Thursday, June 26, 2008

Scams in Your Inbox – Phishing E-mails

In the last couple of weeks I received two e-mails that almost tricked me. The first one was supposedly from PayPal the other one today from CapitalOne credit cards. I have received this type of e-mail before, but usually since they are such obvious fakes, I pay no mind. This time they looked pretty real.

What is Phishing?

According to Wikipedia it is “the criminally fraudulent process of attempting to acquire sensitive information …by masquerading as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication”.

Both e-mails tried to scare me saying that my account had to be confirmed or it would be terminated. The CapitalOne e-mail even went as far as saying there had been various login attempts from multiple computers. I was so close to clicking on the link provided. Of course I remembered a little safety and went to the website directly. Naturally there was nothing wrong with my account. If you do click on the links provided by these scam artists you will be directed to a fake website that looks very much like the genuine site. The e-mails were equally official looking, logos and all, but they made one fatal mistake. The e-mail address they used was a yahoo one. Duh! How dumb do they think I am, of course PayPal would not be using a free e-mail account and neither would CapitalOne. Also, look for bad grammar, the lack of your name, and look closely at the link address.

I went to the PayPal site and found a link to report phishing. Forward the Phishing email to spoof@paypal.com. That was great at least I felt like there was someplace to go! Like someone would do something about it, stop others from being taken. PayPal even wrote me back offering thanks and a link with tips to help protect the consumer. Remember that the official PayPal website is a secure address, look for the s after http.
https://www.paypal.com/

All companies should provide this system. I was surprised the CapitalOne site doesn’t have a link to report Phishing. At least I couldn’t find one. I contacted them directly and am awaiting a response.

There is a place to report phishing scams it is The Anti-Phishing Working Group a volunteer organization. You may send any suspicious e-mail to reportphishing@antiphishing.org and they will review it and any websites it links to. They ask not to forward it for information can get lost. Go to their "Report Phishing" page for instructions. They also have a "Phishing Archive" page where you may review phishing e-mails that have been submitted and confirmed.

The CapitalOne e-mail phishing attempt seems to be a new one for it does not show up in their archives. I will be sending the e-mail to the APWG for review.

Another site I found helpful is the FBI’s. The “Internet Fraud” page is a collaboration between the FBI and the national White Collar Crime Center.

It makes me so mad that they can get away with scamming the general public, worldwide! There are no laws, no governing agency to put a stop to every single one of these online criminals. While legislation has been proposed it has not passed. I really don’t understand how and why they have not passed this legislation. Some lawsuits have been successful; however most are getting away with it.

Be careful! Report all phishing attempts and maybe someday they will get tired of spamming our inbox because it will not be worth the effort.

Happy trails!

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Entrecard Buzz

You have probably noticed the rectangle on the top left of my side bar that states ‘Drop’ and an ‘E’ that stands for Entrecard. It includes a picture that changes daily, this is called a ‘card’. A card is like a digital business card for your blog that each blogger creates (125x125 formats). The ‘card’ serves as an advertisement for your personal blog. As you earn credits on Entrecard you may use them to buy advertisement space on other blogs. The ads run for a complete 24hrs with no rotation and are free! The card that shows in my widget changes daily and its purpose is to serve as an ad for another blog that I have personally approved. My 'card' is found on other sites where I choose to advertise and the site owner accepts my ad.

So what is the point of signing up with Entrecard?

Entrecard gives the blogger a chance to promote their blog. It doesn’t matter if you are new to blogging or have an established site. It is free, immediate and easy to set up. Entrecard increased my blog traffic right away and I hadn’t even started advertising!

After you register with Entrecard you may start ‘dropping’. To drop is to go to a blog and if you see the widget click on ‘drop’. Pretty easy. You will earn EC’s (Entrecard Credits) for this action. When you accumulate enough EC’s you can advertise on other blogs and get more traffic to your site! You also get EC’s when others place ads on your blog.

Entrecard is not just about promoting your blog. It is a place to find amazing blogs, make some friends and yes gain popularity for your blog right away. It is a blogging community. The blog database can be searched by topic type. This has given me the opportunity to find some interesting blogs that I would have never come across otherwise. There is also a forum and messaging. Entrecard is an ideal place to see and learn what other bloggers are doing.

As any community there are some etiquette rules to follow. Always follow those who drop on you that is the number one rule! It is not always reciprocated; there is a lot of buzz about this throughout the blogosphere. I just say deal with it. Who knows why the other person couldn’t get back to your blog to drop. Maybe they just had so many drops they can’t keep up. The fact is if I drop on you and you don’t drop back, your card will not show up in my dashboard and I will probably not drop again. I don’t loose any sleep over it. I always drop and then follow the advertisement and drop there too. This can go on perpetually! The more I drop the more I gain!

I actually not only drop but read the sites. It takes forever on dial-up but it is well worth it I have found some great sites and great tips on making money online. The amount of time I will spend on a page depends on the content and the grammar. While I am not an English professor, if I have a hard time reading a post I will drop and leave. The buzz is that not a lot of Entrecard users actually read the posts. There are what are called “drive by droppers” or “chain droppers”. They just drop and run. That is fine with me. If I can’t keep your attention long enough to read, well…what am I going to do? Whine that you do not read my posts? Nope, that is not me. I will just keep trying harder to make my blog more interesting so you will not be able to stop yourself from reading the posts. That’s just me, but to each his own.

