Too Cute Not to share
2 year old dancing the jive
ENJOY YOUR WEEKEND
THE IQD TEAM
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Which "RV Dinar Dance" Do you Like Best? Too Cute Not to share 2 year old dancing the jive Baby Dancing to Beyonce - ORIGINAL! Have a Great Weekend....Do something Fun, Be with your family and friends, Stay away from the computer......
ENJOY YOUR WEEKEND THE IQD TEAM See you Sunday Night 8PM EST 760-569-7676 769478# or 712222#
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Thanks Straight Talkin Mike.....
CISPA: the controversy surrounding it and how it might affect you By Rachel Rose Hartman | The Ticket – 21 hrs ago While much of America was gearing up to watch the NFL draft picks Thursday night, the House of Representatives passed a controversial cybersecurity bill to increase information sharing between private companies and the federal government. The bill—H.R. 3523, the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA)—passed at 6:30 p.m. by 248 to 168, boosted by a Republican majority (206 Republicans voted for it, along with 42 Democrats). Debate on the bill was expected Thursday, but the vote was a surprise because it had been scheduled for Friday. Here's a look at the controversy surrounding the bill, what's in store for its future and how it might affect you: Check out our explainer below to find out more about CISPA : • What is the purpose of CISPA? Michigan Republican Rep. Mike Rogers and Maryland Democratic Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger sponsored and, along with supporters, crafted CISPA to offer private companies new ways to protect themselves from potential economic cyberspies hailing from countries such as Russia and China. To accomplish this, the bill amends the National Security Act of 1947 (which contains no cyberthreat provisions) to increase information-sharing permission between U.S. businesses and the federal government. Supporters say information regarding cyberthreats will be more quickly and easily disseminated under CISPA. • Why is it controversial? Opponents aren't arguing against discussing cyberthreats, but they're concerned about the scope of sharing and privacy issues. Under CISPA, companies will be permitted to share information with entities such as the Department of Homeland Security and the National Security Agency and won't be required to protect Internet users' personal data. The shared information is supposed to be related to cyberthreats, but many opponents argue that term is too broad and offers too many exemptions to current privacy laws. • How does CISPA differ from SOPA? CISPA has been dubbed "the new SOPA," in reference to the Stop Online Piracy Act, a bill designed to curb copyright infringement by restricting sites that host pirated content. Congressional action on SOPA was postponed Jan. 20 after fierce protests from technology companies and others. SOPA centered around piracy, while CISPA is about cybersecurity. And while SOPA cracked down on domestic sites, CISPA is focused on overseas entities. Constitutional rights advocates, civil liberties groups and others oppose both bills. Unlike with SOPA, many tech companies, such as Facebook and Microsoft, support CISPA. The bill has already advanced in one chamber of Congress with a majority of support after amendments were added to define cyberthreats. • Who opposes and who supports CISPA? Against: The American Civil Liberties Union and other advocacy groups such as the Sunlight Foundation, the American Library Association and the Electronic Frontier Foundation are staunchly opposed to CISPA as a potential threat to Americans' constitutional rights. The White House on Wednesday threatened to veto the bill in part over privacy issues and has backed a competing cybersecurity bill offered in the Senate. A majority of House Democrats and 28 Republicans voted against the bill Thursday due to privacy issues and other factors. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas voted no on the bill, saying on Monday that it would create a "Big Brother" culture. For: Many companies and groups including Facebook, AT&T, Intel, Microsoft, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the conservative Heritage Foundation and tech associations back CISPA as an effective way to combat overseas cyberthreats. Select members of Congress support CISPA for the same reason. • What is the future of CISPA? Don't expect the Democratic-controlled Senate to rush to pass CISPA after the White House's veto threat. In addition to the president's opposition, CISPA must now compete with the Senate's own cybersecurity legislation. http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/cispa-controversy-surrounding-might-affect-173913974.html http://www.thestraighttalkexpress.com/1/post/2012/04/cispa-the-controversy-surrounding-it-and-how-it-might-affect-you.html Straight Talk Express~~Identity Theft~Here’s How Your Identity Will Be Stolen: The Top 10 ScamsI4/28/2012 Identity Theft
Here’s How Your Identity Will Be Stolen: The Top 10 Scams By Martha C. White | April 5, 2012 ID Theft
Source http://moneyland.time.com/2012/04/17/10-ways-youre-going-to-get-your-identity-stolen/#1-phishing#ixzz1tLJE1xqR Cell Phones for Soldiers Poised for Second Act in Reverse Legacy Apr 19, 2012
Written by Louis Altman Created on Wednesday, 18 April 2012 14:00 Source: Patriot Ledger http://www.nonprofitquarterly.org/policysocial-context/20171-cell-phones-for-soldiers-poised-for-second-act-in-reverse-legacy.html The nonprofit Cell Phones for Soldiers collects more than 100,000 cell phones for recycling monthly, with proceeds paying for cell phone minutes for those serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. The idea came about one morning in 2004 when two Norwell, Mass. seventh graders, siblings Brittany and Robbie Bergquist, caught a news feature about a Natick, Mass. soldier who had racked up a $7,500 cell phone bill calling home from the Iraqi warfront. The kids sprang into action that day and exhorted schoolmates to fork over their snack money to help pay for the soldier’s bill. They didn’t collect enough to buy so much as a few Extra Value meals at McDonalds, but they returned home and the Bergquist family, parents Bob and Gail included, dreamed up a venture to provide American soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan with cell phones with prepaid minutes. The original Cell Phones for Soldiers plan—to mail phones to soldiers abroad—fell flat after the Pentagon nixed the notion because of safety issues. Fearless and enterprising, the Bergquists soon discovered a workable strategy to collect discarded cell phones, sell them to a recycler, and use the resulting funds to purchase cell phone minutes for soldiers at base phone banks. The younger Bergquists were instant media darlings, and over the next eight years, their pet project produced astounding numbers; Cell Phones for Soldiers has become a multi-million dollar nonprofit serving 600,000 soldiers annually. To date, it has provided over 150 million minutes of talk time paid for by the recycling of over 10 million cell phones and corporate donations, with approximately 100,000 more used phones collected every month. Bob and Gail are now planning to retire from long teaching careers to run Cell Phones for Soldiers on a full-time basis. Their kids have flown the nest and are contemplating post-graduate careers in nonprofit management. Hemmed in by news vans, classmates initially teased the young entrepreneurs as the “cell phone kids”, and now, as public figures, they have to watch what they say via social media and the world at large. But they don’t plan to stand down as the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan are returning. Instead, they hope to launch a venture this summer that they are calling “Helping Heroes Home,” which will connect returning soldiers—particularly those with injuries or those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder—with free phone access. Bob Bergquist says, “We just want to make sure we still care for them after they come home...they’re still our heroes, even if they’re not on foreign soil.” The Bergquists have $180,000 in seed money for the new venture from AT&T. Nonprofit Quarterly wishes the Bergquist family good luck with their second act in serving the nation’s soldiers, this time on the home front. –Louis Altman Additional Information: Mission: Help Our Troops Call Home Cell Phones for Soldiers is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing deployed and returning troops cost-free methods to communicate with family while serving in the United States military. http://cellphonesforsoldiers.com/ Request FREE Talk Time for Troops Send American heroes free means of communication by providing an APO address below. To request calling cards for a deployed service member, please fill out and submit the forms below. http://www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com/request_calling_card.php Set Up a Drop-Off Site or Limited Time Drive Calling all businesses, schools, civic groups and organizations to become an official collector for Cell Phones for Soldiers. Collections can be private for members or employees of your organization or public for walk-in traffic to drop off cell phones during regular business hours. Please show your support for the brave service men and women risking their lives to keep America safe! Refer to the frequently asked questions and answers for additional details. http://cellphonesforsoldiers.com/drop_off.php DONATE A PHONE INSTRUCTIONS: http://cellphonesforsoldiers.recellular.com/shippinglabel-generic.html Wealth management a top priority for banks
