₦airaland Forum

It's ITK people like you that will still end up being scammed. Shiooor.

Webmasterjerry:
Copy and paste
Who doesn’t know all this

Because you do, does not mean others do. I shared it infact cos of the enlightment I gained by it.

MrCoker:
Let me move this topic to the front-page

Alright, that will be great.

The world of business has evolved so rapidly with technology. Modern-day businesses utilise different forms of technology in their various operations such as customer care, transportation, as well as human resource management. Technology if used transparently greatly improves the quality of services and products thereby giving them that competitive edge. However, the use of technology in online business transactions have birthed another monster, internet scams.


WHAT IS AN INTERNET SCAM?
‘Internet scam’ is a type of fraud or deception which uses the internet and could involve hiding of information or providing incorrect information for the purpose of tricking victims of their money, services or property.

We truly want to believe the internet is a safe place where we cannot easily fall prey to fraudsters. But while the internet is a wonderful information tool, it can pose great risks if not cautiously used. The internet as much as the real society holds vast areas fraudsters exploit to scam unsuspecting users.


HOW ONLINE SCAMS BEGAN
The history of internet scams dates back to many decades. Gradually, internet scams have become more rampant with the use of technology sprouting roots in virtually all countries of the world.


HERE ARE SOME OF THE COUNTRIES WITH THE MOST INTERNET SCAMMERS
Mexico
Ukraine
Hungary
Malaysia
Colombia
Romania
Philippines
Greece
Brazil
China
Indonesia
Russia
Singapore
Nigeria
Canada
Portugal
Switzerland
United Kingdom
India
Netherlands
France
Austria

Internet fraud is becoming increasingly popular, but you don’t have to worry. According to the popular aphorism, “being forewarned is being forearmed”. Knowledge in advance enables one to be prepared. Internet scams might have one too many faces, nevertheless, we will try our best to expose the different ‘masked faces’ of all the common internet scams. So each time you come across any, you’d be able to tell right away.


THE LATEST TYPES OF INTERNET SCAMS
Free or discounted vacation scam
Vacation ticket re-sell scam
Vacation rental scam
Advanced fee/prepayment scams
Fraudulent cloud mining companies
Anti -Virus scam
Charity Scam
Emergency Scam
Employment Scam
AdSense account scam
Fake Check Scam
Grandparent Scam
Identity Theft
Car Auction Scam
Immigration Scam
Internet Purchase Scam
Lottery/Prize Scam
Matchmaking Scam
Social Networking Scam
Relationship Scam
Fraudulent Cryptocurrency investment schemes
Phishing
POS agent scam
Fake coin exchangers
Ponzi Schemes
Fake website/app builders
Counterfeit goods sites
Amazon delivery scam
Wallet fork scams
Third-party content injection
Credit Card Scam

We can go on and on, but let’s not bore you with a list too lengthy. For the purpose of this article, our focus is to discuss ways of identifying an online scammer or scam website when you come across one.


HOW TO DETERMINE IF A WEBSITE IS FAKE, FRAUDULENT OR A SCAM
1. PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE URL
Most internet users pay very little attention to the address bar in their browser. The address bar contains a ton of vital information about how secure you are at each level on a website. If you want to be sure if you are secure or not, then you have to develop a habit of glancing up there whenever you visit a new page.

Most browsers make use of a concept called the Line of Death. This is the point where a user should never go trust anything below a certain point on the website.

Another similar tactic scammers use in phishing is to create a website that is almost indistinguishable from the real thing. They can even go as far as creating subdomains that mimic real domains. So at each point, you are on the browser, check your address bar.

2. LOOK FOR TRUST SEALS
Legit companies who serve customers online make substantial investments in the security of their users. And when they do, they want to take good credit for it. Many trusted websites place their trust seals boldly on their homepage or login page.

SSL certificates also come with trust seals that display verified information when clicked on. Just seeing the site seal isn’t enough, it is essential that you click on it to verify it’s legitimate.

3. CHECK CONNECTION SECURITY INDICATORS ON THE ADDRESS BAR
The address bar contains several connection indicators that can tell if your connection to the website is secured. Hackers can easily eavesdrop and gain access to information on non-private internet connections.

The internet was first built on HTTP or the hypertext transfer protocol. However, any communication done via HTTP is sent in plaintext and can be intercepted, manipulated or stolen. In order to remedy this, SSL or Secure Sockets Layer was developed. SSL was later succeeded by TLS or Transport Layer Security. In a nutshell, any site with a
HTTP = Bad
HTTPS = Better

Also lookout for the Padlock Icon, the EV Name Badge Or a Green Address Bar. Either or both of these indicate that the site is using an HTTPS and that you have a secure connection.

