It is well worth-while for a High Risk Business to seek the expertise of a payment processing professional who understands how best to package the application and how to best present your business to the right banking officer.

In addition, any business will want to consider establishing accounts at more than one bank and often in more than one jurisdiction. Like any other business operation, redundancy of payment processing accounts protects your business from unforeseen contingencies.

Why do banks worry about high risk businesses? The answer is simple. Banks are concerned about chargebacks.

A chargeback occurs when a consumer calls the issuing bank and disputes a charge. The consumer has the right to dispute a charge up to 180 days after buying a product or service. Therefore, the bank is ultimately responsible for contingent liabilities of 6 months on every purchase made using a card.

There are many reasons for chargebacks. Some are valid. For instance, a consumer may not have received merchandise or a merchant may refuse to refund money to an unhappy consumer. Sometimes a consumer calls the bank rather than calling the merchant resulting in a chargeback being issued.

Sometimes, neither the business nor the consumer is to blame for chargebacks. Chargebacks may be caused by identity theft, fraud and cybercrime.

Millions of Americans are affected by identity theft each year. The television show “Dateline” reports that a stolen identity, including all credit card and banking information, can sell for as little as $5 on the internet.

Within minutes, merchants can be targeted by fraudsters around the world buying items using stolen credit card information. Chargebacks ensue. The merchants and the banks lose money. And consumers are angry and frightened by the loss of their identity.

Merchants can dispute chargebacks. The merchant may even win the dispute. But, the bank sees a record of dissatisfaction on the part of consumers. And, the chargebacks still remain on the merchant’s processing statements and are still considered chargebacks when account ratios are calculated.

The credit card companies insist that the merchant account portfolio of the banks remain under 1%. If a merchant consistently exceeds the 1% threshold, the bank is fined. The longer the merchant stays over the threshold, the higher the fines become. If a bank continuously has a high percentage of chargebacks from merchants, the bank risks losing its ability to issue merchant accounts.

If a business continues to have chargebacks, fines are assessed against the bank. The bank, in turn, passes the fines on to the merchant who may or may not be able to pay. If chargebacks do not quickly fall below 1%, the bank will terminate the merchant account. As a result, the merchant may go out of business or declare bankruptcy. Leaving the bank financially responsible for the chargebacks.

Carefully watch your merchant account processing statements each month. Nip any chargeback problems in the bud, before they escalate and threaten your merchant processing account.

If you are a High Risk Business, avail yourself of the expertise your payment processor has to help you manage your account. There are excellent specialized tools available that will minimize chargeback risks while maximizing sales results.

When it comes to using the internet to catch a cheating spouse, you may not know where to proceed. If you do not consider yourself to be computer savvy, the whole process may seem hopeless. The good news is that you can catch your cheating spouse online and you may be able to do so in a few simple steps.

The easiest way to catch a cheating spouse who uses the internet is to install a keyword tracker program, also commonly referred to as a keylogger, on your computer. These software programs are actually similar to programs that hackers use to get information from your computer. They can also help you find out if your spouse is using the internet to cheat on you. What these programs will do is record all words that are typed on a computer. This allows you to examine emails, chat sessions, and so much more.

If you are interested in using a keyword tracker or a keylogger, be cautious of the programs that you do choose. As previously stated, some hackers do use this similar technology. Spending a few extra dollars to purchase a program, as opposed to using a free version online, is advised. Many of these programs are marketed as internet safety tools for parents.

Another easy way to use the internet to catch a cheating spouse is to visit the online websites of their email accounts. Even if you do not have a password to get into their account, there are still some things that you can do. For example, most websites, like Hotmail and Yahoo, will automatically save the email address of the last person who used the website. Examine these websites to see if one does show up. Is it your partner’s main email address or are they using multiple accounts? This may be a sign of a cheating spouse.

