Millennials More Likely to Fall for Fraud, According to the FTC
An October 2019 report from the FTC explains that millennials are more likely to fall for fraud and internet scams than people over 40. Specifically, millennials are 25 percent more likely to fall for fraud and 77 percent more likely to fall for email scams. This raises concerns, because cybercriminals are always looking for easy prey, and younger generations are demonstrating that they are exactly the type of people who the cybercriminals target.
Cybercrime Is On the Rise
Incidents of cybercrime have skyrocketed in the past decade. Scams that affect individuals and businesses, both large and small, are becoming a multi-trillion dollar industry. Crimes such as credit theft and identity fraud are affecting millions of new people each year, and the best way to stay safe and prevent theft and fraud is to educate oneself and learn to avoid the traps set by these cybercriminals. Younger generations may not be learning how to protect themselves, and this is only going to increase the crime rate.
How Cybercriminals Gain Access
Identity theft is running rampant. Cybercriminals will use any means to get the information they need to open up bank accounts or credit accounts in someone else’s name. There are many types of fraud and many ways for these fraudsters to get the information they need.
By using phishing or vishing scams, criminals can pose as official and familiar businesses or persons and get victims to give up personally identifiable information that can be used to gain access to financial accounts. Email scams to steal information are known as phishing, and phone scams are known as vishing.
The FTC has recognized that millennials are more likely to fall for email scams. Emails that state accounts have been overdrawn or unsecured or compromised abound, and when people open up these emails and put in their passwords to gain access to their accounts, they’re taken to dummy sites that are designed to steal information from unsuspecting individuals.
Types of Fraud
Cybercriminals will then use this information to sell identities, open credit and bank accounts, collect disability insurance under false identities, gain employment or housing under false identities, and so forth.
One of the more frightening examples is home or real estate title fraud. Title fraud occurs when a fraudster can use personally identifiable information to secure ownership of a real estate title. Fraudulent real estate transactions like this can go unnoticed until it is too late. Once the title is in the fraudster’s name, home equity can be used to take out loans and lines of credit. Victims may not know until it is too late and foreclosure notices are received. What’s worse, it may be difficult to prove these real estate transactions weren’t legitimate, and a title company may issue or transfer title and not be able to help without the launch of a criminal investigation. Fortunately, our company, Qualified Title Services, implements strict identification standards and policies to ensure the Seller is properly identified.
Oftentimes, cybercriminals will use phishing emails to get personally identifiable information that can be used to commit crimes such as home title fraud. One can only imagine how daunting and overwhelming being in this position must be.
Protect Against Fraud
It is important to always be alert and not give any personally identifiable information to anyone, whether through email or by any other means, without fully trusting the person asking for the information. Prevention is always better than responding to a difficult situation. At the same time, checking one’s credit reports regularly, staying on top of one’s bills, and using an identity theft prevention service can all help to ensure identity safety.
Addys Dieguez with QualifiedTitle.com is experienced since 2002 in the Real Estate field, coordinates the interests of all parties to a real estate transaction, including the buyers, sellers, mortgage lender and real estate agents. We make sure that all requirements for settlement are fully satisfied and as an agent for Old Republic National Title Insurance Company & others, we issue title insurance to the buyers and the mortgage lender which insures them against loss from defective titles, liens, and encumbrances. Please call Addys Dieguez at 305-557-0590 or email at addys@qualifiedtitle.com
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Fibroblast – What is it?
Beauty science keeps getting more and more impressive, and these findings lead the way to new and exciting aesthetic treatments.
Take, for example, fibroblasts. These skin care players are a type of cell found in your body that helps to make a framework of your connective tissue. These cells are essential for healing wounds and producing the protein known as collagen, the amazing component that gives your skin its structure and foundation. As we age, however, our fibroblasts start churning out less and less collagen.
According to research, after the age of 20, the dermis layer produces one percent less collagen each year. That means sagging, thinning skin and wrinkles begin appearing. Sun damage also plays a role in reducing the fibroblasts’ skin cell renewal process.
A new aesthetic treatment called fibroblasting has become quite the buzz across social media. The non-surgical procedure uses a handheld device (Plasma Pen) that leaves behind a temporary Mehndi-like (henna) design on the face and neck after the treatment.
