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Holiday Scams: The Dangers and How to Avoid them by Bacall Associates

Yair Wood 8 years ago 0

As holiday bookings reach their new year peak, consumers are warned to look out for fraudulent travel websites and other holiday scams


As the UK hits the busiest time of the year for holiday bookings, experts are warning consumers about the dangers of fraudulent travel company websites and other holiday scams. Abta, the Travel Association, has produced a list of warning signs for consumers to look out for, to help reduce the risk of falling foul of bogus sites.


If a website you are looking at has a combination of the following signs, it may be an indication that it’s not to be trusted …


  • Flight or holiday prices that are considerably cheaper than competitors. Flight prices are largely set by airlines, so although agents have some leeway in price, if the agent you’re contacting is charging significantly less than everyone else, this could be a sign that something is not quite right.
  • Low resolution, “fuzzy” logos for trade associations and credit card companies.
  • The only payment option is a bank transfer. Not only is this an indication that no bank is prepared to provide credit card facilities, but if you are dealing with a scammer it will be virtually impossible to get your money back.
  • Non-receipt of tickets – constantly being “fobbed off”.

Abta also advise consumers to do an online search before booking to check the profile of the company. If the company has been defrauding people, or has a bad reputation, there is a good chance consumers will have posted details or warnings about the company.


Other advice offered to stay safe when booking online is to:




  • Check the web address is legitimate and has not been altered by slight changes to a domain name, such as going from .co.uk to .org. You can also check the details of the domain name of the website at who.is – when was it registered? Recently could indicate an issue, while if the address is anonymous and information about the person or organisation that registered it cannot be viewed that could also be a warning sign.
  • Check whether the company is a member of a recognised trade body such as Abta or Atol. You can verify membership of Abta online at abta.com.
  • Check the paperwork – you should study receipts, invoices and terms and conditions, and be wary of companies that don’t provide any.
  • Use your instincts; if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Holiday fraud led to an estimated £7m being stolen from consumers in 2014, according to a report released by the City of London Police National Fraud Intelligence Bureau in April, with £2.2m lost to online scams. The average loss to the individual was £889, while one individual lost £62,000 in a fraud relating to timeshare.


The report also detailed the emotional toll for victims: one third said the fraud had a substantial impact on their health as well as their financial well-being, while 167 were affected so badly they had to receive medical treatment.


According to the report, the most common types of fraud related to holiday accommodation, in which fraudsters set up fake websites and posted fake ads online, as well as fake airline bookings and bookings related to high-profile sport and religious trips, such as the World Cup or Hajj.


Stuart Fuller, director of commercial operations at online brand protection company NetNames, said professional-looking websites can be set up easily, using rudimentary coding skills. Fraudsters can also leave fake online reviews on sites such as Tripadvisor to help exploit the trust of consumers.


“Unfortunately, often victims do not discover they have been duped until arriving at the airport or hotel only to find there is no booking,” he said.


John de Vial, head of financial protection at ABTA said: “Our consumer helpline has seen an increase in calls from members of the public who are either checking the validity of a suspicious website or, worse, have already paid by bank transfer and then been fobbed off when trying to get hold of their tickets. We want to make consumers aware of this problem and stop them from being ripped off in this way.”

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Beach Vacation Trip Tips by Bacall Associates

Yair Wood 8 years ago 0

Beach is probably one of the favorite place of families to go to during vacations. Kids will be super excited when you tell them you're going to the beach, and they will definitely start packing their favorite things to bring with them.


You can enjoy listening to the waves while enjoying your favorite book and laying down on a soft towel under an umbrella. Bacall Associates put together a few tips to consider for your perfect beach vacation.


Location


Obviously, there are a lot of beaches to choose from, and each of them offers unique services. Before booking your trip, make sure to choose the best beach that suits your family's interests. Your family's enjoyment should be your utmost priority. You can ask your close friends or other relatives for suggestions, or you can just browse the internet and trust Google's results. Don't choose a beach that is exclusive for singles or couples if you're planning to have a vacation with your whole family. For a new adventure, you can also choose a 'virgin' beach or a quiet and less crowded beach. Your family will surely enjoy the serenity of such places, and you can do activities on your own without disturbing other people. For example, lots of reviews state that Singapore doesn’t really have nice beaches because it’s only known for its towering steel and glass towers, but it has few beaches that are very beautiful, quiet and peaceful and only the locals know their locations and some of which doest have an officialbeach name. Secret beaches are amazing! But since they are not made to cater tourists, your family need to prepare everything you need by yourselves.