If you haven’t given Entrecard a try yet I recommend you do so. This is not a paid post or anything of the sort. It is from my own personal experience in the last couple of weeks that I recommend this service.

Happy dropping!

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New List for Entrecard Users

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Tuesday, June 24, 2008

ClixSense.com - Make Money by Clicking?

I decided to try out one of those pay-per-click opps found advertised around the net. There was a post on a related blog that recommended ClixSense.com, so I figured I would do a little investigating on the subject. The following is my recount of what I experienced.

After registering you may browse ads by clicking on the “Browse Ads” link, a list of available ads will appear, click on the ad that interests you. Then a timer will appear in the new ad window/tab, when it counts down to zero the amount declared for that ad will be credited to your account. Every so many ads you will have to input the Turing numbers/letters you see, it’s just their way to make sure you are not using an automated program to view the ads, or so I imagine. They use it at log-in also. Simple enough.

Only one account per household is strictly enforced. Payment will be made via check by regular mail. PayPal is not used. Payments are made on the 10th day of the month provided the user has reached the minimum payout of $10, or a higher amount if preferred. If not they will carry the balance over to the next month until the minimum is reached.

No fees are associated with making money on ClixSense.com. There is an option to upgrade to “premier status” which gives you the benefit of viewing more ads and collecting additional affiliate revenue. You may advertise on this site that is separate from your earnings.

The affiliate program pays premium members 5 levels deep for their referrals which they claim can lead up to a $366.50 payout. Regular members get $0.10 a referral. That is quite the difference. I am not there yet and I do not like to pay for anything either. I will not be upgrading anytime soon.

Some of the ads I viewed were for such things as The Discovery Store, JitterBug phone, money making opps, and shopping. A couple of the ads repeated themselves, but I was still credited. All of the ads so far pay a penny for 30 seconds of viewing except one that paid $0.02 for the same 30secs of viewing. The ads displayed match your profile settings. I should have checked off more interests because it only displayed 25 ads. Keep this in mind if you decide to sign-up. You can only change your profile settings once every 90 days!

I made $0.25 in 12.5 minutes. The money was accredited to my account right away. If I wanted to make $5 a day I would have to view 500 ads spending a little over 4hrs viewing these ads. I have dial-up and the pages loaded fast. The seconds start counting down before the page fully loads so, if I wanted I really wouldn’t have to wait for it to finish loading anyways. Using tabbed browsing makes it easy because I can still view other pages. I am surprised they haven’t figured this out yet. My curiosity makes me view the page for more than the 30secs required anyway.

Is it worth it? Not sure. It would be $5 more than I have now. Every penny counts, literally! It is up to each individual user. If you want to sign-up click on my link to ClickSense.com and I will make an entire $0.10! Thanks!

I will update when I have an actual check in my hand from ClickSense!

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Monday, June 23, 2008

PPP Accepted my Post!

It was so awesome I checked my e-mail and there it was “Your post has been accepted by PPP”! I had been logging in and checking my e-mail everyday waiting for a response. Actually, it didn’t take that long, I was just so anxious.

This is a real opportunity to make money online, no gimmicks, no money on your part required. My payment will be deposited directly into my PayPal account, simple as that. The hardest thing is getting opportunities before they are filled! So far, I have only been able to get two paid posts. There have been plenty more opps, but they are always filled by the time I get to them. I don’t know what the trick is, how often I should check or what! As soon as I figure it out I will post about it. If anyone has any tips please! Leave a comment.

Happy blogging:-)

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The Buzz on PayPerPost

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First E-mail from Air Car!

I received my first e-mail from ZeroPollutionMotors! Had been thinking about this car all weekend! They will keep me updated on any news about the Air Car. I can’t wait! 2010 seems like a long wait, but it is really not. Two years fly by. I am sure there will be at least a few other choices by then. So far, I think compressed air sounds the best. It gets the best mileage of any of the other fuel alternative vehicles I have read about. There also not seems to be as many complications with it in comparison to other alternative fuel vehicles. The Air Car is the option for me! The price sounds great! Actually less than what I was planning to spend on a traditional fuel car. OK, so I will have to compromise on the leg room, oh well have been doing that all my life! Anyhow, don’t know yet just how roomy they will be, they do say it is a 6-passenger car, which sounds pretty roomy to me!

More to come as I get additional updates from ZeroPollutionMotors.

Related Posts on WAHB:

OPEC can BITE ME!
Alternative Fuel Technologies
OMG! A Car That Runs on Compressed Air!

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Saturday, June 21, 2008

OMG! A Car That Runs on Compressed Air!

It exists! Yes there is a car that runs on air and only “pure air exits its tailpipe”!! I am so excited! Of course, it is not available at the moment. It is though, in its “final development stage”. ZeroPollutionMotors.com estimates 96mph top speed and up to an 800 mile range. Pretty good! Demand for the Air Car will be high. I signed up with my e-mail to be kept up to date; purchasing an Air Car will not be easy. They are taking ‘reservations’ for US deliveries in 2010. Three similar models will be available.