Posted on Monday, 04.23.12 Wealth management is a top priority for many banks and financial firms across South Florida, and they court their high net worth clients in myriad ways. Seated in a private room at Café L’Europe in Palm Beach, jeweler Judith Ripka munches on her Mandarin Chinese chicken salad and listens to Valerie Ramsey discuss her book, √Gracefully — Looking and Being Your Best at Any Age. Ripka flew in from New York especially for the luncheon, hosted by Sabadell Bank & Trust for three dozen of its wealth management clients and guests, as part of its “Women’s Connoisseur Series.” “This bank is a wonderful bank,” said Ripka, who bought a vacation home in Palm Beach two years ago and was referred to the bank by her real estate broker. “They understand their clients, but they care about the clients, too.” Genteel as can be, the setting offers a peek at the perks of South Florida’s wealthy banking clients who entrust financial firms to invest their savings, build for their future and plan their estates. Catering to those clients by giving top-notch service — even, in the case of Sabadell, chauffeuring one attendee who had broken her foot and couldn’t drive — is all part of the package. “We really try to make it informative, useful information,” said Debra Vasilopoulos, regional president of Palm Beach County for Sabadell Bank & Trust, whose events also include a series of lectures by Johns Hopkins physicians. “In addition to our clients needs, we care about their well-being.” Across South Florida, banks, trust companies and financial advisory firms of all sizes are focusing on wealth management as a key part of their financial repertoire. “If you intend to deal with businesses and their owners and professionals and high net worth individuals, it’s essential that you be in the wealth management business,” said Mario Trueba, president and chief executive of Miami-based Sabadell United Bank, which bought failed Lydian Private Bank last year to convert it to its wealth management division, Sabadell Bank & Trust. Investing for the wealthy has a rich history nationwide. J.P. Morgan has been serving the upper crust for more than 160 years. Northern Trust bases its heritage, dating to 1889, on the wealth management business. Fiduciary Trust International of the South has managed money for high net worth individuals and foundations since 1931. Major banks such as Wells Fargo also cite the segment as its utmost priority. “The number one strategic initiative for all Wells Fargo is to grow our wealth management business,” said Jason Williams, Miami-based regional managing director of Wells Fargo Wealth Management. The mandate is spelled out in a booklet on the bank’s vision and values, which he carries in his jacket pocket. Wealth management is defined as “financial services provided to wealthy clients, mainly individuals and their families,” said Alexander Camargo an analyst at Celent, a financial services research and consulting firm. To enter the domain, wealth management firms require a minimum level of investable assets. Many banks segment their customers into tiers of wealth, defined differently by each bank. Celent defines the tiers as beginning with the mass market, those with liquid assets up to $250,000, followed by the mass affluent market, those with $250,000 to $1 million in investable assets, then high net worth clients of $1 million to $10 million, and lastly ultra high net worth investors above $10 million, Camargo said. In South Florida, wealth management has weathered the economic downturn better than many other areas of banking and is the closest of any segment to being recession-proof, said Ken Thomas, a Miami-based economist and independent banking consultant. It is also one of the three segments — along with the huge retail market and the international banking/trade finance business — that make South Florida one of the nation’s five most attractive areas for banking, he said. Moreover, wealth management has the most growth potential of all three, Thomas said, which is why every institution wants in on the game. “There is more demand for wealth management because the rich are getting richer,” he said. “And it is even more so in South Florida because we have access to more wealth because of the proximity to Latin America” Indeed, as institutions compete for a slice of the lucrative pie, the competition for clients is fierce. And every institution touts its approach as best. “The end consumer is demanding a holistic one-stop shop, and financial institutions are going to have to meet that demand to be successful into the future,” said Jeff Ransdell, managing director and market executive for the Southeast for Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, which is part of Bank of America. Perhaps most of all, wealth management bankers and clients cite the importance of their relationship. When Danny Toccin sold his portfolio of apartment buildings in 2005, he needed to find an alternative way of investing. So he interviewed various firms and divided his funds among four institutions, including Wescott Financial Advisory Group. “I need a total comfort level,” said Toccin, 62, of Miami. “I am a micromanager by heart, and I want to know where I am, where we stand, where we are going. I also didn’t want to be a minnow in an ocean. I wanted to be somewhere I would be like a big fish in a lake.” But after a while, he found he didn’t feel comfortable with the other three firms. “With Wescott I have so much trust in them that I probably did something other investors wouldn’t do,” said Toccin, who has a wife, Ferne, and two grown children. “I put all my eggs in one basket because I have so much trust and there is so much transparency.” Indeed, Wescott Chief Executive Grant Rawdin views the advisor/client relationship as very personal. The firm even has an industrial psychologist test prospective advisors for empathy before hiring them. “It’s why I changed my career from being a tax and business lawyer to being a financial advisor,” said Rawdin, who divides his time between offices in Coral Gables and Philadelphia. “They close the door and they tell you things. You become a psychologist. Money leads into other intimate admissions and issues.” Financial firms say they bring in new clients through referrals from other clients, attorneys and accountants, as well as from the networking bankers in the community. For banks and financial firms, wealth management starts with devising a plan, and input from the client is paramount. “We really want to get to know our clients.” said Alex Navarro, senior vice president and private financial advisor at SunTrust in Bal Harbour. “It’s like going to a financial doctor. We want the client to feel comfortable enough to disclose all their financial concerns so we can do a good job at addressing them. The financial advice is only as good as the information we get.” In fact, analysts and bankers say that amid the turbulent stock market, clients have become more watchful of their investments. “Consumers are more demanding now,” said Camargo of Celent. “They want to see their advisors more, they want their advisors to inform them of the risk more, and they want to know they are protected on the downside, so if the market crashes, they don’t lose their entire life savings.” Going a step beyond is also de rigueur. Many South Florida institutions invite their high net worth clients to a range of seminars, sporting events and concerts that they sponsor, along with speaker-led luncheons and dinners. J.P. Morgan Private Bank dedicates the 33rd floor at 1450 Brickell Ave. in Miami to its wealthy clients, a private client center unparalleled in cities other than New York, said Phil Conway, Southeast regional head of J.P. Morgan Private Bank. The center offers lounges and private dining rooms, conference rooms with video capabilities, a sky-high view and a chance to see the bank’s extensive contemporary art collection, which was started by David Rockefeller. J.P. Morgan also provides summer and winter reading lists to its private clients. Northern Trust hosts a literary society in Miami that meets regularly. In February, UBS hosted an event in Miami with former presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush for its wealth management clients. And Wells Fargo and Fiduciary Trust have met with clients on private retreats to discuss investing and estate planning, and to teach younger generations to be responsible stewards of their wealth. Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/04/22/2760540/wealth-management-a-top-priority.html#storylink=cpy Please send in your letter to Congress TODAY...THANKS DAVE FOR SENDING THIS IMPORTANT INFORMATION...IF NOT AVAILABLE I WOULD BE DEAD TODAY....SAD FACT BUT TRUE.
