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LLC stands for Limited Liability Company. It provides reasonable protection to businesses incurred by significant obligations and debts. So, forming LLC in New York can be a great stress-buster for you. Your creditors will no more ask you to pay back your debts with your company’s assets. Follow the steps given below for creating LLC in New York State properly.

  • Choose an LLC Name: Start by choosing a proper LLC name according to the state’s protocol. Name it as either Limited Company or Limited Liability Company or an abbreviation of any of these. Your chosen name shouldn’t be an imitation of any other business of your state.
  • File Articles of Organization: File Articles of Organization at your state’s corporate office for making an LLC in NY properly.
  • Manager vs. Member Management: You can run your LLC by its direct members or some external members according to your choice.
  • Make an LLC Operating Agreement: Make an operating agreement for your LLC. It will provide you a clear idea about the exact mode of operation and management of your LLC. Hire a registered agent: A registered LLC agent will handle all the legalities on your behalf if your LLC gets sued. He/she must also have a physical residence in the state where you’re establishing your LLC. In this case, New York.

So, when you’re setting up LLC NYC, it should be done in the right way. To do that, follow the five tips given above correctly. It will let you set up a perfect LLC by adhering to New York’s legal rules and regulations.

Since the outbreak of the coronavirus, people had to spend time away from their friends. This was brought about by the social and physical distancing rules put forward. Many governments all over the world imposed these rules to curb the spread of the virus. However, people have tried to stay in touch through screens devices in many cases. Research by Zoom fatigue showed that video interaction could not replace the one on one interactions. Human beings need social interaction. The study also proved that those who were sheltered experienced loneliness.

Loneliness is considered to be a public health issue by most researchers. Some researcher says that social interactions are a biological need for the physical wellbeing of a person. On the other side, another research shows that loneliness leads to depression, increasing premature mortality. Human beings are generally meant to be social. Interacting with other peoples that is the friends boosts your mental health.

The biggest question during this pandemic period is our interactions safe? We should be cautious with how we interact to ensure we are safe to avoid the risk of contracting the virus. You should know the boundaries while interacting with others and take caution

You should note that mental health is as important as physical health. In case you note you are anxious about social interactions, you should not hesitate to see a therapist. Contraction of the virus has led to weird behaviors and isolation; neither is the solution. Talking to a therapist could be the most significant step to your wellbeing.

Follow the guidelines and avoid fake news

According to the world health organization, the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in false information. The online platforms have been loaded with much information with little or no proof of what is wrong or right. It has also been challenging to know what to do and the risk of doing a particular activity. Therefore, one should be careful about the information we get from the media. We should be kin to follow the guidelines given by the health experts.

To be at ease with our anxiety concerning social interactions, we need information from trusted sources. This will reduce the speculations and the invention of our safety measures, which may be useful or not at times. A good example is that the WHO recommends that we should not wear masks while exercising.

Play within your limits

As you open your social circle, you should first evaluate yourself. As an individual, you are aware of the factors that alter your response to coronavirus. Have you experienced any traumatic event? According to a study by the National Institute of Mental Health, more than 50% of American adults experience Trauma in their lives. If you are overwhelmed by negative emotions, you should see a therapist. These will help you adjust and get back to social interactions.

Respect other peoples boundaries

The fact is that not all the people you meet will be on the same page with you on matters concerning the coronavirus. Others will not be familiar with social interaction rules. Since we do not know the experience, other people have neither do they realize ours; we should show some respect. Before we meet our friends, we should discuss our boundaries. It would be best to let your friend know what you are comfortable with and what makes you uncomfortable. The friend should also do the same for you to build an understanding. Doing this, your social interactions will be positive to your mental health.

This is a challenging time, and we should support one another to fight loneliness. If you happen to find yourself struggling with loneliness, you should consult a therapist through teleheatlh services like Talkspace, which is available on the Apple app store, and through Android devices.


It is very important to shed light on what the purpose of the service is before you opt for it. This is also the case when you have to opt for any Vacuum Casting Services!

Before anything else, let us find out what Vacuum Casting. This process works on prototyping technology permitting duplication of plastic parts from a master model. What happens in the process of Vacuum Casting is that it makes use of vacuum effect to inject material into the silicone. The raw material present is mixed and poured into the mold. The mold is removed from the chamber after the vacuum is released. The casting is cured with the help of a curing oven after which the mold is removed for the completed casting. In technical terms, this process is for elastomers with the help of a vacuum to draw liquid matter into the mold.

It is important to note that there is a requirement of two curing ovens for vacuum casting. The first oven is for an operation that is permanently on and is used to store resins. The temperature of this oven should be at 35 degrees Celsius. The other oven has a constant temperature of 70 degrees Celsius, which is necessary and stays constant. This oven is used to get perfect casting outcomes by pre-tempering silicone molds at this temperature. In order to temper the plastic part to reach optimal strength, put the silicone mold back into the oven after casting.

It is very essential to know where all vacuum casting is applied. That parts that are extracted by the process of vacuum casting are used for visual and functional testing. The few properties like thermal, physical, mechanical and aesthetic of the parts extracted are very similar to that of the series injection part. For aesthetic purposes, it offers accuracy and good finishing options. Even product turnaround is extremely fast with the help of vacuum casting when the company wants to stay away from loopholes in the business stream. When you want to create parts with unique shapes and small wall thickness. It is essential to know that vacuum casting is economical if you compare it to other processes like plastic injection molding.

