No doubt about it, convenience foods save you time. But - and it's a big but - convenience foods don't save you money. If you rely on frozen dinners, helper foods, kits and take-out you are spending too much money on food. These tips will help you lower your bills and eat healthy, flavorful meals.
1. Plan meals by the week.
2. Make a grocery list, grouping foods by category. (Meat, dairy, produce, etc.)
3. Only buy what is on your list. Don't succumb to impulse buying or kids' demands for products hyped on TV.
4. Shop at stores that have the most specials.
5. Use coupons for healthy foods only. Don't buy a product just because you have a coupon.
6. Roll your cart past "helper," "partner," "bakes" and "kits." These products are over-priced, over-salted, and you can't even pronounce some of the ingredients.
7. Mix up your own rubs. They take only minutes to make and you can customize them to your tastes.
8. Buy store and less-known brands, often made by top manufacturers.
9. Buy lean hamburger. It is better for you and there is less waste.
9. Drink water instead of pricey soda pop, which is often loaded with sugar and erodes your teeth.
10. Make your own salad dressing. You'll save a bundle!
11. Make your own granola. Lots of recipes are posted on the Internet and kids will enjoy helping you.
12. Eat boxed hot cereal, not the kind in packets.
13. Buy day-old bread and coffee cake. The bread is perfect for French toast and grilled sandwiches. Stale coffee cake makes some of the best bread pudding you will ever taste.
14. Stores put pricey foods - the foods they want to push - at eye level. Bend down and look on the bottom shelves for bargains.
15. Learn how to cut up a whole chicken.
16. Eat seasonal fruits and vegetables.
17. Buy staples in bulk.
18. Make your own pudding. You will get twice as much for your money.
19. Buy a refrigerated or prepared crust and make your favorite pizza.
20. Use meat for flavor, as in stir-fry, instead of making it the feature of the meal.
21. Maximize leftovers. Make cream sauce for a little left over spinach. Use leftover vegetables in soup.
22. Put leftovers in sturdy plastic zipper bags to prevent freezer burn and waste. Label and date the bags.
23. Turn old bread into new, delicious croutons. Cut the bread into cubes, drizzle it with olive oil, sprinkle with garlic powder, oregano and basil. Bake in a 350 degree oven until crispy.
24. Make your own baking mix and store in a tightly covered jar. (Recipes are posted on the Internet.)
25. Involve kids and grandkids. The involved kids of today will turn into smart shoppers tomorrow.
Copyright 2006 by Harriet Hodgson
http://www.harriethodgson.com
http://www.healthwriter.blogspot.com
Harriet Hodgson has been a nonfiction writer for 27 years and is a member of the Association of Health Care Journalists and the Assocition for Death Education and Counseling. Before she became a health writer she was a food writer for the former "Rochester Magazine" in her hometown of Rochester, MN.
Her 24th book, "Smiling Through Your Tears: Anticipating Grief," written with Lois Krahn, MD, is available from http://www.amazon.com A five-star review of the book is posted on Amazon. You will find another review on the American Hospice Foundation website under the "School Corner' heading.
North Korean Cyber-Terrorists Launch Attacks on South Korea and the Mourning US
This week North Korean cyber terrorists are believed to have attacked websites in both the United States and South Korea. While Americans and the world were saying good bye to popular late night friend, Ed McMahon, remembering Farrah Faucet, celebrating the music of Michael Jackson and pondering over future custody arrangements for Michael Jackson's three children, the trouble that has been brewing in North Korea like a poisonous cauldron finally boiled over and starting spilling out the world.
During President Bush's administration, threats of North Korean nuclear testing were bubbling and while the focus may have shifted under Obama's administration, the heat has never really been turned down. The North Korean threats migrated from big what ifs to very specific and human targets this spring. Two American journalists were held and convicted for "illegal border crossing and unspecified grave crime," with a penalty of 12 years of reform through labor.
North Korean Cyber Attacks: What Really Happened?
According to Johannes Ulrich, SANS Internet Storm Center's chief technology officer, the attacks began over the holiday weekends as Americans celebrated July fourth.
Targets in the United States included: - The White House - Department of Transportation, (DOT) - Department of Homeland Security - Federal Aviation Administration, (FAA) - National Security Agency, (NSA) - The State Department - U.S. Postal Service - U.S. Treasury Department - Federal Trade Commission - A Pentagon website - A website for U.S. Forces in South Korea
The results of the cyber terrorists attacks, confirmed by officials, were that the Treasury Department, Secret Service, Federal Trade Commission and Transportation Department sites "were all down at various points over the weekend and into this week and some of the sites were still experiencing problems on Tuesday evening after the attack.'
The cyber terrorist attacks also affected South Korean government agencies and banks, leaving them with inaccessible or unusable websites.
"This is not a simple attack by individuals. The attack appeared to have been elaborately prepared and staged by a certain organization or state," Seoul's National Intelligence Service (NIS) said in a statement. The NIS also stated that, "US authorities were cooperating to track down those responsible for hijacking 12,000 personal computers in South Korea and 8,000 abroad which were exploited as vehicles for the attacks."
Cyber Attacks in Lay Terms:
The recent cyber attacks were called a "denial of service" or DOS attack. It is similar to the messages on web sites consumers may encounter when a web site is overloading, such as when visiting a coupon site or special event at a shopping web site.
What is suspected is that malware (malicious computer programmers), from North Korean cyber terrorists infected thousands of computers using Microsoft Windows with a computer virus. As a result, the cyber hacking programmer would be able to create a network on computers, or "botnets," that could be programmed to do whatever the programmer wanted. The technique used would be similar to that reported in Golden Cash Network Uses Bots and Zombies to Steal Information.
The collective computers are then directed to access web servers, in the same way you and I do when we access a website. The subtle difference is that with the use of spoofing, an IP -Internet Protocol address, just appears to be busy. The website keeps trying to send information requested repeatedly, which ties it up over and over again. In other words, it simulates an over-load. Then while the host servers and sites are busy trying to answer the fraudulent requests for information, new spoofed IP addresses are created over and over and the servers are no longer able to respond.
Websites such as the White House, Pentagon and New York Stock Exchange seemed to have managed the attack with out side effects since they are used to enduring high demand volume while they are also benefited by higher band capabilities as well. Unfortunately, other servers, such as the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Transportation went off-line.
In the simplest of lay terms, it is similar in nature to the phenomenon that occurred when Oprah offered the public a free KFC skinless chicken dinner. Hundreds of thousands of people went on-line to get the free printable coupon from her web site, Oprah.com and KFC's web site as well. The servers were overloaded for days, causing the offer to be withdrawn and changed and thousands of anxious consumers received the message that the website was unavailable. This is just one small-scale example that much of the public can relate to as a of denial of service attack.