Your computer’s internet history may be a wealthy source of information for you. Most computers allow you to check the websites visited within the last week or at least day by opening up a new internet window. Next, click on the history icon button, which appears towards the top of your screen. This icon displays a small clock with a green arrow wrapped around a portion of it. What websites has your significant other visited in the past few days? Be on the lookout for adult chat websites, pornographic websites, dating websites and so forth.

In keeping with the checking of your computer’s internet history, be suspicious of no information at all. Has your computer’s internet history recently been cleared? There are very few good reasons why it should have been. Remember that many cheaters research ways, especially online, to not get caught. A cleared internet history is a good sign that your husband or wife has something to hide.

If you suspect that your husband or wife is using the internet to cheat on you, there are two different approaches that you can take. One of those approaches involves talking to them. If you found proof online, show that proof to them. You will then need to decide, together, where your relationship wants to go. If you do decide to work on your relationship, please be cautious. It is important to remember that your husband or wife now knows that you know how to track their movements online.

Another one of your options is to rely on the use of parental controls. Treating your spouse like a teenager, however, may incite some anger in them. There is nothing worse for a cheater than knowing that they have been caught or now needing a password to visit their favorite websites.

As the number of Internet users is rising, so to has the risk of becoming a victim of internet fraud. Security companies are discovering new threats every day from malware and viruses. A recent report stated the threat from viruses is less than 15%.  Spyware is now one of the major threats to online security; these malicious programs try to hide behind seemingly legitimate programs with the aim of secretly getting into computers and to infect programs that are running. The purpose of spyware programs are not be underestimated, they will try to record surfing habits, monitor computer use and scan hard drives; the recorded data is then transferred to outside sources.  Keylogging is another spyware program that can actually record key strokes; this malicious program will record passwords, credit card details and other sensitive information that can lead to identity theft.

Cyber criminals silently control over 50 million computers. Malware secretly downloaded using web exploits control many home computers.  Spyware

Your computer is at risk of attack and might already be infected!  The days have gone when you could rely on a basic anti-virus program with occasional updates to protect your computer. Today, internet security is more complex, you need the strongest defense possible against the daily threat of malware, viruses and hackers. 

These are real dangers, so choosing the right protection for your PC is vital.  Software programs with real-time updates and monitoring is essential if you want to avoid the threat of internet fraud.

Do not leave yourself vulnerable to Cybercrime; take action to safeguard your family and business today, get secure Internet protection you can rely on now!

Scam Types

There are numerous scams and fraudulent businesses on the Internet. Programs such as online surveys, free government grants programs, mystery shopper positions and data entry jobs were all scams. The company coastal vacation has numerous fraud sites appear causing damage to their company name. Scam artists were portraying coastal directors and creating uncanny sales pitches to lure customers in for the scam. The scam artists would tell the victim to send a check for X amount of money and would take the check and disappear. Customers were left to lose the money, vacation offers and trust of online businesses.

The Victims

Both customers looking for a vacation deal as well as those looking for a work at home business have been scam victims. For those who have had to learn the hard way to Internet safety, it’s a difficult lesson. For those of us who have not been scam victims there are tips to prevent this from occurring to you or anyone you know.

Prevention Tips

Never send money upfront without understanding a businesses background. Contact the Better Business Bureau and see if the company is listed. If not put in a request to have them inspected. Do some personal research to see of you can find when and where a company was formed and if they are in fact legitimate. Do not provide a company with your social security number or bank account information. With the rise in identity theft you have to be very cautious when giving out any personal details. Always search for trustworthy proof of a company’s background prior to giving out any of the above personal details.

Stopping Scams And Fraud

Prevention is the key to stopping scams such as the coastal vacation scans. Unfortunately any time there is a high demand product that draws in customers, scam artists follow right behind. With the help of law enforcement tracking in bringing down these scam artists and faux Internet businesses we are making progress. Making ourselves as well as those around us aware of the necessary precautions for Internet safety is the other half of the solution. You can never be too precautions about who you give your money or information to. Think of the story of the big bad wolf. He looked an awful lot like grandma behind those glasses and bonnet. Scam artists are just like a wolf in a disguise. We have to look past the disguise and search deeper for what really lies beneath it all to protect ourselves from getting bitten.

