar; but in truth, they’re very different. You ask this question just to be sure you are dealing with a real-life credit counselor. What are the differences? Find out right here.
• Are You a 501(c)(3) Organization and Can You Prove It? — Now you’re getting tough with the prospective credit counselor, and you should. Grill that credit counselor to the bone with this one. Why? Why does it matter that the credit counselor’s a 501(c)(3)? Here’s why.
• Are You Accredited? — Almost seems like a no-brainer of a question, but would you like to know exactly what kind of accreditation you should be hearing from a credit counselor? Read about it right here.
• Are You Professionally Trained? — Remember this important fact: you are interviewing the credit counselor. So you’ll make that professional sweat. Ask them the tough questions. Knowing the ins and outs of credit repair and restoration is one thing — being completely certified is a whole ‘nother ballgame entirely.
• Do You Have Any References? — Honestly, a true credit counselor would, and should, lick his or her own lips at this question, frothing at the mouth at the opportunity to show off the praise and positive reviews from prior clients. So go ahead and ask. Specifically, there’s one other big reason why a credit counselor would love to offer up references….
• Can You Guarantee Success? — AHA! Another ‘trick’ question here. The fact is no credit counselor in the galaxy — nay, the universe — can guarantee anything. Here’s why.
• And, of Course, How Much Do You COST? — Shop around and you’ll find the fees jumping left and right. Obviously, go with the most beneficial solution for the consumer to a certain extent, and you’ll learn why right here.

Just Remember, Though: They’re Not Doing the Credit Repair Work For You….

Rather, they’re pointing you in the direction of what you need to do and maybe even assisting in the legal process. There’s value in that, something not only we at ICS do, but other reputable agencies and organizations like ITPN would do on a regular basis, so it does exist.

You just need to make sure you’re actually talking to a real deal, and not a real poser in the business. You accomplish that, of course, by asking these questions. Because, after all, this is your credit report we’re talking about! And your credit score is the difference between getting that job, or landing the home mortgage, or securing an auto loan.

Make sure you’re talking with a real professional.

The post 8 Real Questions to Ask Your Prospective Credit Counselor appeared first on Independent Credit Solutions.

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Is there any wonder why we have such programs like H.O.P.E. to Own? Home ownership, the ultimate goal, the American dream. And it’s not just about the prestige about owning a home; it’s about so much more: The Fact Is This: Owning That Home Actually Benefits Your Taxes Here’s how our budding real estate market, […]

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