How To Avoid Online Dating Scams And Losing Money

People you meet online are not always who they say they are.

In 2007, a Singaporean woman was jailed for an online dating scam amounting to about $45,000. A married woman named Maliha Ramu used a false profile to begin an exploitative relationship with Bharani Indran who lives in United States. After Ramu promised to marry Indran, he began to send her money for her “mother’s funeral expenses” and “friend’s wedding expenses”.

Protect yourself from getting conned like so by using these tips to recognize when you are being scammed:

1. BACKGROUND SEARCH

Upon meeting someone you like online, do a profile search through Google and an image search through TinEye. TinEye allows you to upload a photo and retrace where it came from. I suggest you save the person’s profile picture or ask for some photos yourself. As for the profile, he or she will be virtually searchable on Google unless this person lived under a rock for the longest time.

If the person sent you a photo that looks like something from a magazine, be a little more suspicious. And if the person’s own online profile does not match the pictures you researched then keep your warning signals up.

2. PERSONAL EMAIL

Some online dating scammers are not interested with starting an long-term deceitful relationship with you, they merely want to send you with marketing mails and other spams. These scammers ask for your personal email address and never get back to you after that.

Aside from providing your personal email to people whom you are certain of, avoid these people by creating a separate email for your online dating activities. This way, you can easily delete or cancel your supplementary email if you start getting loads of spam mails.

3. INSTANT SOULMATES

If a person says that he or she loves you and wants to marry you after 20 minutes of chatting then, it is clearly a scam or you may just be messaging with an infatuated teen! You should know from your experiences or that of others that love is more than just a feeling. It is something that develops through time after several dates and conversation exchanges. It is built on mutual respect and trust.

If a person declared his affection for you without even seeing you in person or through video-chat, then it is probably a lie. Their underlying agenda will show soon after.

4. PIGGY BANK

A person is scamming you if he or she repeatedly asks you for money through an online dating site. These con artists can come up with various reasons such as family funeral, medical emergency, and mugging to make you send cash. It does not stop there! He or she may also ask you to send some gifts to help alleviate a financial hardship or to help prove your love.

So be wary of sending money to strangers especially using wire transfer or other electronic currencies because money transferred via these channels are hard to recover.

Image Credits: pixabay.com (CC0 Public Domain)

Image Credits: pixabay.com (CC0 Public Domain)

Sources: 1, 2, & 3

Read More...

3 Brain Traps That Make You Spend More

Our brains are hugely interesting yet highly complex. Although it may seem like you have everything under your conscious control, your unconscious mind can play some tricks on you. It may trap your judgment with errors called cognitive biases. Cognitive biases are flaws caused by memory, statistical, and attribution errors.

Understanding and recognizing these biases in yourself is useful when managing or spending money. Awareness of these biases is the first step!

1. STATUS QUO BIAS

As I was looking for a new laptop online, my choice leaned towards the brand that I have been using for more than 4 years – the MacBook. Its competitor had touch screen, 360 bendable monitor, and is running on the new Windows software that enables you to download countless of Apps. For its specifications, the latter was the best choice but I still preferred the Macintosh.

This cognitive bias is called the Status Quo Bias. It occurs when you prefer a product that you know and had been using for a long while even if there is clearly a better option available. It maintains the status quo and avoids change.

2. FAMILIARITY BIAS

Similar to the Status Quo Bias, Familiarity Bias exists when you prefer the products and services that you are exposed more of. Are you only buying something for this reason? I hope not. Often smaller companies that are not able to afford costly advertising provide cheaper and more innovative products.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Image Credits: pixabay.com

3. ANCHORING BIAS

Anchoring bias occurs when you rely and focus heavily on the first piece of information you receive. This can potentially dictate your spending habits.

For instance, the first “Moroccan Argan Oil 200ml bottle” you saw online was worth S$100. Without knowing that retailers spend money on ads for their premium products, you quickly established a high benchmark. You are more likely to spend more than you would have if the very first product you saw in the search engine was worth S$20 (a real bargain)!