So far, there were over 50,000 cases of identified illegal real estate deals in Florida. McCollum blamed his office’s limited jurisdiction and lack of resources for the failure to stop fraudulent bank foreclosed homes rescue schemes.

He said that both the state and his office do not have enough people trained to perform investigations on criminal mortgage fraud, thus stopping fraudulent activities in the future may be impossible.

Mortgage fraud falls under white-collar crime which requires well-trained personnel to conduct investigations. McCollum said that only a handful of police agencies in both state and local levels have people who could perform white-collar undercover investigations.

The state attorney general do not have the authority to file criminal charges but he can conduct investigations on fraudulent bank foreclosed homes rescue schemes, bring attention to the issue and coordinate enforcement efforts across Florida.

In 2007, McCollum established a task force to go after unscrupulous people. But he admitted that his office failed to focus on the growing mortgage flipping fraud cases because of other consumer protection issues that swamped his office.

Since it was setup in 2007, the task force had filed only 14 civil lawsuits against mortgage fraudsters and is currently investigating 81 cases, a fraction of what is reported to be over $10 billion worth of illegal deals.

McCollum argued that his office cannot do everything. Since he took office in 2007, his main focus has been cybercrime and preventing sexual predators from victimizing children on the Internet.

But industry experts noted that most of the task force’s efforts and lawsuits filed were focused on companies offering bogus foreclosure prevention schemes and not on illegal mortgage flipping.

Fraudulent mortgage flipping increased during the peak of the housing market, with about $10 billion worth of shady deals suspected in Florida alone.

McCollum said that during the campaign, he will continue to highlight efforts of his office to go after fraudulent bank foreclosed homes rescue schemes, but added that people would prefer to hear more about job creation and economic recovery.

Statistics indicate that children who use the Internet often are targeted by online predators more often because they can disguise themselves as same age as the child using the Internet. There are however, guidelines for parents to follow in order to protect their children from the dangerous side of the Internet.

Protect Your Passwords

It is critical that you limit your child’s access to certain Internet sites. One way to do this is to password protect your computer and under no circumstances give those passwords to your children. Most children will share passwords with their friends and it defeats the purpose of having them. Passwords will also alert you when your children use the Internet, and you can keep a better watch over what they are doing. They will not be able to sneak on the computer when you are sleeping or at work because they will not know what the passwords are.

Monitor Computer Time

It is very important that you monitor what your children are doing online. Tell your child what is appropriate and what is not. Warn them of the dangers of online communication. Sit your child and watch what they do and say online. More importantly, watch what is said to them. If you are suspicious, keep a log of what is said and contact the local authorities.

Block Access

Blocking access to sites that are not appropriate will go a long way in protecting your child. Many Internet providers provide tools that will allow you to better control your child’s time on the Internet. Using parental controls to protect your children is advisable to all parents. With them, you can set the parameters to keep your children safe. With parental controls, you block sites and chat rooms that you feel may be unsafe for your children.

Parental Controls

Parental controls are a great resource for parents in the fight to keep children safe. However, it is not a parental replacement or babysitter. Studies have shown that parents who have direct involvement in their child’s Internet use have fewer incidents of predatory harassment.

Kid Safe Browsers

Because of the growing problem of online predators, safeguards have been developed. Kid safe browsers are specifically made for children and do not allow certain keyword searches to be performed.

Internet Safety

Children are extremely vulnerable to Internet predators because they are by nature very trusting. It is important that you teach them safety protocol. It is important that they understand that under no circumstances should they ever give out their personal information on the Internet, and explain to them why these precautions are necessary.

It may be difficult to explain why these precautions are necessary without scaring your child, however, being cautious is very important when it comes to online safety. Some children are willful and will give their information anyway. This is when it is necessary to restrict their online activity altogether until they are more responsible.

Pre-teen children should always have a parent present to monitor what their activities are. They may not appreciate you looking over their shoulder; however their safety should be your number one priority. When it comes to your child and the Internet, there is no such thing as being overprotective.

