I’ve been at this internet thing long enough to recognize a tax scam email when I see one, but common sense tells me these scammers wouldn’t be in business if people weren’t believing everything they read. If you’d like to learn how to investigate an email for scam activity, check out the methods I use described in this article.

Tax Scam Emails Look Legit

I’ve taken a screenshot of the scam email I received. This is a “phishing” scam! This image shows the exact email I received, however, it’s important to note these emails come in various shapes and sizes. Take a look at this email, then read on. I will show you how to examine an email to determine whether it’s a scam or if it’s something you should check into further.

Ways to Check Links for Scams or Viruses

Method 1: The Simple Mouse Over

ALWAYS mouse over (NEVER CLICK) links to see where they actually go.

When I have the slightest doubt about a link that I may want to click -I always check links before I click them. It’s just good practice!

This doesn’t just pertain to scams linked to taxes and the IRS. These scams often include hot topics like flm loans, duct cleaning, iforex, credit scores, college degrees and so on. Scams and risks may even come unknowingly from someone you trust. I’ll share more on that in just a bit.

The first thing you need to do is very simple! Simply place your curser/mouse over the link you wish to check. This can be links from within the body of the email or even the email address itself.

Again, Remember to Mouse Over Links (DO NOT CLICK) – I obviously can’t stress that rule enough!

The images I share just below show the actual link destinations from my “mouse over technique” – I chose to share images because I refuse to provide search engine juice to the actual link destinations.

First, I placed my mouse/curser over the link Complaint.pdf – the destination showed:

Next, I placed my mouse/curser over the Email: service @ aicpa.org link – the destination showed:

Now about those trusted sources and relatives!

Let’s say I receive an email from an aunt I love and trust – the email looks like something she would send, so I’m curious about the links. And let’s say that I know my aunt doesn’t know how to perform proper maintenance on their computer.

I’m going to want to check those links!

Method 2: Check Links With a Free Online Virus, Malware and URL Scanner

To do this, you will place your mouse/curser over the link and RIGHT CLICK (DO NOT CLICK REGULARLY). When you do this, it should show a popup option menu as shown in the image just below. You’re going to select the Copy Link Location option:

Once you have the link location, you can carry that link over to Virus Total (link). Virus Total is a free online virus, malware and URL scanner. Under the giant blue SCAN IT button, select the option to SCAN A URL.

Place your mouse in the ENTER URL space provided as shown in this image:

Now you can click that giant blue SCAN IT! button to determine if the link is safe.

Method 3: Conduct a Search for Specific Tax Scams or Tax Scam Emails

This option for investigating an email for possible scam activity is a simple Google Search. There are a few ways I conduct a search to ensure I’m getting the truest result.

It’s that OCD thing that has me checking the coffee pot multiple times to make sure it’s off.

First, I take key words from the email itself. Whether those are in the subject line or within the body itself. In this case, the company being represented and the subject matter is where I start.

I go to Google and type in AICPA scam tax fraud into the search. This image shows the top results of that search

If you aren’t happy with the results from this search, you can try using quotation marks with a more specific search like this one:

“AICPA Income Tax Fraud” Scam (notice where I’ve placed the quotation marks)

Finally, consumers should be aware that the bogus tax professional who is ready to steal your information.

Scammers rely on e-mail, for tax-related  "phishing" attacks that carry victims to malicious webpages. One widely-circulating email asked recipients to fill out a "1042-W " form, print it, and then fax it to a number located in Alberta, Canada. This is an obvious attempt at identity theft.

It’s predicted that more than 100 million IRS-related phishing emails will reach taxpayers both before and after the April 15 tax filing deadline.

It’s also expected that cyber-thieves will find ways to attack any tax-related services routed through smartphones. Mobile devices may be referred to as "smart" – they’re still a hot target for hackers, hijackers and thieves.

Be smart! If you receive an email, phone call or letter through the U.S. Postal Service that you’re not quite sure of, use the methods shown or drop me an email. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

Do you have an experience to share? Leave a comment!

Help keep your friends, relatives and followers from getting scammed. Share this article by using one of the share buttons provided.

The infographic shown below provides a detailed look at the top social media markets, the job titles most in-demand and a salary guide compiled for the 20 largest U.S. cities. This guide can help you design a plan to set your career in social media in motion.