Over 60 Billion Doses a Year and Not ONE Death, But Still Not Safe? April 23 2012 By Dr. Mercola Vitamins, minerals and herbal supplements have a tremendously safe track record, yet they are often singled out as being potentially dangerous by government agencies like the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This – the notion that dietary supplements are unsafe -- is the premise behind the FDA's Draft Guidance on New Dietary Ingredients, which would require the supplement industry to prove the safety of natural ingredients that, in many cases, have been on the market and used safely for decades. As new research from the American Association of Poison Control Centers' National Poison Data System reveals, there were zero deaths linked to nutritional supplements in 2010, the most current data available. Zero Deaths Linked to Vitamin Supplements However, in the FDA's new Draft Guidance, the FDA is essentially claiming that dietary supplements are unsafe, and implying that in order to "protect consumers" the agency must place a stranglehold on the dietary supplement industry by requesting exorbitant safety testing. These ludicrous safety thresholds are in excess of those required by pharmaceutical drugs -- despite extensive toxicological data showing supplements are far safer than drugs. The most recent data comes from the U.S. National Poison Data System's annual report, which tracked data from 57 U.S. poison centers and showed vitamin and mineral supplements caused zero deaths in 2010.i As noted by Orthomolecular Medicine News Service, Americans easily take more than 60 billion doses of nutritional supplements every year, and with zero related deaths this is an outstanding safety record: "Well over half of the U.S. population takes daily nutritional supplements. Even if each of those people took only one single tablet daily, that makes 165,000,000 individual doses per day, for a total of over 60 billion doses annually. Since many persons take far more than just one single vitamin or mineral tablet, actual consumption is considerably higher, and the safety of nutritional supplements is all the more remarkable. Over 60 billion doses of vitamin and mineral supplements per year in the USA, and not a single fatality. Not one. If vitamin and mineral supplements are allegedly so "dangerous," as the FDA and news media so often claim, then where are the bodies?" In striking contrast, drugs are known to cause well over 125,000 deaths per year when taken correctly as prescribed – yet the FDA allows "fast-track" approvals and countless new additions to the marketplace. So why are dietary supplements on the chopping block? Why is the FDA Attacking Dietary Supplements That Have Been Used Safely for Decades? Back in the early 1990s, the FDA threatened the availability of dietary supplements to the point that consumers staged a massive revolt, which resulted in the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA). The law specifically protects your access to dietary supplements by classifying them as foods, not food additives or drugs, and it grand-fathered in dietary supplements that were already in use as of 1994. Only novel ingredients introduced after October 15, 1994 are required to seek FDA approval. The FDA's new proposed mandates directly contradict what DSHEA sought to prevent, and the FDA is using its authority in direct violation of Congressional intent. As explained in an article by Alliance for Natural Health, the proposed regulations turn what was clearly supposed to be a pre-market notification system into a pre-approval system, just like that of drugs.ii As a result, dietary supplements that have been freely available for nearly two decades can now be forced off the market until they receive New Dietary Ingredient (NDI) approval. And the NDI approval process is a lengthy affair that may take months or years to complete, and cost a small fortune. Bringing a drug from the pre-clinical (or discovery phase) all the way to market can easily take more than a decade and cost significantly more than $1 billion! This despite the fact that contrary to drugs, fatalities from vitamins and other supplements are minuscule. According to the 2001 report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC), of the substances implicated in fatal poisonings in 2001, 84.6 percent were pharmaceutical drugs, with analgesics being implicated as the primary cause of death in 32 percent of fatalities or 341 deaths. This compares with 0.8 percent for all dietary supplements combined, even including substances such as dinitrophenol, a dangerous (and illegal) substance banned in 1938, as well as the central nervous system stimulant Ma Huang (Ephedra). Interestingly, the anti-asthma drug theophylline alone was responsible for 15 deaths, 66 percent more than all the available dietary supplements combined. What might make an "old" ingredient "new," under the new regulation? The methods of production and extraction, for example … As bizarre as that sounds, the mere fact that a product is being extracted or produced by improved means compared to methods used in the past, could reclassify any grandfathered nutrient as an NDI that would now have to undergo the same type of safety testing and approval process as a drug. FDA Seeking Outrageous Safety Studies from Tried and True Supplements In some cases, the FDA will require manufacturers to conduct outrageously expensive studies using absurdly high doses, in some situations multiplied by a "safety factor" up to 2,000-times the recommended dosage on a per product basis. Further, the FDA proposes that new dietary supplement ingredients should adhere to aggressive safety margins, which are typically reserved for chemical compounds known to be dangerous in all but the most miniscule concentrations. Since food additives or preservatives such as aspartame, monosodium glutamate, and sodium nitrate are known to cause cancer or other severe health problems, the FDA has implemented safety guidelines that limit allowable concentrations of these food additives to levels that are supposed to be physiologically inert. The fact that the FDA is trying to impose the same limits upon dietary supplements seems to be arbitrary and completely unfounded. In fact, when someone takes a dietary supplement, their intent is to positively affect the structure or function of their bodies in some way -- limiting dosages of dietary supplements to physiologically inert levels defeats the entire purpose of supplementation with health-sustaining nutrients. And, since supplements are not patented drugs, virtually no supplement manufacturers will be able to afford these "safety" studies, which means that many of the nutrients you now purchase at low prices will convert into high-priced drugs, or simply disappear from the market entirely. The Drug Industry is the Real Safety Threat While the U.S. National Poison Data System's annual report showed zero deaths from nutritional supplements, this was not the case for prescription and over-the-counter drugs. The top categories associated with the largest number of fatalities were ALL medications, including: Analgesics, sedatives, hypnotics, and antipsychotics Cardiovascular drugs Opioids Acetaminophen combinations Antidepressants Slightly lower down on the list were more drugs, including muscle relaxants, anti-inflammatory drugs, hormones, antacids, anticoagulants, antihistamines and more. Out of a total 1,366 reported fatalities, pharmaceuticals were involved in over 1,100 of these deaths (again, compared to zero for supplements). Keep in mind that this is not an estimate of all the deaths attributed to pharmaceuticals in the U.S., only those reported to 57 poison control centers. The total figure is closer to 125,000 deaths from pharmaceuticals per year. iii If you extrapolate this number out over 30 years this is well in excess of 3 million people who died from taking appropriately prescribed legal drugs. It is simply incomprehensible that any rational approach would seek to vilify supplements over drugs when the data in no way, shape or form supports it. The most likely motive for this position is financial greed that can put your life in jeopardy. Defend Your Right to Continue Taking Safe Supplements No one can sit on the sidelines with an emergency of this magnitude about to befall everyone who depends on dietary supplements. As citizens, we have the constitutional right to petition the government to redress our grievances. In this case, the FDA NDI proposals pose a direct threat to our health and longevity by threatening free access to dietary supplements with exemplary safety records. We therefore have to take extraordinary measures to defend our right to continue using supplements that our very lives depend on, and to gain access to new natural ingredients that demonstrate efficacy in scientific studies. I ask each one of you to contact your representatives by following this link: Recall how consumers revolted back in 1994 and the result was a glorious victory over FDA tyranny! Let your voice be heard by exercising your right to petition the government against these serious violations of the law and scientific principle. Please be sure to call, fax, or send a certified letter to your representative -- emails can be easily dismissed. Here is a set of talking points for your consideration: My name is [Name] and I am a constituent of [Congress Member's name]. I am very concerned about the new FDA draft guidance on dietary supplements and new dietary ingredients. I request that Congress hold hearings and take action to review the FDA's draft guidance and stop their overreach of power. The FDA's draft guidance flies in the face of the original congressional intent of the Dietary