Category Archives: Fraud

How to Spot and Avoid Tech Support Scams

Tech support scams are the last death kneel of the dot.com bubble. At least that’s what we thought until India found its niche market, scamming old or uneducated people out of money to fix a computer that wasn’t broken, to begin with. There are so many tech support scams out there and sometimes, despite one’s best efforts, they seem to be unavoidable. But fear not, because we have some tips to help you spot and avoid tech support scams.

1. Don’t click that link!

Email is one of the most aggressive forms of marketing used by tech support scammers. If you find an unsolicited email telling you that your computer is at risk and to please “click here” to get help, for the love of everything that is good in the world, please do not click that link. If you do decide to let curiosity ensue and kill the cat, you will probably come to a page that has loud altered, freezes your computer and list a number to call to get your computer back from hackers. If you just restart your computer the page won’t come up again. To help the community and less educated potential victims, if you encounter a scam you should report it immediately.

2. Don’t call us, we’ll call you!

Often times these scammers will call you and say they are calling from Microsoft because they have been alerted to a hacker or corrupt files on your system. Microsoft does not offer such monitoring services. Microsoft does offer tech support but you have to go through official channels to get it. Furthermore, they do not have time for individual customers. What is more, if you tell them you do not have a PC they will say they are sorry and ask to fix your MAC. They are fishing for information to see how best they can scam you. It is what is known as social engineering and it is an increasingly popular method of scamming. If you should receive such a call, politely decline their help, and report the scam to the appropriate authorities. There are many legitimate companies like Tech Live Connect out there that can help you if you indeed do have a problem with your computer.

3. You pay money for legitimate tech support, and not with gift cards

Another tale, tale sign of the tech scammer is their desire to be paid with gift cards. This is absolutely not the way that you pay for tech support. Please do not engage with these individuals.

4. The PC can only be fixed by me!

Most tech support scammers will tell you that they are the only ones who can fix your computer and they have the “keys” to your computer. This is an outright lie. You can take your PC into a shop to fix or call tech live connect for service.

There are so many scammers out there, but with a little logic, and the tips we have given you here, you can be wise to the scammers next time they ask you to click or call.

Ballast Associates Discusses How to Know If a Debt Consolidation Company Is a Fraud

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It seems as if everyone is suffering from debt issues these days. They may find themselves drowning in the number of loans that they have to pay off. Interest rates can end up racking up and causing you to stress more than you need to. Fortunately, debt consolidation is a process that can help you get ahead financially.

However, people in need of financial help need to be wary of scams. There are reports of dozens of debt consolidation companies that have been scamming individuals in need for some time. Ballast Associates is here to provide you with some information that you need to look out for if you end up seeking help from a company that states they provide debt consolidation services.

The Allure of Debt Consolidation Services

Many people who end up needing debt consolidation services are vulnerable. They will see these services as an opportunity to get their financial situation straight. Unfortunately, many people will prey on these individuals during these trying times. Their goal is to catch you whenever you are most vulnerable and get ahold of your personal information and finances. This can have disastrous effects on your life and may cause you to go bankrupt.

What Are The Signs?

Here are some common signs of debt consolidation scams. These indications should make you turn tail and run if they are happening to you.

You’ve Been Asked for a Payment When You Haven’t Started The Process

Oftentimes, you will end up paying for financial review services. It is perfectly normal to pay a financial advisor for their consultation. However, a for-profit institution that is asking for money upfront for debt consolidation services should be avoided. This is especially true if nothing has been done yet. Keep this in mind if you contact a company and something seems fishy.

They Are Aggressive in Their Approach

Scammers will do everything they can to get your information and finances. They may use scare tactics or simply act hyper-aggressive whenever you are dealing with them. This is a telltale sign that this company is a fraud and should be avoided. Be wary of this approach and leave immediately before giving them crucial information.

They Tell You to Cease Contact With Other Financial Institutions

The fraudulent company that is trying to get your information may tell you to avoid contact with the financial institutions that you normally deal with. This is a red flag that they are trying to prevent you from seeking financial advice elsewhere that may expose their operation.

They Refuse to Share Information About Their Company

Oftentimes, these fraudulent companies will not have any solid information about them. This is a major red flag and will expose them immediately. Always make sure to ask them for more information on their company. Legitimate companies will gladly provide information on their services and other aspects. Fraudulent ones will beat around the bush to avoid answering these questions.