Accommodations


If you're planning to stay for a few days at the beach, then you and your family should have a place to stay in. You can choose between hotels often available at the beachfront, or hotels within walking distance of your beach's location. You don't want to choose faraway hotels, right? Choose the one that is the most convenient for your family, and has a wide variety of beach accommodations perfect for any beach experience you're looking for. You can choose between romantic cottages, full-service resorts, family-friendly hotels, or even campsites. You should ask your family members for their preferred accommodation to have a unified decision.


Activities


Your family will definitely enjoy doing different kinds of activities during your beach vacation, so you should choose a beach that offers an amazing array of activities. Bacall Associates advise you to plan ahead and organize everything beforehand. Ask questions to the staff of the beach to plan the activities you’ll be having. Paying in advance is also an option so that you’ll not bother yourself bringing a large amount of money to the beach. Before booking, don't forget to ask if those services are available during your stay. You can also discuss this matter with your family members so that they know what to expect and what activities to perform on the beach.


Time


Note that choosing the right time is crucial for your beach vacation. You should know that peak season and public holidays mean crowded beaches, and expect traffic and fully booked airports. With these situations in hand, you should be able to make everything right for your vacation. Yes, you have a lot to consider that's why you shouldn't rush planning and take one step at a time. To avoid rainy and very hot seasons, check the weather of the area at different times of the year. Remember that choosing the most convenient time for you and your family is really important.


Packing


Bacall Associates advises you to pack right and light. Girls usually plan to pack their things in advance than boys, but it'll be better if everyone will do this beforehand. With this, you’ll have more time organizing your things and putting everything you need without forgetting anything important. This can result in a less stressful beach vacation. Making a list of the things you need can help you organize your things. Some of the most important things to bring with you include cash, hat and sunscreen, phone charger, reading materials, and of course, an extra outfit.


Bacall Associates has been in the travel arena for decades, so you can definitely trust the tips given above in planning your beach vacation. So what are you waiting for? Start preparing the things you need, and make sure that you will be having a memorable beach holiday with your family.

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Bacall Associates - Tips for an Effective PR Campaign

Yair Wood 8 years ago updated 8 years ago 0

The phrase “With great effort comes great reward” never gets old to Bacall Associates. This phrase serves as their inspiration to provide great services to their clients. They make sure that they’re giving their best in everything they do. The same can be applied to you because you just need to exert great effort to achieve effective PR campaign.


Along with other business owners, you want to increase your visibility and reach your target market, right? Then content and execution will be your saving grace. Remember that those are important to make sure that your PR campaign will not fail.


To make your PR campaigns effective, you need to consider the following in order to help you achieve success.


A crystal clear goal


It’s apparent that it should be on the top of the list because without a goal, you can’t score. You and your audience may become confused if you don’t have a clear purpose for your campaign. Your answer to the question, “What do you want to achieve for your brand?” should be definite and clear. Keep in mind that this will be very important to you because this will serve as your steering wheel in driving the road to success.


Right audience


You should reach the right audience for your brand. Considering your potential media outlet’s audience and tone is important. Make sure that your content matches them and is appropriate. To target different types of media, you should create different pieces of content such as press releases, content marketing articles, and creative media kits. But remember, spamming irrelevant content is not good for your brand’s image, so avoid doing it to everyone on your contact list. Publishing your content may not be enough, so it’s better to put more effort on your side and do your best to communicate the right message to the consumers.


Reachable content


It is clear that having a constant interaction with the consumers is a vital part of your campaign, and this is possible if you have reachable content. Nowadays, the power of social media platforms is undeniably changing the world of public relations, especially in countries like Singapore where social media is being used every day by the majority of its people. You can easily share your content through Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or LinkedIn, that can lead to an effective communication between you and the consumers. Make sure that your content has a connection with your brand and that the message is not lost. But don’t make it all about your brand. For example, tutorials on YouTube regarding beauty or fitness provide the demonstration of the product along with an entertaining and informative experience they can interact with.

False impression


You should definitely AVOID this. Your content may seem flawless, but according to reviews, it can still be misunderstood by some and have different meanings. Do some research and get different perspectives to minimize the chances of your PR campaign gaining attention for all the wrong reasons. Simple phrases, symbols and metaphors, altogether might have a different meaning, making this crucial for international campaigns.