Now imagine that thousands of such fraudulent messages are being sent to government computers that run staple services and securities for the citizens of the United States. While we may be disappointed in not getting out free chicken dinner coupon, the terrorist cyber attacks that our country experienced last week threatened the free world with so much more than missing out on a free lunch sandwich.
During President Bush's administration, threats of North Korean nuclear testing were bubbling and while the focus may have shifted under Obama's administration, the heat has never really been turned down. The North Korean threats migrated from big what ifs to very specific and human targets this spring. Two American journalists were held and convicted for "illegal border crossing and unspecified grave crime," with a penalty of 12 years of reform through labor.
North Korean Cyber Attacks: What Really Happened?
According to Johannes Ulrich, SANS Internet Storm Center's chief technology officer, the attacks began over the holiday weekends as Americans celebrated July fourth.
Targets in the United States included: - The White House - Department of Transportation, (DOT) - Department of Homeland Security - Federal Aviation Administration, (FAA) - National Security Agency, (NSA) - The State Department - U.S. Postal Service - U.S. Treasury Department - Federal Trade Commission - A Pentagon website - A website for U.S. Forces in South Korea
The results of the cyber terrorists attacks, confirmed by officials, were that the Treasury Department, Secret Service, Federal Trade Commission and Transportation Department sites "were all down at various points over the weekend and into this week and some of the sites were still experiencing problems on Tuesday evening after the attack.'
The cyber terrorist attacks also affected South Korean government agencies and banks, leaving them with inaccessible or unusable websites.
"This is not a simple attack by individuals. The attack appeared to have been elaborately prepared and staged by a certain organization or state," Seoul's National Intelligence Service (NIS) said in a statement. The NIS also stated that, "US authorities were cooperating to track down those responsible for hijacking 12,000 personal computers in South Korea and 8,000 abroad which were exploited as vehicles for the attacks."
Cyber Attacks in Lay Terms:
The recent cyber attacks were called a "denial of service" or DOS attack. It is similar to the messages on web sites consumers may encounter when a web site is overloading, such as when visiting a coupon site or special event at a shopping web site.
What is suspected is that malware (malicious computer programmers), from North Korean cyber terrorists infected thousands of computers using Microsoft Windows with a computer virus. As a result, the cyber hacking programmer would be able to create a network on computers, or "botnets," that could be programmed to do whatever the programmer wanted. The technique used would be similar to that reported in Golden Cash Network Uses Bots and Zombies to Steal Information.
The collective computers are then directed to access web servers, in the same way you and I do when we access a website. The subtle difference is that with the use of spoofing, an IP -Internet Protocol address, just appears to be busy. The website keeps trying to send information requested repeatedly, which ties it up over and over again. In other words, it simulates an over-load. Then while the host servers and sites are busy trying to answer the fraudulent requests for information, new spoofed IP addresses are created over and over and the servers are no longer able to respond.
Websites such as the White House, Pentagon and New York Stock Exchange seemed to have managed the attack with out side effects since they are used to enduring high demand volume while they are also benefited by higher band capabilities as well. Unfortunately, other servers, such as the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Transportation went off-line.
In the simplest of lay terms, it is similar in nature to the phenomenon that occurred when Oprah offered the public a free KFC skinless chicken dinner. Hundreds of thousands of people went on-line to get the free printable coupon from her web site, Oprah.com and KFC's web site as well. The servers were overloaded for days, causing the offer to be withdrawn and changed and thousands of anxious consumers received the message that the website was unavailable. This is just one small-scale example that much of the public can relate to as a of denial of service attack.
Now imagine that thousands of such fraudulent messages are being sent to government computers that run staple services and securities for the citizens of the United States. While we may be disappointed in not getting out free chicken dinner coupon, the terrorist cyber attacks that our country experienced last week threatened the free world with so much more than missing out on a free lunch sandwich.
Jonathan Kraft is a recognized expert in helping people to understand Identity Theft prevention and protection. Learn more about the secrets used by identity thieves at the Identity Theft Secrets blog.
How to Write the Ultimate Brochure
Before you start writing your brochure, you must first ask yourself these questions:
1. Who is my target audience?
2. How can my product/service help them solve their problems?
3. What are the main benefits of my product/service?
4. What do I want my brochures to achieve? What's my "most wanted response"?
• First page/panel - the most important part, because readers see this before any other page/panel. Arouse curiosity here with a powerful headline - and they'll rush to the next page.
• Last page/panel - the second-most important part. Often readers will flip your brochure over to see what's on the back. Here's your second - and maybe only - chance to get their attention. You can do this with a tear-off coupon that offers readers some benefit if they fill out their details and present or post the coupon to you or your agent.
• Most important benefits first - list the benefits of your product/service in order of importance, so readers read the most important ones first.
• "What's in it for me?" - you must keep it interesting. If the contents don't hold a reader, he/she will move on to something else and you've missed the boat.
• Stand out from the crowd - you must include your "unique selling proposition" (USP): why/how you can help your customers solve their problems better than your competitors can.
• Check your tone - your tone must match your target audience. (Selling to teenagers, or company directors?) If not, your customers won't identify with your product/service - use spoons, not forks, to scoop sugar!
• Use proof - include testimonials from happy customers. But only testimonials that mention specific benefits users got from your product/service. "It was great!" is too vague. Readers will ask, "Why was it great?"
• Use more proof - "case studies": a case study is a story outlining how your product/service solved a customer's problem. Also, a photo of your product, and preferably showing your product in use, is powerful extra proof. (Be sure to include a caption below the photo.)
• Close with a strong call to action - tell the reader what action you want him/her to take. "Phone this number …" or "Fill in your details …" or "To get your discount / FREE gift, simply …"
**Six Benefits of a Brochure**
1. Gives you credibility - the person reading the brochure sees you're serious: you have a product/service and you've spent money producing a brochure.
2. Sets you apart from your competition - if you have a brochure, but they don't, or your brochure is more persuasive or useful than theirs, you get the upper hand.
3. Useful - give the reader some reason to keep your brochure, some lasting benefit: perhaps a list of useful addresses and phone numbers.
4. Saves time - potential customers get information about your product/service quickly and easily: they don't have to make a phone call or log on to a website.
5. Gives a foretaste of your product/service - you may have a photo (with a caption) or just a description. This should arouse curiosity, which makes the customer want to find out more.
6. Ideal for lead creation - the brochure must contain contact details: phone number, website address. It may also have a tear-off section on the back fold, where the reader can fill out personal details and send in the coupon for a special offer or more information.
**Format of Your Brochure**
The format depends on the length of your brochure. And there are two basic lengths: (1) a simple double-folded one, which, when unfolded, has three panels on the front and three on the back, and (2) one with four or more pages (often stapled together).