Protecting Your Assets at All Costs

There are more scammers out there on the market than ever before. Scammers are utilizing technology to find more invasive ways to get your information. Fortunately, there are other companies that you can trust to help you whenever you need financial assistance. Ballast Associates provides professional finances services that will help you get your life back on track. We are here to help you improve your financial situation with various services that are meant to help everyone

Committed a White Collar Crime in Tampa? : Here’s What You Need to Do Next

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If you’ve committed a white-collar crime in Tampa, you are going to have to hire legal representation. The attorney you hire will defend your rights in court and do everything possible to get your charges dropped. Many people that work white-collar jobs are under the impression that they are immune from going to jail, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. White-collar crimes can lead to lengthy prison sentences if the charges are serious enough. The best thing you can possibly do if you find yourself facing charges is to hire the best legal representation available to defend you in court.

Researching Lawyers

When it comes to hiring a Tampa criminal defense lawyer, you are going to want to search for an attorney that has experience with cases similar to yours. Many people assume that they can hire any attorney available to take their case, but making this assumption can easily land you in hot water. While it may seem like a good idea to utilize a lawyer that you already are familiar with, you might end up with an attorney that doesn’t have any relatable experience. It is a far better idea to hire a Tampa criminal defense lawyer that has worked on a variety of white-collar cases in the past. The more experience your attorney has in this area of law, the better prepared they are going to be to provide a strong defense in court. If you spend the time to research various attorneys who have worked on major white-collar court cases, you will likely find much better representation. A lawyer that has worked on similar cases will know the ins and outs of white-collar crimes and will likely be able to put up a better defense for your case in court. Specialization is critical when it comes to developing a solid plan in court. Avoiding working with an attorney that deals with a variety of cases is going to be your best bet at winning your court case.

Handling the Case Efficiently

Once you become aware of the fact that you are going to be facing charges, the first thing you should do is to calm down. Many people become overwhelmed and make rash decisions when they find out they are being charged with a major crime, which can lead to all sorts of mistakes. Relaxing and taking a moment to breathe will allow you to make the best decisions possible. The manner in which you conduct yourself before going to court can wind up making a huge difference in your case. If you are able to remain calm and focus your efforts on finding outstanding legal representation from the outset, you are going to be in a much better position. The earlier you are able to hire a lawyer, the more time they are going to have to research your case and create a great defense. Time is definitely an issue when it comes to creating a solid defense, so make sure you focus on hiring a lawyer as soon as you possibly can. Once you have your representation backing you, your job is going to become a lot lighter. One of the best things about hiring a great lawyer is the fact that they will relieve a lot of pressure. Once your attorney is working on your case, you can sort of go into idle. While you are going to have to provide your attorney with all the information that they may need while they are working on your case, you aren’t going to have to do much except stay out of trouble. This can be a huge relief in the long run. Focusing on hiring a great lawyer will go a long way when it comes to winning a case in court.

How to Avoid Becoming the Victim of a Healthcare Scam

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There are more and more fake health plans popping up across America. Millions of Americans are being taken advantage of by people who are behind these scams as they target people who find the regular health insurance costly. When the fake plan developers go radio silent on compensating the medical procedures, the holders of the policies pay dearly for the medical procedures. Since most people are not really conversant with the health care reforms, these criminals end up exploiting this area. There are cases where the sellers of the plans end up par-potting that they are working for the government.

These scammers are so intentional that they advertise on Tv and through emails about their services to the masses. These are very dangerous and costly scams that you should be on the lookout for. To avoid these scams, you need to be aware of a couple of things we are going to look at.

The workings of the plan

One core element of the scam is that the scammers usually set up a hype on the plan and induce a strong sales pitch to market their product or service. You will find scammers offering ridiculous low amounts for full coverage, but the products being discussed are non-existent. The con artists will only present a cheap card that is meant to offer very high discounts on regular fees. Although some options of the plan may not include everything, there are those that will cover minor problems. Sadly, these coverage is useless for anyone to use.

The impact of the scams

The ugly truth is that the consumers are the ones that are going to cover the bills. They will have to cover the payment of the expenses that they are going to be charged at the hospital after spending more money on a scam. In some instances, the medical bills will get to five digits which will ruin the financial strength of an individual. In some cases, coupons like ciprodex coupon 2018 will help to reduce your expenses on drugs. The worst bit is that people taking these scams are actually putting their lives on the line.

