A recent report by Social Catfish, an online investigation service, found that the U.S. is the most scammed country in the world.
The good news is, with the right information, you can protect yourself from being part of next year’s stats. Let’s take a look at some of the significant findings of the report, and how you can keep your money and your information safe. Who gets scammed the most? With an astounding 466,501 online scams in 2022, the U.S. leads the world as the country with the most scam victims per year. Of the 50 states, California had the most online scam victims in 2022, at 80,766. North Dakota takes the prize for the lowest number of scam victims, at just 703. Among age groups, teens and children have seen the largest percentage increase in money lost. Victims in the under-20 age group lost $210 million in 2022, compared to $8.2 million in 2017. Seniors still hold the place as the most victimized group, though, with their overall losses totaling $3.1 billion. How much money was lost to scams in 2022? A record $10.3 billion was lost to online scams in 2022, up from $6.9 billion in 2021. This was an increase of 277% from $2.7 billion in 2017, according to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center. When factoring in estimated unreported scams, the total money lost to online scams in 2022 jumps to $200 billion. In addition, the average loss per victim per incident was $12,859, up from $8,142 in 2021. Unfortunately, only 4.2% of stolen funds were recovered. Where are people getting scammed? Social Catfish found that most online scams happen on Facebook (32%), Google Hangouts (16%), WhatsApp (16), Plenty of Fish (16%) and Instagram (14%). How to avoid scams Keep your money and your information safe with these protective measures:
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A new year is approaching, so now is the perfect time to take stock of your career and set new goals for the coming year. Setting well-defined and achievable objectives can help you reach new levels of success and growth in your career. Let’s take a look at five professional goals you can set for the new year.
Learn a new skill Whatever your level of employment, there’s always room for improvement and personal growth. Resolve to learn or improve a professional skill this year to help advance your career. Take some time to analyze your current skill set to find room for improvements and then find an online course or instructional video to help you learn something new. Move up in your careerDon’t be afraid to be ambitious this year. Review your current position and determine the best way to achieve real career growth. This can translate into a promotion at your job, striking out on your own or leaving your workplace for a new position elsewhere. Write down your goal and then break it down into the steps you need to take to make it happen. Set a timeline for each of your steps so you can review it throughout the year and make sure you’re on track for it to happen. Increase your productivityBoosting your productivity will turn you into a valued employee who gets more done in less time.Take stock of your current work practices, looking for areas to change for increasing your productivity levels. For example, if you often get sidetracked while answering your email, you can resolve to answer messages only twice a day, or even once an hour. Blocking out time for this specific task can help you keep your focus throughout the day. Also, consider taking steps to avoid distractions, like turning off social media notifications on your phone while at work, or even using an app blocker like ColdTurkey. Network moreIf you struggle with meeting new people or just want to gain more professional goals, the easiest way to do so is by attending networking events. Developing connections is important to make advancements in your career because you never know when a referral or advice will be useful. If you find it difficult to network, start by connecting with coworkers you don’t speak to often. This is an easy way to build your confidence to attend events and meet others. To make your goal measurable, set a specific number of people to build relationships with throughout the year. Say yes to opportunitiesDon’t be afraid to accept new career challenges! Resolve to say yes to all, or at least most, new opportunities you are offered this year. You may just find that taking more chances opens up the door to career growth that is far beyond your dreams. Use this guide to set professional goals for the new business year that will help your career grow and thrive. Q: Is it ever OK to give in to the urge to splurge?
A: Life is boring when you follow all the rules, all the time. Yes, even the money rules. Fret not, because you sometimes can, and should, give in to the urge to splurge. Here’s when and how to indulge responsibly. When you’re feeling overly deprived If you’ve been strictly sticking to essential-only purchases for a while, you may feel super-deprived. This can prompt you to overthrow your budget and trash all your hard work to this point. To avoid this, allow yourself to make a conscious decision to splurge on a large purchase or experience, even if it doesn’t necessarily fit within your budget. Be honest with yourself and your recent spending to determine whether you should be splurging at this time. When there’s an opportunity you may miss It can also be OK to splurge when there’s a massive sale on an item you need to buy anyway and waiting it out means missing out on significant savings. It’s important to note, though, that this applies only to needs and items you’ve been saving to buy. When it’s a quality item that will outlast a cheaper version Sometimes, a splurge is an investment for the future. Here are some circumstances where it may be a good idea to go for the more expensive option:
When it’s a once-in-a-lifetime occasion Another time you may want to go over budget a bit is when you’re celebrating a once-in-a-lifetime occasion. Your wedding, the birth of your first child and your college graduation are all celebrations that deserve to be honored. This doesn’t mean you need to swipe your way into deep debt, but you can forgive yourself for overspending a bit on these occasions as you know they will not present themselves again for additional overspending. Indulge responsibly
When do you give in to the urge to splurge? Q: Help–tax season is coming! How do I best prepare?
A: It’s great that you’ve started getting ready for tax season way before the deadline, but it sure can be overwhelming. No worries, though; we can help! Here’s how to prepare for tax season. Gather your documents The first step in prepping for tax season is to gather all the necessary documents. Depending on your personal circumstances, these can include:
Store all your documents and receipts in a folder, binder or digital file so you can access them whenever necessary. This will help ensure you don’t miss any deductible expenses. Prepare your personal information In addition to your income information, you’ll need the Social Security number and date of birth of each dependent you claim. It’s a good idea to have this info, and any other details your tax preparer will need, ready before you start your return. Review tax law changes The tax code changes every year, and some of this year’s modifications may impact your tax situation. Be sure to review the most recent updates so you can take advantage of any new deductions or credits. Determine your filing status Your filing status determines the tax rates and the standard deduction you’re eligible to take. Choose the status that best fits your situation. The most common filing statuses are:
Learn the deadlines It’s important to be aware of tax filing deadlines. For most individuals, the deadline to file federal income taxes is April 15th. If the 15th is on a weekend or holiday, the deadline is typically extended to the next business day. Choose your filing method You can file a paper tax return and mail it to the IRS, use tax prep software like TurboTax or H&R Block, hire a professional tax preparer or e-file your return on your own. Plan for next year Finally, use the tax season as an opportunity to plan for the future. Consider adjusting your tax withholding to avoid owing large sums at tax time or receiving large refunds. You’re ready to file your taxes! How do you prepare for tax season? |
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