Supplement Health Education Act: The guidance turns what was meant to be a simple notification system for new dietary ingredients into a preapproval scheme that Congress did not intend to create. Congress recognized that dietary supplements are natural ingredients and therefore inherently safer than drugs and chemical food ingredients. It did not intend that the FDA would have the power to approve or reject dietary supplements. The FDA's draft guidance creates unnecessary regulations that limit my access to dietary supplements I rely on. The expensive and burdensome process will force between 20,000 and 42,000 dietary supplements to be removed from the market and will increase the cost of those supplements that remain. The draft guidance hurts our economy. Expert analyses show that this guidance will cause a total economic loss of $21.2 billion to $39.8 billion annually. Thank you for your time. Tips: Be courteous and respectful. Keep your comments brief and focused on the facts. Always thank the staff member for their time taking your call. SAMPLE LETTER TO CONGRESS: The Honorable _________________________ Washington, D.C. In direct violation of the law, the FDA is threatening to ban my access to new dietary supplements. The FDA defines dietary supplements as being "new" if they were introduced after October 15, 1994. That means that nutrients that I have been safely using over the course of three decades will be subject to the FDA's oppressive policies that mandate costly animal testing, which translates into forced withdrawal from the market, and higher prices for me if the supplement is ever allowed to be sold again. The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 states that: "The Federal Government should not take any actions to impose unreasonable regulatory barriers limiting or slowing the flow of safe products and accurate information to consumers." It says that Congress finds that: "dietary supplements are safe within a broad range of intake, and safety problems with the supplements are relatively rare." And it says that: "legislative action that protects the right of access of consumers to safe dietary supplements is necessary in order to promote wellness." This draft guidance does the exact opposite of what Congress intended. It imposes unreasonable barriers that limit and slow the flow of safe products and accurate information to consumers. I call upon Congress to: Uphold the landmark legislation it passed seventeen years ago, and to direct the FDA to revise its New Dietary Ingredient draft guidelines to reflect DSHEA's (and Congress's) stated values and goals. Vote against the newly introduced Dietary Supplement Labeling Act as this would give the FDA even greater arbitrary powers to remove safe dietary supplements from the market, and will profoundly impact this nations' health in a negative way. All of these proposals result in wasteful federal spending, while at the same time impose a massive new "regulatory tax" on consumers and the vitamin industry. Kindly let me know what actions you are taking in response to the urgent issues raised in this letter. Sincerely, Name________________________________________ Address______________________________________ City______________________ST____ Zip__________ References: i 2010 Annual Report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers' National Poison Data System (NPDS): 28th Annual Report ii Alliance for Natural Health July 12, 2011 iii U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Poisoning Factsheet Source: Orthomolecular December 28, 2011 SOURCE Another Great Site to Check about Scams and Frauds and How to Prevent you from being taken...
FAKE CHECKS.ORG Scams Foreign Business Offers Love Losses Overpayments Rental Schemes Sudden Riches Work-at-Home http://www.fakechecks.org/prevention.html Take the Fraud Tests http://www.fakechecks.org/fraudtest.html FAQ'S What is a fake check scam? What are the warning signs? What are the most common types of fake check scams? How do I know if it’s true that I’ve been selected for a cash grant? How can I tell if it’s a legitimate mystery shopper opportunity? How can I tell if a check or money order is counterfeit? How do the scammers find victims? If I can get the cash, doesn't that mean the check or money order is good? Why can’t my bank, credit union, or check cashing service tell if the check or money order is good? Why do the scammers want cash to be sent using a money transfer service? How much could I lose in a fake check scam? How can I prevent becoming a victim? What if I deposited or cashed the check or money order but haven’t sent the cash yet? What if I have already sent the cash? What are law enforcement agencies doing? What are the Web sites that scammers use to find victims doing? What are financial institutions and money transfer and delivery services doing? What are legitimate sweepstakes companies doing? What can I do? What are some other popular scams? http://www.fakechecks.org/prevention-faqs09.html Intelligence Note
Prepared by the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) March 11, 2011 Tips On Avoiding Fraudulent Charitable Contribution Schemes Recently several natural disasters, including tornadoes, floods, and earthquakes, have devastated lives and property. In the wake of these events that have caused emotional distress and great monetary loss to numerous victims, individuals across the nation often feel a desire to help these victims, frequently through monetary donations. These disasters prompt individuals with criminal intent to solicit contributions purportedly for a charitable organization or a good cause. Therefore, before making a donation of any kind, consumers should adhere to certain guidelines, to include the following:
If you believe you have been a victim of a charity related scheme, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud by telephone at (866) 720-5721, or by fax at (225) 334-4707, or by e-mail at disaster@leo.gov.1 You can also report suspicious e-mail solicitations or fraudulent websites to the Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.IC3.gov. 1 National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) was originally established by the Department of Justice to investigate, prosecute, and deter fraud in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Its mission has expanded to include suspected fraud from any natural or man-made disaster. More than 20 federal agencies, including the FBI, participate in the NCDF, allowing it to act as a centralized clearinghouse of information related to relief fraud. http://www.ic3.gov/media/2011/110311.aspx Looks too good to be True~~Fraud Risk Assessment Tests
Are you about to be a victim of Fraud? Looks Too Good to Be True Website: http://www.lookstoogoodtobetrue.com/about.aspx TAKE OUR TESTS Many people aren't sure if they have been or are about to be become a victim of fraud. Take the following risk assessment tests and see if you are a potential victim: Is your computer Protected? Is You Child at Risk on Line? Are you protecting your identity? Are you safe from Financial Fraud Opportunities? Are you an unwitting accomplice in Crime? Are you at Risk to be Scammed Through an Internet Auction? Authentic or Counterfeit? Are you the Lucky winner in a sweepstakes or Lottery? CLICK BELOW FOR TESTS http://www.lookstoogoodtobetrue.com/tests.aspx http://www.thestraighttalkexpress.com/1/post/2012/04/looks-too-good-to-be-truefraud-risk-assessment-testsare-you-about-to-be-a-victim-of-fraud.html Internet Crime Prevention Tips
Source http://www.thestraighttalkexpress.com/1/post/2012/04/internet-crime-prevention-tips.html Joint FBI and DHS Public Service Announcement: Best Practices For Recovery From the Malicious Erasure of Files
Intelligence Note Prepared by the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) January 20, 2012 Joint FBI and DHS Public Service Announcement: Best Practices For Recovery From the Malicious Erasure of Files Cyber criminals can damage their victim's computer systems and data by changing or deleting files, wiping hard drives, or erasing backups to hide some or all of their malicious activity and tradecraft. By wiping, or "zeroing out," the hard disk drives, which overwrites good data with zeros or other characters, the criminals effectively erase or alter all existing data, greatly impeding restoration. This sort of criminal activity makes it difficult to determine whether criminals merely accessed the network, stole information, or altered network access and configuration files. Completing network restoration efforts and business damage assessments may also be hampered. The FBI and DHS encourage businesses and individuals to employ mitigation strategies and best practices such as:
To receive the latest information about cyber schemes, please visit the FBI Web site and sign up for e-mail alerts by clicking on one of the red envelopes. If you have been a victim of cyber crime, please file a report with the Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.IC3.gov. SOURCE http://www.thestraighttalkexpress.com/1/post/2012/04/joint-fbi-and-dhs-public-service-announcement-best-practices-for-recovery-from-the-malicious-erasure-of-files.html Straight Talkin Mike Post~~U.S. Law Firms Continue to be the Target of a Counterfeit Check Scheme4/21/2012 Intelligence Note