The type of brochure you have depends on how much information you want to include in it, what purpose you want the brochure to serve.
**To Guarantee Results, What Should You Have in Your Brochure?**
As with all effective advertising, you must start with your reader. The focus must be your customer and his/her wants, not your product/service.
Once you know what problems your potential customers have (which your product/service solves), you can write a powerful sales brochure.
And remember, always stress benefits, not features - "features" are what your product/service is; "benefits" are what your product/service does for your customer, how they improve your customer's life.
For example, you're not selling perfume - you're selling sophistication!
ฉ 2006 Eldo Barkhuizen BA, HDE
Eldo Barkhuizen, www.1stcallcopywriting.com, is a direct response and web copywriter based in the UK. Using tested, powerful strategies he will help you transform your website into a 24/7 money magnet.
1. Who is my target audience?
2. How can my product/service help them solve their problems?
3. What are the main benefits of my product/service?
4. What do I want my brochures to achieve? What's my "most wanted response"?
• First page/panel - the most important part, because readers see this before any other page/panel. Arouse curiosity here with a powerful headline - and they'll rush to the next page.
• Last page/panel - the second-most important part. Often readers will flip your brochure over to see what's on the back. Here's your second - and maybe only - chance to get their attention. You can do this with a tear-off coupon that offers readers some benefit if they fill out their details and present or post the coupon to you or your agent.
• Most important benefits first - list the benefits of your product/service in order of importance, so readers read the most important ones first.
• "What's in it for me?" - you must keep it interesting. If the contents don't hold a reader, he/she will move on to something else and you've missed the boat.
• Stand out from the crowd - you must include your "unique selling proposition" (USP): why/how you can help your customers solve their problems better than your competitors can.
• Check your tone - your tone must match your target audience. (Selling to teenagers, or company directors?) If not, your customers won't identify with your product/service - use spoons, not forks, to scoop sugar!
• Use proof - include testimonials from happy customers. But only testimonials that mention specific benefits users got from your product/service. "It was great!" is too vague. Readers will ask, "Why was it great?"
• Use more proof - "case studies": a case study is a story outlining how your product/service solved a customer's problem. Also, a photo of your product, and preferably showing your product in use, is powerful extra proof. (Be sure to include a caption below the photo.)
• Close with a strong call to action - tell the reader what action you want him/her to take. "Phone this number …" or "Fill in your details …" or "To get your discount / FREE gift, simply …"
**Six Benefits of a Brochure**
1. Gives you credibility - the person reading the brochure sees you're serious: you have a product/service and you've spent money producing a brochure.
2. Sets you apart from your competition - if you have a brochure, but they don't, or your brochure is more persuasive or useful than theirs, you get the upper hand.
3. Useful - give the reader some reason to keep your brochure, some lasting benefit: perhaps a list of useful addresses and phone numbers.
4. Saves time - potential customers get information about your product/service quickly and easily: they don't have to make a phone call or log on to a website.
5. Gives a foretaste of your product/service - you may have a photo (with a caption) or just a description. This should arouse curiosity, which makes the customer want to find out more.
6. Ideal for lead creation - the brochure must contain contact details: phone number, website address. It may also have a tear-off section on the back fold, where the reader can fill out personal details and send in the coupon for a special offer or more information.
**Format of Your Brochure**
The format depends on the length of your brochure. And there are two basic lengths: (1) a simple double-folded one, which, when unfolded, has three panels on the front and three on the back, and (2) one with four or more pages (often stapled together).
The type of brochure you have depends on how much information you want to include in it, what purpose you want the brochure to serve.
**To Guarantee Results, What Should You Have in Your Brochure?**
As with all effective advertising, you must start with your reader. The focus must be your customer and his/her wants, not your product/service.
Once you know what problems your potential customers have (which your product/service solves), you can write a powerful sales brochure.
And remember, always stress benefits, not features - "features" are what your product/service is; "benefits" are what your product/service does for your customer, how they improve your customer's life.
For example, you're not selling perfume - you're selling sophistication!
ฉ 2006 Eldo Barkhuizen BA, HDE
Eldo Barkhuizen, www.1stcallcopywriting.com, is a direct response and web copywriter based in the UK. Using tested, powerful strategies he will help you transform your website into a 24/7 money magnet.
You Can Save Money on Your Grocery Bill
Whenever I tell people I can buy a months worth of groceries for $300 (or $200 in a pinch) they ask HOW do you do THAT?? Well, it's really not as hard as it sounds. The key is organization and planning. Here are a few tips for newbies to the world of frugal grocery shopping.
Stock up! Your first grocery trip on your road to saving is actually to spend a little more than you are used to. Items that are staples in your pantry should be purchased in large quantity if possible. These include items such as flour, sugar, pasta, dry beans, rice, oatmeal, canned goods, etc.
Plan your menus. Before you head off to the grocery store, make a list of the meals you plan to prepare. If you shop every two weeks make a list of two weeks worth of meals. Take a look at what you have on hand and what is on sale in the weekly circulars from the grocery stores before you plan your meals.
Use Coupons. If there is a particular item you always purchase look for coupons. If an item is on sale and you have a coupon then buy that item. Don't use a coupon just because something is new or trendy, only use coupons if they will save you money.
Buy Store Brands. It's true that all the ads on TV and in magazines make the name brand items look much more glamorous, but often times the store brands are just as good if not better. Actually, many store brands are manufactured by the same name brand companies we all know and recognize.
Shop on sale days. Our local grocer offers specials every Thursday. They range from a one day meat sale to a Pillsbury brand sale. No matter what the theme is for the week, the prices are always great!
Don't buy convenience foods. It's so easy to load up a grocery cart with frozen meals, instant boxed dinners, individual serving sized juices, pre-packaged lunches and junk food. However, not only do these items offer little nutritional value for your family, they are a huge waste of money. Which is why I almost always...
Cook from scratch! The more you can prepare meals from scratch, the more money you will save. Home cooked meals are also higher in nutrition and you know exactly what you are eating, unlike many pre-made meals. From scratch doesn't have to mean a lot of time and clean up. A simple meal like baked or grilled chicken, steamed vegetables and rice can be prepared in under 30 minutes with minimal clean up.
Freeze Things. I always try to prepare a double batch any time I cook anything. It saves me time and effort for future meals and on days that things get really hectic I don't have to worry about what is for dinner. I also freeze bread ends to make my own bread crumbs (which I store in the freezer), leftovers to use for future lunches, bananas for breads and muffins and anything else that might otherwise get thrown out and wasted.
