| How to Spot a Fake Check Posted: 29 Apr 2016 05:00 PM PDT According to the National Consumer League, a nonprofit organization that helps stop fraud and other consumer misconduct over the United States and abroad, the number one scam reported to their Fraud Center is fake checks. Fortunately, you can use several methods to examine checks to determine if they are fake. It also helps to be aware of common check-related scams so that you can protect yourself.[1] EditExamining the Check - Look at the edges. Most checks that were written by a legitimate business have one edge that is rough or perforated. Examine the sides of the check to see if all sides are smooth. If they are, it might have been printed on a computer.[2]
- Check the bank logo. Look on the front of the check for the logo of the bank where the checking account is held. If you don't see a logo, the check is likely fake. If the logo is faded or faint, this is probably evidence of the logo being copied from another source. This signals a fake check as well.
- If the logo seems legitimate, look for an address. You need to check the validity of the bank address, which you can do by going online to the bank's website or calling the bank. Make sure each part of the address is correct.
- If the check has no address or just a PO Box, the check is likely a fake.[3]
- Find the check number. Any legitimate check issued by a bank has a check number. The check number appears at the top right hand corner of the check. If the check does not have a check number, the check is fake.
- If it does have a check number, check the number against the number in the magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) line. The MICR line is the line of numbers at the bottom of a check printed by the issuing bank that gives all the relevant numbers for a check. From left to right, the long string of numbers contains the routing number, the account number, and the check number. The check number should match the numbers on the far right of the line. If it doesn't match, the check is likely a fake.
- If the check number is low, from 101-400 on a personal check or 1000-1500 in a business check, the check may be fake. This signals a new account, and 90 percent of fake checks are written from new accounts.[4][5][6]
- Examine the MICR line. The MICR line appears at the bottom of every check issued by a real bank. Rub your finger over the line to check the feel of the ink. Also look at the ink's quality. The special ink used for the MICR line is dull and should print smoothly. If it is raised or shiny, the check is fake.
- You also need to examine the routing number in the MICR line. This will be the first series of numbers in the MICR line. Go to the Federal Reserve Bank Services website and search the routing number of the institution issuing the check. If it exists, check the information of the bank against the name and address given to you by the Federal Reserve. If it doesn't match, you likely have a fake check.[7][8][9]
- Feel the paper. Real checks are typically printed on thick, sturdy stock paper. Rub your fingers along the check. Notice the thickness of the check. Bend the check back and forth, noticing the resistance the check gives. If the check is thin and flimsy, it is likely a fake check.
- Fake checks are also typically printed on shiny paper. If the check is not printed on matte paper, it might be fake.
- You can also try an ink test. Dampen your finger and run it across an inked area of the check. If the color smears, it was printed on a color printer and is fake.[10][11]
- Notice the signature. Most signed checks have a consistent signature. Look for gaps in the signature, a digital appearance or shaky and erratic pen strokes. These are signs that may indicate the signature was forged or scanned from another source and printed.
- This doesn't always mean it is a fake check, but you should look for other clues if the signature seems forced.[12][13]
- There are some instances where a stamp is made up to sign checks, which can make it look printed or irregular. Be aware of this issue.
- Check for irregularities. A few irregular aspects of a check can show it as being fake:
- Look for an address of a payee. Notice if it is typed instead of printed on the check.
- Check for spelling or typing errors within any of the printed areas.
- Match the amount of the check with the spelled out amount.
- Pay attention to areas where things have been added or erased from the check. If you see anything out of the ordinary in these areas, you might have a fake check.[14]
EditAvoiding Common Scams - Do not send money to people you don't know. If you get a check in the mail that claims that you won a sweepstakes you never entered or that you won the lottery, you should be wary of the check. Often these scams say that this check only represents part of your winnings and is the first of many. They also ask you to send money for taxes on your winnings. This is an obvious sign of a scam. You should never send money to anyone you do not know.
- A legitimate company or sweepstakes will never ask you to send money to them. Taxes on such winnings should always be paid directly to the government.
- Also never send money through wire transfer under these circumstances. This is the same as sending someone cash. Once the scammer picks it up from the wire service, there is no way to get your money back once you realize it is a scam.[15]
- Double-check companies. Many check scams use legitimate businesses as a cover for their corrupt ventures. If you recognize a real company attached to a check you receive and the check looks real, contact the company. Don't use any of the information that was sent with the check. These details could have been created by the person scamming you. Look for information about the company from an independent source to verify if the check you received is real.