It should also be known that vacuum casting is also used for automotive and aerospace parts. Not to forget, it is also found to be used in decorative objects like wall plaques and custom ornaments. Another application for vacuum casting is found in product marketing and for prosthetic as well as medical devices. It is ultimate to make models and prototypes, that of absolutely any size.

The advantages of vacuum casting are endless! The parts can be manufactured in not huge volumes also. With fewer expenses, it is interesting to know that this process is fast-paced and offers fast delivery production. If you want to launch a product in the market, you can always rely on vacuum casting to test the product beforehand. There are a plethora of options for materials and any flexible or rigid plastics can also be used. The materials used in vacuum casting include acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) which is available at very low costs and easily available around the world. The second commonly used material is polypropylene (PP) which is a widely used plastic that can be molded in any possible way. Vacuum casting can be done using glass-filled material that helps in increasing the rigidity and the strength of the structure. As wax can be formed into anything, be it wires or sheets, which can be also possibly used for vacuum casting. There is polycarbonate (PC) that is available in transparent forms and offers high resistance. The last but not the least, rubber being strong and tough is also a material often opted for vacuum casting. It is totally up to the person taking the vacuum casting services to make a decision about which material they want to go with.

Now, when we talk about services of any kind, we always want the best and nothing else. Before taking the vacuum services as well, it is very important to make sure that you choose the best service provider. One should never compromise over quality. It is very important to go through the feedback and reviews that the company you are planning to go with for the services. For a process like a vacuum casting, you need thorough experts who have knowledge about the procedure from A to Z. They should know everything about all equipment, tools and the material that is going to be used. The best of best manufacturing solutions should be delivered in order to meet the needs of the customers. It is always ideal to go for the most experienced service provider so all requirements are taken care of and met.

Vacuum casting is used worldwide. There is definitely not a single place where this process is not adopted for function testing, creating ultimate peers or for marketing purposes. The reason for going for this process varies for everyone but the importance of it stays intact.

Thanks to the online world, you can easily find information about vacuum casting and who to refer to. Even to get in touch with the service providers, you can go online and book for what you want! You can always jot down the contact number given on the official website of the service providers and give a call to find out more! It is always advised to speak to an expert who can answer all your possible queries and questions. It is naturally understandable that vacuum casting is a technical process and there can be several doubts that might arise with respect to the process.

If you are thinking of opting for casting vacuum, be yet assured that you will be saving a lot of expenses by not spending on other procedures and will receive fast-paced work with no delays at all!

Big thumbs up to vacuum casting!

Introduction

With a majority of businesses across the globe getting prepared for resuming operations amid the corona pandemic, owners have a lot to consider before reopening. They have to follow and maintain high safety standards with respect to the guidelines given by the FDA, OSHA, EEOC, and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for testing. CPA firm owners must ensure the unmatched safety of its employees while also providing them with freedom of space to work efficiently.

These over-the-top requirements and uncertainties might make a firm vulnerable to potential COVID-19-related liability claims in the future. However, this can be surely avoided by taking appropriate measures. So, let us dig deeper into the same.

7 Key Considerations for Reopening

Irrespective of whether CPA firms lease their space or own a building, it is essential to take care of the following considerations before inviting a client to the office and welcoming the employees back:

  1. Review Your Finances

This is probably the first step towards reopening your CPA firm. Similar to other accounting firms, it is very likely that your CPA firm must have faced financial disruptions to some extent. So, it is essential for you to review your finances before you think of reopening your CPA firm. If you were able to sustain business operations and ensure smooth cash flow as usual or with little effect during the lockdown with the help of remote working or other options like opting for outsourcing accounting and bookkeeping services, then you might be good to go.

However, if you were hit hard, you need to prepare a financial plan that clearly lists out your financial position and risks in the coming times, including your contingency plans in case your firm fails to get back on track and ensure smooth cash flow after reopening.

  1. Keep Compliance with the Guidelines

Educate yourself first regarding the guidelines laid by the state and federal government with respect to reopening. These guidelines might differ from state to state, depending on the severity of coronavirus in the region.

So, this makes it vital for a firm owner to learn about the same prior to resuming business operations as not complying with the same may result in heavy penalties. Also, this could hamper the image of the CPA firm in the eyes of clients and even employees who might start looking for other options.

  1. Prepare the Building

The next step for reopening your CPA firm is to prepare your building in accordance with the safety guidelines set by the authorities. It is your duty as the firm employer to ensure your building is corona-free, and you must sanitize each and every space in your building. This includes doing pre-return inspections, preparing cleaning plans, and taking care of commonly touched areas like doorknobs, elevators, washrooms, and more.

When your building will be safe from coronavirus after thorough disinfecting, and you will have a cleaning plan to sanitize different things on a daily basis, some even on an hourly basis, you will be in the position for reopening your CPA firm as far as the physical space is concerned.

  1. Plan Office Proceedings

Obviously, your office proceedings will not be the same as they used to be. You have to make changes to the way your employees will sit after the office gets open in order to ensure social distancing and safe working practices. Now, it all depends on the size of your firm and the number of employees you have, making a must for you to plan things accordingly. You need to take care of the way your employees eat and drink while in the office or during the lunch break.