Prepared by the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) March 12, 2012 U.S. Law Firms Continue to be the Target of a Counterfeit Check Scheme The IC3 continues to receive reports of counterfeit check schemes targeting U.S. law firms. The scammers contact lawyers via e-mail, claiming to be overseas and requesting legal representation in collecting a debt from third parties located in the U.S. The law firms receive a retainer agreement and a check payable to the law firm. The firm is instructed to deposit the check, take out retainer fees, and wire the remaining funds to banks in China, Korea, Ireland, or Canada. After the funds are wired overseas, the checks are determined to be counterfeit. In a slight variation of the scheme's execution, the victim law firm receives an e-mail from what appears to be an attorney located in another state requesting assistance for a client. The client needs aid in collecting a debt from a company located in the victim law firm's state. In some cases, the name of the referring attorney and the debtor company used in the e-mail were verified as legitimate entities and were being used as part of the scheme. The law firm receives a signed retainer agreement and a check made payable to the law firm from the alleged debtor. The client instructs the law firm to deposit the check and to wire the funds, minus all fees, to an overseas bank account. The law firm discovers after the funds are wired the check is counterfeit. Law firms should use caution when engaging in transactions with parties who are handling their business solely via e-mail, particularly those parties claiming to reside overseas. Attorneys who agree to represent a client in circumstances similar to those described above should consider incorporating a provision into their retainer agreement that allows the attorney to hold funds received from a debtor for a sufficient period of time to verify the validity of the check. If you have been a victim of an internet scam or have received an e-mail that you believe was an attempted scam, please file a complaint at www.IC3.gov. SOURCE http://www.thestraighttalkexpress.com/1/post/2012/04/-us-law-firms-continue-to-be-the-target-of-a-counterfeit-check-scheme.html Straight Talkin Mike~~FRAUD ALERT INVOLVING E-MAIL INTRUSIONS TO FACILITATE WIRE TRANSFERS OVERSEAS4/21/2012 FRAUD ALERT INVOLVING E-MAIL INTRUSIONS TO FACILITATE WIRE TRANSFERS OVERSEAS
Jan. 20, 2012 SOURCE http://www.thestraighttalkexpress.com/1/post/2012/04/fraud-alert-involving-e-mail-intrusions-to-facilitate-wire-transfers-overseas.html Internet Crime Complaint Center's (IC3)
Scam Alerts April 20, 2012 This report, which is based upon information from law enforcement and complaints submitted to the IC3, details recent cyber crime trends, new twists to previously-existing cyber scams, and announcements. Investment Scam The IC3 continues to receive complaints involving subjects who have obtained the names and social security numbers of individuals for illegal purposes. Subjects use the information to defraud the U.S. government by electronically submitting a fraudulent tax return for a hefty refund. The prevalence of such complaints mirrors the recent surge in tax fraud cases involving identity theft. Investment fraud is another scheme with an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) nexus, on which the IC3 has received complaints. Subjects are incorporating the use of bogus IRS documents to perpetrate this scheme. One example of how subjects are using bogus IRS documents to commit investment fraud and steal victims' identities is by the subjects posing as a tax consulting firm. The subjects engage potential victims via telephone and attempt to convince them to sell their underperforming shares in a company. The potential victim is advised to sell their corporate shares, applicable taxes must be paid. Some of the victims were also advised they had to buy other certain shares with their profit. Documents such as share certificates and invoices for federal and state taxes were exchanged via e-mail. After the funds were wired, the subjects became unresponsive to the victim’s inquiries. An open source search also revealed multiple complaints concerning this scheme. It is unknown at this time how the subjects obtained knowledge that the victims actually owned underperforming stocks. The loss amounts tend to be much higher with investment fraud complaints than in regular identity theft complaints. Blackhole Exploit Kit 1.2.3 Released Blackhole is currently the most widely purchased exploit pack in the underground market. An exploit pack is a software toolkit that is injected into malicious and/or compromised websites, allowing the attacker to push a variety of exploits targeting vulnerabilities of popular applications like Java and Flash. On March 25, 2012, the Blackhole Exploit Kit 1.2.3 was released. This kit included the latest critical vulnerability in Java, allowing the bypassing of Java's sandbox environment. Java's sandbox is designed to provide security for downloading and running Java applications, while preventing them access to the hard drive or network. New malware samples appearing in the wild have been highly successful at exploiting this flaw. It is estimated at least 60% of Java users have not yet patched against this latest flaw, CVE-2012-0507. The table below illustrates the number of vulnerabilities loaded by type and the overall percentage: Exploits Loads Percent of total Java Array 14,982 82.94 PDF LIBTIFF 1,960 10.85 PDF ALL 681 3.77 HCP 173 0.96 MDAC 141 0.78 Flash 126 0.70 Termination of Your Certified Public Accountant (CPA) License Spam Campaign Containing Malware Recently, unsolicited e-mails titled "[BULK] Termination of your CPA license" have been sent to numerous IC3 e-mail accounts. One example of the many e-mail addresses used was support@aicpa.org. The IC3 has also received complaints reporting this spam campaign. The e-mails were purportedly from The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants concerning a complaint filed against the recipient for filing fraudulent tax refunds for their clients. A link was provided for the recipient to view the complaint. Recipients were advised to provide feedback within a specific period of time and threatened with possible termination of their accountant licenses if they failed to do so. Analysis conducted by an IC3 Information Technology Specialist found the e-mails were pushing out a Blackhole exploit kit containing a Trojan redirector. It was also determined that the IP addresses used in this campaign have been involved in large volumes of DDoS activity from the same botnet and appear to have originated from Brazil. Want to Get Paid to Drive Your Own Car? Several complainants reported a scam to the IC3 involving the advertising of a company's logo on their personal vehicle while they go about their normal daily routine. Although legitimate offers exist, those scammed reported to the IC3 that initial contact with the subject was mostly through online ad postings. The posting offered an easy way to earn extra income by allowing businesses to advertise their logo on the complainant's personal vehicle through a vinyl decal or "auto wrap." The fraudsters were using company names such as Coca Cola, Monster Energy drink, Carlsberg beer, Heineken Co., and Red Bull. Individuals were advised they would be paid an average of $400-$600 per week in exchange for driving around with vinyl advertising signs wrapped around their vehicle. Those interested in participating were asked to provide their contact information and vehicle details. They were promised an up-front payment, which would be sent by check or money order. The employment offer was, of course, entirely bogus. Those who fell for the scam received a check or money order for more than the promised amount. They were directed to cash it and wire the difference to a third party, who was supposed to be the graphics designer to pay for the cost of the design. The checks and money orders turned out to counterfeit and the criminals, once again, were able to convert fraudulent checks and money orders into untraceable cash, leaving the victim responsible for the bank's losses. Online Property Rental Scenarios The IC3 continues to receive complaints regarding rental property scams from victims and real estate agencies. Several real estate agencies reported that their listings are being duplicated to perpetrate fraudulent online postings. These postings have been damaging to their companies reputations. These complaints make it evident that there are many who capitalize on people are looking to rent property and attempt to take advantage of those individuals, especially when they are in pressing situations in which they need to find a residence within a short amount of time. Below are some scenarios of the scheme recently reported to the IC3:
Internet Crime Complaint Center's (IC3)
