Oxfam Charity Scam

Charity scams are amongst the worst of all scams. Most people believe the information they receive from a charity more readily than information from other sources, especially a major international charity like Oxfam. Oxfam have a highly respected reputation.

Such a reputation is easily used to convince people to part with money not for charitable purposes, but for fraudulent ones - to persuade people to offer their personal details, including bank account numbers. The Oxfam name has been used despicably in a recent charity scam.

How The Oxfam Charity Scam Works

As with many online scams, it usually begins with an e mail. The e mail says that the charity is offering cash grants to individuals. All you need to do is reply with your highly personal information. Of course, this includes your bank account details.

The first indication that all may not be what it seems is that the e mail is sent from a webmail address at live.com, and not from Oxfam itself. You will receive an 070 phone number to call to offer your details. It's thought that the call is directed overseas, where the scammers receive the information.

You can look out for the many different headers used on the emails, Oxfam UK Grant/Donation and Final Recipient of Oxfam GB Cash Grant being just two. Not surprisingly, the grant amounts vary, but they're usually quite substantial - 750,000 or 850,000 has been offered.

If your common sense vanishes and greed overtakes you enough that you respond to offer your personal and financial details, there's a strong possibility that you'll find your identity stolen and your bank account quickly emptied. Oxfam reported the scam to the Charity Commission and the police. It has been quick to point out that it never offers cash grants to individuals. And if it did, it would never do so in an e mail. Nor would it ask for a cash sum upfront in order to secure the grant.

How To Avoid The Scam

The first action is to make sure that your spam filter is working in your e mail account. Many e mail service providers now have effective spam filters in place, and will automatically trash suspected spam e mails.

Secondly, always be wary of a webmail address being used, rather than a proper email address. Charities will send e mails from their own e mail address and will not rely on a webmail address such as live.com.

What should I do if I receive the e mail anyway?

Firstly, you should not reply, however great the temptation. The only ones who are going to profit are the scamsters. And how likely is that a renowned charity is going to hand over such a substantial amount of money to you, when they don't even know you?

Secondly, do not call the number given. Lack of communication is the most effective way to disarm scams.

What if I'm a victim of the scam already?

If you're a victim of the Oxfam scam, you should inform your bank and request a change to your account. You should inform the police, though they may not be able to assist you. You should inform Oxfam. It may help them build a case against those behind the scam. Remember to act as quickly as possible.

Inform credit reporting agencies too. It's a common occurrence in the case of identity theft that the scamsters open a new credit account. You may request a block on this through the credit reporting agency.

If you have any stories of scams, why not share them with other people? The more people know the better. Go to www.buzzed-up.com

Emily Banks/Freelance Writer. Why not visit Buzzed Up?

Can You Get A Payday Loan Without Bank Verification?

If you've ever tried to apply for a payday loan, you will have no doubt noticed how simplified and stripped back the whole process is. You don't get asked for your full employment history or living arrangements for the past five years. Instead you will just need to provide bank information, current working status and a few personal details.

The verification process is also very different from any other you may have previously encountered. Whilst a bank, mortgage company or other lender pore over every intricate details to ascertain whether or not you are a trustworthy borrower, payday loan companies are slightly more relaxed. This is particularly true when it comes to bank verification.

If you were to apply for a personal loan, it is standard practice for the lender to ask for copies of your bank statements from the past few months. As well as looking at specific transactions, they will also use this to verify your banking and personal details. This will be used in accordance with a strict credit check to provide a clear overview of you as a borrower and your suitability.

Many payday loan companies will use other methods in order to verify your details and to confirm that you bank account accepts automated payments. So rather than seeking statements, they will often ask you to provide your debit card details including CVC code and the usual safety information. This can then be used for the safe transferral of funds to and from the account, whilst also verifying that the account is yours.

This helps to save a great deal of time and inconvenience for the borrower. Surprisingly, it also doesn't add a great deal of risk to the lender either.

Payday loan companies don't need to dig into your history like most other lenders. The short-term nature of this form of borrowing means that there is no ongoing risk beyond the repayment date. As such, their primary concern is simply that you will have the funds available on the agreed date ready for them to collect. This is why your current employment features so prominently in their decision process.

You will be asked what you're doing for work, who your employer is and how much you take home each month. This information can be quickly verified (without contacting your bosses) and will then act as a guarantee for your loan. As long as your bank account details are valid, you have a debit card and it can process payments, then you stand a good chance of gaining acceptance.