Parental control is necessary specially for the parents who are working and have to leave their children back at home.  It is not possible for them to restrict their children from using internet as it may hamper their studies. The only thing they can do is to keep monitoring the online activities of their children or installing parental control software on their computer.

As a responsible parent you can follow few parental control tips mentioned below to keep your children safe from online crime. You should ask them to follow certain rules while surfing internet.

Your children should immediately inform you if they get any kind of scary or strange message. The cyber criminals quite clever and approach the children quite intelligently. If the children do not accept their message they try to scare them. The children should simply ignore these kinds of messages and chat room invitations from any unidentified person. The children should not disclose their real names and other personal details to anybody unless they know the person well. Your children should not meet strangers live even if they pursue hardly or ask to meet in any public place. The children should not send or receive photograph through internet unless they know the person.

Apart from guiding your children you should follow some rule as well

You should let your children know about the harmful sides of internet. You can also spend some time with them to know which are the sites they visit frequently or whether the sites are harmful or not. If you want to get more information you may visit cybercrime.gov. You should keep a track on your children’s friends with whom they love to interact. If possible you can meet their parents to keep them aware of the online crime. You may request them to monitor their children’s online activities as well. Sometime the children may access internet while they are in school. You should make it sure that the school in which your children study has parental control software installed on their computer. If cannot watch the online activities of your children every time you can install an internet monitoring or parental control software on your computer. Some software companies offer parental control software which has the capability of filtering the website that may be viewed on the browser. You may specify some rules and restrict different kinds of websites from opening. There are a number of parental control software which offer email filter to restrict spam or junk mails from entering into the mailbox. Internet monitoring software keeps track of your entire online activity by taking snapshots of the sites you have visited or tracking your instant messaging or chat room conversation.

Apart from taking all kinds of security measures it is necessary to teach your children on how to surf internet safely. Otherwise their future and career may get ruined.

Forget the hype, but know the facts.

Online Gambling – Is it Legal?

The answer to this question? It depends. There are two major federal laws related to internet gambling:

The Interstate Wire Act of 1961 The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) of 2006

The first law made it illegal to use wire communication for gambling purposes. But, in 1961, lawmakers couldn’t have envisioned the internet. So although the internet does uses ‘wires,’ the exact meaning of the term allowed for too many loopholes.

So, in 2006, the second law was passed. It focuses on the online gambling company rather than the gambler. It is a felony for any company to accept any money related to online gambling. This is why the companies you can gamble with online are located outside of the US where it is difficult prosecute. But, the government also expects US Banks to stop money from going to these online companies. Because of this, you might eventually have trouble paying for online gambling with your US bank account or credit card. However, it is not a problem at the moment.

So while the federal government won’t come after internet gamblers, they could still be breaking the law. The UIGEA leaves it up to the states to determine whether or not internet gambling violates their state’s laws. Experts believe that any law states might pass would make it a misdemeanor to gamble online rather than a felony. And again, there is no expectation that states would pursue the gambler rather than the gambling company. But if you have any concerns, you should check with your state’s gaming commission to understand whether or not you are violating any state laws.

Basic Online Gambling Facts

There are several different types of online casinos, and we can only expect for them to get more elaborate as online gambling evolves. Today, the three main ones are:

Web-based Casinos – these casinos allow you to play without downloading software and the possible pop-ups or spyware that may come with it. These casinos will require that you have a higher speed internet connection than the other types, since you’ll be transferring the games and graphics across the web as you play. Download-based Casinos – these sites require that you load their software onto your computer before you can gamble or play the casino games. These are generally faster, making them popular with players. Of course, you have to go through the initial set-up process, and you are risking the possibility of downloading software from an ‘unknown’ source – which always includes the chance that you could get a virus as well. Live-based Casinos – here, you are actually playing in a ‘live’ or ‘chat’ environment. Today there are even webcam-based casinos where you can watch a live dealer and even other players. This is as close to a walk-in casino as you can get on the internet.