You must note however that having a secure connection doesn’t necessarily mean you are safe. (This is explained in 4). There are lots of fake websites that make use of free SSL certificates.

4. CHECK TO CONFIRM SSL CERTIFICATE
A website might have the padlock icon, name badge or green address bar but that might not necessarily mean it’s secure. Lately, most browsers (like Safari and Firefox) allow you to view the certificate by clicking the padlock icon in the address bar. When you click on the certificate information, you will get all of the information the CA verified before it issued the certificate.

If an organization has an OV SSL certificate – which is recommended as a baseline for e-commerce businesses, financial institutions, etc. – then you will be able to see verified business details in the certificate information. Provided the website is registered to the right company, you’re fine. You can probably trust this site. If it doesn’t, then you need to be careful


TIPS TO STAY SAFE ONLINE
1. USE STRONG, UNIQUE AND COMPLEX PASSWORDS
Most people make use of simple passwords for the fact that they are easy to remember, but creating strong, unique passwords for all your critical accounts is the surest way to keep your personal and financial information safe. If you find complex passwords too difficult to manage or remember, Our best advice: use a password manager to help you store and create strong passwords for all of your accounts.

2. MAKE SURE YOUR CONNECTIONS ARE PRIVATE
When at home or work, you probably use a password-protected router that encrypts your data. But, when you’re on the road, you might be tempted to use free, public Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi is usually unsecured, which makes it easier for a hacker to access your device or information.

That’s why you should consider investing in a Virtual Private Network (VPN). A VPN is a piece of software that creates a secure connection over the internet, so you can safely connect from anywhere.

3. USE A FIREWALL
A firewall is an electronic barrier that blocks or limits unauthorized access to your computers and devices. You can use a firewall to ensure that all devices connected to your network are private.

Firewall security is important because many IoT devices such as thermostats and webcams aren’t equipped with security measures, leaving hackers a vulnerable point of entry to your entire network.

4. BE VIGILANT
A reasonable number of today’s internet scams rely mostly on phishing to trick unsuspecting users into revealing sensitive information. Watch out for spam emails, click baits, phoney “free” offers, online quizzes, and other offers that either ask for your personal information or sound too juicy.

5. GUARD ZEALOUSLY YOUR IDENTITY INFORMATION
Recently, while signing up on social media sites, you are required to fill your personal information. Just be cautious about what you share, particularly when it comes to your identity information. Scammers can Phish this information and use it guess your passwords or steal your identity.

6. SECURE YOUR DEVICES
Mobile devices are now as vulnerable to online threats as laptops. Be wary of risky apps and dangerous links sent by text message. Download apps only from official stores after reading reviews from other users. Ensure your mobile security software is enabled just as your laptop.

7. ALWAYS ENSURE YOUR CONNECTIONS ARE SECURE
As earlier explained, when shopping online, or visiting websites for online banking or other sensitive transactions, always make sure that the site’s address starts with “https”, instead of just “HTTP”, and has a padlock icon in the URL field. You should also check to confirm the type of certificate if you are still having some doubts.

8. KEEP ALL SOFTWARE REGULARLY UPDATED
Regularly update your software to be in tune with the latest security patches. Enable automatic updates so you don’t have to worry about it. Also, set your security software to run regular scans.

9. LOOK OUT FOR THE LATEST SCAMS
Internet scams keep evolving all the time, so make sure you know what to look out for. Currently, “ransomware” is on the rise. This is when a hacker threatens to lock you out of all of your files unless you agree to pay a ransom. Stay on top of this and other threats by staying informed.

And finally BE CAUTIOUS about what you do online, the information you share, the apps you download and always do a backup just in case something goes wrong.

If you believe you have been a victim of an internet-related crime, promptly report to the relevant government authority.

SOURCE: https://www.canontimes.com/2019/07/04/latest-online-scams-tips-to-stay-safe/

ALKARULEZZ:
Lol!! This is a fallacious statement.

Lmao, ok. Cheers

goldimx:
Its as if thy listen to the voices here on nairaland. Wer is dt guy again dt askd for a reassurance mail?

Don't be surprised if this thread is actually monitored by an insider.

Estharfabian:

Sure?


I'll pin you down on your word!

Lol, please do.

Estharfabian:


I'm so Not reading this!

You'd be amazed when yo done reading!

It’s strange that whenever you mention the word ‘SEX’ it grabs everybody’s attention: they drop everything they are doing and want to read more.