Effectiveness


Measuring your campaign’s effectiveness should also be a part of your concern. Think of how you will measure the success of your PR campaign before you begin sending press releases. Having different KPIs, or Key Performance Indicators, is often a good idea according to the experts of Bacall Associates.


Trends


You can better understand the consumers and media by keeping yourself updated with the latest trends, from new apps to the latest publications, and even current affairs. This can help you communicate your message more efficiently, making your brand get the recognition it deserves.

Keep in touch with Bacall Associates if you’d like to discuss your public relations approach because they can greatly help you with your every need.

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Tips for Backpacking through Southeast Asia by Bacall Associates Travel

Yair Wood 8 years ago 0

Southeast Asia is among the most famous destinations in the world for backpackers. It's possible for you to discover lots of charm in every state, so it is a must see for many. If you are already residing in Asia, it is possible to adjust to any states within this sub region, but you could get a culture shock if you’re from a foreign land like USA or Europe. So performing a research is essential before the journey. Bacall Associates provide important pointers to take note of before you begin your journey to prevent any disorderly scenarios.


Don’t be afraid to haggle


Most westerners are shocked to learn that this was a common practice in the subregion, for them, it looks like an unfair deal to the sellers. But no more worries because most of the time, it’s not. Some foreigners just accept the first price stated by a seller and will not bother arguing about it. But in most cases, the first price was worth much more than the regular price. Bargaining is not a confrontation, so there’s no need to be scared of, just smile and ask the seller nicely, and eventually, you’ll find it very interesting to do.


You don’t need to book in advance


It will be really nerve-wracking and tiring to visit various locations at once, and then going back to the hotel you’re staying. It would be better to find a place to stay to the place you fell in love with during your travel because it will be easier to discover that particular place and enjoy its surroundings. You can have a flexible schedule if you’re going to do this rather than booking rooms in advance of time, simply because you’ll have more freedom to decide where to stay. But occasionally, booking ahead is recommended if you know you’re going to be exhausted from an extended flight, bus or train ride, or if you’re visiting a place during a major event and you don’t have time to roam about.


Transportation: Don’t be in a hurry


Expect to wait more minutes or hours in the estimated time of the arrival of a bus or train if you’re planning to go somewhere in Southeast Asia. Don’t get frustrated in this situation, but simply believe that this could bring you some favorable impact such as learning to restrain your misery and raise your patience. But there are some cities in the region that have efficient and developed transport systems, and one of which is Singapore.


Be cautious of scams


Scams could be everywhere and it can occur to you. Unfortunately, tourists becoming victims of various scams is nothing new in this region. Instead of being frightened, you need to be more cautious when traveling to Southeast Asia, or any part of the world. Before you begin your journey, you need to teach yourself with the most frequent kind of scams. If you know what to avoid, you can have a safe journey.


Properly manage your visa requirements


There are various visa requirements for each country in Southeast Asia, and Bacall Associates needs you to be educated of those. You cannot be accepted to every border by simply showing up your passport.


Stay hydrated


Showering two times a day might not be enough for you because Southeast Asia is quite hot during the coolest time of the year. Bacall Associates wants you to stay hydrated all the time because you’re going to sweat like never before, and during the hottest time of the day, find some shady spot and relax there for a bit.


Don’t get too excited on street foods


Some tourists experience having excruciating stomach pain due to food poisoning or eating undercooked food. Target stalls that have a line-up because you can be sure that the food is freshly cooked and not sitting under a heater all day.

There’s so much beauty to witness in Southeast Asia, and it’s not just about partying and beaches, the region is also rich in culture, and each of its countries deserves all the synonyms of the word “breathtaking”. Its simplicity and slow pace of life will undoubtedly capture your heart.

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MWI Consultants - OUR PRODUCTS: Asset Management Singapore, Portfolio Management Singapore

Crawford Qrvar 8 years ago 0
Primary Investment Product

MWI Consultants – To assure our clients that we deliver to them the best service possible, we offer a complete selection of advantageous financial products. Our Account Managers stand always ready to recommend which products are of most benefit to you and your portfolio.

International Equities

Investing so heavily in just one country could mean your portfolio could be adversely affected in case that particular market falls. By investing globally, you can distribute your risks and exploit such regions and industry sectors that have strong markets.

Gilts & Bonds

Gilts and bonds provide an advantageous way to acquire a more predictable and consistent return on your investment. Aside from being easy to buy and to sell, many of them also come with capital­gains tax exemption.