It is recommended to have strict policies in place regarding the same, and sharing of food must not be allowed under any circumstances in order to avoid contracting the virus from an infected person who is yet to develop COVID-19 symptoms. Apart from this, work on how essential commodities related to the office will be received and handled.

  1. Respect Your Employees’ Choices

Your employees form the backbone of your CPA firm and are your biggest strength. So, it is imperative that you show kindness towards them, understand their concerns/viewpoints, and respect their decisions. For instance, allowing those employees to work remotely who do not wish to come to the office and work in risky conditions. Talk to every employee and know what every employee wants from you. The biggest fear that employees have in mind is that they will be called at any cost once the authorities give the green signal for reopening.

There is no denying one has to follow the guidelines, but as a CPA firm owner, you can even make changes to them according to your convenience, like restricting the number of employees to come back. So, if your employees do not feel comfortable returning back, give them the time until they feel safe coming back. If you respect the choices of your employees, they will surely stay loyal to you in the long run.

  1. Evaluate Client Needs

COVID-19 has changed everything, and your clients are no exception. The business of your clients must have been affected too, and they will be looking forward to your advisory help apart from the accounting services offered by you. They would want you to guide them towards saving on unwanted expenses, getting maximum reimbursements/help from state and national business relief fund programs, and more.

Apart from this, plan interactions with clients in a way that does not require them to visit your premises as similar to your employees, your clients might feel unsafe too. However, you must incorporate the use of the technology to streamline client interactions like investing in video conferencing software and training your employees on the same.

  1. Rework Your Marketing Plan

Of course, your marketing plan cannot be the same as it used to be before the pandemic. In fact, you need to rework on it, focusing on client acquisition and retention like never before in order to bounce back financially after reopening. This new plan should also be focused on becoming more active on social media, investing in email campaigns, partnering with bloggers/influencers, embracing content marketing, and more.

You would require a new marketing pitch that helps you reach a wider customer base explaining how you are going to operate in the changed market conditions and what all strategies you wish to adopt to deliver unmatchable services to clients after reopening.

Conclusion

Reopening during the pandemic time is challenging for every business and not just the CPA firms. We all know that the corona pandemic will stay for long, and we have to start adjusting with the same until an effective vaccine becomes available that will probably bring down its effect. Most of the business owners have a changed mindset ever since the epidemic started, especially when it comes to their taxes and write-offs.

CPA firms must realize this new requirement of clients and deliver accordingly. The steps mentioned above will surely help firm owners reopen in a safe and efficient manner, along with taking care of their employees, clients, and much-needed regulatory compliance.

Author Bio :

Tracy Watson works as an Accounting Expert at Accounting To Taxes, a renowned company offering Tax, Financial, Bookkeeping and Account Receivable Service. She is passionate about writing about finance & accounting, small business growth, and entrepreneurship. She is continuously contributing her skills, knowledge, and experience in assisting people with finance and accounting matters.

If you’re a U.S. citizen living in Canada, you may be wondering about the impact on your U.S. Social Security benefits. Or maybe you’re a Canadian citizen with questions about how your U.S. residency will impact your CPP/OAS benefits. What are the tax implications for these programs when you live across the border?

Fortunately, there’s been a lot of cooperation between the U.S. and Canada on the subject of Social Security. Since 1984, a totalization agreement has been in place between the two nations regarding their respective Social Security programs. (Note: Quebec has its own agreement because of a special pension plan operated in that province.)

In a nutshell, those who have earned Social Security credits in either country may qualify for benefits from one or both countries. Those meeting the necessary requirements under one country’s program will get a regular benefit from that country. Those who don’t meet the basic requirements may still qualify for a benefit under the totalization agreement.

U.S. Social Security Benefits for Americans Living in Canada
Let’s look at a case study as an example. Our client Robert is a U.S. citizen who lived and worked in the U.S. for 25 years before moving to Canada for a job five years ago. He plans to work for five more years before retiring in Canada. Robert came to us with questions about Social Security benefits since he has lived abroad and plans to retire outside the U.S.

When it comes to taxes, the totalization agreement between the U.S. and Canada is quite favorable to Robert when it comes to the taxation of his U.S. Social Security benefits. These benefits will be subject to tax only in Canada, meaning Robert will be taxed the same way as other Canadian residents even though he’s a U.S. citizen. Here’s the math. In his Canadian taxable income, Robert will include 85% of his Social Security benefits and the remaining 15% will be exempt from Canadian taxes.

Robert’s Canadian tax situation will determine how much Canadian tax, if any, Robert will pay on his U.S. Social Security benefits. Of course, if Robert retired in the U.S., the tax would be lower, but in this situation the additional tax isn’t too onerous.

CPP/OAS Benefits for Canadians Living in the U.S.
How does it work with Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and Old Age Security (OAS) benefits from Canada? What if our case study example Robert was a Canadian citizen residing in the U.S.?

Essentially, if Robert was a Canadian living in the U.S., his benefits would only be taxable in the U.S. When it comes to taxes, the Internal Revenue Service sees CPP/OAS benefits as equivalent to U.S. Social Security benefits. This means that Robert should report this income on his 1040 form, and it will be taxed at the 85% inclusion rate. Another upside of the U.S./Canada totalization agreement: CPP and OAS income aren’t taxable in Canada and aren’t subject to Canada Revenue Agency withholding for non-residents.