As such there will be some form of bank verification involved, but it will be completely unobtrusive and shouldn't have a major impact on your application process. Only in very rare cases will you be asked to fax or email any personal banking details. This should also only happen when you first apply with a company, after which you should begin to build trust and speed up the process of borrowing even further.

All online payday loan companies and most high street lenders will require some form of bank account. This should be registered in the country that you're applying in and will often need a debit card (for the reasons mentioned above). Applying without a bank account or any verification is unlikely, although some of the more specialist lenders may be able to assist in this area.

So whilst it may be possible, it is highly improbable and not without good reason. Your bank account is pivotal in the whole process and therefore it needs to be verified, even if it is only an arbitrary check.

Vincent Rogers is a finance writer who writes for a number of finance businesses. For reliable payday loans, he recommends

Vincent Rogers is a finance writer who writes for a number of finance businesses. For reliable payday loans, he recommends

Get to Know Your Legal Funding Terms

Some companies specialize in legal settlement funding. When people are implicated in a lawsuit, they may apply for a special loan and receive compensation long before they win the court case or create a settlement agreement. Some terms that are unique to lawsuit financing. The following is a list of terms that might be used when someone needs a settlement loan.

Plaintiff
In a civil lawsuit, when a party sues someone else, the party suing is usually called the complainant or plaintiff. They must prove wrongdoing by the other person in the lawsuit in order to recover restitution, which is usually given in the form of money through the legal system.

Defendant
This is the person or persons in a civil lawsuit that is being sued. They are either called a defendant or respondent, depending on the type of lawsuit it is and state in which it is filed. Just because someone is being sued, it does not necessarily mean they have done anything wrong. It is up to the legal process to decide that through a judge or jury trial.

Workmen's Compensation
When someone is injured on the job, the company is responsible for taking care of the worker's medical bills and some of their expenses. The employee may or may not be compensated if they did not follow safety or work guidelines or if the company doesn't have workers' compensation insurance. In some cases, the claim will be denied if the worker did not follow proper procedure in filing paperwork, seeing doctors on an approved list or if they were not scheduled to work at the time of the injury.

Depositions
This is a question and answer session usually conducted under oath with attorneys present. The purpose is to find out general case information and circumstances surrounding the incidents leading up to the lawsuit. There is usually a court reporter present to make an official record of what everyone says. This professional, unbiased person must be paid for their services by the party taking the deposition.

Settling
A settlement is a binding agreement between parties to discontinue the court case under certain conditions. This usually includes a payment to the person suing. The person or business being sued may or may not have to admit any wrongdoing to settle the case. In some cases, the terms of the agreement are confidential.

Settlement Advances
This is a type of cash advance given to an approved plaintiff involved in a case. The finances are usually available within hours or days of applying for financing through a lawsuit financing company.

Settlement Financing
Some companies offer financing to plaintiffs in certain kinds of civil cases. If the application is approved, the person receives an advance on the money they would be awarded in a settlement agreement or if they won their case. The interest rate is usually less than that from standard bank or credit card financing.

CourtTrial
In our legal system, civil cases are planned to go through several steps that end in a trial by jury or judge. Some cases go all the way to trial. Others are dropped or settle before this time.

Filing Bankruptcy
Consumers may make a petition to the court asking for all of their debt to be forgiven because they cannot repay it. This is a very complicated legal process that usually requires legal representation.

The Advantages and Disadvantages Of The Credit Card Act

The recent credit card debt legal guidelines have various decent things meant for consumers, although habitually regulations restricting commerce in a free market may have unintended consequences. The new credit card debt law called The Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009 was signed by President Obama earlier this year. It took effect on February 22, 2010. When it went into effect it was intended to amend specific questionable business procedures of the credit card companies, but what about the effects on those customers who are conscientious with their credit? The new credit card act has some underlying negatives that will be revealed.

Since the latest credit card debt decree will put a stop to the custom branded as universal default (which is where a creditor could jack up your interest if you default on another credit debt, even if you always paid the existing creditor on time), banks express they will have to make up their cutbacks some other means. The reason issurers are stating they will need to increase the interest on existing balances because of these losses they will suffer. Under the new law issuers are required to give 45 days notice of rate increases and aren't allowed to increase your rate at all in the first 12 months of a new card except under certain defined circumstances such as default on payments or a teaser rate expiration.