Instead of getting sucked into the effects of these biases, use your brain to your advantage by employing tricks to spend less and save more.

Sources: Time.com and Psychology of Love, Money, & Life (eBook)

Read More...

Amazing Places To Celebrate Mother’s Day In Singapore (Under S$50)

I echo the words once muttered by Jose Andres Puerta.

“I guess that from the moment we are fed by our mothers, without even knowing it, we are caught in a net that brings us comfort, something we always feel when a special woman cooks for us. It is something unique and personal – it is something we want to keep for ourselves.”

We are special not only because a woman has bestowed her “net of comfort” towards us but also because she gave us wondrous gifts. The gift of food displayed whenever she cooks, the gift of lessons translated whenever we fall, and the gift of life manifested through our own journeys. As we are days away from Mother’s Day (May 8), it is about time to decide where you want to celebrate.

Show your superwoman how much you care for her by taking her in one of these places:

1. GOOD OLD DAYS RESTAURANT

Experience the great taste of local cuisine and other Asian fusions when you indulge at a 2-story casual dining restaurant at Beach Plaza, Sentosa Island. From the thick rice noodles and spicy flavorful broth of Laksa to the succulent chicken and fragrant rice of Chicken Rice, you are sure that Good Old Days will satisfy your appetite. You and your mom can take advantage of their ongoing Asian Dinner Buffet Promotion of S$15/head for children and S$20/head for adults.

2. REDDOT DESIGN MUSEUM

MAAD, Market Of Artists And Designers, houses unique and budget-friendly artisan pieces. Here you will find a wide array of crafts, plush toys, handmade jewelry, and paintings. The price range starts from S$10 to S$50. Shop around with your Mom on their upcoming MAAD free entry event this May 13 while enjoying the live performances from the local artists. Visit museum.red-dot.sg/maad for more information.

3. SANTA FE TEX-MEX GRILL

Known for its authentic Texan-Mexican food and southern charm, Santa Fe Tex-Mex Grill is sure to shake things up this Mother’s Day. Treat your lovely angel on a hearty feast aboard the Riverboat on dinner of May 7 or May 8. Personally, their all-you-can-eat desserts as well as the Grain-fed Rib Eye Steak sounds music to my ears.

Prices are S$38++ per adult and S$24++ per child. Check out their menu, here.

4. NAILZ2U

A hidden beauty gem resides in Toa Payoh and it is called NAILZ2U. NAILZ2U offer spa, nails, waxing, and other treatment services that are already affordable even without promotions. This is why their Mother’s Day Promo is a delicious icing on the cake. Enjoy a discount (equivalent to your age) on all their ala-carte services. For example, if you are 30 years old and your mother is 60 years old then you will get a 30% off your services while she will get 60% off on hers.

I recommend that you go for the Aloe Vera Hydration Spa or Roses Icing Spa (U.P. S$25-35) and the Express Manicure/Pedicure or Classic Manicure/Pedicure (U.P. S$15-38). Worry not if your schedule does not permit you on May 8 itself as the offer ends on May 31!

Image Credits: nailz2u.com.sg/promotions

Image Credits: nailz2u.com.sg/promotions

 

Read More...

Affordable Summer Looks And Fashionable DIY Ideas

Since Singapore is geographically located near the equator, it is relatively hot all year round. With no particular period for summer, it is cool to dress the part while you go out and while you travel.

1. REVAMP YOUR DULL FLATS

Exude the summer vibe to your shoes by decorating it with bright laces or ribbons. Simply place a large amount of glue to your shoes and even it out with a bristled paint brush. Once everything is laid out nicely, push the lace down on the top. Place the “scalloped” portion of the lace on the curves to keep everything uniform and to avoid overlaps. Using your scissors, cut the excess lace around the edges of the shoes. Try to make all your lines as straight as possible.