Need help exempting your U.S. Social Security benefits from U.S. taxes? Questions about the taxation of your CPP or OAS? Whichever side of the border you’re on, the cross-border experts at Cardinal Point Wealth Management can help you maximize your benefits and avoid double taxation of your income.

Terry Ritchie is the Director of Cross-Border Wealth Services at the Cardinal Point, a cross-border wealth management organization with offices in the United States and Canada.  Terry has been providing Canada-U.S. cross-border financial, investment, tax, transition, and estate planning services to affluent families for over 25 years.  He is active as an author, speaker and educator on international tax and financial planning matters. www.cardinalpointwealth.com

Find all the useful information on this job on the tax advisor job description: Salary, studies, training, role, description of the tax advisor job, the qualities and skills required to work as a tax advisor. The tax advisor profession is part of the finance field.

What the Tax Advisor Offers

The tax advisor, as its name suggests, will advise companies and individuals on the best economic choices in order to pay the least amount of tax, while remaining legal. He closely monitors the assets of his client, which is all assets (real estate, professional and financial). Fine connoisseur of laws and always aware of their evolution, the tax advisor knows how to find the best tax option for his client, according to his projects (establishment abroad, merger, investment) without having to undergo tax adjustment. It offers solutions adapted to each situation. Before proposing, he takes into account the opinions of the various departments of the company: human resources, management control. This professional also defends the interests of his client in the event of a tax audit. It is he who will be able to explain, with legal evidence to support, the choices of the company or the individual. You can also visit taxfyle.com/cpa-jobs/ for the best results.

For the Business Options

Businesses are very demanding on the training of their tax advisor as he is in charge of what constitutes their income. This is why most tax advisers have a master’s degree (bac + 5) in law with a specialization in tax law. A dual competence in trade / tax law is particularly appreciated. These different training courses are offered in the majority of universities in France as well as in business schools. Access to a business school is often done after a preparation and an entrance examination. With a law degree, the competition is accessible.

  • Every day, as entrepreneurs, we have the duty to keep the accounts of our company under control in order to prepare congruent and valid accounts for the purposes of the law. This undoubtedly involves multiple commitments: keeping the accounting constantly updated, managing and monitoring sales, recording and controlling expenses, fulfilling all obligations within the expected timeframe and finally we must dedicate energy and time to grow our business. .

To keep up with all these commitments it is necessary to have good management and business organization, this is one of the primary objectives that must not be lost sight of to keep the business alive and constantly evolving. So move on by starting to simplify and automate your day-to-day administrative tasks and spend more time and energy on what really matters – growing your business. Here are some tips that can inspire you to gain full control of your business easily, efficiently, and effortlessly.

Use Cloud accounting and business management programs

With the technology available today it is possible to have online programs in a simple and fast way that support you in the management of accounting and purchases / sales, or in the management of your customers (CRM) or in the management of your e-commerce or everything together in based on the business you manage.

With online programs, or better known as “Cloud Applications “, you can get the following benefits:

No initial investment: Cloud Applications are normally distributed with a method called SaaS, Software as a Service, through a subscription service, without any obligation to stay and without the need for any installation.

Cost reduction: working with applications that work in the Cloud you will no longer have to worry about servers, updates or maintenance of systems or backups. Everything is included in the main service. Improve work efficiency: access your company data from anywhere and at any time to manage or consult any information. You do not waste time and always carry your company with you.

For the two years, the Inchcape shipping agent has led worldwide in offering maritime services. The agency has 240 offices spread in 68 countries employing more than 3800 people. The agency has a diversified customer base serving container and bulk commodity sectors, cruise, and intergovernmental clients. The company is led by the able leadership of Frank Olsen, who has worked hard to sharpen the company’s focus on values of ship agency and traditional business.

About the Company

The company offers humanitarian logistics, landside commercial, offshore support, transit, and other related marine services. It also provides a growing variety of outsourcing services, including spare marine logistics, global crew, port agency management, and sophisticated project planning solutions. The company uses modern technology to deliver its services and operations, thus gaining its clients’ trust in managing cargo and vessels globally.

Frank Olsen points out that the company is unique by having a single-minded focus and being heavily involved in logistics. Although the agency has other activities, all of them revolve around the ship and port. The company launched a transparency initiative that aimed to create and build meaningful relationships with the clients, thus solving the problem of the ship agency market being fragmented by smaller players who lack trust from the clients.

Company’s Role

The shipping agent works on behalf of ship owners, ship managers, and charters to ensure that port operations, services, and crew changes are carried out efficiently. The agency makes sure that all documentation needed by the port authorities is taken care of before the ship arrives. It also makes sure that everything is paid per the requirements to enable smooth operations in the port. Inchcape also takes care of any issues that may arise and maintains constant communication with the ship-owner. Inchcape Shipping Services is a financially stable agency, thus gaining the trust of many clients who are always sure that their operations will be carried out smoothly without financial constraints. The company also arranges crew changes, thus ensuring all the operations carried out by the crew run smoothly without any hiccup.

The Agency Focus

The shipping agency is working hard to demonstrate and prove trustworthy, valuable, and transparent partners to its customers, thus building a corporate culture that enhances service delivery. Inchcape is also investing in modern technology in its services, such as ports digital database of the ship and port information. During this Covid-19 pandemic, the agency is offering vital details on ports across the globe and continuously updated by the staff located in different zones that collect the information needed in its global network. The company has been working with ship managers, operators, and several international groups to find a global solution to the crew’s changes.