“If you can, imagine a vehicle that runs on air, achieves over 100 gas-equivalent mpg and over 90 mph, has zero to low C02 emissions, seats six, has plenty of space for luggage, cuts no safety corners, and costs no more than an average economy to mid-size vehicle.”

Ok, there is a bad aspect. It is French! I know that if you are an American loving patriot like my honey, French products are not allowed. But, hey! You know it’s for the good of the entire planet! It was developed by MDI-Motor Development International based in France, with Guy Negre in charge.

ZeroPollutionMotors.com mission statement:

To bring zero pollution motoring at any speed, for any distance, to the largest number of motorists possible and, in doing so, significantly improve the quality of the air we breathe and reduce our collective carbon footprint.

Sounds great to me, I don’t care where it’s made as long as no one was harmed in the process! I want one! They also look real cute, ZeroPollutionMotors.com calls it 'Smart Design’. They are just as safe as other cars on our roads today, for they follow the same safety rules. Air bags and ABS braking included.

No sacrifice of the usual amenities, either. The Air Car comes equipped with full CFC-Free A/C; power windows, doors and locks; optional GPS, etc. Ok so the sacrifice is in horsepower, only 75hp. You can’t have everything! See vehicle specs.

Price is the best thing; it actually is affordable for the average population. The Air Car is proposed at roughly $17,800. Oil changes are only required every 31,000 miles! They estimate $2 to fill up and 106mpg! Simple maintenance by replacement of parts cuts down on labor costs. I am totally sold!

Oh, Oh. I read on, guess what? At higher speeds, over 35mph, it uses other types of fuel. Darn it! I have been fooled again! Ok it is still twice as clean as the cleanest car out there today and they are small amounts of fuels such as gasoline, propane or ethanol. They do say it gets “over 100 gas-equivalent mpg”. That is still better than my 31mpg highway.

Refueling problems again, must plug into a normal power outlet. It does also refuel while driving at high speeds. Ok so I will do like that dude that installed his own wind turbine in his back yard, plus some solar panels and done deal! Actually I am serious about this. I have thought about it for years, my education makes this an easily accessible option, remember I am an Archi! I know how to do it, at least in theory. Money has been a deterrent, but given the state of things I do believe this will finally become a feasible option for a lot of people.

Happy Trails!

Disclosure:

I am in no way associated with this company or have received any form of payment from ZeroPollutionMotors.com for this post. It is of my own free will that I chose to write about the Air Car with no compensation in mind. However, if anyone from ZeroPollutionMotors.com reads this and wants to throw an Air Car my way, I by no means will refuse it! Imagine how much I could write if I actually got to drive one!

Related Posts on WAHB:

OPEC can BITE ME!
Alternative Fuel Technologies

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Alternative Fuel Technologies

So what is out there? What are the alternative fuel choices we are given today?

  • Ethanol: It is not working out. There are not enough fueling stations! By the time they get fueling stations for everyone, food prices are going to be so high what’s the point? Plus, for what I have been able to find out the mileage is not that great at all.
  • Electric cars….not so good. They are very small, most Nev’s (neighborhood electric vehicles) are only allowed on roads with posted speed limits of 35mph or lower, and they can only go short distances. The better ones are way expensive (EV’s). The picture posted is of the Kurrent NEV car. The Kurrent will be built in Michigan by American Electric Vehicles. It is affordable only $10,600, but can’t be driven in the US in roads with posted speed limits over 35mph and only has a 40 mile range. Most NEV’s are being sold in Europe, London especially. We need an EV that is viable here in the US, at around $20,000. That would be accessible to the average person and therefore a successful solution to our current problem. Then there is the question of how are you going to charge them up? Plug into the regular grid? Then you are still part of the energy consumption problem. We need more solar energy and wind power to supply our homes and businesses, but that’s an entirely other can of worms!
  • Hydrogen fuel cars? Several decades before it is perfected. You see, hydrogen is an energy carrier not an energy source. Big difference! The procedure is that of combining hydrogen and oxygen to create electricity. The only byproducts are heat and vapor, splendid! Honda is promising 280 miles of range and a whopping 74mpg! However, these fuel cells are extremely expensive. These cars require some kind of fueling station and there are not many, even in California. Some even say that the stations would actually run on traditional fuel sources, so what's the point? It has been called “one of the least efficient, most expensive alternative fuel sources”. GM is rolling out 100 fuel cell electric vehicles for the largest ever market test. Don’t think they will be out on the lot of your local car dealer anytime soon, though.

What about a car that ran on air? OMG wouldn’t that be the most awesome thing? And it could take polluted air and recycle it through the engine and have it come out clean air!

Ok, I'm getting carried away here.

To sum it up:

Buying a car that does not rely on traditional petroleum fuel is not so easy, at least for the time being. I think things will change dramatically in the next 5-10 years. The little one is always saying that by the time she gets to drive fuel will be like $1000 per/gal! I always tell her she will not be driving traditional fuel vehicles; by God they may not even have wheels! After the 70’s energy crisis, shouldn’t we be driving cars with perfected alternative fuel technology by now?