The adverse side effect of this for the consumer who does a good job managing their credit is that they might notice their rates going up. Some of you may have already gotten notices of rate increases from your credit card issuers. Many declare that this may result in individuals who were accountable with their credit subsidizing those who are not. Another increase could be in the various fees that are charged. Where currently a credit card issuer charges, for example, used for late charges, they may inflate this to or more. If you are like the average credit card holder who struggles or delays making your payment due date then get ready to be hit with a late fee. It will in addition be more tricky to get approved for a credit card in the future due to the finance institutions needing to make up for the cutbacks created by customers who default plus are written off consequently the criteria for approval will probably be tighter.

As part of the new credit card debt laws Regulation Z, which implements the Truth in Lending Act will be changed requiring issuers to provide certain disclosures upon opening a new account and at least 45 days notice prior to certain changes. The required notifications include differences in APR in addition to billing cycle as well as particular categories of fees. This involves all pertinent fees that credit institutions normally charge including penalty fees, minimum finance charges, and more. Issuers are in addition only required to notify cardholders concerning improvements to their credit limits if the new credit limit would trigger an over the max rate or else a penalty rate. There is concern that seeing as the fees that require notification have been in the details of the legislation, that credit card companies could merely come up with brand new types to get around the disclosure requirements.

Finance Committee Agonizes Over Medicare Cut

"The top Senate Republican says Democratic cuts to Medicare will cost them in the 2010 elections, warning that the hundreds of billions in reductions to the senior citizen health program is 'Orwellian.' Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), the Senate minority leader, criticized Democrats for insisting that a half-trillion dollars in cuts to Medicare as part of the health care overhaul, well, aren't exactly cuts to Medicare. 'They're taking a half trillion dollars out of Medicare not to make it more sustainable, but to start a new federal program for a whole new set of citizens. This is a huge issue,' McConnell said. Then came McConnell's warning. 'They ought not to do it, but if they do do it, it'll be the biggest issue in the 2010 elections,' he said" (Sherman, 9/24).

Lincoln Journal Star reports on a Nebraska senator's thoughts on Medicare and reform: "The Senate Finance Committee's health care reform bill would threaten Medicare benefits and raise taxes, Sen. Mike Johanns said Thursday. 'It's a false promise (that) you can fund new entitlements and cut Medicare and not affect benefits,' Johanns said during a telephone conference call from Washington. To suggest otherwise is 'preposterous,' the Nebraska Republican said. ... About 35,000 Nebraskans are enrolled in Medicare Advantage, Johanns said" (Walton, 9/24).

MSNBC explains one of the central issues related to Medicare spending -- the political difficulties of cutting the funding for Medicare Advantage plans. "Chances are that many taxpayers have never heard of Medicare Advantage. Yet that program in which private-sector firms insure about 10 million people age 65 and older is at the heart of this week's Senate debate over health insurance. About 23 percent of Medicare beneficiaries now have Medicare Advantage coverage, which provides more benefits than traditional Medicare. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus is proposing to cut more than 0 billion over 10 years from Medicare Advantage plans. ... The senators on the Finance Committee ... are trying to walk a fine line: how to cut spending on Medicare Advantage, while not alienating the seniors in their own states who are happy with the plans." Meanwhile, these proposals take on great importance because of the voting record of the senior population. "In the last off-year election in 2006, nearly two-thirds of people over 65 voted. By contrast, only one-third of people aged 25 to 34 voted in 2006."

"If Congress cuts more than 0 billion from Medicare Advantage, some people's benefits will be cut. ... Most Democrats are critical of Medicare Advantage, agreeing with Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D- W.V., who said at Wednesday's hearing, 'It's a wasteful, inefficient program and always has been.' ... But other Democrats defend Medicare Advantage plans especially the plans in their own states. Finance Committee Democrat Sen. Bill Nelson of Florida said it would be 'intolerable' to ask seniors on Medicare Advantage to 'have something taken away from them that they have come to expect.' He offered an amendment to 'grandfather in' some Medicare Advantage plans and shield those beneficiaries from benefit cuts. And, then, he promised, 'On a going-forward basis, we're going to squeeze the inefficiencies out of that extra 14 percent that has gone into Medicare Advantage.' Finance Committee member Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., said that in his state, too, there are laudable Medicare Advantage plans" (Curry, 9/24).

Ashley Madison Website - For Unhappily Married People That Don't Want To Get Divorced

Ashley Madison is the name of an unusual kind of an online matchmaking website, one that caters to people who are married (or otherwise attached) but want to meet someone outside of their marriage for some no strings attached fun. It basically helps married and attached people find and hook up with other married and attached people for some casual fun.