Onward Search provides an abundance of information to help develop your skills to improve your likeability in the social media careers market. You’ll find personal experience tips from some of the pro’s that pioneered the social media industry we enjoy today. Visit Onward Search for a plethora of information, tools and job listings to help you start or improve your career in social media.

© 2012 Onward Search

What are your thoughts?  Leave a comment. I’d love to hear from you!

When you take part in affiliate and Google Adsense revenue sharing communities, you have an easy opportunity to earn extra income off the work you’re already doing.

The best part of this is you don’t have to have a blog, a website or a great deal of experience. If you can maneuver around Facebook, MySpace and Twitter – these options will be perfect to get you rolling toward a nice little income online.

Most Adsense revenue shares I’ve seen or belong to are between 50 and 100 percent for the content you add.  Your content can be in the form of a forum thread that you start, an article you write, a video you produce, a picture you submit, a blog, or other types of content.

Throughout the work at home networks, the best earners are the articles posting sites. That is considering you are a really good writer, Squidoo, and Hub Pages. Hubpages allows you to participate in Google Adsense revenue sharing, Amazon, eBay and Kontera.

If you spread your efforts across different sites, you could make some decent income. It is also an effective way of generating income for your own site by giving the visitors an incentive to contribute and keep returning.

Before you start getting all excited and your thoughts of income increase, you will want to take care of a few things first.

If you haven’t already, you need to sign up for Google Adsense. Also, the majority of the revenue sharing sites pay via PayPal, so you will want to sign up for this as well.  Another program to consider, and although I’ve yet to make anything other then enough to support my reading habit and purchase an occasional gift, You may want to sign up for Amazon Associates.  All of these are free to join.

Squidoo – A great social media site. Revenue shares vary based on a variety of criteria. I’ve got friends who make $1,000 plus per month on Squidoo. [ Join Squidoo ]

HubPages – Publish articles on topics you love and keep a portion of the revenue! HubPages is also a great revenue source for Amazon.  [ Join HubPages ]

FunAdvice – Advice & Answers Site keep 100% share [ Join FunAdvice ]

YouSayToo – Article Posting 100% share [ Join YouSayToo ]

SheToldMe – Article Posting 100% revenue share [ Join SheToldMe ]

Tip Drop – Share tips and Advice 75% share [ Join TipDrop ]

I’m always looking into these types of programs – so make sure you subscribe to my feed and I’ll keep you updated with more great ways to make money online without a blog or website.

Originally posted 2011-01-27 02:05:05.

Do you make these common mistakes make in your affiliate marketing?

To check your blog for a couple of common mistakes, put yourself in the shoes of your readers: If you choose products which aren’t a good fit for your audiences’ interests, they will be much less likely to buy them. And if the quality of your recommendations doesn’t live up to their expectations, your readers will quickly realize that… And then they’ll be more hesitant to trust your next recommendations. Both mistakes are costing you sales and thus commissions. And even worse, they are costing you reputation. But there are two other components of successful affiliate promotions on your blog. Two components which are crucial, but often overlooked. Again, look at it from a visitor’s point of view… If you come to a blog, whose recommendation are you more likely to trust: some unknown blogger? Or somebody who you feel is an expert in his or her field? Just like you, your audience will most likely choose the expert over the "newbie" (or worse yet, over the anonymous entity). And, again as a blog visitor: Imagine you clicked on an affiliate link on a blog. Now you’re reading the salespage of the product. Are you more likely to buy from "just somebody", or from a person whom you know and trust to be an expert in the field? Again, just like you, your audience will be more likely to buy from an expert. But how can you capitalize on those two human tendencies?

This one simple strategy can help you…

There is a simple, but rarely-used strategy which will help you establish both yourself and the vendors you promote as trustworthy experts. And as a side-effect, this strategy has two other advantages: First, it helps you add more quality content to your blog, thus improving important things like visitor loyalty, stickiness, and trust. And secondly, it’s absolutely simple and easy. In fact, simpler than sweating over a "product review". You don’t even have to write a blog post yourself… It works like this: You choose a product to promote on your blog. (I’m assuming you’ve chosen a quality product which fits your audiences’ interests, btw. If you haven’t, the best strategy will not improve your sales by much…) To promote the product as affiliate on your blog, you publish a guest article by the vendor, and include your affiliate link in it. (Note that I’m talking about an article, not about a promotional text. I.e. you publish quality content which your audience is interested in, and will enjoy reading.) I know that this strategy sounds so simple that it’s easy to dismiss at first… But when you publish the article as guest post with your affiliate link, two things happen:

• You establish the vendor as expert. By publishing his informative, non-promotional article, you show your audience that the vendor is an expert who knows his field.
• You establish yourself as an expert. Again, from the point of view of your audience: The experts (i.e. the vendors) write for your blog. I.e. you’re the go-to girl or guy for the experts in your field. The person on whose blog they publish guest articles. That alone gives you an expert status just by itself.