The agency has been determined to ensure that all crew problems are solved, and full collaboration is enhanced between different parties regardless of their competitive factors. This means that the agency has always been focused on improving service delivery to its esteemed customers. With an able leadership of Frank Olsen, the company has moved to greater heights and has gained customer’s trust due to its quality services.

With Inchcape, the shipping industry has grown to a higher level, and there are encouraging signs that aim to improve services at the port. This means that the human factor that is delivered by the agency trumps everything. It has made it easier for ship owners to monitor their ship without accompanying them all over the world. Olsen believes that the company will expand in the coming years, thus serving more people worldwide. The shipping industry has a fragmented market, but with transparency-based operations, the agency will always be unique in its customers’ eyes.

It’s a privately owned company that has been operating for the last 40 years, and they offer their clients a platform for a digital supply chain that has made a first-class Cloud Inventory and supply chain solutions that are mobile-first. A specialist in the inventory management process, from the manufacturing to the distribution, to the last stretch, and they assist more than 300,000 businesses in over 50 countries. Data systems international has shined and assisted its customers in attaining their goals via their four value system: compliance, revenue generation, productivity, and optimization.

1.COMPLIANCE

The distribution and manufacturing of goods in regulated industries typically need compliance with defined standards and data systems international assists consumers to reach their compliance via their platform that is continuously monitoring the supply chain. The CEO and president of Data Systems International say, “Our clients depend on the Cloud Inventory solutions we provide for them to meet the regulatory mandates and compliance for their products. We have multiple clients from the pharmaceutical and medical device industry, delivering important medical devices and products. To fight counterfeits and make sure that the business or client ordered the correct prescription, we provide proof of delivery solutions. This proof is then relayed back to the manufacturing point of the product.”

2.REVENUE GENERATION

Clients know time wasted is money wasted while time saved equals money saved. Being able to reduce the time spent on tracking materials can lead to an increase in the revenue generated. Data Systems International says,” We offer our clients a horizontal view of their inventory. In today’s world, it’s needed in a digital economy and looking at it as a revenue chain instead of a supply chain.”

3.PRODUCTIVITY

Saving money depends on how productive your business and workers are. When your associates and workers have greater access to information, the possibility of productivity increases. The primary solution offered by Data Systems International is Cloud Inventory, and it is an application that has been made available via a mobile-first platform. The CEO notes,” Businesses can use any device with either android, an HTML5 device, or IOs. So depending on the device you choose to use, the application will ensure the worker using it is productive.” The platform has been configured to keep track of resources both offline and online, which is essential when workers are in areas with terrible reception or no internet access.

4.OPTIMIZATION

The optimization of inventory is vital to success. The CEO of Data Systems International says, ” The optimization of field inventory is an important area to optimize as managing inventory while in the field can be a tricky procedure for many businesses this is because most warehouse management systems and ERPs don’t do a great job. Field inventory is basically any material, inventory, or assets that need to be tracked while they are outside the warehouse, and this procedure can be very complex. The optimization of field inventory begins by knowing where the inventory is located. Ensuring there is the visibility of the available resources, and it is in the correct place on time is crucial for improved customer service and profitability.”

PayPal is a superb safe and secure way to buy goods and services online – but there are Paypal scams you need to know about. The issue is that many of us assume that if you list your item on sites such as Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace and a buyer offers to pay money into your account you are safe right? Wrong.

Can scammers get a hold of your money if it’s already in your PayPal account? Yes, they certainly can!

Here is how they can not only get your money but also keep the item they bought from you too:

Here are the scams:

1. Shipping Address Paypal Scam

The Scam: This scam involves a scammer asking for the items to be shipped to a specific address and money is paid into our account. You send the item to the required address.

The Reality: The delivery address is an invalid address and the shipping company can not find the location to make the delivery. After several attempts, they flag the item as undeliverable on their system. The scammer then makes contact with the delivery company giving them the new address where the parcel can be delivered to.

What happens: The scammer gets the item and then files a complaint with PayPal that the item was not delivered. You have no proof that it was indeed delivered as the transaction detail shows the original address. PayPal Seller Protection only covers the shipping address that PayPal has on the system and therefore not only do you lose the item but also the money.

2. Overpayment Paypal Scam

The Scam: the scammer makes a payment into your account for more money than the item is worth. They apologize for their mistake and ask for the balance to be paid into their bank account.

The Reality: the scammer did indeed overpay for the item and the money does reflect in your account.

What happens: when you pay the mistaken over amount into the scammer’s bank account, the scammer lodges a complaint with PayPal saying their account was hacked and they did not mean to make a payment to you. PayPal reimburses them their money and you are out of pocket for the “overpayment” amount you paid to their Bank Account.

3. Fake Email Scam

The Scam: The scammer sends you an email from PayPal showing that they paid the money into your account. However, PayPal is holding the money until you send a Tracking Number for the shipment and then the funds will be released.

The Reality: PayPal does not work as an escrow service and does not hold customer’s money nor does it get involved in shipping or tracking numbers. The email is a fake email.

What happens: The scammer hopes that you rush out and ship the item to them, email them the Tracking Number and then they string you along with excuses such as “the money will only reflect once the package arrives”. At that stage, it is too late – they have your item.