Finding alternative energy sources is not just about rising fuel prices and not wanting to support the greedy oil companies, it’s about making this planet a better place to live and keeping it around for our grandchildren to enjoy.

Driving alternative fuel cars is one step, perhaps the first major one for you and me. We can also recycle, change our light bulbs, build more efficient homes, stop the use of harmful chemicals, and find alternative energy to fuel our homes!

I have been concerned with this topic since the early 80’s when it was not a fad. While I am glad that it is popular no matter the reason, people are changing their habits, which is what counts, I do not like that it is a trend. I am scared that oil prices will go down and then what? We all go back to consuming excessive amounts of energy, forget about our carbon footprint? I sure hope not.

Happy Trails Everyone!

Related Posts on WAHB:

OPEC can BITE ME!
OMG! A Car That Runs on Compressed Air!

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OPEC can BITE ME!

After renting an SUV this last January, my car was hit by an idiot who ran a stop sign! Don’t even make me go there! Anyway back to the topic, so I decide I want an SUV and I no longer cared how much it pollutes, wastes energy and blah, blah blah. I mean what was one more SUV going to do to the environment? I am 5’10” tall, for the love of God have some sympathy! My compact hurts! I have bruised legs from the steering wheel!

Then gas prices started hitting record highs and I thought about it again. No way! I will not continue to support the oil companies who are at the very same time that we are struggling making record profits! I mean what is that? It’s like go ahead slap me across the face while you….in the behind, I don’t mind, really. (Sorry but there is no nice way to put it.) I will do whatever it takes to stop my dependency on fuel! I will keep the car I have until something different comes along. That is my final say.

Gas prices are out of Control! Let’s face it; it will only get worse in the long run. The truth is that it has been a long time in the making, we need alternative fuel sources ASAP! The major oil companies have kept the new technologies from emerging, we have all heard about the great inventors who sold their licenses to alternative fuel motors thinking that they were going to change the world, only to find out their buyer was an oil company who buried the invention. My own grand-uncle, with no more than a grammar school education 30+ years ago altered his engine to run on water!

But times are a changing! Finally the public is outraged; we will not let the oil companies bury another alternative fuel powered engine design. We have cut down on driving; we are selling our gas guzzlers, production of SUV's is coming to a screeching halt, oh yeah! Watch out OPEC your days of a gold palace are coming to an end!

Related Posts on WAHB:

Alternative Fuel Technologies
OMG! A Car That Runs on Compressed Air!

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Thursday, June 19, 2008

Online Coupons to Popular Sites

Another fantastic find through the Frogpond at BzzAgent.com!

RetailMeNot.com offers an incredible and huge variety of online coupons. They advertise having more than 70,000 coupon codes. Easy to navigate and full of popular brand names such as, Target, Banana Republic, Cold Water Creek, Papa Johns, Amazon, etc. I found no spam or viruses associated with this site. What I did find were great savings!

I checked out Victoria’s Secret coupon codes first just because I am a regular shopper there and receive a lot of offers directly from the company. This made it possible for me to compare discounts I regularly receive from them to what was offered by RetailMeNot.com. I found they really had coupons that would make it worth it to visit their site.

Amazing! RetailMeNot.com had a bunch of coupons not available directly from victoriassecret.com, even for frequent buyers! I was pleasantly surprised to say the least. I found approximately 52 coupons! A few are printable coupons and mostly online codes. Everything from free shipping, discounts 10%-40%, free items with purchase and dollar discounts. I will definitely check out RetailMeNot.com before placing any order again!

Disclosure:

As a BzzAgent I get to try out new websites and products and provide honest reviews about them. Buzzing is about word of mouth, sharing honest and informed opinions. RetailMeNot.com is one of the latest frogs in the Frogpond. The Frogpond is an area of BzzAgent.com dedicated to “sharing and discovering stuff online”. I am not paid for my opinions so I can be honest and tell the good and the bad, I am not a salesperson! The Frogpond rewards me with some points and sometimes free trial memberships to the sites buzzed about. To see more of my BzzAgent reviews or become a BzzAgent yourself follow the link below. It is fun and informative!

Frogpond Badge

More BzzAgent Reviews:

CheckMD Buzz
Claritin RediTabs Buzz
The Buzz on SimpleTuition.com
The BzzAgent Site Review

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CheckMD Buzz

Wow! This is a cool site. On CheckMD you can research doctors of all specialties in your area and rate them. It is easy as three clicks to see if there have been any legal actions taken against them! There is also a Healthcare Debate area and the HealthTree Communities. The site is easy to navigate, extremely helpful and informative.

I live in a rural area and was skeptic when I did the search for my physician. I was so surprised not only was my general practitioner listed on CheckMD; there was a long list of doctors in my area!

CheckMD is a great research tool when looking for a physician. The doctor’s complete profile consists of four tabs.

