Guide on How to Spot Fraud Online

 There are lots of people today looking for job opportunities online simply because companies are trying to do cost-cutting measures taking out redundant employees or forced to shrink their workforce. Unfortunately, not all job postings are legitimate. There are instances when you will deal with scammers out there. On the other hand, there are also posts where people are duped into giving too much information only to realize that they’ve become victims of

What are the ways on how you can spot online fraud? Here are some tips that might come in handy.

Don’t give money in exchange for work or a much larger payday

There are lots of people who would pay a random stranger online. Perhaps, it is out of sheer desperation. Some are giving funds to people who are offering them an opportunity to work. Or sometimes, it comes in a form of email where you are told that you won a prize but to be able to get the item, you have to pay for the shipping. These are classic scams that people fall for.

Unfortunately, the stories to get money from victims become more elaborate. But as a rule of thumb, never give money in exchange for a job or prize.

Use a Trustworthy Platform

Another important rule is to never use a platform that allows even a bit of anonymity. If you are going to apply for a job, go for a platform like Upwork that tends to screen freelancers and clients. This will allow you to know who you are working with. Plus, you get a platform that tends to build the ground rules for your transactions.

If you are going to get hired via a freelancing platform, they can also serve as your escrow that can hold the money until both parties agree.

Don’t just give info about yourself

A lot of people tend to give their email and their name to anyone. This should never be the case because not only can they use your data, it is also possible to use your identity and create a fake profile. Birthday and pet names may seem like harmless inquiries but this could backfire. You’d be surprised by the number of people who used these questions as their security questions to retrieve/change their password. Once this information about yourself, it is not far from the possibility that they can access your emails and even your bank account.

Don’t buy from a dodgy website

Not all websites are safe. A lot of people tend to buy from small entrepreneurs to help them stay afloat. However, you also need to make sure that you are not going to give your credit card information to anyone. You want to have a secure website. The only way to do it is by checking if the start of the website is “https” rather than “http”. Next, you also want to read the reviews too.

Getting duped online is something that can happen to anyone. Some of the scams tend to be intricate that some people believe it. Follow these tips to not let yourself become a victim.  

Creating a Business in the New Normal

 Industries from all over the world have been affected by the pandemic. There’s no denying that a lot of entrepreneurs may have lost their business along the way because of lockdowns and abrupt changes in the way people consume and how they can conduct their lives. The new normal can work in favor of or against your business.

 

Getting started during the pandemic can be a struggle for most people. But what if it is possible to come up with a business idea that has a success potential in the new normal? Here are some of the things that you might want to know. 

Each Location is Different 

One of the things that you will have to consider before you get started is the fact that each location is different. Some countries are starting to ease their quarantine policies while others have suffered a second or even a third wave. Given these realities, you will have to know your predicament. You need to know the challenges faced by your market and how policies can affect the business that you are trying to put up. 

Know the current demands 

Demand will ensure the survival of your business. For instance, you don’t here groceries closing during a pandemic. That’s because the demand for food and other necessities will be there regardless if there’s a pandemic or not. 

It means that you want to do your research and take a closer look at those industries that have grown over the past months despite the pandemic and the shift in people’s general behavior because of the new normal. 

Is it adaptable to the new normal 

The new normal is going to dictate whether or not the business can survive in today’s current climate. If you are trying to start a business that will require a large group of people to come together such as a gym or perhaps running an event organizing firm, then these are things that aren’t going to meet the standards of the new normal. 

A lot of startups that do their operations online tend to prosper even amidst the pandemic because everyone is simply going to operate at home. It is possible to set up a work from home arrangement among your employees or among your contractors which can be a good thing when it comes to offering safety. 

Be sure to have the capital

Lastly, you want to make sure that you have the capital to have a venture. The pandemic has shown our vulnerability. A lot of people ended up being bankrupt because of the current situation. Businesses are taking out portions of their manpower to save or perhaps downsizing just to survive. These are realities that you will have to face in case you decide to have your own business. 

A lot of times, people use their own capital when it comes to starting their own business. This isn’t a bad thing because you won’t have any debt. However, you need to only use a portion of your savings. You just can’t afford to be reckless at this point. 

Who is Steve Barbarich: Entrepreneur, Inventor, and Philanthropist

Steve Barbarich is a businessman and an inventor who managed to come up with solutions that changed the way people approach their career or their startup. He started as an inventor who managed to sell products designed by him.