Keep a Price Book. When you shop take a few moments to jot down what you buy and how much it costs. Make a master list of items and the prices (include prices from each store that you shop). When you take the time to do this you will know if it's worth it to go to a different store to stock up on a sale item. It is also a great way to calculate how much you will spend before you get to the grocery store. I actually use a software called Home Cookin to keep my Price Book.
Only take what you plan to spend. If you use a debit card, take your draw from the ATM in the amount you plan to spend for groceries. Then leave your card AT HOME. That way you won't be tempted to spend more than you have budgeted.
Eat Your Leftovers. Have beans leftover, make refried beans. Stale bread can be made into bread pudding. Chicken from last night's dinner becomes chicken salad. Leftover pasta sauce can top a pizza. Don't prepare a new meal until all the leftovers are gone.
Forget the junk food. My theory is if you don't buy it then you can't eat it. We RARELY buy sodas, chips, cookies, ice cream, pastries or any other junk food. I give my kids healthy snacks and we drink a lot of water. I do make them Kool Aid, lemonade and tea but they don't miss the junk food because they are not used to having it.
By following these simple guidelines I have been able to keep our budget down and our nutrition level optimum. It's really not that difficult once you give it a try!
Michele Young is a work-at-home wife and homeschooling mom of three. Read about her Grocery Saving Tips and Recipes at http://chefmichele.blogspot.com
Stock up! Your first grocery trip on your road to saving is actually to spend a little more than you are used to. Items that are staples in your pantry should be purchased in large quantity if possible. These include items such as flour, sugar, pasta, dry beans, rice, oatmeal, canned goods, etc.
Plan your menus. Before you head off to the grocery store, make a list of the meals you plan to prepare. If you shop every two weeks make a list of two weeks worth of meals. Take a look at what you have on hand and what is on sale in the weekly circulars from the grocery stores before you plan your meals.
Use Coupons. If there is a particular item you always purchase look for coupons. If an item is on sale and you have a coupon then buy that item. Don't use a coupon just because something is new or trendy, only use coupons if they will save you money.
Buy Store Brands. It's true that all the ads on TV and in magazines make the name brand items look much more glamorous, but often times the store brands are just as good if not better. Actually, many store brands are manufactured by the same name brand companies we all know and recognize.
Shop on sale days. Our local grocer offers specials every Thursday. They range from a one day meat sale to a Pillsbury brand sale. No matter what the theme is for the week, the prices are always great!
Don't buy convenience foods. It's so easy to load up a grocery cart with frozen meals, instant boxed dinners, individual serving sized juices, pre-packaged lunches and junk food. However, not only do these items offer little nutritional value for your family, they are a huge waste of money. Which is why I almost always...
Cook from scratch! The more you can prepare meals from scratch, the more money you will save. Home cooked meals are also higher in nutrition and you know exactly what you are eating, unlike many pre-made meals. From scratch doesn't have to mean a lot of time and clean up. A simple meal like baked or grilled chicken, steamed vegetables and rice can be prepared in under 30 minutes with minimal clean up.
Freeze Things. I always try to prepare a double batch any time I cook anything. It saves me time and effort for future meals and on days that things get really hectic I don't have to worry about what is for dinner. I also freeze bread ends to make my own bread crumbs (which I store in the freezer), leftovers to use for future lunches, bananas for breads and muffins and anything else that might otherwise get thrown out and wasted.
Keep a Price Book. When you shop take a few moments to jot down what you buy and how much it costs. Make a master list of items and the prices (include prices from each store that you shop). When you take the time to do this you will know if it's worth it to go to a different store to stock up on a sale item. It is also a great way to calculate how much you will spend before you get to the grocery store. I actually use a software called Home Cookin to keep my Price Book.
Only take what you plan to spend. If you use a debit card, take your draw from the ATM in the amount you plan to spend for groceries. Then leave your card AT HOME. That way you won't be tempted to spend more than you have budgeted.
Eat Your Leftovers. Have beans leftover, make refried beans. Stale bread can be made into bread pudding. Chicken from last night's dinner becomes chicken salad. Leftover pasta sauce can top a pizza. Don't prepare a new meal until all the leftovers are gone.
Forget the junk food. My theory is if you don't buy it then you can't eat it. We RARELY buy sodas, chips, cookies, ice cream, pastries or any other junk food. I give my kids healthy snacks and we drink a lot of water. I do make them Kool Aid, lemonade and tea but they don't miss the junk food because they are not used to having it.
By following these simple guidelines I have been able to keep our budget down and our nutrition level optimum. It's really not that difficult once you give it a try!
Michele Young is a work-at-home wife and homeschooling mom of three. Read about her Grocery Saving Tips and Recipes at http://chefmichele.blogspot.com
How to Survive on Mac & Cheese When Starting As a VA
I had the great fortune to be able to attend one of the online networking events sponsored through the CVAC today and despite the technical glitches and spattered speech patterns, it was simply wonderful to 'see' (and sporadically hear!) my other fellow VA's.
I see their names on posts asking multitudes of complicated questions and they all sound so stunningly professional and capable that quite frankly, at times I'm awestruck! While I definitely enjoy belonging to this wonderful group of talented gals (and guys) some days I swear y'all are speaking another language or in some sort of highly secretive code that only rocket scientists or persons from another galaxy far, far away can decipher.
I'm a wordsmith... period. I do not know how to do anything more technical than to reset the bloody clock on my computer and microwave after a power outage. "Bits and Bytes" are some sort of couch potato snack that's consumed while salivating over the hunks who parade their stuff on "Desperate Housewives". I do know how to download files - I do it all the time actually and hit 'run' instead of save. This has caused all sorts of fun as invariably at some point I'll have to uninstall the program I downloaded from whatsupdoc.com because it's causing my email address to be sent to a colony of pigmy's in Bora Bora who are now filling up my inbox with offers to sell me shares in the their lucrative vanilla bean processing companies. (Does the phase "Hey mon, dis deal is good! sound familiar to any of you?)
Anyhow, I digress as per usual. The real point (and there is one coming - be patient people!) is this - "How to Survive on Mac & Cheese While Starting Your VA Business". Many more qualified VA's can supply you with all the wonderful and necessary tools to successfully complete the start-up phase of your business. I'm here to provide the 'meat and potatoes' of how to survive your first year... and stay reasonably sane. So, here's my 2.5 cents worth of advice, including HST, PST, GST, and any other freaking tax that can possibly be levied by our government, on how to maintain your double digit figure (Size 12 is nice!) when starting your VA biz.