  • General Information tab includes the doctor’s school and training information, license information, primary and secondary specialty, hospital and insurance affiliations, and credit cards accepted.
  • Disciplinary Information tab includes license status, any actions taken, exclusions and the state contact information.
  • Ratings tab includes comments by registered users and ratings by ‘Friendly’, ‘Timely’, ‘Informative’, ‘Office Staff’, and ‘Competence’.
  • Professional Page tab is a page posted and updated by the doctor’s own staff. It includes any blogs, physician’s video profile, discussions and any papers the doctor may want to share.

CheckMD is a fairly new site therefore you may find doctor’s not reviewed or that they have not yet put anything on their Professional Page. If searching for a new medical doctor in any specialty the Disciplinary tab alone is well worth the visit. Be the first to review your doctor, I did!

Disclosure:

As a BzzAgent I get to try out new websites and products and provide honest reviews about them. Buzzing is about word of mouth, sharing honest and informed opinions. CheckMD is one of the latest frogs. I am not paid for my opinions so I can be honest and tell the good and the bad, I am not a salesperson! I receive some free samples, coupons, and some points that’s it. To see more of my BzzAgent reviews or become a BzzAgent yourself follow the link below. It is fun and informative!

Frogpond Badge

More BzzAgent Reviews:

Claritin RediTabs Buzz
The Buzz on SimpleTuition.com
The BzzAgent Site Review

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Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Work at Home Opps in your Inbox – HighestPaySurveys.com

I checked my e-mail and there it was “make $10-$300 per hour for answering simple online surveys and participating in online focus groups.” I have been doing online surveys for a while now, as you may know, and $300 sounded really suspicious. But, like everyone else with the economy in the state that it is, gas prices at $4 a gallon, I thought maybe… Yes, I am that desperate.

Of course, nonetheless first I decided to do some checking around. I do follow what I preach. The following is the “Safety First” guidelines put to use. It is a little long, however it is instructive as well as revealing.

Step 1: whois.net search of the HighestPaySurveys website turns up they are registered with networksolutions.com.

Step 2: Went to the actual website and read it scrupulously. A guarantee is highlighted that states “Only HighestPaySurveys Guarantees Access to a $300 Survey Every Day.” The key word is ‘Access’ here, not that you will get the surveys, just that you will be able to access them. The price is “for a limited time only $49.95”, the usual gimmick, plus of course the free bonuses and member testimonials. They also promise that the opps are updated daily. Being the realist that I am, I looked for the small print. Way at the bottom of the page in very small print you will find the real guarantee, or in actuality the lack of guarantee.

“HighestPaySurveys.Com makes its best efforts to keep its list of paying survey sites up to date. HighestPaySurveys.Com is not responsible for content on the sites listed in the Member Area. HighestPaySurveys.Com has compiled a list of survey sites which as of being placed on the list offered compensation for survey participation. Members enjoy the value of this compilation. Full time income requirements vary widely according to each individual's needs. Income from participating in surveys and focus groups may or may not meet all income needs of all participants. Your results may vary. No guarantee can be made of actual earnings. (Quoted directly from HighestPaySurveys.com)

“Best efforts”? That means that if the site is not up to date, too bad for you. They tried. Access to broken links and outdated information will not make you much money.

“Not responsible for content found in the member’s area”? Ok so what are they responsible for? This is their site right? Is it not their own member’s area? Again, if after you pay, you don’t actually find their ‘member area’ rewarding in any way, too bad, they are not responsible.

“Enjoy the value of a compilation”? Really, they think we are going to enjoy paying $50 for a compilation of survey sites that we can find for free all over the net? I do not believe that is true.

What is clearly stated is that they make no guarantee of actual earnings. So basically, you are out $50.

See my post “Buzz on Paid Surveys” for realistic earning potentials and links to sites I use to make a little money on the side. Little money, keyword!

Step 3: Verify with BBBOnLine "Check out a Business or Charity. No surprise that their company report lists 31 total complaints and the lowest possible rating of “F”. Eight complaints about not ‘agreeing to perform according to their contract’, one ‘refusing to make an adjustment’ and 22 ‘unanswered’.

Complaint Experience on BBBOnLine states :

“Customer complaints allege they are mislead by false advertisements of making money immediately. Customer’s state they are unable to reach a customer services representative to address their concerns. Emails are unanswered or there are unable to connect to the company's website due to invalid passwords.

The company has responded to most of the complaints by citing company policy and stating that they do not guarantee any specific income amounts.

According to information in Bureau files, it appears that this company is no longer in business. The phone numbers the Bureau had for this company are disconnected, and directory assistance does not have a listing for this company. The Bureau's mail to this company has been returned as undeliverable. If you have an unresolved dispute with this company you may wish to seek legal advice.”
(Quoted directly from BBBOnLine website.)

If the BBB can not contact them and suggests hiring a lawyer I definitely do not want to do deal with this company. This business also goes by “American Home Workers Alliance”. I do not need much more to know that they are a scam and I shouldn’t give them a dime. But, for the sake of following the guidelines of “safety First” let’s go on to step four, Google search to check for Buzz.

Step 4: Google search for HighestPaySurveys second link on the Google page says “Don’t Join Highest-Pay-Surveys until You Read This Shocking Review!” You think ok and honest review. Wrong!