But one of the things that he noticed is that a lot of starting inventors himself was struggling to understand the legalities. A lot of them shortchange their inventions and sell their ideas to companies without knowing the possibilities of maximizing their work financially. Because of this, he started a book that taught inventors on how they can make money from patents. The book, The Complete Manual on How to Make Money from Your Inventions and Patents, experienced success and became an instant bestseller.

Starting his e-commerce business

Though he was already successful as an inventor and author, he never stopped and settled on these accomplishments. He believed that you are simply as good as your last performance. With the availability of fast internet connection and the popularity of e-commerce, one of the things that he noticed is that a lot of businesses lacked in superb customer service. Many are still struggling to please their customers because they don’t know how to meet the expectations of their customers. He experienced this first hand when he decided to buy some items online only to experience what other customers experienced.

He started his own company and started offering items such as stoves and fireplaces. These are luxury items that became a success in the next year or so. But unlike other vendors, Steve Barbarich prioritized his customers and offered support that they need. He also focused on aftersales support to ensure that the customers are happy even when they encountered some issues that need to be addressed.

Vacation Rentals

Steve Barbarich traveled a lot. During one of his business trips, he was able to experience staying in a vacation rental. He also noticed that it is cheaper than your typical hotel. And with this, he decided to get more involved in this growing niche.

With the booming travel industry, he was able to come up with solutions that changed the entire travel experience of many people. He started to invest on different short term travel rentals that helped travelers to save a lot of money.

He made it possible to help hosts to maximize their properties. Offering a helping hand to struggling hosts, he was able to flip their business and make it profitable for them. He came up with ways on how to connect the hosts and guests and create a good experience for both parties.

The Philanthropist

He also involved himself in different causes that can help alleviate poverty and suffering within his community. He was involved in helping individuals who were affected by Hurricane Rita in 2005. Barbarich was active in providing funds for the Gulf Coast Funds and Red Cross. In 2009, he supported women who needed to have a mammogram during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. With his help, a good number of women were able to receive their checkups for early detection. 

Why Steve Barbarich Explored Different Industries

Finding success in different industries can be tricky. In fact, finding success in one field is already difficult enough. But for Steve Barbarich, he was able to constantly seek personal improvement and find success in different industries.

Steve Barbarich started as an inventor. He made it possible to improve existing items and to make things from scratch aimed towards improving our daily routine. With his eagerness to create inventions and innovate on existing designs, he decided to write a book. But for his book, it was focused on helping other inventors like himself. The e-book was focused on helping those inventors on how to trademark their inventions. This became an instant hit on Amazon. After becoming an author that focused on allowing other inventors to trademark their work, he opened a company that benefits them.

The first company he opened was a business that focused mainly on those people who wanted to get their inventions into the market but don’t know how to do it. He helped inventors make the most money from their ideas. Plus, he also helped in the development of these products. What made it stand out is the fact that Steve Barbarich is an inventor himself. And knowing the struggles of other inventors, he was able to help them in the different stages of product development.

Successful E-Commerce Entrepreneur

Next, he opened another business afterwards. However, for Steve Barbarich’s next venture, he made it possible to improve e-commerce. For this business, it wasn’t exactly planned. Barbarich purchased furniture online only to discover that companies lacked customer support and after-sales support to help customers. Because of this, he started his own e-commerce website. But this time around, he made it possible for the customers to feel that they are the boss from start to finish.

He experienced success in his e-commerce venture despite the harsh competition. He was able to offer improved products and services to the point that he experienced success in his business. He later decided that it is time to move on to another venture. During one of his travels, he experienced living in a vacation rental. He noticed some of the most common mistakes by hosts and vowed to help them improve their services.

Vacation Rentals 

Steve Barbarich started the company Vacation Homes 365. Vacation Homes 365 is a company that focused mainly on the performance of vacation rentals. The platform provides more eyeballs to the properties. Plus, in some locations, Vacation Homes 365 also offers property management. Property management is key, especially to novice hosts, to reach their goals. Vacation Homes 365 has expanded the way hosts operate because of the traffic that the website received.

Steve Barbarich never forgot about the community that helped him reach his goals. In fact, he is known as an philanthropist by many groups. He was able to help those who needed a mammogram to people who were affected by past hurricanes. His goal is not only improve his own self by to also help other people along the way. Barabarich is known for many ventures but he always considered his acts of altruism as his greatest works.