1. Clip coupons. Any coupons! Even if you've never dined on baked Spam with a honey-mustard glaze, save that .75 cent coupon. Rip, tear, snip and scissor cut ALL coupons and attach them to your fridge with a motivational magnet that says something like "Don't eat a T-bone - save a cow!" It will make dining on that Spam so much more pleasant. Also, save any/all coupons for more than 1.00 off anything! You never know who you might be able to barter those coupons with to get one you might actually be able to use. Personally, I've found the Gillette men's shaving cream to be absolutely wonderful, in particular the gel formula. Be a tad wary though as you may have to fight to use it, especially if you have someone from the male species living in your house. This applies to their razors as well. Word of caution: Make sure that your bathroom door locks from the inside before using these 2 products. Much safer this way.
2. Walk. As in walk to the grocery store with your bag of coupons safely stowed in your tote-sized purse. Walking will not only provide you with much needed exercise but it will save on that precious liquid gold called gasoline. When you're in the start-up phase of your business, you're going to want to conserve as much gas as possible (with the exception of that caused by eating the baked Spam), to be able to go see potential clients. Just think of how much money you'll save by walking to the store and dragging home 6 grocery bags filled with tomato soup, Spam and good ol' mac and cheese dinners! Better yet, walking will help you walk off those mega calories consumed from the aforementioned carbs. After all, you're now a VA and most likely are sitting in your computer chair (oh - get the 'slightly used' ones at your local Salvation Army and use duct tape to fix that broken armrest - you're not going to need two anyhow plus wheels aren't really that big a deal), so you'll likely be starting to see signs of that dreaded condition of "BS" i.e. Butt Spreading.
3. Get a VA or other Start-up Business Buddy. Go through the list of qualified VA's on CVAC, (or any other business forum you might belong to), and find one who's willing to listen to you whine, complain, cry and lament about anything and everything via email and MSN messenger. Try and find one that possibly has a sense of humor because they're going to need it when dealing with you. This is a very necessary step as having someone else to commiserate with over the lack of clients beating down your door to avail themselves of your stupendous services, helps keep you reasonably sane. Check to see if they also offer motivational tapes, cd's etc. or were formerly on their high school cheer leading squad. You're going to want one that will keep your spirits high (instead of you having to rely on spirits to get high), and generally offer words of wisdom... or not. Be very choosy here. If they keep answering your email messages telling you that they've now filed a complaint of IM Stalking, I highly suggest you stop talking to them immediately. Perhaps a change of email accounts would be a good move here also.
4. Laugh More - Worry Less©. This is the biggie folks! If throughout your first year of building your business, you can sit back and have just one gut-clenching, tear-wrenching belly laugh a day, you'll make it! If you lose a potential client - tough - it's their loss, not yours. If you gain a client - way to go! As the old saying goes, "Don't sweat the small stuff and don't pet the sweaty stuff" or something like that. Believe in yourself and what you do. You are the best thing since sliced bread (even if you're one sandwich short of a picnic as in my case), and with sheer determination, willpower and blackmail, you WILL get that first client - guaranteed! Make sure to ask for testimonials and post them on your website, blog, carve them on a log, and staple brag sheets on the "Articles for Sale" announcement board at your local supermarket. Hey, they know who you are, right? You've only been walking there three times a week for 5 months now, lugging that folding shopping cart behind you and fumbling through your coupon clutch at the cashier's wicket, causing everyone behind you to start muttering under their breath about the 'idiot' at the front of the line. They'll most likely be glad to give you a glowing recommendation...if you'll just go shop somewhere else.
I do hope that these 4 tips help assist you if you're suffering from the first year VA business blues. If not, oh well, I tried. Please do not email me to be your VA buddy as I've had to change my ISP, my email account names and MSN Messenger names five times already. Huh. Some people just have NO sense of humor!
I see their names on posts asking multitudes of complicated questions and they all sound so stunningly professional and capable that quite frankly, at times I'm awestruck! While I definitely enjoy belonging to this wonderful group of talented gals (and guys) some days I swear y'all are speaking another language or in some sort of highly secretive code that only rocket scientists or persons from another galaxy far, far away can decipher.
I'm a wordsmith... period. I do not know how to do anything more technical than to reset the bloody clock on my computer and microwave after a power outage. "Bits and Bytes" are some sort of couch potato snack that's consumed while salivating over the hunks who parade their stuff on "Desperate Housewives". I do know how to download files - I do it all the time actually and hit 'run' instead of save. This has caused all sorts of fun as invariably at some point I'll have to uninstall the program I downloaded from whatsupdoc.com because it's causing my email address to be sent to a colony of pigmy's in Bora Bora who are now filling up my inbox with offers to sell me shares in the their lucrative vanilla bean processing companies. (Does the phase "Hey mon, dis deal is good! sound familiar to any of you?)
Anyhow, I digress as per usual. The real point (and there is one coming - be patient people!) is this - "How to Survive on Mac & Cheese While Starting Your VA Business". Many more qualified VA's can supply you with all the wonderful and necessary tools to successfully complete the start-up phase of your business. I'm here to provide the 'meat and potatoes' of how to survive your first year... and stay reasonably sane. So, here's my 2.5 cents worth of advice, including HST, PST, GST, and any other freaking tax that can possibly be levied by our government, on how to maintain your double digit figure (Size 12 is nice!) when starting your VA biz.
1. Clip coupons. Any coupons! Even if you've never dined on baked Spam with a honey-mustard glaze, save that .75 cent coupon. Rip, tear, snip and scissor cut ALL coupons and attach them to your fridge with a motivational magnet that says something like "Don't eat a T-bone - save a cow!" It will make dining on that Spam so much more pleasant. Also, save any/all coupons for more than 1.00 off anything! You never know who you might be able to barter those coupons with to get one you might actually be able to use. Personally, I've found the Gillette men's shaving cream to be absolutely wonderful, in particular the gel formula. Be a tad wary though as you may have to fight to use it, especially if you have someone from the male species living in your house. This applies to their razors as well. Word of caution: Make sure that your bathroom door locks from the inside before using these 2 products. Much safer this way.
2. Walk. As in walk to the grocery store with your bag of coupons safely stowed in your tote-sized purse. Walking will not only provide you with much needed exercise but it will save on that precious liquid gold called gasoline. When you're in the start-up phase of your business, you're going to want to conserve as much gas as possible (with the exception of that caused by eating the baked Spam), to be able to go see potential clients. Just think of how much money you'll save by walking to the store and dragging home 6 grocery bags filled with tomato soup, Spam and good ol' mac and cheese dinners! Better yet, walking will help you walk off those mega calories consumed from the aforementioned carbs. After all, you're now a VA and most likely are sitting in your computer chair (oh - get the 'slightly used' ones at your local Salvation Army and use duct tape to fix that broken armrest - you're not going to need two anyhow plus wheels aren't really that big a deal), so you'll likely be starting to see signs of that dreaded condition of "BS" i.e. Butt Spreading.