This site is a good example of fake-review sites. They are paid to promote HighestPaySurveys. Just look at their web address it includes the HighestPaySurveys name. It has that same format that I have come to associate with scams. There really is no proper header and no links to home pages or other reviews. In reality it promotes the sites it reviews while concealing the fact and using deceptive tactics to get you on their page.

I decide to check out another of their listed recommended sites randomly. The #4 recommended site I also found on BBBOnLine. “Paid Surveys Online” has an unsatisfactory record with the BBB.

“Based on BBB files, this company has an unsatisfactory record with the BBB due to unanswered complaints. The company has resolves some complaints presented by the BBB, however most complaints remain unanswered.

Complaints generally concern the allegations that consumers are not able to make money as advertised. After registering procedures customers are being taken to prize give-a-ways sites, or many of the websites require a fee for membership. The main complaint is the alleged failure of the company to refund the original registration money despite the no questions asked money back guarantee.” (Quoted directly from BBBOnLine website.)

The usual complaints, high number of unresolved issues, and no responses. This company also goes by the name “WorkOnline4Pay”.

Continuing with the Google search I found more fake reviews and some real people talking about how they were ripped off. Learn to read between the lines and look for reliable sources. It is really sad how many unscrupulous persons are on the net to make money with no concern for others. They are promoting known scams for referral commissions. They are swindling the last few dollars of many upright folks with a dream to make a decent and honest income from home.

With the economy deteriorating every day and unemployment rates climbing higher it seems my inbox gets more and more of these offers. It makes me so sad to know that the most in need are the ones falling for these scams.

Bottom line: Do not pay for a job! Never, ever, ever!!

Note:

While some of these e-mails have an ‘unsubscribe’ link I have found that following such said link only increases the amount of spam I receive later on. I believe that following the link just lets them know that it is an active e-mail account and they will just send you more junk!

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BBB Update

Just wanted bring up to date the “Check out a Business or Charity” page for the Better Business BureauOnLine site. I have recommended in previous posts as a first step to look up a business on their site for any complaints before paying for anything. I recently went to their BBBOnLine site to complete this very same task and found the page was hard to find. No longer is this option found in the home page. Also, the state information is now optional, which I am sure was required before. This is a good change because a lot of times it is really difficult to find this information, especially with the less reputable organizations.

Their Consumer page is where you will find the link to check out the business or charity as well as a link to file a complaint. Also, other useful tools like a resource library, find a local BBB, find accredited businesses/charities and program and services. For an explanation of the rating used by the BBB click here.

I will be updating the links on my previous posts ASAP. But, first the reason for me checking out the site will be the next post! Stay tuned for a work at home opportunity that has been coming to your inbox unveiled!

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Monday, June 16, 2008

The Buzz on Ace’s Web World


If you are looking for pool cues this is the site! Everything Pool and Billiards, plus Free Tournament Brackets! It is not just pool either; there are posters of all kinds, a bookstore, a music store, an area just for kids, NASCAR fan shop, sports page and so much more! All these products in one convenient place with easy navigation and great prices, too!

The Fine Arts poster site was a terrific find for me. I have been lucky enough to travel the world and visit many, many museums. From which I bought back numerous posters, some have been ruined and it was awesome to find them again! Same quality, better price! The Florida vintage posters brought back some fond memories of the old Art Deco South Beach. Not about clubs and celebrities, but about great Architecture.

There is also the edu.aceswebworld.com and educational site in which you can find short biographies of “The Presidents of the United States along with related links, books and posters. All in one easy, convenient page! I also found Ace’s Bio-farm to be enlightening. Here you will find artists, authors, musicians and NASCAR biographies.

My favorite area of Ace’s site was his short stories section. I was enthralled by his stories. Found that I had to finish each and everyone before going on with my day. My favorite one was “The Kid Who Beat Mosconi”, by Ace Toscano. The mother in-law in this story reminds me of my own grandma. Good thing I am the ‘apple of her eye’ or else I would have it really bad!

Ace Toscano is my dad’s best friend. They have been friends ever since I can remember. We call him Pana, that’s my dad’s nickname for him. I believe it means friend, buddy, and partner in crime. I can see them going out and raising hell! Pana loves pool, my dad loves soccer. They each have their respective blogs on the topics they are passionate about. Both were built by Pana who is helping my dad into the 21st century! Pana and his wife now live in Florida. We do not get to see them as much as we would like.

I spent my first Easter at Pana’s, had my first snowball fight and built my first snow fort with Michele, Pana’s daughter. Michele was my first friend in the USA; we were pen pals before I came over and then play mates. I couldn’t even write at the time, they used double lined paper where it was written in English and then translated underneath by my dad. My grandma read them to me. I remember my excitement when I learned to write and was able to write my own letter! Grandma still has them, safe with all my pictures and various keepsakes.

Soon after, grandma and I came to the US. I learned English with Pana and his family. I had my fist view of American life through Pana’s sweet and loving family. I remember their kitchen, and Pana’s wife, Helen, baking for us. I think it was cookies; I was amazed, for you see my grandma is no cook! My first enforced bedtime was at Pana’s, so was my first Easter egg hunt. I may not have liked the bedtime thing at the time, but now that I have a family, we have a bedtime for the little one. We sit down as a family for dinner, and yes we have an Easter egg hunt every year. I have even been known to bake a thing or two. All things I learned at Pana’s.