Safety is probably the largest concern that online gamblers have, but when it comes to gambling, statistics show that trust in the industry continues to increase. This is evident in the increase in the number of players and funds invested between 2000 and 2006. It is estimated that the industry grew from about $10 billion to more than $14 billion in just these six years. You can gamble online safely if you take the time to investigate your options. Before you invest your money in playing, check ecogra.org, an independent, nonprofit agency that rates and approves online gaming sites.

Here are 3 very ‘inviting’ reasons.

Casual Atmosphere

Social network sites are meant for just what they imply and that is to socialize. This type of atmosphere is casual and relaxed therefore people for the most part are NOT expecting devious behavior. It is just this type atmosphere that cyber criminals depend upon and thrive in. Their ability to manipulate others is based upon a ‘blind’ trust or having others believe in their own sense of security.

Ease of Use

Most social media sites by and large are set up to be easy to use and navigate. This allows even the less than ‘tech savvy’ to become involved but they also bring along their own naive nature relative to internet security issues. This makes them even easier prey since they are unaware of or unfamiliar with many common internet scams.

This ease of use on the other hand has also made it just as convenient for the ‘sinister online element’ to gain access to their unsuspecting prey. There are no security systems to work around or advanced coding to decipher therefore the ‘door’ is wide open for the criminal element gain easy access.

Popularity

As we all know crime always seems to gravitate towards the largest population bases offline and this remains true online as well. The very popularity of social media sites has put them in the ‘cross hairs’ of the devious minded predators that lurk on the internet. Safety in numbers is NOT something innocent site members can count on when interacting within online social communities.

Internet predators have settled in quite comfortably on many social media sites to the point that they have almost become accepted ‘fixtures’ to users.

For the 3 reasons we have spoken of above cyber criminals are attracted to many of the online communities. The structure of these sites offers the perfect opportunity for the criminal element to successfully implement their internet scams. For the users they must simply be aware that cyber crime does exist and will continue to do so calling for the need to exercise caution when socializing online.

The problem with proxy servers,is what they do, how they work and most importantly who runs them.  Proxies are appealing because they can hide your IP address and idenity from the web sites you are visiting, well they do if they are set up properly.

But for those who seek the ultimate ninja proxy, I want to tell you of a very real threat.  There are of course thousands of free proxies on the internet which people bounce off for a variety of reasons from security, bypassing censorship and other less legitimate uses.

The threat comes from the rise of cybercrime, the stunning rise of cyber crime orchestrated from the well organised cyber criminals across the globe.  For instance there are very advanced criminal gangs working from South America, Brazil in particular.  They steal from peoples bank accounts, they steal peoples data, they steal peoples identities – their crimes are committed from a keyboard in front of a VDU screen.

But what of the risk from Ninja proxies?

The cyber criminals need your data, they need you passwords, user accounts.  One way they can easily obtain many details is by setting up a free proxy.  The method is simple, hack into an internet web server with poor security, then install or enable a proxy server on it.

Post it to a few anonymous proxy server lists, wait for the ninja proxy finding tools to pick it up and soon you’ll have thousands of people surfing through your server.  That means sending absolutely everything they do online is under their control.   They can intercept and store any information that passes through.  Logging every packet of data, you can soon steal important details from thousands who use the server, including our budding ninja.

The criminal possibilities are varied – theft from accounts, identity theft, blackmail.  They can redirect you to fake web pages, copies of your bank site, and then compromise your computer with viruses, keyloggers and trojans.  Basically you are sending everything you do online to a bunch of cyber criminals.

The beauty of this method if you’re a cyber criminal is obvious, instead of hacking into peoples computers, sending out millions of spam emails, you simply wait for people to send their data to you.

There are legitimate and highly secured servers which you can use as a ninja proxy.  They are run by legitimate companies and controlled by professional administrators, they are rarely free though but ultimately they are safe and secure.   Don’t use a proxy server if you don’t know who it is run by, you’re much safer online using no proxy at all.