It’s easy to see why this will help you get more out of your affiliate marketing. But it does even more…

Get more out of your affiliate marketing AND your blog

You’ve probably noticed a few things about this strategy:

1. It only works if you pick good articles which your audience enjoys. It doesn’t work with luke-warm product reviews. And the less promotion in the articles themselves, the better.
2. A nice side-effect of this is that you get to publish more quality content on your blog, without having to write more yourself. More content, more interesting topics, more informative reads, … Just the things which make blog readers come back to your blog for more…
3. This strategy is not only powerful, but at the same time it’s simple and easy. You’re just the publisher. You don’t have to write anything yourself. You just choose the right products and articles, and put them up as guest posts on your blog, with your affiliate link included.
4. If your audience likes the guest post, they’re already pre-sold. They want to read more by the "vendor expert". They’re more likely to click on your affiliate link in the article or in the byline. And you’ve established some level of trust towards the vendor. This makes your readers much more likely to buy the product once they’ve clicked through to the salespage.

There’s one other thing which you’ve probably also noticed, something I haven’t explained yet: How do you get suitable articles from the vendors?

Where to get ready-made content

Since this powerful strategy isn’t well known among affiliates, most vendors don’t offer ready-made guest articles for their affiliates. So one way to get such articles is to contact suitable vendors, and ask if they have anything on their hard drive which would fit your purpose, and which you can publish with your affiliate link inside. Since you don’t need "unique" content for this strategy (it’s about quality, about expert status and ultimately about more sales – not about SEO), the vendor doesn’t have to write a new article for you. That makes it much easier for them to send you suitable guest posts. But of course, the simpler, the better, right? To support the community of bloggers and affiliates who use this strategy, I’ve set up a free service called Syndicated Partners.

On Syndicated Partners, I hand-pick vendors with great products, and ask them to send me suitable articles: informative, helpful and entertaining pieces of content. In short: stuff that makes great guest posts. Then I make the articles available to you on Syndicated Partners. You just need to swing by, pick an article, and insert your affiliate link for the vendor’s product. Then publish it on your blog or newsletter. That’s it: It’s as easy as it comes. I’d love to see you on Syndicated Partners, and I’d love to see you using this powerful affiliate marketing strategy on your blog. If you do, why don’t you drop me a note to let me know about your experiences?

Regine Becher is a JV broker and affiliate manager. To help affiliates and bloggers get more out of their affiliate promotions, Regine runs a service called Syndicated Partners, where affiliates can download quality articles and publish them as guest posts on their own blogs, with their affiliate link inside.

The best way to give unbiased, honest reviews is to purchase the product yourself and use it. This way you’ll be able to write about the product as an expert and it will come through in your writing. You’ll also be building trust with your customers.

When you give the review don’t just write about the product features. Make sure you state all the benefits of the product. Give examples of how the product has worked for you. If you can collect testimonials from others who have purchased the product and give their views on it.

And be sure to openly list the product flaws. Let’s face it, not every product is perfect. There’s always something that could be a little better.

Say you’re reviewing a certain online course and you think it’s great but wish the course included transcripts along with the audio, then say so. It doesn’t mean the product is useless, it just means it could be a little better. You can go on to say how valuable the product is that you still feel it’s very much worth it even without the transcripts.

What if the product is totally useless?

Then don’t recommend it, plain and simple. You’re in this for the long term. If you recommend a flawed product to your trusted visitors they won’t buy from you again. You’ve worked hard to build a relationship with your visitors, you’ve spent hours putting together valuable content, don’t ruin it by promoting a product you don’t’ believe in.

Be fair, be honest, and promote what you believe in and you’ll be ahead of the competition.

Originally posted 2010-01-15 11:34:00.