Purchase inexpensive laces or ribbons at Spotlight Singapore.

Image Credits: dreamalittlebigger.com/post/shoesday-tuesday-fun-lacy-flats-revamp.html

Image Credits: dreamalittlebigger.com

2. HAVE A COTTON ON HAUL

Indulge on Cotton On’s sale items that are suitable for the hot weather. For women, you may purchase the Caged-back Cami that is fitted and detailed to stay cool and ready for spontaneous workouts. It retails for only S$5. Pair this with comfy denim shorts and gorgeous Coco Sandal. The Coco Sandal, that comes in multiple colors, retails for only S$10.

Men on the other hand can enjoy the breeze running through their slim Anchor Tank (S$10). You can pair it with just about anything from swimming shorts to skinny denim jeans.

3. PURCHASE TIMELY ACCESSORIES

To complete your overall look, purchase appropriate summer accessories such as sunglasses and hats. UV-protective tinted lenses are best to beat the hit. Adding a dash of style with the S$9.90 sunglasses from H&M would not hurt your wallets (for women and men)! And as for Bohemian hats and sun visors that will cost you less than S$10, shop at qoo10.sg.

4. BLEACH YOUR OLD SHORTS

Tired of your denim shorts? Turn it up a notch by giving it a stylish ombre look. To do so, soak your shorts in water first then dip it into a mixture of bleach and water. Let the mixture hit up to three inches below where you want it to reach as it will run upwards eventually. Set it in place for 30 minutes and rinse it out with white vinegar and water. Lastly, you must wash and dry your trendy ombre shorts. Pair it with jewel wedges or a neon top to embrace the summer colors!

A liter of bleach is sold for only S$1.10 at FairPrice.

Read More...

Amazingly Free Ways To Boost Your Online Security

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, Cybersecurity (or online security) is defined as the measures taken to protect a computer or a computer system against unauthorized access or attack. Those who gain unauthorized access to the data in the computer or the system are usually called as hackers.

Recently, I had been a victim of a Facebook malware attack. For those of you who are less tech savvy, a malware is any software used to collect sensitive information, harm computer operations, gain access to private devices or display undesired advertising. Needless to say, the experience was daunting and I had to take immediate actions. Firstly, I downloaded anti-malware softwares. Secondly, I changed all my passwords and added an extra layer of security. Lastly, I added other extensions that improved my privacy.

To avoid this scenario, here are some helpful ways to strengthen your virtual shield:

1. ADD THE PRIVACY BADGER

Remember the undesired advertising that I was talking about? You can block that as well as other third-party trackers by adding the browser extension called Privacy Badger for S$0. To the advertisers, it is as if you suddenly disappeared!

2. SCAN WITH MALWAREBYTES

As your information is golden, keep it safe with an internet security and anti-malware software called Malwarebytes. The free version will scan your entire computer, detect any malwares, and remove all the infections. Scans for the most dangerous and newest threats are done in the process.

3. FILTER YOUR EMAIL

Filter your email contents by not opening the spam mail. To avoid downloading virus or other malware, only open attachments that were given by your friends, family, partners, and clients. Delete the previous emails that are no longer needed so that no one can use them.

4. SECURE YOUR BROWSING

To make your browsing more secure, download the HTTPS Everywhere extension. It encrypts your communications to major websites on Firefox, Chrome, and Opera. Get it for free at eff.org/https-everywhere.

5. SEARCH WITH DUCKDUCKGO

Search engines, especially those with big names, track your search history and build personalized profiles to provide results based on your search history. To escape from this “filter bubble”, you must switch to a search engine that does not track your every move. Emphasizing on protecting the user’s privacy, DuckDuckGo is always my go-to safe search engine!

Image Credits: pixabay.com (CC0 Public Domain)

Image Credits: pixabay.com (CC0 Public Domain)

Yes! It is totally free with no sign-in requirements.

Sources: 1,2, 3,& 4

Read More...