The Plasma Pen is an FDA-approved device developed to perform fibroblast therapy for the production of new collagen. The technology is designed to shrink, tighten and firm the facial contours. The treatment is safe and non-invasive and comes with only a few days of downtime. Also, no anesthetic is required during the procedure, and there is no cutting of the skin or stitches or scars.
Best of all, fibroblasting can deliver long-lasting results of two to three years.
The special pen should only be used by a skilled aesthetic professional and not purchased for at-home rejuvenation. The procedure sounds like a microneedling treatment but is actually quite different.
The Plasma Pen emits electrostatic energy delivered through its tiny applicator tip. These energy impulses discharge pinpoint flashes of plasma in millisecond bursts. The action triggers the body’s natural healing deep in the epidermal and dermal layers.
As the weeks go on, your body will begin creating fresh collagen and elastin for tighter, firmer skin. Some clients have more than one fibroblasting session to reach their desired results.
The device can be used on any area of the body (stretch marks), but it’s most popular for rejuvenating the face and neck. The Plasma Pen can improve crow’s feet around the eyes, tighten the jowls along the jawline, treat forehead lines, marionette lines, smoker’s lines, smile lines and improve the upper and lower eyelids.
The procedure can also improve mild acne scarring.
Post-treatment, the client may notice mild swelling, redness, skin crusting and flaking over the next few days. Recovery, however, is quick, and in the next several weeks, the face glows, gets firm and plumped with natural volume.
Your skilled aesthetic provider can determine if you’re a good candidate for fibroblasting. The treatment offers best results for those with very fair to medium skin tones. Darker skin tones may not be a good match for the Plasma Pen.
The procedure is convenient and can take 30 minutes to one hour depending on the treatment areas selected.
Dr. Anna Sottile is the founder of the Aesthetic Medicine Institute of Miami, a practice that focuses on skin rejuvenation, facial Injectables and body contouring. She brings to her practice over 30 years of medical experience encompassing all leading injectables and neurotoxins ( better known as “ Botox”) hyaluronic acid ( known as “ fillers”), and body countering ( as Coolsculpting), as well as pain management.
More at https://www.aestheticinstitutemiami.com/about-us/
Mortgage Fraud: Everything You Need To Know and Why You Should Not Commit A Crime
Mortgage Fraud: Everything You Need To Know and Why You Should Not Commit A Crime
Introduction
Why do people do it? Two primary factors contribute to why someone would commit mortgage fraud in the first place. Either a person will do it to have a place to live or they will commit mortgage fraud because there is a profit included.
The ones who commit the crime for housing usually know someone in the industry who can help them. A borrower is going to falsify evidence to get a rate they might not normally get otherwise.
The person knows someone with insider information who will help them achieve the mortgage they want.
Does the person have any intention of paying the mortgage? No, that is why it is only a matter of time before the person committing the fraud is caught.
The other kind is mostly done by those working in the industry and does not usually concern the borrower. Either way, both will land a person under house arrest and eventually, jail or prison.
The Common Scams With Mortgage Fraud Buyers Need to Know
1) The first kind is “property flipping”. At first glance, it might not seem like a crime, but it is. According to industry professionals, the crime is not in the flipping itself, but how a person goes about doing it.
Most flippers will buy the property, fix it up, and sell it off. That is legal. The other way is not legal. What happens is a person buys the house at a much lower price. They get an industry friend to help them fix it, and then, they sell it a higher price.
We like to call that “buying low and selling high”.
The problem is the person is using “a friend” in the appraiser field who knows the real value of the home. That is why it is called mortgage fraud. It can also land you under house arrest and you will serve time in prison after being convicted.
2) The second type is called “occupancy fraud”. A person will falsify evidence to keep in the bank’s good graces. They will often get a lower rate and lower out-of-pocket costs because of that good standing.
The person is “claiming” the house will be occupied by someone, when, in fact, it is not.
The more common types include identity theft, which is self-explanatory and misrepresenting the facts.
How Do Buyers Avoid These Scams?
The best way to avoid these crimes by knowing what they are. The better educated you are, the less you will do it. You should always tell the truth, no matter how painful it is. You should also work with a qualified professional when applying for a mortgage rate. You should walk out the door if you feel something is out of place.
Remember, this is a crime, a crime that will land you in jail if convicted.