- Research the company on the web or look up its number in a phone directory. Most businesses will let you know if they sent you a check or if they are participating in a sweepstakes.[16]
- Do not try to cash it. A fake check isn't always spotted by a bank. You may be able to cash a check, even if it is fake. A bank may not know a check is fake until the bank tries to clear the check. This process can take weeks. If you cash the check, you will be responsible for paying the money back to the bank. It does not matter that the check is a scam or that you were unaware of it being fake.
- The bank holds you responsible for determining the legitimacy of a check before you try to cash it.
- If you fail to comply with the bank's request to return the money, your accounts can be frozen. The bank can also take legal action and sue you for the money.
- You can also be charged with fraud, even if you were unaware of the circumstances.[17]
- Avoid working-at-home scams. Some check scams seem like job offers. If you are contacted to be a mystery shopper or an account manager at home, this is likely a scam. Most legitimate companies that hire mystery shoppers will never send you checks or money orders ahead of time.The scammers will likely tell you that all you need to do is deposit the checks or money orders they send you. You take your pay as cash from the checks when you deposit them. Never deposit checks for someone you don't know or try to make money fast by working at home for an unknown business.
- Mystery shopping is a legitimate business, but it is not a get-rich-quick opportunity. You are only paid after you complete the necessary tasks and send in a survey form. If you are ever asked to buy something, the company will always reimburse you.
- If you think it might be a legitimate mystery shopping opportunity, check with the Mystery Shopping Providers Association.[18]
- This kind of scam can also apply to many other scenarios where you do a small amount of work from home. A legitimate company would never ask you to deposit checks on their behalf or pay you in such a way.[19]
- Shy away from foreign investments. Many scams will write you and ask you to invest in a foreign company or property. They will then send you an check that is an advance on your profits. This is a scam. Never cash a check that is supposed to be an advance on a foreign investment.
- You should also avoid investing in anything that you do not perform extensive research on beforehand.[20]
- Refrain from taking unsolicited grants. If you receive a notification that you received a grant that you did not apply for, this is a scam. Grants are always awarded for a specific purpose. They are not a form of free money. A scam organization may send you a check advance of the amount and ask you to send in some form of payment to get the rest of the grant. The check sent to you is fake and you will lose any money you send to the organization. Real grants are never given unsolicited. You must always apply for grants to receive them.
- Grants are also typically given in conjunction with an organization or institution where you will be performing some kind of research, paper, or study.[21]
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| How to Use iPhone Headphones Posted: 29 Apr 2016 09:00 AM PDT Apple Earphones and In-Ear Headphones can do more than just play audio. These special headphones come with a small remote control attached to the cord, which is super handy for talking on the phone and skipping through songs. It's also incredibly easy to use! Get the most out of your Apple Earphones or In-Ear Headphones by becoming familiar with the features of its remote. EditMaking and Receiving Voice Calls - Launch Siri to make a phone call.[1] You'll need to use Siri to make a phone call with your headset. With the headphones in your ears, start Siri by pressing and holding the center button on the remote. As you hold the button, say "Call Andrew" to call the contact in your phone labeled "Andrew." If you don't have Siri, you'll need to use your iPhone directly to make calls.
- Answer an incoming call by pressing the center button on the remote. You won't have to hold it down—pressing it once will accept the call.
- If you want to decline the incoming call, hold the center button down for two seconds. When you hear two beeps, the call will be sent to your voicemail.
- If you're already on one call and want to accept a second, press the center button once. If and when you want to return to the first call, press the center button again. You can swap calls as much as you want with this technique.
- Adjust the volume level. You can use the plus button (+) on the remote to raise the volume of the earphones and microphone. Use the minus button (-) to reduce the volume.
- End the phone call by pressing the center button. When you are ready to hang up, pressing the center button will end the call.
- If you are hanging up because you received a new phone call, you can end the current call and switch directly to the new one by holding the center button down for two seconds (while still on the first call). This will hang up the first call and place you on the line with the second caller.
EditControlling Music and Podcasts - Play a song or podcast in the Music app.[2] With the earphones plugged into the headphone jack of your iPhone, tap open the Music app and play an audio track.
- Adjust the audio volume. On the remote control attached to the wire on your headphones, press the plus (+) button to raise the volume. To lower the volume, press the minus (-) button.
- Pause the song by pressing the center button. Hit the button just once to temporarily stop the song. Restart the song by pressing the center button once more.
- Skip to the next track by quickly pressing the center button twice. Think of the motion as a double-click, just as you would open a program on a computer with your mouse.
- Fast forward within a song or podcast. Press the center button twice and hold it down on the second press to move forward quickly within a song. To stop the fast-forward, release the center button.
- Rewind within a song or podcast. This function is similar to fast-forwarding, but this time you'll be pressing the center button three times (rapidly), then holding the button down on the last press. Let go of the button when you want to stop rewinding.