Well I’m sorry for misleading you for I’m not about to talk about ‘SEX’ today but about ‘S.EX’ (NB – notice the dot after ‘S’ and before ‘EX’?) which are my acronyms for ‘Super Excellence’.

So let’s talk about Super Excellence.

The English dictionary describes excellence as the quality of being outstanding or extremely good. Super excellence, however, is the art of pushing yourself to go even further, further than going the proverbial extra mile, being better than the best.

Already you’re excellent at what you do (I presume) but what if you could become even better?

In his highly acclaimed book ‘the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People’ Steven R Covey lists seven things you can do to be better. These are:

1, Be more proactive.

2, Begin with the end in mind.

3, Put first things first – taking full control and staying disciplined.

4, Think Win-Win – failure is not an option!

5, Learn first learn how to understand and then be understood.

6, Synergize – the habit of creative co-operation – teamwork.

7, Sharpen your saw.

We all know what we are good at so there’s no point in going into that. To be super excellent I’ll narrow these seven habits down to three things anyone can follow.

These are:

1, Time is money – don’t waste it!

2, Work harder and smarter.

3, Seek feedback.

Now let’s examine them one by one.

‘Time is money’ is a phrase we are all accustomed to. Once you’ve lost time you’ll never get it back! The secret is to make every minute count – time management. There are 24 hour hours in a day. How much of this do we actually waste on frivolous activities – watching TV, messing about online, social events etc. Say if you were to stay off the internet for an hour less every day that’s one hour gained a day, seven hours over a week and over thirty hours over a month. And this is time that can be put to achieving your goals or whatever you’re working on. Try to come up with a plan to manage your time effectively.


Work harder and smarter

Don’t be like a hamster running on a wheel! The poor little creature is putting in a lot of hard work running on its wheel but it’s not going anywhere! It’s one thing to work hard and another to work smarter – have a destination! There’s no point in working hard till you’re about to drop if it’s not geared towards achieving a specific goal. Some people spend all their lives working hard and at retirement they have nothing to show for it whereas some people work hard for a few years and they are set for life – work hard but smarter.


Seek feedback

Two heads are better than one is a saying we are all familiar with. Nobody knows everything and its best to seek feedback on whatever you’re doing from someone else. Better still make sure it’s a third party person who knows very little about you. That way you can be assured that whatever feedback you receive will be an honest appraisal of your abilities not influenced by familiarity.

So let’s move on to the super excellence part; you’ve invented the wheel – Hurray! But it’s not time to pop a bottle of champagne and rest on your laurels. This is just the beginning! What can the wheel be applied to? Time to get your thinking cap on and think of the next step. And when you work it out that the wheel you have invented can be attached to a cart .What’s next? You either get a donkey to pull it or invent an engine to drive it. Be open to all possibilities.

You keep on evolving. You keep on going forward thinking of new things, broadening your horizons, improving your skills – till you become a Master at what you are doing. Look at it from this point of view; you go to primary school. Then on to secondary school. Then on to university to get your FIRST degree before proceeding to get a second degree, a Masters – why stop? You proceed to get your third degree, a PhD – is there anything else after a PhD? Probably academically not but you can proceed to become an overall expert in your field. Anything else? You can of course proceed to become an internationally known expert in your field and keep on going till, perhaps, you become…..

There is no limit to how far you can go – don’t set yourself a target as this will only limit you, just keep on going! It’s rumoured we just use less than five per cent of our minds capabilities, now’s the time to start using the remaining unused ninety-five per cent! It can be done as it’s not impossible.

Being excellent to a high degree elevates you above everybody else; your thinking is different. Your perspective on the world becomes different and you’re able to do more things than most can do in their lifetimes.

You will obviously need to be disciplined, focused, ready to put in a lot of hard work, ready for criticism(-and constructive feedback) and at the end of the day your reward will be the accumulation of knowledge and wisdom beyond anybody’s wildest dreams which can be applied to any aspect of your life.


Source: http://www.opinions.ng/lets-talk-s-ex/

martynsnet:
When do one speak then?

Simple. The opposite of situations when you should be silent.

Smallville10:
My broda u go see next year

Amen Ooo. And beyond. And you too.