4. Phishing Email Paypal Scam

The Scam: Scammer sends you an email from PayPal showing that the funds have been transferred into your account and once your click on the confirmation button the funds will be available to you.

The Reality: the “confirmation button” takes you to a fake PayPal looking website where you log in with your username and password to “confirm” the transaction.

What Happens: As soon as you enter your username and password on the fake site, the scammer gets these details and is able to log into your real account and make payments or withdraw your money.

5. Hacked PayPal Scam

The Scam: PayPal sends you an email saying money has been deposited into your account. You log into and the money is there. You ship the item.

The Reality: Weeks later you are notified by PayPal that the money has been withdrawn from your account due to fraud.

What Happens: Scammers hack into other people’s accounts (as with the Phishing scam above) and use those accounts to make payment. When PayPal discovers the hacked account, they reimburse the money under certain conditions.

6. The Problem with your account email scam

This has been one of the most common scams that almost everyone has encountered. It’s an email disguising as a representative from Paypal saying that there is some sort of problem with your account. Sometimes, they’ll ask you to update your account to avoid the hassle of taking other unnecessary actions. They will often provide a link where you can log in to your Paypal details but will then be redirected to another website where they could steal important information from you or transfer your funds to their account.

Here’s a sample of the fake email:

“Dear Paypal User,

We have noticed some problems with our system. With this, our team decided to move to a new system.

Please be advised that we are requiring everyone to update your profile. Please immediately do so or your account may encounter major issues in the future.

You may update your profile here:

If you have experienced some issues prior to this email, our customer service is open 24/7.”

What you should do:

Do not click the link provided on the email. To make sure that the link is redirected to the Paypal website, hover your cursor over the link and check the URL at the lower left part of your screen – the URL can usually be seen on this part even without clicking the link.

To double-check its legitimacy, go straight to Paypal’s website and check for notifications regarding an account problem or profile update.

Never ever log in to PayPal from a link in an email.

7. Awesome Deal / You have won

Fraudsters commonly use email as a medium to reach their target people, luring them to click a link that would direct them to a fake website that is programmed to capture any information you will enter on it for personal gain. Nowadays, they also do promotional spoofs in the form of social media posts. They will pretend to be selling something or offering a great deal to get your attention.

Here’s a sample promotional spoof:

“Earn payback cash or credit by verifying your account details!



What you should do:

Always check the URL of the website. Anything aside from the official web address of Paypal is more likely a scam. Just because the web address has the word “Paypal”, does not mean it is them. Paypal also does not use domains specific countries or regions such as “co.eu” for Europe or “co.uk” for the UK.

Paypal’s credibility can also be seen on how well and professionally they crafted their website. The brand’s voice is on point as well as the grammar and spelling of every text on it. The designs and images are of high quality and in line with the brand’s coloring and messaging.

Any grammatical errors, misspelled words, or low-resolution images could be a hint that you are on a fake website.

8. Fake charities and investment scams

Scammers are opportunists. They take chances in situations that involve your decision-making skills, particularly, playing your emotions. Posing as charities is their ace to swindle the money of their generous and well-meaning targets. Using the pandemic, scammers are trying to conn money to help anything from orphans who lost their parents, to food banks feeding the homeless, to people in need of medication that they can’t afford.

Another technique scammers us is offering investment opportunities such as “shares in a resort” or “cheap property”. They create elaborate fake websites where the “investment” is laid out and “…for a small deposit of only $100 paid via PayPal you can get in on the ground floor of the investment”

What you should do:

Follow your instinct when it comes to investment scams. Avoid any offer of a promising big reward in return for a small investment. You can check some government or private websites that can validate if the company is really existing and check their reviews as well.

The same goes for charities asking for a pledge or donation. Check if their organization is registered with the government.

Here are some recommended sites by Paypal:

Charity Navigator

Give.org

Charity Watch

9. Expedited Stimulus Checks

In the US, the government has issued a stimulus check to Americans due to the Covd-19 pandemic. Scammers are using this and creating fake emails offering to “expedite your stimulus payment for a small payment into their account.” Some generous scammers are even offering to refund the fee should they not be successful in getting your stimulus check.

Of course, the entire process is flawed and this is a scam to collect money from those who are desperately waiting for their money.

What you should do:

Use official IRS and government websites in order to inquire about the status of your check. Do not trust a broker who demands payment.

10. Covid-19 Home Test Kit

As corona tests are not readily available and people who are ill would prefer to be tested at home. Scammers are offering to send you government-issued test kits for a low price of $19.99.

Once again, this is one more PayPal scams, and all COVID and testing information should be gotten from your local health physician or official government or county sources.

How does Paypal respond to these Paypal Scams?

PayPal wants to protect its legitimate customers from various scams and so it has an amazing buyer and seller protection programs. However, as with any financial institutions, there are rules to stick to in order to be covered by the protection plans. Here are some of the rules that you need to be aware of when using PayPal:

A seller using PayPal:

Seller Protection does apply only if:

Ship to the address on the Transaction Details page. If the item was sold through your site, make sure you’re shipping the item to a confirmed address.

The item sold must be a physical, tangible item that can be shipped. This means intangible items such as digital goods and services aren’t covered.

If we request documentation or other relevant information, we ask that you respond promptly (typically within ten business days).

Your permanent address (listed in your account) must be in the United States.

For “Item Not Received” cases:

The payment must be marked “eligible” or “partially eligible” on the Transaction Details page.