Another great thing about the Ashley Madison website, whether you're new to the whole online "married dating" thing or not, is that you can sign up for a guest membership for free.

And even though guest members have limited priveleges, they can still get a lot of out the site:

- You can search profiles
- Sending and receiving pictures to and from ashleymadison members
- Receiving winks from ashleymadison members
- "Favoriting" ashleymadison members
- Replying to messages sent by paid members

When you are ready to step up to a paid membership, where you purchase credits for enhanced services, there are three options available to you:

- introdutory package with 100 credits
- 9 elite package with 500 credits
- The 9 Affair Guarantee will get you 1,000 credits and it's backed by a money-back guarantee

People commonly report that they use up their credits fast, so it's worth thinking about one of the higher levels of membership like the Affair Guarantee. Not only will it cost you less overall than the other packages, it is also backed by a money-back guarantee. You also get the most privleges with the Affair Guarantee package.

And, in case you're wondering, the Ashley Madison site and the Ashley Madison "experience" are not reserved only for married and attached people.A healthy percentage of them are single people who opt for this lifestyle choices for personal reasons.

And while the ratio of male members to female members is about 2:1, when you consider the fact that only one in ten men purchase credits - and men have to "pay to play" if they want to hit women up with messages - an accurate interpretation of the ratio of women to active men is about five to one.

So, guys, there's a lot of opportunity for you on the Ashley Madison website if you simply sign up for a paid membership.

And, ladies, well, you know there's always a lot of opportunity for you wherever men are present. And it's no different on the Ashley Madison website.

Use Interactive Map to Improve Website Navigation and Search Function

A clickable interactive map can significantly improve your website's navigation and make online presentation a lot more easier.

In the past, webmasters use HTML and Java Scripts to create image maps. Which is difficult for most users and the function is limited.

With the increasing popularity of Flash, today's webmaster can take advantage of interactive map software to easily create an interactive map, and fully maximize the usefulness of clickable image maps, with mouseover tooltips, hint boxes and many other features.

Image maps are used all over the web. Because of the restriction of JPG and HTML, most image maps are strictly utilitarian, i.e. just several images, buttons or lines of text, each linked to a different page or URL. To create image maps, you would need to know how to use a graphic software, HTML coding, and also javascript knowledge.

With the popularity of Flash, more and more webmasters start to create interactive flash maps which comes with a lot more features, such as mouseover tool tips, text boxes, hints, dynamic displaying of routes, lines, clickable points, icons, landmarks, etc.

Do not mislead by the term 'interactive map'. An interactive map can be any image with clickable areas with special pin-points. For example, you can create an interactive floor plan, an organization chart, or even a calendar with clickable points and areas, and display additional notes on mouse over to make it a lot easier for your visitors to find specific information using just a few clicks.

An interactive image map can greatly improve the navigation and functionality of your website. For example, you can create a local area map and embed into your website, so to make it easier for your customers to know where your headquarter and branch offices are located. You can indicate specific routes that customers should take in order to locate your place of business. You can also pin important landmarks on your interactive map for quick reference. The interactive flash map therefore can serve as your virtual locator -- your customers will have an easier time to find information about your company and products.

If you are selling real estate, then your website might have a property search function. Once you finished your website, you can add an interactive map to serve as a search tool. For example, you can generate a map for the properties that are listed for sale by your company in different states or counties in the United States. All your visitors need to do is click on their desired state or county of your property map, and then see the list of properties as search results.

You can also use this interactive flash map to provide further details about the area, such as schools, parks, building, etc. These interactive functions can attract property buyers so you can generate more sales leads for your company.

If you need to provide information on your website related to different countries of the world, you can create a interactive world countries map use a map software such as iMapBuilder. Use different color settings to differentiate continents, countries, or states. Users of your website will have an easier time identifying different areas in the world map with related information

Creating interactive maps requires skills and programming efforts. Even if you are a flash expert, you might not want to draw all the maps by hand, and then code all the actionscripts. A professional map building software such as iMapBuilder can be a valuable assistant to make the task a lot easier.

With available map softwares, you can use ready made map templates, or import common image files (such as JPG or GIF image) into the software, then add the elements, such as clickable dots, icons, mouseover tooltips, set different colors for countries, states and regions, etc. All it requires is few mouse clicks and you will find it fun to use.

Interactive map can be used for many purpose. Discover a world filled with possibilities and convert your old static image maps into interactive flash maps!