As the adage goes; ‘silence is golden’, the following is a list of 20 situations where it is better to be silent:


1. Be silent – in the heat of anger.

2. Be silent – when you don’t have all the facts.

3. Be silent – when you haven’t verified the story.

4. Be silent – if your words will offend a weaker person.

5. Be silent – when it is time to listen.

6. Be silent – when you are tempted to make light of holy things.

7. Be silent – when you are tempted to joke about sin.

8. Be silent – if you would be ashamed of your words later.

9. Be silent – if your words would convey the wrong impression.

10. Be silent – if the issue is none of your business.

11. Be silent – when you are tempted to tell an outright lie.

12. Be silent – if your words will damage someone else’s reputation.

13. Be silent – if your words will damage a friendship.

14. Be silent – when you are feeling critical.

15. Be silent – if you can’t say it without screaming.

16. Be silent – if your words will be a poor reflection of the Lord or your friends and family.

17. Be silent – if you may have to eat your words later.

18. Be silent – if you have already said it more than one time.

19. Be silent – when you are tempted to flatter a wicked person.

20. Be silent – when you are supposed to be working instead.


“WHOEVER GUARDS HIS MOUTH AND TONGUE KEEPS HIS SOUL FROM TROUBLES”.


Source: http://www.opinions.ng/see-20-times-need-silent/

oluwadaemilola:
Op
what about us that our livelihood depends on social media

I presume by 'livelihood' you mean source of income? If that's the case, That's a different ball game entirely. The likes of Linda Ikeji, Mark Zuckerberg our very own Seun of Nairaland are making it big time with social media.

.

Catalin:
The advantage far outweigh the disadvantage.

You stop keeping in touch with your friends and family far from you.

You become outdated cos you won't be able to know what is going on in your country and the world.

You look stu.pid during an argument as a result of you not entering social media.

Internet you mean? Internet and social media aren't the same.

Internet you mean? Internet and social media aren't the same.

DavidEsq:
OP, u forgot this one: u wee not burn soup again

Lol, 2go users. Take note!

Rainmaker69:
Great article. Some people take social media too seriously... such a fake form of existence.

Abi. Lion on social media, a cat in reality.

Social media has come to stay because it is fun and you can connect with people from different parts of the world. However, what we don’t realize is that social media is very addictive. You will be unaware of this except you take a break or quit social media to see the difference. In the interim, here are some of the interesting things that will happen to you when you eventually pull the plug on social media.


You will get more work done

When you don’t have to worry about your devices buzzing left and right, you will be very productive. This is because nothing is distracting you. This is why some offices block access to social during work hours. When we stop ourselves from checking social media, again and again, it really becomes another form of unnecessary multitasking.


You will get more sleep

Since our phones are always beside us, you are always tempted to check social media even though you are going to deny yourself sleep which you really need. So, it is definitely true that if you quit or leave temporarily, you will definitely get more sleep.


Face-to-face relationships will be strengthened

Sure, social media can be an excellent way to stay in touch with old friends or family. But because of this easy way to connect, many of us have stopped visiting friends and family. Jumia Travel adds that reducing your social media interactions will strengthen relationships.


You will feel less stressed

A major reason why many people are stressed when they forget their phone at home is because they won’t have access to social media. You will be calmer and focused if you decide to quit social media.


You know your real friends

Your virtual followers and friends on twitter, Instagram as well as Facebook are just numbers. Your relationship with them mostly likely will end on social media. Leaving social media will help you separate your friends from the crowd.


Source: http://www.opinions.ng/5-interesting-things-happen-abandon-social-media/

Sibrah:
Really. I think productivity emcompasses all three points sir.

Yo right.

Sibrah:
What we need is productivity. Even if our expenditure and import tripples, the effect can be negated by productivity. Go round town, you see youths idling away, in civil service people hardly earn one-quarter of their pay, in private sector people toil so hard to deliver little. These are what we need to reverse.

Of Course. Same with point 1.

jpphilips:
Oil is waking up by Jan 1st 2017, if the !diots in the delta stop bombing, we will climb out of recession before Q2 2017.

Abi

Nigeria’s GDP reached an all-time high of $568 Billion in 2014 after a rebasing exercise done by the previous administration but has now dropped to $481Billion (a negative growth rate of about 14% year-on-year). The Gross Domestic Product of an economy is the value of goods and services produced in that economy, for the period or quarter under review. Recent data released by the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics shows Nigeria is officially in recession as her GDP annual growth rate has now contracted for 3 consecutive quarters further down to -2.24%, the lowest in over a decade. Over 70% of Nigeria’s revenue comes from the sale of crude oil; however, the fall in price of the commodity in the global market coupled with a sharp drop in Nigeria’s daily crude oil production due to unrest in the Nigerdelta region has impacted negatively on the country’s economic growth.