Scam Alerts March 27, 2012 This report, which is based upon information from law enforcement and complaints submitted to the IC3, details recent cyber crime trends and new twists to previously-existing cyber scams. Fraudulent Utility Bill E-mail The IC3 has received over 40 complaints since May 2011 reporting the receipt of an unsolicited e-mail purportedly from a specified utility company. The e-mail stated the recipient had a new bill which needed to be paid, and the bill was attached to the e-mail. The recipient was instructed to click on the attachment to view their bill. The attachment contained a zip file with a computer virus. The e-mail concluded by stating the recipient received the e-mail message, because he/she receives e-bills from this utility company. Many of the recipients are located in areas of the United States that do not use this utility company as their electric provider. Businesses Targeted With E-mail Purportedly from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) The IC3 has received several complaints from businesses regarding an e-mail, purportedly from the BBB, which states the BBB has received a complaint from a customer regarding their business. The recipient is asked to review the complaint attached to the e-mail and respond to the BBB. The file attached to the e-mail contains a virus. In one complaint received by the IC3, a business claimed their computer was infected with a virus after opening the attachment in the e-mail they received. As a result, the business lost nearly $100,000 when fraudsters successfully wired money from the company's bank account after the virus enabled them to capture passwords and other important banking information. The BBB posted the following alert on December 7, 2011. http://www.bbb.org/us/article/alert-malicious-complaint-email-claiming-its-from-bbb-30916 ALERT Malicious Complaint E-mail Claiming It's From BBB Better Business Bureau is issuing an urgent SCAM alert cautioning businesses and consumers about an email that looks like it is from BBB, with the subject line "Complaint from your customers." This e-mail is fraudulent; ignore its contents and delete it immediately. If you have already clicked on a link in the e-mail, run a full virus scan of your computer. The e-mails have return addresses that BBB does not use (one example is riskmanager@bbb.org) and it is signed with the address of the Council of Better Business Bureaus, the national office of the BBB system. The e-mail contains a link to a non-BBB web site. Do NOT click on the link. BBB is working with law enforcement to determine its source and stop the fraudulent campaign. This is what the email looks like: Moving Company Scams The IC3 continues to receive complaints regarding moving company scams. The complaints received at the IC3 do not appear to be linked to each other. There are many individuals who take advantage of those posting moving services on-line, receive an estimate for the service, and hire the company. Scams include the company showing up, and the estimate suddenly doubles or additional fees are added; the counterfeit check scheme, where the victim is selling an item on-line, and the buyer claims a moving company has been hired to pick up the merchandise, and the buyer pays for the merchandise with a check written for more than the price of the merchandise; and after loading and driving away with the customer’s property, the moving company later calls to inform the customer they must pay more if they want to see their belongings again, basically holding the property hostage. Often, even after paying the additional costs, deliveries were late and many of the customers’ items were damaged or missing. Those who refused to pay the additional cost were told they would not receive a refund or their belongings. Browser Bot Infection What happens when your web browser becomes the "bot?" A look at a current Trojan infection campaign similar to the infamous Zeus malware makes open source web browser users a bit nervous. The open source browser can now function like a bot and accept commands. It can process the content of the current page where it is located, redirect the user, halt the loading of particular pages, steal passwords, run executables, and even kill itself. Unfortunately, the kill function is a bit excessive and deletes critical system files, which in turn prevents users from logging in properly. The way it builds the malicious code into the open source browser is notable, because it uses the design of the browser against itself. In the past, researchers have seen threats create malicious extensions. Users would have to disable that particular add-on, which would eradicate the threat. For this particular piece of malware, this is not the case. Since it is a component, it does not appear as an add-on in the browser's Add-ons Manager in the same manner other extensions and plugins appear. Furthermore, due to the design of the open source browser, the Trojan will be reinstalled every time the browser establishes a connection to the Internet. HTML Attachments Used to Spread Malware In the last month, security researchers have observed several large spam campaigns with malicious HTML attachments. A 2007 botnet is believed to be behind the spike in these attacks. Traditionally, HTML-based attachments were used for phishing attacks to entice HTML victim to the desired spoofed web page. This current attack vector uses the HTML attachment with malicious javascript to redirect victims to the exploit kit. The exploit kit will then scan the target machine for vulnerabilities that can be exploited to install an information-stealing Trojan. Source http://www.thestraighttalkexpress.com/1/post/2012/04/internet-crime-centerscam-alerts-march-2012.html Internet Crime Complaint Center's (IC3)
Scam Alerts February 17, 2012 This report, which is based upon information from law enforcement and complaints submitted to the IC3, details recent cyber crime trends, new twists to previously-existing cyber scams, and announcements. Mystery Shopper Scam To Evaluate Wire Transfer Services The IC3 has recently received over 250 complaints reporting a new twist to the online employment scam. The scam involves individuals who responded to online ads or were contacted via e-mail as a result of their resume being posted on job websites. The perpetrator posed as a research company and requested participants to complete a paid survey regarding services provided at wire transfer locations to improve the effectiveness of the company's money-transfer services. Complainants were hired and then mailed a cashier's check or money order. They received instructions to cash the check/money order at their local bank, keep a portion as payment, and wire the remaining amount via wire transfer to a designated recipient. Victims were then asked to immediately e-mail their employer with the transfer number, amount wired, recipient's name and address, and the name of the wire transfer location evaluated. Upon sending the information, victims received a questionnaire form regarding their overall wire transfer experience to complete and return. Those who did not promptly follow through with the instructions received threatening e-mails stating if they did not respond within 24 hours, their information would be forwarded to the FBI and they could face 25 years in jail. Shortly after the transactions, victims were informed by their banks that the checks were counterfeit and were held responsible for reimbursing their banks. Most victims owed their bank over $2,500. Spam Referencing U.S. Military Members And Gaddafi Criminals continue to explore new avenues to lure victims, most recently by claiming to be a US military contractor, who was performing reconstruction work in Libya. Fraudsters sent unsolicited e-mails claiming that several metal boxes were found in cellars of high-rise buildings built and occupied by Muammar Gaddafi. Each box purportedly contained large sums of money, in addition to guns, armor, bullets, and drugs. The e-mails requested the recipient’s assistance with transferring the money out of Libya. The fraudsters also told the e-mail recipients that they were expected to receive, secure, and protect the boxes until the overseas assignment elapsed and promised the victims a 30 percent profit. Often times in online scams, once communication with the fraudsters begins, they will request personal information, including but not limited to bank account details, claiming funds are needed to cover various expenses. Be wary of any unsolicited e-mail, especially those requesting personal information or soliciting the submission of money for any reason. Unsolicited e-mails should not be opened, as they often contain viruses or other malicious software. Pox Party Online Advertisements Recently, the IC3 received a complaint from an individual reporting an advertisement on a social media site that offered ways to obtain "natural immunity" from the chickenpox by sharing lollipops licked by children infected with the virus. Parents have been known to take their child to a "Pox Party" as an alternative to vaccinating children from varicella, otherwise known as chickenpox, but sending virus-covered lollipops through the mail is against Federal law. One individual posted a message stating "fresh batch of pox in Nashville shipping of suckers, spit, and Q-tips available tomorrow 50 dollars." As a disclaimer, the social media site posted the following notice on their page: "This page has never condoned the mailing of infectious diseases. For our members: The mailing of infectious items, such as lollipops, rags, etc, is a federal offense. This page is not private and can been seen by members and non members alike. You may post on the page that you have the pox and are willing to share in YOUR AREA but please keep your specifics in private messages between members. Again, this page can be seen by anyone and mailing is a federal offense. We are all intelligent adults but these guidelines will help protect your privacy." According to the Center for Disease Control's (CDC) website, www.cdc.gov, chickenpox is spread in the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It can also be spread by touching or breathing in the virus particles that come from the chickenpox blisters. The CDC also discourages chickenpox parties because the disease can be serious. Dangerous diseases like hepatitis A and strep can be transmitted via saliva according to the CDC's website. Therefore, not only is the contaminated candy not likely to provide exposure to chickenpox, it could expose children to an entirely different disease. Source http://www.thestraighttalkexpress.com/1/post/2012/04/internet-crime-centerscam-alerts-february-2012.html Straight Talkin Mike Security Blog Thanks to Jose from Puerto Rico who shared this great site all about Internet Scam & Crimes. Info on where to report them, how to prevent them, and monthly listings of New Internet Scams and Fraud.