Addys Dieguez with QualifiedTitle.com is experienced since 2002 in the Real Estate field, coordinates the interests of all parties to a real estate transaction, including the buyers, sellers, mortgage lender and real estate agents. We make sure that all requirements for settlement are fully satisfied and as an agent for Old Republic National Title Insurance Company & others, we issue title insurance to the buyers and the mortgage lender which insures them against loss from defective titles, liens, and encumbrances. Please call Addys Dieguez at 305-557-0590 or email at addys@qualifiedtitle.com
Read MoredraftPros South Florida’s Fastest growing company partners with JMA
In most companies, today’s leaders are acutely aware that there is much to be done to ensure that they have a focused and highly engaged workforce. Connecting engagement to business performance requires considerable effort and top management focus—and, to a large degree, it is about how you do it. But there is enormous opportunity for companies that partner with JMA in order to build Leaders that drive business execution!
JMA provides a Roadmap for Double Digit Growth
■ First step in creating a culture of innovation: Employee Engagement
We deploy our employee engagement surveys that accesses your organizational health and bench strength utilizing the Net Promoter Score. We partner with business leaders to analyze the data to find the hidden stories of what’s working and where there are pockets of dissatisfaction. Finally, senior management uses this information to drive strategy and policies going forward.
■ Organizational Excellence and Alignment
Ensuring that goal alignment is occurring at every level of the organization and is well-communicated. Top managers set and communicate business objectives; middle managers are responsible for creating specific objectives for employees that support broader business goals; and employees are given the tools to succeed, some autonomy, and accountability to meet tangible goals aligned with corporate goals.
Metrics and Accountability
JMA installs a n execution methodology called the Execution Fast Track (EFT) that ensures goal achievement with a hard & measurable ROI.
What is Cosmetic Dentistry
Everyone wants a beautiful white smile. Unfortunately, many of us need a little help a long the way to reach our perfect smile goals. If you were born with perfectly straight teeth that fit comfortably in your mouth, that is what everyone else is trying to achieve. If you have a spouse, children, friends, and family who aren’t as lucky to have a naturally created perfect smile, chances are cosmetic dentistry will help them reach their goal. Let’s take a few minutes to learn more about cosmetic dentistry so you can help your loved one make the right decision to suit their needs.
People all over the world do their best to maintain a healthy mouth, gums, and teeth. Cosmetic dentistry aims at helping people create a positive change in their smile and teeth. Cosmetic dentistry is designed to complement the natural look of teeth and help make smiles beautiful, white, straight and healthy.
If you have slightly crooked teeth, missing teeth, discolored teeth, cracked teeth or other minor issues, cosmetic dentistry can help you get the smile you always wanted.
The most common cosmetic dentistry procedures are teeth whitening, veneers, dental implants, and Invisalign.
Teeth whitening is often the first cosmetic dentistry procedure people choose. Even crooked or discolored teeth will look improved after completing teeth whitening sessions. Patients often feel their self-esteem improve after getting their teeth whitened. Sometimes they report smiling more often due to their new found confidence.
Dental implants are extremely helpful for people who have decayed or missing teeth. This procedure involves implanting a new “fake” tooth that matches the color and shape of existing teeth. This procedure usually helps people who have suffered from tooth loss feel like themselves again after receiving this helpful procedure.
Veneers are popular for people who are looking to achieve a fairly instant straight white smile. Depending on your specific situation the procedure might require a few office visits, but generally, it is completed as quickly as possible. Veneers involve covering the natural tooth with thin porcelain and shaped to look natural. It provides the patient’s with a beautiful long-lasting smile. This procedure is permanent, however, in the future, you need to replace them as the veneers age or become discolored.
If you are interested in a cosmetic dentistry procedure, get started on your path to a beautiful smile by contacting us today for an appointment. Our professional and friendly staff is waiting to hear from you.
Dr. Ana Pesaturo earned her Masters Degrees in Healthcare and Business administration from the University San Martin of Colombia South America in 1991. She then completed her Advanced General Esthetic Dentistry residency program at the Community Smiles Dental Research Clinic in Miami, Florida, and her General Hospital Dentistry residency at Miami Valley Hospital in Ohio State. Dr. Pesaturo currently works as a private dentist in the Miami area and as a dental consultant in healthcare management. Read more at https://anapesaturo.com/about/meet-dr-pesaturo/
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