How Not To Get Hooked By A "Phishing" Scam

Written by Dean Phillips


Continued from page 1

Unfortunately, no indicator is foolproof; some phishers have forged security icons.

Review credit card and bank account statements as soon as you receive them to determine whether there are any unauthorized charges. If your statement is late by more than a couple of days, call your credit card company or bank to confirm your billing address and account balances.

Use anti-virus software and keep it up to date. Some phishing e-mails contain software that can harm your computer or track your activities onrepparttar Internet without your knowledge. Anti-virus software and a firewall can protect you from inadvertently accepting such unwanted files.

Anti-virus software scans incoming communications for troublesome files. Look for anti-virus software that recognizes current viruses as well as older ones; that can effectively reverserepparttar 127538 damage; and that updates automatically.

I personally use Norton AntiVirus and have never had any virus problems whatsoever.

A firewall helps make you invisible onrepparttar 127539 Internet and blocks all communications from unauthorized sources. It’s especially important to run a firewall if you have a broadband connection.

If you haven't already done so, I highly recommend installing Microsoft's Service Pack 2. SP2 tightens your PC's security with a new Windows Firewall, an improved Automatic Updates feature, and a pop-up ad blocker for Internet Explorer. Plus,repparttar 127540 newly minted Security Center gives you one easy-to-use interface for keeping tabs on your PC's security apps.

In addition, be extra careful about opening any attachment or downloading any files from e-mails you receive, regardless of who sent them.

Report suspicious activity torepparttar 127541 FTC. If you get spam that is phishing for information, forward it to spam@uce.gov.

If you believe you’ve been scammed, file your complaint at:

http://www.ftc.gov, and then visitrepparttar 127542 FTC’s Identity Theft website at:

http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft, to learn how to minimize your risk of damage from ID theft.



Dean Phillips is an Internet marketing expert, writer, publisher and entrepreneur. Questions? Comments? Dean can be reached at mailto: dean@lets-make-money.net

Make Money Online! Internet marketing expert, Dean Phillips will teach you how to make money online, starting today...Guaranteed! For details just visit my website.

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WARNING! Living Trust Scams Targeting our Seniors

Written by Barbara Mascio


Continued from page 1

  • by a child who is younger than age 21, blind or disabled

  • by a child who is age 65 or older and who has a countable income not exceedingrepparttar need standard forrepparttar 127537 Temporary Assistance for Needy Families

  • by a sibling who has a verified equity interest inrepparttar 127538 home and who was residing inrepparttar 127539 home for at lest one year immediately beforerepparttar 127540 daterepparttar 127541 individual was admitted torepparttar 127542 medical institution.

    However, if you assignrepparttar 127543 deed of your home to a Living Trust, you loose this exemption and your home is now considered a 'Countable Resource'.

    Many seniors will find themselves in need of Medicaid assistance to help pay for health care services. Medicaid, once an 'entitlement program' available to those that metrepparttar 127544 age and income criteria, is now a completely different program allowingrepparttar 127545 state to collectrepparttar 127546 Medicaid reimbursement from your estate. The federal guidelines andrepparttar 127547 individual state guidelines are not alwaysrepparttar 127548 exact same guidelines. Each state has been provided a great deal of flexibility in how they interpret and govern Medicaid. Ohio happens to be one ofrepparttar 127549 worst states.

    In fact, in a recent article published in Forbes Magazine, entitled 'Best Places to Die'', Ohio ranked 49 out of fifty for this and other reasons. See Best Places to Die

    The Probate Myth:

    If you are like my grandma, with less than a total of $200,000 in assets, chances are a Living Trust is not a reasonable vehicle to purchase simply to avoid probate. We have learned that as long asrepparttar 127550 deed,repparttar 127551 bank accounts,repparttar 127552 insurance policies and so forth are written withrepparttar 127553 proper legal wording of 'survivorship' these assets will seamlessly pass torepparttar 127554 surviving spouse, without probate.

    Just asrepparttar 127555 IRS has complicated tax returns torepparttar 127556 point an average citizen needs to pay for assistance in order to file,repparttar 127557 government has createdrepparttar 127558 same quagmire with Medicare and Medicaid issues.

    In conclusion:

    • Trusts have solid purposes, however, please speak with someone who is well versed and educated on Medicare and Medicaid issues before pursuing.

    • Not having a trust does not mean your estate will definitely go through Probate court.

    • Do not assume you know how Medicare and Medicaid works. Either speak with a professional that specializes in elder planningissues privately, or attend one ofrepparttar 127559 many workshops to self-educate yourself.

    • Seniors, please do not invite a sales representative in to your home while you are alone. You want someone you trust (an adult child or friend) to be inrepparttar 127560 home during this sales presentation. This is not a 'dig'. You've been aroundrepparttar 127561 block and are more savvy than most of us and you haverepparttar 127562 right to do what you want. Just be aware that there are people out there that know how to manipulate your trust. In fact, their sales training teaches them 'how to' do just that.

    • Never feel pressured to 'do it right now'. All professional reputable services expect you to consider your options.

    • Never give your birth date, social security number, bank account numbers and so forth to anyone overrepparttar 127563 telephone or to a stranger that has come to your home.

    • Do not assume that a company with no complaints registered withrepparttar 127564 Better Business Bureau equates to an 'approved' service. Anyone with $500 can joinrepparttar 127565 Better Business Bureau.

    • Get allrepparttar 127566 facts before you make a decision. Ask a lot of questions. Please, be careful.

    Stop guessing! Select a Senior Approved Service! Phone toll free at 877-620-6448 for one-on-one assistance, or visit Seniors Approve Free Web Community

    Founder and President of Quality Care Options


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