You must provide online tracking to be eligible for protection.

For “Unauthorized Payment” cases:

The payment must be marked “eligible” on the Transaction Details page.

You must provide Proof of Delivery or Proof of Shipment as described below.

Seller Protection does NOT cover you if:

Claims, chargebacks, or reversals filed because the item is significantly different from how it was described (e.g. You described an item as “new,” but sent a used one).

Intangible purchases like services, digital goods, etc.

Items picked up locally or in person.

Transactions made through PayPal Direct, Virtual Terminal, PayPal Business, or PayPal Here.

Instances where you receive multiple payments for an item.

Claims filed directly through an eBay account.

Prohibited items such as drug paraphernalia, ammunition/firearms, or counterfeit goods.

First Class Mail International, since the receipt only shows the address the order was delivered to – not the customer’s address.

More info here: https://www.paypal.com/us/webapps/mpp/security/seller-protection

Buyers using PayPal – beware of these fraud PayPal rules

You ARE covered by PayPal Purchase Protection:

You bought a book, but received a DVD

Purchased an item described as “new,” but received something that was used

Acquired 3 items, but only received 2

The item was damaged during shipping

Item is missing major parts (that the seller didn’t report)

You purchased an item described as authentic but received a knockoff instead

There are NOT covered:

Real estate

Motorized vehicles

Custom-made goods that aren’t received

Industrial machinery

Prepaid cards

Items that violate our policies

Anything bought in person (not over the internet)

Send Money transactions to friends or family

Disputes filed more than 180 days after the purchase for item not received and significantly not as described claims

Unauthorized transaction claims reported more than 60 days after the transaction date of the transaction

Items that were described accurately by the seller

PayPal Scams are real

While Paypal and their IT team are continuously working to improve the security of their transactions and other services, it is important to stay vigilant and aware of the tactics that cyber criminals commit. While they know that most people will simply delete their emails, they count on the fact that a small percentage might read the email while being distracted and quickly log into the fake account revealing their username and password.

The golden rule is never to react to these emails. Always log in via their main URL and if indeed there are issues with your account, there will be a notification there with instructions on how to resolve the issues.

PayPal is clear on their policies and will protect the seller and the buyer when the protocol is followed. PayPal Scam info is constantly being updated on the PayPal scams and fraud site, so please check this link for more info.

Note: if you are in South Africa, be aware of these Mandatory PayPal rules too

The Techie Guy informs of recent Paypal scams and how you can avoid them.

 

Elton Pereira, a Victoria, BC resident, is no stranger to the ins and outs of the business world.  As an entrepreneur, technologist, and visionary, he has a history of launching and supporting a series of successful startups and growing these into multi-million dollar enterprises. Most notably, Elton Pereira is a co-founder and former CEO of ParetoLogic, a company that grew exponentially in a matter of a few short years to become one of the leaders in Internet security solutions in the world, with sales in every country.  

Preparing himself for a career in the business world, Pereira received a Bachelor of Commerce Degree, specializes in entrepreneurship and finance at the University of Victoria in British Columbia in 1998. His first appointment after earning his degree came at CIBC, where he managed over $60 million worth of assets and received the CIBC Annual Achiever Award three years in a row, earning national recognition as one of Canada’s top financial planners.

ParetoLogic: The Little Family Business that Could

While Pereira has a string of successful companies in various industry sectors that he is involved with, the shining star in his entrepreneurial crown to date has been ParetoLogic, a Victoria, BC based software technology company specialized in Internet security that he founded with family members in 2004. 

Elton Pereira founded ParetoLogic in 2004 along with his two brothers Adrian and Myron Pereira and brother-in-law Don Wharton, a long-term business partner. The company specialized in PC and cloud-based Internet security platforms, providing optimization, backup, and privacy solutions, and other utility software services, serving small businesses as well as independent home users. 

The company was launched with a small investment of personal capital on the part of each of the co-founders, and a wealth of market research on the part of Pereira. This led to an extremely successful launch, thanks to a robust online marketing campaign, a triumphant move that provided cash flow from the very beginning, which led to constantly expanding opportunities for growth. Pereira recalls these early days in his own words:

“My bros and I started with our own online marketing companies, took out large credit lines on our Visa and started to play. Throughout the trial and error process of selling a variety of software online we discovered a niche market in the anti-spyware space that turned out to be the beginning of our growth journey. As a reseller, we were having success marketing and selling hundreds of units of an anti-spyware product per day but we had bigger dreams and aspirations.” 

Those dreams and aspirations manifested in the form of dedicated hands-on approach on the part of the ParetoLogic team, and this spirit of determination paid off generously. Between 2004 and 2015, the company grew rapidly from a tiny team of 5 employees and $3.9 million in revenue to an enterprise with 70 employees, 350 million downloads, and $24 million in sales, with customers in every single country around the world.

“We grew fast and furious because my brotherly founders, the executive team and I had ambitious goals of introducing 2-3 new products to market each year (including anti-virus, privacy controls, pc optimization, data recovery and backup, parental controls, etc), recruiting the top marketers in the world and never taking our success for granted,” Pereira recalls. 

The company valued innovation, creativity, and a healthy and focused work ethic. The executive team brought in talented personnel and encouraged individual employees to expand upon their unique skills and interests.  The team also valued a family-oriented workplace culture that allowed employees to flourish as professionals, and encouraged having fun as part of the path to success.