Thanks Pana and Helen for all the wonderful memories.

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Saturday, June 14, 2008

Submit your Blog to Free Directories

Today I have been submitting my blog to different directories. This is something I should have taken care of a long time ago. There is so much to do if you want to get your blog out there that it is very time consuming, I am trying but I just can’t seem to keep up! Always finding new things to add and new sites to sign up for, it seems never-ending! My honey does not appreciate me being on the laptop constantly, either.

I found a site that has a list of “Top Free Blog Directories” to sign up for that makes it easier. It is so much simpler to just go down a list of directories then to have the information displayed in different pages. Remember to right click on the link and choose ‘open in new tab’ to make things even simpler. This list is very comprehensive. Not all links seem to work, though. Maybe it is just my slow connection.

The free directories I have signed up for so far can be found at the bottom of the left hand navigation bar on this page and at the end of this post.

Blogging is an awesome way to make money online, but it takes quite the effort. You must get your blog known; you need people to visit your blog! There are many resources out there that will help you reach your goal, this is just one.

I will be posting more on this topic soon, so check out these pages often!

Happy trails!

blogarama.com
BlogBunch.com

Blogcatalog.com
blogdigger.com
Blog Directory

Blog Flux Directory

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Friday, June 13, 2008

Buzz about LA Police Gear, Inc.

I came across this great site LA Police Gear where you can find some great equipment for the man in your life, yourself and the kids!

LA Police Gear features many products; 5.11 Tactical series, Surefire flashlights, Under Armour, Galco Holsters, and footwear. Even if you are not in the fields of police, security or military these products are really useful. I love the Under Armour products because my honey works outside in the elements and these undergarments keep him warm. The 5.11 products are durable and have lots of pockets, the Surefire flashlights are reliable and compact. I can find them all in one site and they really do have some great prices! Add to that free shipping, some free gifts, convenience and safety, I am sold!

LA Police Gear, Inc. was founded by LA Police Officers, serves the general public, military personnel, security professionals and police officers. LA Police Gear promises “extremely fast shipping, low prices, and outstanding service”. All payment information is encrypted using SSL a secure industry standard. LA Police Gear takes your safety on their site seriously using fire-walls and anti-virus software to insure all your information is protected. Go on to the LA Police Gear site and feel safe shopping!

Happy shopping!

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WAHB Gets a New Look!

Today has been the day that I finally got around to giving WAHB a different look. This had been a debate in my head for some time now. While I liked the previous color scheme very much I found that it was just not very popular in the blogosphere and there must be a reason for that! I find this new style easier to read and more professional. As my experience on the net has grown I realized it was time to update WAHB. I was a little scared, but finally made the leap!

I hope you all like the new look and find it simpler to navigate. Leave me some feedback!

Happy trails!

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Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Claritin RediTabs Buzz

You thought non-drowsy allergy relief was impossible? Not with Claritin RediTabs!

I suffer from allergies, and I also pass out when I take allergy meds. So what was I to do? Stay in the house so my allergies will not act up or take the med and stay in the house because I am so drowsy I can’t do anything? It was a no win situation for me. Then I received my latest BzzAgent campaign for Claritin RediTabs.

My allergies are pretty bad. Plus, I’m allergic to bug bites which is not such a common thing. In addition of course to dust, weeds, pollen, grass, mold and more. The facts state that Claritin RediTabs work for 24hrs, are prescription strength and dissolve instantly in your mouth. I was doubtful. Nothing on the package said bug bites and I hate taking pills, no water sounds disgusting to me.

Well surprise! They really do work! Claritin RediTabs dissolve as soon as they go in your mouth. It is so awesome not to have to reach for a glass of water! They can be taken anywhere, it is so convenient. My allergy symptoms where gone within a half hour and the effect lasted well into the next day. Best of all, I was not lethargic! I could continue with my activities and even drive with no drowsiness whatsoever. I stopped using my other very popular allergy med at once and have not looked back.

As a BzzAgent I get to try out new websites and products and provide honest reviews about them. Buzzing is about word of mouth, sharing honest and informed opinions. Claritin RediTabs is one of the latest campaigns. I am not paid for my opinions so I can be honest and tell the good and the bad, I am not a salesperson! I receive some free samples, coupons, and some points that’s it. To see more of my BzzAgent reviews or become a BzzAgent yourself follow the link below. It is fun and informative!

Frogpond Badge


More BzzAgent Reviews:

The Buzz on SimpleTuition.com
The BzzAgent Site Review

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Monday, June 9, 2008

Housetraining with Puppy Pads

Day 8 of having Emma at home and housetraining is not perfect. Yes, I spoke too soon in my previous post.
We got puppy pads for her, they were recommended to us by another dog owner. Supposedly they include a scent on them that makes them want to go on the puppy pad. I have had them down since the second day of having her at home. I can say we have not been successful with them. Emma went once on them, I have lost track of the times she has gone next to them. She also chewed one up, which I am sure is not good for her if swallowed.
We have a schedule for her eating, drinking, going out for exercise and going out to eliminate. I think that is the best way. She does real good with the schedule and is really getting used to it. But, if we mess up and don’t take her out on time, then we find ourselves with an accident. We wanted the puppy pads to be a back up; they are not effective for us. Other people seem to have great results.
Our vet recommends the crate as I have mentioned in the post “Crate Training Buzz”. He really is right; you can’t keep a constant eye on the pup. If you are busy, the pup should be in her crate. Then you can take her out and head straight for the outdoors!

