10 FTC dos and don'ts to avoid scams – PLUS 4 neat home storage ideas Con artists all over the world are busy cooking up clever schemes to defraud millions of people each year. Here's the Federal Trade Commission's advice for how to avoid getting pulled into these scams:
1. Don't wire money to strangers, or to sellers who insist on wire transfers for payment, or to anyone claiming to be a relative in an emergency who wants to keep the request secret. Wiring money is like sending cash–it's nearly impossible to recover it.
2. Don't send money to someone you don't know, or to an online merchant you've never heard of, or to an online love interest who wants money or favors. If you buy on an online auction, use a payment option that provides protection, like a credit card. Don't send cash or use a wire transfer service.
3. Don't respond to messages that ask for personal or financial information. Don't click on links in the message or call phone numbers left on an answering machine. Scammers are trying to trick you into giving personal information. If you get a message that causes you concern about an account, call the number on your card and check it out.
4. Don't play foreign lotteries. Don't be tempted by enticing odds or claims you've already won. You'll be asked to pay "taxes," "fees," or "customs duties" to collect your prize. If you send money, you won't get it back. It's illegal to play foreign lotteries anyway.
5. Don't agree to deposit a check from someone you don't know and then wire money back. You are responsible for each check you deposit. If it's a fake, you're responsible for paying the bank back.
6. Do check your bills and monthly statements. Scammers steal credit card information, then run up charges in your name. Dishonest merchants bill for monthly "membership fees" or goods and services you didn't authorize. If you see these, contact your credit card company immediately.
7. Do give to established charities after a disaster but not to ones that sprang up overnight. Quickly formed charities may not be able to get help to the affected people. Worse, they could be scammers.
8. Do talk to your doctor before buying health products or treatments. Ask about product claims, risks, and side effects. Only buy prescription drugs from licensed U.S. pharmacies or you could wind up with dangerous products.
9. Do remember there's no such thing as a sure thing. Stay away from low-risk, high-return investments. If pitches insist you act now, guarantee big profits, promise little or no financial risk, or demand you send cash immediately, report them to the FTC.
10. Do know where an offer comes from. Try to find a seller's physical address (not P.O. Box) and phone number. Do an internet search for the company and website and look for negative reviews. Check with the Better Business Bureau.
BETTER WAYS TO STORE YOUR STUFF
We all have stuff and when we get tired of using it, we wind up storing it away. That's how our houses and garages wind up with so much stuff. Here's what to do with it:
1. Get rid of the stuff you really don't need. Ask yourself: If this thing suddenly vanished, would I even notice it was gone? If the answer is no, get rid of it. Here's what to do with the rest.
2. Shelves beat cabinets. People think cabinets are wonderful, but they're not so great when you have to get at what's in them. To add storage, install open shelves. They're simple, inexpensive, and practical for odd-sized items.
3. Create a storeroom. Shelves can be added to attics, basements, empty closets, and garages, but it's best if you can put shelves in a room dedicated to storage. Install adjustable shelves from about a foot off the floor to within 8" of the ceiling. Most shelves can be 8" to 12" deep, but add a few 16" deep ones for awkward items. In tight spaces, even 6" deep shelves are still useful.
4. Look for ways to put more into less space. Search websites selling clever storage solutions. A few examples: hang shoe storage on the back of closet doors, add a closet pole to double hanging space, or put a plastic drawer unit on a closet floor.
There are also better ways to approach financial matters, such as financing a new home, refinancing your existing one, or funding home improvements. Please call or email us–we're always here to help.... Have a great day!
P.S. Each month we see more evidence that the housing market is turning around in many areas. Yet prices are still extremely affordable and mortgage rates are at historic lows. It's smart to get the financing process started early. So if you're thinking about buying or refinancing, please call or email us to talk about the attractive options available now. |
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