Major factors that compounded the effects of our falling GDP are: reduction in revenue; rising inflation (inflation has surged from 9.6% in January this year to 18.3% after 10 months) and a colossal drop in both FDI (Foreign Direct Investments) and FPI (Foreign Portfolio Investments). With all having significant ripple effects, most notably the scarcity of foreign currencies which has spawn the spread between the interbank market rate and the ‘local’ exchange rate, so much pressure has been put on our foreign exchange reserves which is on a steady decline. These factors have unfortunately combined to push Nigeria, and consequently, Nigerians into a dismal financial situation.

How can the Nation pull out of the recession?

In simple terms – “DIVERSIFICATION”.

This word amongst many has been abused by both the government and the people. Using the financial definition, ‘Diversification is the process of allocating capital in a way that reduces the exposure to any one particular asset or risk’. The solution to our problems deeply lies in how we go about achieving this feat.

Summarily, here are ways we can achieve the objective of a pull away from recession:


1. INCREASED EXPORT/PRODUCTION & REDUCTION IN DEPENDENCE ON IMPORTS

Nigeria boasts of resources (according to Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, it has over 40 extractable solid minerals – gold, coal, limestone, iron ore, lead/zinc) which abound in commercial quantities with a global market and also sectors(manufacturing, textile, tourism, ICT) with untapped opportunities and by applying a simple scale of preference by way of capital investments as we do not have requisite funds to bolster all these sectors at once, we would go a long way in properly diversifying away from an almost complete dependence on oil.

Also, 80% of government’s revenue is recycled into foreign exchange due to the country’s high propensity to import which puts pressure on our reserves and owes majorly to our dependence on items that can be produced in-house. In agriculture, Nigeria has a vast arable land mass and have the capacity to cultivate major crops like beans, rice, oil palm, yams, millet, melon, maize, cassava, plantains, groundnut, etc. Encouraging agriculture would mean we would not only be self-sufficient in terms of food production but also have enough to export.

Lastly, investing in sectors that would ensure we have not just products but talents is key. The World Bank has estimated the value of Nigeria’s diaspora remittance market at $21 billion, a figure that has been rising every year over the last decade and the largest in Africa. Diaspora remittances are funds sent back home by Nigerians leaving or working abroad. This remittance, next to petro-dollars, is currently the second biggest source of foreign exchange earnings by the County. Therefore, education, skill acquisition and talent development cannot be neglected and must be encouraged at every level.


2. CONTROLLED EXPENDITURE

According to the 2016 budget which has a deficit of 2.2 trillion naira, Nigeria is expected to spend a whopping 69% of our estimated revenue on recurrent expenditure. Recurrent expenditure refers to payments made by governments or organizations for all purposes except capital costs. It includes payments for wages and salaries for workers, electricity bills, purchase of diesel, etc. Priority instead should be given to capital expenditure on infrastructure in key sectors with would have knock-off effects on other sectors. Applying a simple scale of preference to bringing an end to our decaying economy is highly advisable as we do not have requisite funds to bolster all these sectors at once while making steady developments to other sectors with a projected completion timeline. A typical example is the power sector which if significant improvements in generating and transmitting electricity are made would not only reduce individual costs but would also reduce companies operating costs (this means more revenue, more tax for the government, reduced product prices, etc.), encourage new startups (SMEs) amongst others which would lead to enormous growth and expansion of the nation GDP.

Therefore, I would suggest:

- Reduced personnel cost of government workers.
- Gross reduction in overheads.
- Reduction in statutory transfers to institutions.
- Austerity measures in all arms of government should be encompassing.


3. PROPER GOVERNMENT POLICIES

Appropriate fiscal (means by which a government adjusts its spending levels and tax rates to monitor and influence a nation’s economy) and monetary (actions of a central bank, currency board or other regulatory committee that determine the size and rate of growth of the money supply, which in turn affects interest rates. Monetary policy is maintained through actions such as modifying the interest rate, buying or selling government bonds, and changing the amount of money banks are required to keep/available for loans) policies.

Having effective policies would spur growth and create a better climate for both domestic and foreign investments/investors.

In conclusion, although these are no quick fixes to the current economic challenges, they are massive steps in the right direction as either investments or quick palliatives.

Source: http://www.opinions.ng/a-critical-look/

Please what are the requirements for uniben's direct entry, enlighten me bro. What steps do I need to take.

Omasworld1:
This thread is created for the sole aim of updating those coming in for direct entry in the University of Benin. Please be informed that Uniben direct entry exam is usually after the school exam which is coming up june to end in July as such Direct entry exam will commence july ending.