INTERNET CRIME COMPLAINT CENTER (IC3) (an FBI and the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C), funded in part by the Bureau of Justice) INTERNET CRIME COMPLAINT CENTER Source INTERNET CRIME SCHEMES Source Straight Talkin Mike Computer Security Blog Received this morning
Another Scam As discussed on the conference call Thursday, April 19.....DO NOT GIVE YOUR DINARS TO ANYONE - YOU CAN NOT CASH IN UNTIL THERE IS A LIVE RATE...AND YOU CAN VERIFY AT THE BANK OF YOUR CHOOSING WARNING OF BANK SCAM TO STEAL YOUR DINAR!!!by Mr.IQD HAT TIP: Anonymous Email ( credit to "Judy") Dear Dinar Friends, Tonight I heard of a "nice man" here in the Phoenix area who was gathering up Dinar to take to WF tomorrow to negotiate a rate for cash in. He was throwing $20 - $30 rate around. I personally heard him say he needed the receipt along with the dinar so the bank could verify the dinar and that he had collected $120 million this evening. 1) The only person to take their dinar to the bank should be YOU! 2 Giving him your receipt means he can claim you gave him your dinar. 3) Bank will verify the dinar by several other means. 4) A "nice person" will not ask you for your dinar. Two members of our little dinar group here were approached by him. Let me say this clearly: DO NOT GIVE YOUR DINAR TO ANYONE FOR ANY REASON! DO NOT MEET ANYONE, BROKER, ETC. IN A MOTEL ROOM, BAR, HOTEL LOBBY FOR CASH IN. REPUTABLE PEOPLE WILL NOT ASK YOU TOO. If the bank officer wants to take it to another room to verify YOU GO WITH THEM! Source Recommended by The IQD Team
Lifelock Relentlessly Protecting Your Identity We do more to help protect your identity. At LifeLock, we help protect you against more than just credit fraud, we alert you whenever we detect your personal information being used to apply for wireless services, retail credit, utilities, and mortgage loans within our extensive network. If you become a victim of identity theft while you are a LifeLock member because of some failure or defect in our service, we will spend up to $1 million to hire experts, lawyers, investigators, consultants and whoever else it takes to help your recovery. Good time to repost this helpful information from Mr Anonymous
"How True Professionals and Private Bankers Can Help You (Post RV)" - by Mr. Anonymous Lately as we seem to draw very near to the reality of Dr. Shabibi pushing that "RV Button" there has been a lot of talk about Private Bankers, Bank Packages and following "gurus" to other so-called "investment" resources. First, I would like to say that most of us, probably a good 98% of us Dinarians have never had any real life experience with a Bank or a Personal Wealth Manager. Therefore, as we are not familiar with this level of sophistication, we have normal fears, anxiety and apprehensions about dealing with these Investment Professionals. This is very normal to be nervous and uncertain!!! Read on, hopefully I can put some or all of your fears to rest. However, first I want to caution you! Right now, you are the most vulnerable to being taken advantage of by con artists, hustlers and confidence men. You must not allow yourself to be rushed in to anything that you do not understand. Refrain from telling ANYONE how much Dinar you own, don't register for seminars, or newsletters, or serial number registry services - it is my opinion that many or even most of these self-proclaimed so-called "gurus" are trying to use your fear to collect your confidential information which they will sell later after the RV, or they will use it themselves to take advantage of you. Recently more and more of these "gurus" have been exposed as "hacks" who call the RV every other day!!! Do you really feel you can trust an individual that seems more obsessed with their own self-glory, than with doing what is right for the Dinarian community? So, all that being said, just to keep the Attorneys happy, remember that I, nor the IQD Team or any other website where you may be reading this, does not give financial advice, and that these are illustrations only, and that everyone's situation is different and therefore you must consult your own professionals for advice that is relevant to your situation. DONT INVEST IN ANYTHING YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND!!! The great Warren Buffet has said many times that one of his guiding principles is that he never invests in to something that he does not understand!!! Considering that Mr. Buffet is one of the wealthiest men in the world, I will take his advice at face value, and follow it. Therefore, repeat after me: "I will not be rushed in to investing in to something that I do not understand". That being said, remember this, if it was a good, sound investment idea, it will be a good sound investment idea tomorrow, next week, next month or even next year! Another couple of quick tips while I'm on this topic: remember to diversify, and use a rule of thumb of not investing more than a few percentage points of your total wealth in one area. Most high-level professional portfolio managers would never dream of investing more than a few percent in to any one stock - NO MATTER HOW "HOT" IT IS!!! USING INTEREST FREE BANK ACCOUNTS & TAG ACCOUNTS Okay, somehow this whole notion of these interest free accounts and "TAG" accounts has made its way in to the Dinarian world. This was probably brought in by some "guru" who was trying to make a name for him or her self. The truth is, when this Iraqi Dinar RVs, you will have access to several Personal Bankers that will work with you personally to structure your accounts accordingly. They will also accommodate temporary accounts for you if you wish to have wire transfer funds sent in to your accounts. They will also accommodate moving your money in to your more permanent accounts. This will protect you from any improbable chance of a "back/reverse" wire transfer. However, I would like to say something about this so-caled "back/reversing" of Wire Transfers. I currently work for a global manufacturing company that sends and receives international wire transfers all the time! Each transfer is tens of thousands of dollars, or hundreds of thousands of dollars. In over 30 years of business, with thousands of these wire transfers from almost every country in the world, this manufacturing company has NEVER, EVER, EVER had a wire transfer reversed!!! Just keep that in mind. People and "gurus" like to say it can happen to scare you, so you will follow them! Don't be fooled. Next, your Personal Banker and Investment Professionals will open your eyes to how the "Wealthy People" and large businesses are treated. Don't you know that "Wealthy People" and large businesses have access to "insurance protection" on their deposits and investments, many have access to protection up to $50 Million each account??? Do you really think that you will have to worry about the small FDIC limit of $250,000.00??? This FDIC limit is for the "common person" or "middle class". Don't be mislead by these hack "gurus" and fear mongers! They are either completely misinformed themselves, or they really do know the truth, but chose to mislead you anyways so you will follow them!!! HOW THE MONEY WORKS!!! Okay, first you must understand the basics of why the banks will bend over backwards to get your Dinar post RV! And, before I go on, I have read so many posts, and have heard so many questions on Conference Calls about Banks refusing to talk to people, or help them with their Dinar. That is correct, today (pre RV) the "common, low level" employees of Banks are told by upper management that this is a "scam" etc. So, when you talk to them, they of course tell you what they were told by their boss. Don't mistake, that employee may secretly agree with you, but they will never tell you anything more that the official word from corporate! So, don't be discouraged that your local bank says that the Dinar is a scam and they will not work with you. That will all change POST RV. Okay, back to why Banks will bend over backwards to get your money. The following picture is courtesy of HowStuffWorks.com and it shows the deposits-to-lending power. You can find a detailed report on this process by going to www.TheIQDTeam.com and look under the "pre/post RV" section. From the above image, you can see that our Banks create money in the economy by making loans. The amount of money that banks can lend is directly affected by the reserve requirement set by the Federal Reserve. The reserve requirement is currently 3 percent to 10 percent of a bank's total deposits. This amount can be held either in cash on hand or in the bank's reserve account with the Fed. To see how this affects the economy, think about it like this. When a bank gets a deposit of $100, assuming a reserve requirement of 10 percent, the bank can then lend out $90. That $90 goes back into the economy, purchasing goods or services, and