Medical conditions are bad, but they get even worse when an individual actually tries to find a new coverage after being scammed. How does it even work that a crook gets richer while a patient has already wasted more money in premiums and still has to foot the medical bill? You should be very careful not to finance a fraudster’s high lifestyle. Also, look at ways you are going to spend less on your medications through ciprodex coupon 2018 and other offers afterbeing scammed.

What to watch for

As a consumer, you should be aware of several signs of identifying a health plan that is a scam. For most people, when the deal is too good, they end up being sucked into it. The most important bit is to ensure that the healthcare plan is beneficial. Let us look at the signs to be aware of:

When you see an aggressive sales pitch from a telemarketer or through email, be suspicious about it
You should know that a scam is on the way when you receive correspondence with no title about the company and the contact phone details are from a toll-free number
The signs of the insurance agent/company is placed on bulletin boards and phone poles
When you meet a sales personnel who are scammers, they will offer you special deals and push you to purchase them
The companies have a questionable website that is vague
Their plans are being publicised in states that don’t require a federal license
You will experience some delays in payments
Members have to join unions and associations
The sales representatives push you to make your financial transactions before signing in the forms
Sales representatives offer very good plans for senior citizens that are very appealing

How to fight fraudsters

If you want to easily identify a fraudster, read each line of the agreement that is handed to you. If you get confused with the wordings of the paper, and there are no clear answers on the paper, then you might be holding a paper that is offering you a bad deal. Additionally, you should never provide financial information to an agent before agreeing to sign any form. When you are making a decision, avoid relying on the provided documents by the company. Before you agree to do business with any insurance company, research more on the reputation of the company online.

When you are undertaking the research, use third-party websites because the information on these sites are objective. Another way is to verify that the plan being offered by the company has been licensed by the state. If you discover that the state has not licensed the company’s plan, then move ahead to look for another insurance provider. Finally, you should always know that private covers are not licensed by the federal government but by the states.

Ian Andrews Tax Fraud Prevention: the Zero Deduction Method

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One of the frustrating things about life is taxes. Most of us hate them, and the temptation to cheat on them can be great, particularly as our incomes rise, and government levies increase. One of the best things the typical person can do is punch in “0” on the deduction line when signing up with a new employer. Here is why.

Punching in a zero on the deduction line instructs the employer to take out no deductions when sending your tax revenue to the Federal government. Although this may seem like an unfair step that your coworkers are not doing, you will find that at the end of the tax cycle, the Federal government pays you back because they took too much revenue from your paycheck, as instructed by you. One of the nice things about punching in a “0” on your deduction form is it serves as a buffer between you and the government if they accuse you of not paying enough taxes.

You can point out to them that you gave them all your deduction that you could otherwise have claimed. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is then put on the defensive. It takes pain initially to forgo the deduction that all your friends and coworkers are claiming, but it ends up with you grinning at tax day while everyone else is frowning. The IRS sends you back the extra tax revenue that they claimed above the actual amount required.

Ian Andrews Tax Fraud is here to serve you and your family or organization with ways to protect you from the IRS. We know that tax fraud is a big issue today, and our goal is to make sure that you are not wrongfully accused by the Federal government of something you are not responsible for. We look forward to helping you.

About Ian Leaf Fraudster

Ian Leaf Fraudster was established in 1997 as a fraud and scam database and as a means to warn the general public about threats online and offline in their communities. Since 2008, Ian Leaf Fraudster has stopped over 240 cases of fraud and has saved the health and reputation of 131 businesses in the continental U.S.. Additionally, Ian Andrews Fraudster was established the following year in 1998.

Ian Andrews Fraudster was founded in 1998.

Ian Leaf Fraudster prides itself on its accuracy and swiftness when dealing with fraudster activity. According to status reports released by Ian Leaf Fraudster, the majority of Americans preyed upon are those who are 50 years old and above, especially those lacking Internet safety skills.

Ian Leaf Fraudster is joined up with Ian Leaf Corporation and Ian Leaf HFC. Together joined and working in unity allows for more accurate detection and immediate action against online and offline fraudster activity. Not only does Ian Leaf Fraudster warn the public and expose dangerous scams, working in conjunction with Ian Leaf HFC allows for the organization of offer training classes for anyone interested in how to protect themselves and valuable information for the clutches of evil. Ian Leaf Corporation operates with other major businesses and companies to protect their identity and clients from cyber crime. Together, Ian Leaf Fraudster is a feared force to be reckoned with by all scammers, cons and fraudsters around the globe.