The core values that led ParetoLogic to its rapid growth and success were passion and drive, coupled with integrity, trust, respect and love for one another, all of which fostered a loyal team spirit, and a fun and creative work environment. It was this inspiring environment that led to the innovation of top quality software solutions and exceptional customer service on the part of the ParetoLogic team. 

“We appealed to the mom and pops of the world providing very simple, user friendly one click applications that took up very little computer system resources, worked lightning fast with exceptional live and timely customer service. We were also willing to reward our marketers handsomely for their expertise, execution, support and loyalty. 

“But even beyond the solid product and customer acquisition strategy, I would have to say our PURE success was directly a result of our highly talented, passionate, warm-hearted, driven, committed and loyal team. Each and every one of them played a part in our growth journey. Even during our biggest challenges as a tech company in a competitive world, I was inspired by the team’s positivity, resilience, drive and thrive attitude. It was all heart and soul that allowed us to provide software solutions to over 10 million customers in all 196 countries in the world for 17 great years.” 

Community Giving as a Unifying Force

The ParetoLogic team was also committed to the belief that companies have a responsibility to harness their capital, influence, and resources, as well as their economic power and access, and use those to positively impact human lives in communities both locally and globally.

Elton Pereira is a passionate philanthropist who believes that with rapid entrepreneurial growth comes a responsibility to community giving at both the local and global levels.  He is also passionate about working with optimistic, driven, and inspired individuals and organizations that are similarly passionate about making a difference in the world.

“We were honored with a number of technology awards over the years but most proud of the ones that recognized us for Community service,” he recalls.  “Our team embraced being a champion in the global community building schools in Kenya, India, Mexico and the Dominican Republic; sponsoring children through World Vision, donating blood (and eating lots of cookies ) at Canadian Blood Services; serving up breakfast at Our Place; honoring my grandparents by supporting the Eddie & Maggie Pires Center in North Goa to rehabilitate, empower and protect young girls from sexual exploitation; bringing joy to young children through CFAX Santa’s Anonymous; [and] shaved our heads for Cops for Cancer.” 

In 2014, ParetoLogic became an investor in Change Heroes, an organization that provides a platform as well as tools for individuals and charitable organizations to effectively raise funds. These funds support the building of new schools serving hundreds of thousands of children in developing countries.

Pereira became passionate about participating in the Change Heroes platform after watching a Ted Talk by Change Heroes founder Taylor Conroy.

“I wanted to be part of something new, exciting and impactful,” he remembers. “He allowed me to be his first guinea pig and fortunately I was successful in utilizing social media and personalized videos to recruit 100 of my closest friends and family to donate $3.33 per day for three months for a total of $30,000. This built three beautiful schools in Rajasthan, India.”

He then led ParetoLogic into a partnership with Change Heroes, raising $20,000 to build two additional schools in Kenya and Haiti through the organization’s partnership with Free the Children.  

ParetoLogic also supported other organizations with contributions of cash, time, energy and passion, including Pied executives for Power To Be, as well as BC Children’s Hospital. 

The accolades that ParetoLogic earned for its community giving include the Community Engagement Award presented to the company at the BCTIA Technology Impact Awards Ceremony in 2012, and the World Vision Recognition for Humanitarian Efforts award in both 2015 and 2016. The company was also honored to receive the 2017 VIATEC Community Involvement Award, recognizing ParetoLogic’s contributions to a total of 11 charitable initiatives in the year leading up to the awards ceremony. 

2020 Retirement of ParetoLogic

The retirement of ParetoLogic was announced in March 2020, as Pereira made the following statement:

“It’s been a wild ride and I could not have asked for anything more. Our lease on the space we have been in for 16 years is up and retiring the business allows our team to move on to new and exciting careers, and allows the founders to pursue new passion projects including more time with our family. New beginnings just felt right heading into 2020.

“ParetoLogic’s 17-year run has allowed my brothers and I to support and grow half a dozen other tech/sports media/eCommerce/venture/online businesses currently employing hundreds of people globally. Although Pareto’s officially winding up, its presence lives on. I love my brother’s strong passions and desires to continue to make a mark in this world while understanding the importance of family, friends and community. If it wasn’t for this inner fire and the unwavering love and support we receive from our parents, partners, kids, friends and the community, none of this would have been possible.” 

Moving on from ParetoLogic allowed Pereira to devote more time to his family, as well as to set his sights on an assortment of new business ventures. Some of his new businesses include SureSwift Capital, a diversified SAAS portfolio company that buys out talented founders in order to take businesses to the next level of growth; SendtoNews, a cloud-based digital sports syndicator that has become the fastest growing technology company in its field; The Very Good Butchers, a rapidly growing company that provides plant-based alternatives to meat; Social Nature, a social marketing company that delivers natural products to customers’ doorsteps; Version One Ventures, a venture fund that supports mission-driven founders launching promising startups; Gravity Group, a global investment and advisory enterprise that focuses on businesses with game-changing technologies that support environmental, social and governmental initiatives; and Constant Content, an online talent marketplace that links expert content producers to companies seeking top quality SEO content. 

Elton Pereira’s passion for community giving has also endured beyond ParetoLogic, and in this past year, he supported Startup Skool, a social project that brings an entrepreneurial mindset to youth, through Glenlyon Norfolk School in Victoria, BC.