usually ends up deposited in another bank. That bank can then lend out $81 of that $90 deposit, and that $81 goes into the economy to purchase goods or services and ultimately is deposited into another bank that proceeds to lend out a percentage of it. In this way, money grows and flows throughout the community in a much greater amount than physically exists. That $100 makes a much larger ripple in the economy than you may realize! When you walk in to the bank with several hundred thousands of dollars worth of Iraqi (IQD) Dinar, their lending department is going to think it is Christmas!!! The Bank's Branch Manager will want to meet with you and also arrange for you to sit down with their Private Banker. This is a very normal process, and soon you will become accustomed to not standing in that "common peoples" line, waiting for a teller window. You will sit in a nice office, or at the minimum a very comfortable chair at a nice desk. You know, those people you have noticed all your life, but never really understood why they were sitting over there???... Right!!! Are you starting to feel it? MEETING WITH THE BANKS PERSONAL BANKER - WHAT TO EXPECT So, when the Banks personal Banker meets with you, here in short is what you can expect. They will treat you like a VIP!!! And before I go any further, I've heard many callers talk about their "BAD CREDIT". First, don't worry any longer about your "bad credit" when you have this kind of money post RV, your credit file will "magically disappear" and will not be a real issue any longer. So, if a Personal Banker tries to tell you that you can get a loan to buy a house, but that loan will be a higher interest rate because of your "bad credit", tell them that they need to do something or else, you will close your accounts and move your money to the Bank across the street! Understand!!! Don't let them push you around! If you have really bad credit, then there are separate seminars of credit repair professionals that have excellent strategies on how to get that repaired or discharged. Do not pay off any old debts (especially ones that have been discharged) without first seeking professional help. For most financial institutions, their Private Banking model will provide to you a dedicated Private Banker, who is also an accredited financial adviser. They will often be supported by a team comprised of dedicated Private Banking Associates and a Manager of Credit Structures, to do the "technical" work for you. Additionally, each member of this team will be educated to understand your complete financial picture and work closely with you to achieve your personal and financial goals. I would like to interject here now a word of caution, don't invest all your eggs in one basket. If you have post RV several $Million available for investments, don't tell this one Bank's Persoanl Banker how much you have in total, maybe only tell them you have $250,000.00 or a $Half Million to invest with them. Don't tell them what you have in total, and don't be afraid to make multiple relationships with the top banks in your area! Got it?!!! Spread it around and Don't Tell!!! PRIVATE BANKERS PROVIDE YOU A UNIQUE ADVANTAGE This unique advantage you will now have post RV of having both a Private Banker and a Credit Specialist working close together is that you can be put on the fast track to responsive high-end credit vehicles. Their combined expertise can help you to leverage your credit to grow your personal wealth, create personal equity in your company (if desired to still own a company post RV). They can help you to acquire or diversify investment holdings, purchase real estate, provide financial assistance for family members or consolidate your existing lending. Your Private Banker can help you to take comfort in understanding better the aspects of your risk tolerance and help you to take advantage of flexible financing options such as LIBOR or Bankers Acceptance (BA) facilities. While remaining your primary point of contact, your Private Banker is also able to draw upon the extended support of a diverse group of Industry Professionals. Instead of having to deal with multiple service providers, should you require the specialized services of an investment specialist or a commerical banker, that person will be included as part of your financial team. IN CONCLUSION... Right now there is a lot of mis-direction and out right lies being posted and said to confuse many of us in to believing that these "gurus" have some sort of "inside secret" knowledge that we all can't possibly have access to! That is 100% rubbish in my humble opinion. They have no special intel or inside information. Many are out there saying they have special Bank packages! That is nonsense, you will be able to go to your local bank and talk to your Private Bankers, interview several of them, and then come up with your own "bank package". Many of these gurus say theirs is special because of the size of their group! I say "BS"!!! First of all, none of the banks are even accepting the IQD Dinar as a legitimate "Investment", most banks currently are calling it a "scam" and maybe even a few have laughed at you as you leave their branch with your tail between your legs! Right!!! Okay, so what makes a "guru" have anything better??? Lets be real, come on!!! Many people recently have been finally calling these "gurus" out, asking them to stop their noise and nonsense that is so very disruptive to a vast many of us Dinarians! We have grown tired of hearing that is has RV'd, or it will RV on Tuesday, and if not, then on Thursday. Or that the bank screens are flashing, or the virus attacked. Heck, I remember late last year "gurus" saying the RV was held up because of an Asteroid that was possibly going to hit the planet, and that the UN and Top Military Officials had to come up with an "anti-astroid" defense system, and there was no time to talk about an RV!!!! REALLY??!!! I mean seriously guys (gurus) REALLY??!! But, they said nonsense out there like that, its been posted, its find-able by search engines if you even care to look. To finish up on a positive note, I encourage you to read the latest news, you can find it posted on TheIQDTeam.com website, listen in to their calls for analysis and Straight-Talking Mike's expertise at making it understandable by us "common" folk. He does a really good job of it. Another thing I highly encourage you to get off that "guru" roller-coaster and keep yourself grounded with the news and facts. Lastly, don't sign up for bank packages, don't give away your personal information to these "gurus" because you don't know if they have an ulterior motivation. It is my humble opinion they want your contact information so that they can sell it post RV, or use it for other reasons which I can only assume are not always going to be with your best interest at heart. SOURCE AND LINK TO PICTURES BIG THANKS TO LINDA FROM ARIZONA FOR SENDING THIS IN FOR OUR VETERANS
HIRE HEROES USA A mission-focused, 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, the services offered by Hire Heroes USA are done so at no cost to veterans. Mission Statement Hire Heroes USA is dedicated to creating job opportunities for US military veterans and their spouses through personalized employment training and corporate engagement. As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, HHUSA’s services are provided at no cost to the veteran. Hire A Veteran How It Works http://www.hireheroesusa.org/about/hire-a-veteran Press Releases http://www.hireheroesusa.org/media-center/press-releases Transition Assistance http://www.hireheroesusa.org/veterans/workshops Computer Security 101
Part 1 April 14, 2012 Straight Talkin Mike, Adam & Debbie discuss Computer Security and the tools you can use to keep your computer safe Discussion on this call: 1) Windows Updates & Patches 2) Update Java & Adobe and all other updates 3) Anti-Virus & Mal-Ware 4) Cleaning Temp Internet Files & Cookies 5) Backup Download/Playback or 760-569-7699 Pin 712222# To get the free downloads go to our Computer Security Page Click here to go there If you have questions please use the Contact Us Tab on the Computer Security Software page More to follow......Child Safety, Backup, Banking Security, On Line Safety and Advanced Security...and so much more Wells Fargo Information Received from a Listener
THANKS TO DANIEL FOR SENDING THIS IN....
Nine Easy Things You Can Do to Protect Your Identity By Jeff_McRitchie Identity theft is frequently in the news these days and with good reason. It's become one of the most common crimes and anyone can become a victim of it. This is unfortunate because identity theft can be devastating. It can destroy your credit, drain your finances, and affect your reputation. However, you can fight back. Here are nine easy things you can do to protect your identity:
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