I found a site with some good tips on housebreaking. Click here

Updates to come!

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HelpingAnimals.com

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The Buzz on PayPerPost

I am so thrilled to have joined PayPerPost!

PayPerPost is a site where bloggers can pursue money making opportunities. PPP connects bloggers and advertisers, thus creating consumer generated advertising. The opportunities are in the form of posts the bloggers write promoting the advertisers needs. There are also opportunities in the form of videos. Yes, you really can make money online in a safe environment with no gimmicks. All you need is a blog and post away!

I must tell you it is not just about making money. My blog’s traffic has increased which is awesome! Made some friends and found some great blogs. PayPerPost is a community of bloggers. As a member I can see what other bloggers are doing and learn tons from them! It is similar to how I found out about PPP in the first place. During my ‘adventures’ online I kept finding blogs with links to this site, I figured, hey! What’s all the buzz about? So I checked it out. Now I have one place where I can go look for money making opps and get a real time glimpse of the current buzz throughout the blogosphere.

This is actually my first ‘paid post’! It is so exciting to be given the chance to do what I like and make some money in the process. You can too! All you have to do is sign-up with PayPerPost!

Happy trails!

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Sunday, June 8, 2008

Crate Training Buzz

North Shore Animal League America

Ok, so at first we thought keeping the puppy confined in a small cage was cruel. We wouldn’t want to be confined to a small area. We call that jail, correct?

With puppies it is different I found out. My vet was giving us the “Hey, you got a new puppy!” talk when he mentioned, “I bet she goes under the coffee table...” I was like yeah she loves it down there. Well, he said that is because they actually like small places. They feel safe in small places with their backs to the wall; they can look forward and see what’s coming without worry of what is behind them. It is also the safest place for them to be when you are not around to check on them. Chewing on the wrong thing is not only going to upset you because your property has been destroyed but it might end up costing you a lot of money! If they swallow the wrong bit of things, surgery may be required to dislodge this from their intestines. Not any fun for you or your puppy. This advice totally changed my view on crates. It is not about me and my guilt; it is about her comfort and her safety.

One of the prime reasons crates are most recommended is for housetraining. Puppies don’t poop where they sleep. She shouldn’t be in there for a prolonged period of time and be careful what you put her in there with. We put in a few of her favorite ‘safe’ toys and that is it. No food. If she eats freely you will not have any control of her elimination schedule, which can lead to accidents. She comes out of the crate and she is taken immediately outdoors to eliminate. Really important is that you do not use the crate for punishment. The crate should be her safe place, kind of like the den feeling. Place the crate somewhere close to the family. Isolation is not what you want to reinforce. Do not let the puppy out if she whines or barks. Have her calm down before opening the door and reward her with a treat when she does.

It is not cruel, it is highly recommended by vets and many other sources, I would recommend one extra precaution and that is to place stickers on your doors and some windows that say something like “please rescue my pets”. They usually have a place for you to specify what kind and how many pets you have. They can be found at many pet stores. I have used them for years, even when it was just my cat running around free in the house. Running around or in a crate the danger is the same. Unfortunately, I confirmed this when the house across the street burned down a few months ago. Attempts were made to rescue the dog, but it was not possible. Very sad indeed.

We keep the door open for her all the time and she goes in and out all day. After she got used to the crate we started to actually close the door for about only 15mins a day once a day. Next week I will start her on twice a day for 15mins and gently up the time. If I have to run an errand I know the puppy is safe and happy.

Seek advice from your vet for your particular situation. There is a lot of work to training a new puppy. It is well worth it! A well behaved dog is a happy dog!

Looking for a Puppy?

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The Animal Rescue Site

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Saturday, June 7, 2008

Emma the Puppy is Home!

We have a puppy! Her name is Emma. She is 12 weeks old. We adopted her on June 1st. It was a lot quicker than the usual week or two! This was thanks to the great people at the rescue, Furry Angels. Michaela processed our application late Saturday night so we could make it to their adoption event on Sunday. It was a really long drive, 31/2 hrs, but was well worth it. Emma is a great puppy! Well behaved and smart. House trained in two days! She is a Newfoundland mix, some Lab and Golden Retriever the vet said. She is black in color and is going to be BIG! Did you know that large black dogs are usually the last to be adopted? We feel really good about getting Emma.

We found her on PetFinder.com; where we were directed to the Furry Angels Rescue’s web page, filled out the application and received a response from them right away. Emma is healthy and we love her tons already!

More puppy updates to come! And better pictures, she is not very camera-friendly!

Furry Angels Animal Rescue
Their available pet list

PetFinder.com

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