3. Get a VA or other Start-up Business Buddy. Go through the list of qualified VA's on CVAC, (or any other business forum you might belong to), and find one who's willing to listen to you whine, complain, cry and lament about anything and everything via email and MSN messenger. Try and find one that possibly has a sense of humor because they're going to need it when dealing with you. This is a very necessary step as having someone else to commiserate with over the lack of clients beating down your door to avail themselves of your stupendous services, helps keep you reasonably sane. Check to see if they also offer motivational tapes, cd's etc. or were formerly on their high school cheer leading squad. You're going to want one that will keep your spirits high (instead of you having to rely on spirits to get high), and generally offer words of wisdom... or not. Be very choosy here. If they keep answering your email messages telling you that they've now filed a complaint of IM Stalking, I highly suggest you stop talking to them immediately. Perhaps a change of email accounts would be a good move here also.
4. Laugh More - Worry Less©. This is the biggie folks! If throughout your first year of building your business, you can sit back and have just one gut-clenching, tear-wrenching belly laugh a day, you'll make it! If you lose a potential client - tough - it's their loss, not yours. If you gain a client - way to go! As the old saying goes, "Don't sweat the small stuff and don't pet the sweaty stuff" or something like that. Believe in yourself and what you do. You are the best thing since sliced bread (even if you're one sandwich short of a picnic as in my case), and with sheer determination, willpower and blackmail, you WILL get that first client - guaranteed! Make sure to ask for testimonials and post them on your website, blog, carve them on a log, and staple brag sheets on the "Articles for Sale" announcement board at your local supermarket. Hey, they know who you are, right? You've only been walking there three times a week for 5 months now, lugging that folding shopping cart behind you and fumbling through your coupon clutch at the cashier's wicket, causing everyone behind you to start muttering under their breath about the 'idiot' at the front of the line. They'll most likely be glad to give you a glowing recommendation...if you'll just go shop somewhere else.
I do hope that these 4 tips help assist you if you're suffering from the first year VA business blues. If not, oh well, I tried. Please do not email me to be your VA buddy as I've had to change my ISP, my email account names and MSN Messenger names five times already. Huh. Some people just have NO sense of humor!
Marlene Oulton, resident wordsmith/editor of Write Choice Virtual Assistants and BulletProofers.com, derives great satisfaction from assisting authors, writers, coaches and entrepreneurs produce clean, crisp, and concisely written articles, newsletters, website copy, and other literary works. Known as "The Words Lady" by her clients and friends, her articles can be found on various online article sites. Contributing author to the soon to be released book, Overcomers Inc. Access the FREE ebook, Overcoming Adversity with Grace by visiting http://www.overcomersinc.com/grace Visit http://www.BulletProofers.com to find out more on how she can make your words sing and dance... without adding music!
Thirty Creative Ways to Use Business Cards
On the Back
1. Print a team's sports schedule on the back. Fans will keep them handy and keep your name in front of them
2. Print a special discount offer or coupon on the back. People will keep it because they intend to use the coupon.
3. If you do seminars, print key principals on the back. Your attendees will refer to them later and think of you.
4. Hand write on the back your "unlisted" 800 number. This adds value to your card, making people keep it longer because they don't want to lose the special number.
Ad Specialties
5. Make the business card the ad specialty: Print your company information on letter openers, CD openers, magnets, pens, highlighters, keychains, mousepads, mugs, luggage tags, and other items that people will keep because they are useful.
6. Attach a business card to an ad specialty: For example, give business card holders as a thank you gift and place your business card in as the first one. Or, have your card designed as a Rolodex card
7. If you routinely give out seasonal gifts or specialties, attach your business card. Examples: candy canes at Christmas, heart shaped containers filled with candy for Valentine's Day, or even a sandwich bag of candy with a card stapled to it.
Unique Places to Put Them
8. Tuck them into the product before delivery: If you are a florist, cut a hole in it and tie a ribbon around the flowers and through the business card. If you sell gift baskets, Tuck one inside the basket before delivering it to your customer. The same goes for Mary Kay or Avon Cosmetics - place your card in the bag. You've seen how some restaurants staple a menu to their bags for takeout; if you use bags, staple your card to the outside of the bag.
9. Send a business card in every piece of correspondence - letters, invoices, even your electric bill. Sooner or later, those cards will be used.
10. If you are crafty, incorporate them into your designs: embellish them with rubber stamps, or blend them with other art projects. You can also mount them to greeting cards you create and send to customers and prospects.
11.When mailing out information: Take a number 10 envelope, facing you and upside down. Fold the envelope in thirds. When you turn it around, there is a little pocket to tuck your card in. Include it in the mailing. Using a colored envelope makes the presentation even more dramatic.
12. Scan your card in and use it as a graphic for when you exchange links with other websites. The other site can use your graphic as the link.
13. Place them in library books as if you used them as bookmarks. Visit bookstores place them in books related to your business.
Keeping Them Handy:
14. Use them as bookmarks so you'll always have some readily available if you meet someone at school, in the library, on the bus, or at the park where you like to read.
15. Have your spouse, family, and friends carry some of your cards with them in case they meet someone who might be interested in your product or service.
16. Wear them! Use them as nametags at meetings and conferences instead of the "Hello, my name is ..." type of tags.
17. Keep a stack of cards everywhere you might need them - in your car, your jacket pocket, your briefcase, your purse or wallet, in your planner, at home, anywhere you can think of. Then you'll always have some on hand when you meet a prospect.
When to Use Them:
18. Give them out during your personal meetings when you meet someone new: at your church, your children's soccer games, at lunch with your friends when someone brings a guest. To be more polite, you could have a personal "calling card" printed up with your information to use in these situations.
19. If you do seminars, have your participants exchange cards with each other. Have them write a compliment about the person on the back before they hand them out. Everyone will have a wealth of contacts; they will remember each other and it will also give participants a boost of confidence.
20. Ask neighborhood businesses if you may display your cards near their registers.
21. Tack them to bulletin boards at supermarkets, restaurants, retail stores and the library - anyplace that has a bulletin board.
22. Give out two cards at a time - one for your prospect or client, and one for her/him to give away.
23. Place some on the table when you leave a restaurant.
24. Agree to mail the cards of other businesspeople in the mailings you do, if they will do the same for you. Your networking circle will grow as your cards are passed around.
How Not to Use Business Cards:
25. Don't give them to a member of the opposite sex in the hopes that s/he will call you. I have a friend who was told this wouldn't work. He did an experiment for six months to prove it, and his friend was right! Sadly, not one woman called him. Although he does have a girlfriend now!
26. Some people don't give out business cards when they meet a prospective client. Instead, they send a follow- up note later with their card enclosed.
