It’s called the Marketplace Fairness Act. Better known as “the internet sales tax” the MFA has been a hot point of discussion recently, as it was voted through both the House and Senate. But what does it really mean for the consumer?
For some, there will be no difference at all. For others, they will have to start paying whatever their local sales tax is on their on-line purchases. (more…)
Technology keeps getting better and better as we approach the New Year. This year has been one of the most exciting years for technology as many companies are unveiling advances that just a few years ago would have been very difficult to accomplish. The iCloud was announced with much fanfare and allows you to link up to five devices to the cloud, where you would keep all of your files, from photos, to music and you can access it on the go, which is even more exciting. The cloud is now the obsession of many different companies as there is a lot you can do with it and the more you use it the more it becomes an important part of your computing experience. Microsoft is about to release some of its Office suite into the cloud for use, and is only charging a nominal fee, which is good considering the state of current salaries. You can access programs and files to work with them anywhere you want. This is a huge movement in the right direction as the cloud will make computing very convenient and allow you to be free of the constraints of individual devices that are not in sync, the cloud syncs them automatically. (more…)
Many a creative genius never put their plans into action for lack of funding. Finding investors and convincing them to offer you cash advances on an idea is sometimes much harder work than actually developing the idea. The same skills that make someone a great creative genius often aren’t the same skills needed to get proper funding for the idea. That’s why it’s great when a marketplace opens up that not only can help you connect with those investors, but get the funding to put your big dreams into action. Now, there is just such a place for developers looking to create applications of the Iphone: AppBackr.
There’s no doubt about it; the digital age has made scamming a profitable and easy affair online. It seems there’s nothing they won’t try whether it’s a phishing scam to try to get your email address or personal information or full-blown debt scams that bilk people out of life savings. Here are some pointers to avoid scams in general and in particular those you encounter online that can ruin your finances for years to come.
Don’t Click Those Links
You get a piece of email from someone you don’t know and it looks like they’re trying to be friendly and help you out. Don’t click the links. If someone is a scammer, the last thing they’re going to do is come out and say it. Often, scams are whitewashed in appeals for charity, helping a neighbor, or even impersonations of reputable companies or people. They certainly are not going to arrive in your mailbox with the words: ”Hello, I am a crook. Please click here to give me some money.” Even scams that don’t appear to take money from you directly can put money in a scammers account by just the simple act of clicking their affiliate link.
Use Throwaway Email Addresses
Maybe you’re interested in signing up for something just to see what it’s all about. Fine. Don’t use your real email address. There are plenty of online services that will provide a temporary email address for a few days, a week, or even a month. If you find the service reputable, change your account setting to your real email address. If not, let them keep the throwaway email address.
Be Careful with Personal Information
It’s quite amazing how you might never approach a person on the street and try to friend them and then begin to tell them every detail of your life, but this is quite common on social networks. If you’re the sociable type, don’t send out messages about your whereabouts (in case someone is casing your house), your finances (in case they’re looking for a way to scam you), or your ideal boyfriend/girlfriend. Believe it or not, there are sweetheart scammers who will first find out what you want in an ideal match, play their part this way, all just to get your car, your house, or your credit card numbers. Just avoid being too trusting, even as you friend people online, and don’t give out information that compromises your safety or your personal finances for many years to come.
Buy Identity Fraud Protection
If you are networking online, there’s bound to be a slip here and there. Your best bet is to protect yourself with identity fraud protection that monitors your credit and bank accounts for you automatically. They will search through the history of your accounts and keep you informed when suspicious activity happens. In particular, they will look for cases where people may want to impersonate you so that they can charge products and services to your account while you’re completely oblivious to what’s happening. These services are very inexpensive and can help you save a bundle of trouble and money in the future.