- Skip back to the previous song or podcast. You can listen to the song you were listening to previously by quickly pressing the center button three times.
- You can use Siri by pressing the center button on the remote when not on a call or listening to audio. Other than starting Siri, the software functions the same as it does without a headset.
- These functions are not always available in all apps.
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| How to Teach Your Dog to Drop It Posted: 29 Apr 2016 01:00 AM PDT "Drop it" is probably one of the most important commands you can teach your dog. Since dogs love to chew on things, you'll have plenty of occasions to use this command. Drop that toy. Drop my shoe. Drop that stick before coming in the house. By teaching your dog the "drop it" command, it will either let an object fall out of its mouth or at least allow you to easily take it from it. So how do you actually teach a dog to "drop it"? You'll need to condition your dog properly. EditGathering Your Training Materials - Pick out a toy. Pick a toy that is easy for your dog to hold in its mouth and one it enjoys playing with. A stuffed squeaky toy or a dog bone is a good choice. In the grander scheme of things, it doesn't matter too much what kind of toy you give your dog, because you are going to be teaching it to drop it anyway.[1]
- Find some dog treats. You'll want treats that your dog likes more than its toy. It is important to have a value system in mind that your dog will follow. A tasty treat is worth more to a dog than a dog toy. This can be your dog's normal treats or special treats just for training. Dogs like treats make from turkey, chicken, or cheese. Be sure to keep the amounts very small as you will be using them frequently during the training sessions.[2]
- Pick a trigger like a clicker. In the early twentieth century, the Russian physiologist Ivan Pavlov discovered that dogs could be taught to "expect" food at the sound of a bell. This "neutral stimulus" — the sound of the bell — caused the dog's to drool and expect food.[3] You can use the same principle here. Pick something that is portable and makes a sound. Make people use clickers, which literally just make a clicking sound. You might even consider just using a sound file on your phone.[4]
- Get your leash. If your dog tends to run with its toys, you might want to keep it on a leash for your training. Otherwise, you'll need to keep it in a confined space with minimal distractions. Your goal is to focus your dog's attention on the training, not on playing.[5]
- Put on your patience cap. You need to have realistic expectations. Yes, it is possible that your dog might learn a basic command within a day or so, but it is far more realistic to expect small, yet noticeable improvements.[6]
EditTraining Your Dog to Drop It - Start training when your dog is about 3 months old. Each session should last about 15 minutes and you can attempt up to 3 sessions spread throughout the day. Typically, the younger the dog, the shorter each session will need to be because of limited attention spans.[7]
- Offer your dog a toy. Make sure you have the toy in one hand and a treat in the other. Hold the toy in front of the dog's mouth. Wait for your dog to sniff it and take it. You can even tell your dog to "take it". This way your dog will learn to both take and drop things in the process. Always use the same command.[8]
- Say "drop it" and offer a treat. Again, make sure you are using the same command each time. You can repeat the command a couple of times, but don't use it too much. Place the treat in front of your dog's nose. Hopefully — if you've chose your treat wisely — your dog will drop the toy and eat the treat.[9]
- If you've decided to use a trigger, now is the time to use it too. When you say drop it, click the clicker. Make sure that it occurs at the same time, so that your dog will associate "drop it" and the clicking sound with getting a treat.
- Be sure to keep an assertive tone, but remain calm. You don't want to yell at your dog and scare it.[10]
- Repeat the process. Hold the toy up, until your dog takes it. Say "drop it", while pressing the clicker and then offer a treat. As you practice this, move further away from the dog. This way your dog will expect a treat whenever it hears the command or the click. You don't want your dog to only follow the command if you are right in front of it.[11]
- Practice in different environments with different items. You want to hone your dog's understanding of the command as much as you can. Remember that dogs are smart. Your dog might only associate the command with its toys or to specific places. You'll want to teach your dog the command inside and outside. Offer your dog different items. If your dog really enjoys carrying a specific thing in its mouth, train it with that item.[12]
- Always use acceptable chewing objects when practicing "drop it". You don't want to encourage your dog to pick up and drop something you wouldn't otherwise want her getting a hold of. For example, if your dog likes to chew on your shoes, don't use your shoes to teach it this trick. It might end up associating chewing on your shoes with getting a treat.[13]
- Reinforce your training constantly. You never know when a teaching moment will present itself. Keep treats and your clicker/trigger available. If you don't have treats, then offer your dog something of greater value. For example, exchange the TV remote for a dog toy. [14]
EditThings You'll Need - A few items your dog might like to chew on.
- Dog training clicker.
- Several treats made from ingredients like cheese or turkey.
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