Other Types of Business Cards to Have
27. Business card CD-ROM. If you haven't seen these yet, they are a mini-sized CD that plays in any CD player and has your contact information on it, as well as an introduction to your business.
28. Email Signature. Put your contact information into a signature file for email, along with a link to your website (be sure to include the "http" in order to make it "clickable.")
29. Vcard. These are electronic business cards that recipients can click on and automatically add to their address books. Do a web search for "vcard" to find software that supports this technology. Then use it in all your emails!
30. One consulting company, which works with designers of products for people with disabilities, prints their cards in Braille. It reminds their clients how they can help them comply with disability laws. It also gets people asking for information.
Linda Elizabeth Alexander is a business writer and marketing consultant based in Longmont, Colorado, USA. Improve your writing skills at work! Subscribe to her FREE ezine. Write to the Point at lalexander@write2thepointcom.com or visit http://www.write2thepointcom.com/articles.html.
1. Print a team's sports schedule on the back. Fans will keep them handy and keep your name in front of them
2. Print a special discount offer or coupon on the back. People will keep it because they intend to use the coupon.
3. If you do seminars, print key principals on the back. Your attendees will refer to them later and think of you.
4. Hand write on the back your "unlisted" 800 number. This adds value to your card, making people keep it longer because they don't want to lose the special number.
Ad Specialties
5. Make the business card the ad specialty: Print your company information on letter openers, CD openers, magnets, pens, highlighters, keychains, mousepads, mugs, luggage tags, and other items that people will keep because they are useful.
6. Attach a business card to an ad specialty: For example, give business card holders as a thank you gift and place your business card in as the first one. Or, have your card designed as a Rolodex card
7. If you routinely give out seasonal gifts or specialties, attach your business card. Examples: candy canes at Christmas, heart shaped containers filled with candy for Valentine's Day, or even a sandwich bag of candy with a card stapled to it.
Unique Places to Put Them
8. Tuck them into the product before delivery: If you are a florist, cut a hole in it and tie a ribbon around the flowers and through the business card. If you sell gift baskets, Tuck one inside the basket before delivering it to your customer. The same goes for Mary Kay or Avon Cosmetics - place your card in the bag. You've seen how some restaurants staple a menu to their bags for takeout; if you use bags, staple your card to the outside of the bag.
9. Send a business card in every piece of correspondence - letters, invoices, even your electric bill. Sooner or later, those cards will be used.
10. If you are crafty, incorporate them into your designs: embellish them with rubber stamps, or blend them with other art projects. You can also mount them to greeting cards you create and send to customers and prospects.
11.When mailing out information: Take a number 10 envelope, facing you and upside down. Fold the envelope in thirds. When you turn it around, there is a little pocket to tuck your card in. Include it in the mailing. Using a colored envelope makes the presentation even more dramatic.
12. Scan your card in and use it as a graphic for when you exchange links with other websites. The other site can use your graphic as the link.
13. Place them in library books as if you used them as bookmarks. Visit bookstores place them in books related to your business.
Keeping Them Handy:
14. Use them as bookmarks so you'll always have some readily available if you meet someone at school, in the library, on the bus, or at the park where you like to read.
15. Have your spouse, family, and friends carry some of your cards with them in case they meet someone who might be interested in your product or service.
16. Wear them! Use them as nametags at meetings and conferences instead of the "Hello, my name is ..." type of tags.
17. Keep a stack of cards everywhere you might need them - in your car, your jacket pocket, your briefcase, your purse or wallet, in your planner, at home, anywhere you can think of. Then you'll always have some on hand when you meet a prospect.
When to Use Them:
18. Give them out during your personal meetings when you meet someone new: at your church, your children's soccer games, at lunch with your friends when someone brings a guest. To be more polite, you could have a personal "calling card" printed up with your information to use in these situations.
19. If you do seminars, have your participants exchange cards with each other. Have them write a compliment about the person on the back before they hand them out. Everyone will have a wealth of contacts; they will remember each other and it will also give participants a boost of confidence.
20. Ask neighborhood businesses if you may display your cards near their registers.
21. Tack them to bulletin boards at supermarkets, restaurants, retail stores and the library - anyplace that has a bulletin board.
22. Give out two cards at a time - one for your prospect or client, and one for her/him to give away.
23. Place some on the table when you leave a restaurant.
24. Agree to mail the cards of other businesspeople in the mailings you do, if they will do the same for you. Your networking circle will grow as your cards are passed around.
How Not to Use Business Cards:
25. Don't give them to a member of the opposite sex in the hopes that s/he will call you. I have a friend who was told this wouldn't work. He did an experiment for six months to prove it, and his friend was right! Sadly, not one woman called him. Although he does have a girlfriend now!
26. Some people don't give out business cards when they meet a prospective client. Instead, they send a follow- up note later with their card enclosed.
Other Types of Business Cards to Have
27. Business card CD-ROM. If you haven't seen these yet, they are a mini-sized CD that plays in any CD player and has your contact information on it, as well as an introduction to your business.
28. Email Signature. Put your contact information into a signature file for email, along with a link to your website (be sure to include the "http" in order to make it "clickable.")
29. Vcard. These are electronic business cards that recipients can click on and automatically add to their address books. Do a web search for "vcard" to find software that supports this technology. Then use it in all your emails!
30. One consulting company, which works with designers of products for people with disabilities, prints their cards in Braille. It reminds their clients how they can help them comply with disability laws. It also gets people asking for information.
Linda Elizabeth Alexander is a business writer and marketing consultant based in Longmont, Colorado, USA. Improve your writing skills at work! Subscribe to her FREE ezine. Write to the Point at lalexander@write2thepointcom.com or visit http://www.write2thepointcom.com/articles.html.
Phishing - It's Signs And Your Options
Phishing is the act of some individual sending an email to a user in an attempt to scam the user to release personal information. Is it easy to determine if it's a scam? Sometimes - but not always. I hope to give you enough examples and information to help you to safeguard yourself from these unsavory individuals.
In addition, sometimes the email is sent to malicious software so as to render your computer helpless. Thus, it is important that you do not click on the link they provide, because that is the trigger that will load the software to your system.
EXAMPLES OF PHISHING
You receive hundreds of emails in your mailbox, but one email catches your eye - it directs you to a website, requesting that you need to update your personal information. It requests such personal information as:
passwords
credit card numbers
social security number
bank account numbers
"It appears to be legitimate", you say to yourself. And you also notice that the emails are from companies that you have been doing business with for a while. Warning: The website could be bogus.
Here are several examples of phishing in action.
1. E-mails stating they are from E-bay and they feel that your account may have been compromised and would like you to verify your information with they so conveniently supply. DO NOT click on it.
2. E-mails from Paypal or your bank asking that you verify your information because they feel that your account has been compromised, or heaven forbid, suspended. Same scenario, different company. DO NOT click on the link.
3. E-mail that states that an unauthorized transaction has occurred on your account. Please click the link below and confirm your identity. DO NOT.
4. Here's a work at home scam - We have seen your resume on Monster and feel you would fit our position. If you are interested, please go to our website, look over the experience required and submit your resume if you have this background. Website is professional looking, offer looks good - but it could be a scam.
WHAT ARE THEY AFTER
In the above examples they are after information about you, be it passwords, credit cards, social security numbers, anything that can identify you - and that which they can use to profit from you.
The job email is used to verify that the email address is a true blue, active email address. What do they do with this info - they sell these accounts to spammers for good money. They need to verify your email address—because if the spammers come up empty - this person's business is dead.
HOW TO VERIFY SAFELY
1. If they want you to verify your account, do not cut and paste, or use the link they provide in the email. Close your Internet session, open a new session and enter the site that you have on record to verify.
2. Emails requesting resumes - Verify their account before you send your resume. When verifying - these red flags should be considered:
1) If they are hesitant to provide a phone number - might be a scam. 2) If their business address is not verifiable -might be a scam. 3) If the website is new - might be a scam. 4) If they use a large company's name—and that company never heard of them - might be a scam.
5) Again, verify this information before you send your resume.
WAYS TO PROTECT YOURSELF
Here are some quick tips to protect you and your computer system.
1. Use anti-virus software and a firewall - keep them up to date.
2. If you have a broadband connection make sure you have a firewall in place.
3. Don't email personal or financial information.
4. Before providing personal information - search to see if the site is secure - look for a lock icon. However, remember not all phishers are stupid - in fact, they could be computer savvy enough to forge security icons. Thus, look for a site whose link looks like this: https://www.somename.com -- this shows that it is a secure site.
5. Coupons from respected companies - Verify that it is a true-blue coupon from the company - I had one coupon sent to my email address from what I thought was Staples. Verified it with Staples - not a coupon honored by Staples. When on the Internet - if it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, it still may not be a duck!
6. When making transactions on the Internet - be it online banking, Paypal, Internet Gold, etc. - complete your transaction, log out of the website, and close out of your Internet Explorer—and then continue with a new session of Internet Explorer.
WHERE TO FORWARD SPAM THAT IS PHISHNG
If you encounter spam that is phishing, or are a victim of a phishing scam, you can forward the information to spam@uce.gov and to the company, bank or organization that the email may have stated they are from. In many cases, the other organizations have information on their website where you can report the attempted scam.
In addition, if you have been scammed, and you wish to file a complaint - go to ftc.gov.
To conclude, no one is immune to spam or a scam. But try to be ever vigilant and do your due diligence with anything you do on the Internet. But being human is a scammer's hope - they know that most will ignore the bait, but some will be tempted. So, if you so humanly slip, and succumb to a phishing scam, you can report them to ftc.gov.
In addition, sometimes the email is sent to malicious software so as to render your computer helpless. Thus, it is important that you do not click on the link they provide, because that is the trigger that will load the software to your system.
EXAMPLES OF PHISHING
You receive hundreds of emails in your mailbox, but one email catches your eye - it directs you to a website, requesting that you need to update your personal information. It requests such personal information as:
passwords
credit card numbers
social security number
bank account numbers
"It appears to be legitimate", you say to yourself. And you also notice that the emails are from companies that you have been doing business with for a while. Warning: The website could be bogus.
Here are several examples of phishing in action.
1. E-mails stating they are from E-bay and they feel that your account may have been compromised and would like you to verify your information with they so conveniently supply. DO NOT click on it.
2. E-mails from Paypal or your bank asking that you verify your information because they feel that your account has been compromised, or heaven forbid, suspended. Same scenario, different company. DO NOT click on the link.
3. E-mail that states that an unauthorized transaction has occurred on your account. Please click the link below and confirm your identity. DO NOT.
4. Here's a work at home scam - We have seen your resume on Monster and feel you would fit our position. If you are interested, please go to our website, look over the experience required and submit your resume if you have this background. Website is professional looking, offer looks good - but it could be a scam.
WHAT ARE THEY AFTER
In the above examples they are after information about you, be it passwords, credit cards, social security numbers, anything that can identify you - and that which they can use to profit from you.
The job email is used to verify that the email address is a true blue, active email address. What do they do with this info - they sell these accounts to spammers for good money. They need to verify your email address—because if the spammers come up empty - this person's business is dead.
HOW TO VERIFY SAFELY
1. If they want you to verify your account, do not cut and paste, or use the link they provide in the email. Close your Internet session, open a new session and enter the site that you have on record to verify.
2. Emails requesting resumes - Verify their account before you send your resume. When verifying - these red flags should be considered:
1) If they are hesitant to provide a phone number - might be a scam. 2) If their business address is not verifiable -might be a scam. 3) If the website is new - might be a scam. 4) If they use a large company's name—and that company never heard of them - might be a scam.
5) Again, verify this information before you send your resume.
WAYS TO PROTECT YOURSELF
Here are some quick tips to protect you and your computer system.
1. Use anti-virus software and a firewall - keep them up to date.
2. If you have a broadband connection make sure you have a firewall in place.
3. Don't email personal or financial information.
4. Before providing personal information - search to see if the site is secure - look for a lock icon. However, remember not all phishers are stupid - in fact, they could be computer savvy enough to forge security icons. Thus, look for a site whose link looks like this: https://www.somename.com -- this shows that it is a secure site.
5. Coupons from respected companies - Verify that it is a true-blue coupon from the company - I had one coupon sent to my email address from what I thought was Staples. Verified it with Staples - not a coupon honored by Staples. When on the Internet - if it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, it still may not be a duck!
6. When making transactions on the Internet - be it online banking, Paypal, Internet Gold, etc. - complete your transaction, log out of the website, and close out of your Internet Explorer—and then continue with a new session of Internet Explorer.
WHERE TO FORWARD SPAM THAT IS PHISHNG
If you encounter spam that is phishing, or are a victim of a phishing scam, you can forward the information to spam@uce.gov and to the company, bank or organization that the email may have stated they are from. In many cases, the other organizations have information on their website where you can report the attempted scam.
In addition, if you have been scammed, and you wish to file a complaint - go to ftc.gov.
To conclude, no one is immune to spam or a scam. But try to be ever vigilant and do your due diligence with anything you do on the Internet. But being human is a scammer's hope - they know that most will ignore the bait, but some will be tempted. So, if you so humanly slip, and succumb to a phishing scam, you can report them to ftc.gov.
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