Funds

Funds are a bundled type of investment that allows you to invest indirectly in corporate shares or other investments, such as bonds or shares. Oftentimes, they can also be contained within a tax­efficient ISA cover.

Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs)

Exchange traded funds (ETFs) are a security that monitors a commodity, an index, or a collection of assets, but trades like stocks on an exchange. Likewise, they are more­or­less secure, cost­effective way of investing in the gold­bullion sector.

Exchange Traded Commodities (ETCs)

ETCs are handily traded investments offering easy access to hard­to­access commodity markets. They fit into a vast selection of risk profiles as well.

Structured Products

Structured products include synthetic investment instruments, created to satisfy particular needs not provided by standardized financial instruments. They provide opportunities to invest in otherwise hard­to­access assets or take a risk­conformed exposure to traditional assets.

Foreign Exchange

There are many different classes of foreign exchange investments options ranging from pot exchanges to forward exchange contracts, including option dated forward exchange agreements.

Covered Warrants

Issued by financial agencies, covered warrants include flexible tools offering leveraged exposure to a broad selection of underlyings, such as baskets, equities, indices, currencies and commodities.

Contracts for Difference (CFDs)

CFDs is a leveraged ‘derivative’ product which offers the potential to trade on live­market price movements without physically holding the underlying instrument.

Financial Spread Trading (FST)

Financial Spread Trading lets you speculate on the rise­and­fall of international financial markets and delivers a tax­efficient option to other trading alternatives, such as share dealing.

Turbos

Turbos monitor an underlying asset, often a European currency or index and gives investors a way to acquire full exposure to an asset’s price. They also include a “knock­out barrier” and, therefore, offer limited downside risk.

New Issues

New issues opens options to access investments before they are traded on the market and come in two major forms: New Retail Bonds or Initial Public Offerings (IPOs).

Cash

Aside from bank and building society accounts, cash investment also involves bank deposit certificates and cash funds offered by fund managers

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Axia Consultants: Request for Information (RFI) Template

Princess Santos 8 years ago 0

A quick and easy way to prepare your RFI


This RFI Template helps you quickly create your Request for Information for issue to suppliers and vendors. As one of a suite of universal templates, this RFI Template will:


Save you time preparing your Request for Information. Just fill in the blanks and add your requirements. Preparing a high quality, professional RFI suitable for issue to suppliers and vendors is now a cinch. And as everything is in MS Word, you can quickly and easily configure to your precise needs.


Save you effort as you don’t have to start from scratch. The RFI components are already there for you to use as you need. They’re based on the purchase of new IT, software and services, but are equally suitable for many other business RFI needs, because the template is totally flexible and amendable.


Help you short list suppliers. The standardised template format also helps suppliers to more clearly understand your requirements and more easily respond. So you will receive clearer and improved responses. And consequently, spend less time and effort evaluating and comparing supplier responses, and more easily identify a short list of potential suppliers.


RFI Template Contents

  • RFI Template (Request Part)* to send to suppliers / vendors, containing:
  • RFI Template (Response Part)* for suppliers / vendors to complete, containing:
  • RFI Cover Letter Template*
  • Instructions, Guide and Tips - for preparing your RFI (PDF)

Executive summary

-Organization background

-Project background

-Instructions to the supplier or vendor, on how to reply to the RFI

-Summary statements

-General requirements (for new software)

-Mandatory requirements (for new software)

-Additional information requested

(*) Available in MS Word 97-2003

60-Day 100% Full Money-Back Guarantee

If you are not completely satisfied with a Template – simply email us within 60 days from purchase.


Get your copy now


Get a copy from our online shop and have it delivered to your in-box. You’ll receive an email straight after payment, which has links for you to download your copy and print a receipt.

Shop with confidence. Buy now, using the secure servers of our billing partner, SWREG/Digital River. Most major credit and debit cards are accepted. All major currencies are accepted.

We value your privacy. We will not rent, sell or give your details to any other organisation.

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MWI Consultants – OUR PRODUCTS

Elza Sikora 8 years ago 0



Primary Investment Product


MWI Consultants – To assure our clients that we deliver to them the best service possible, we offer a complete selection of advantageous financial products. Our Account Managers stand always ready to recommend which products are of most benefit to you and your portfolio.


International Equities


Investing so heavily in just one country could mean your portfolio could be adversely affected in case that particular market falls. By investing globally, you can distribute your risks and exploit such regions and industry sectors that have strong markets.


Gilts & Bonds


Gilts and bonds provide an advantageous way to acquire a more predictable and consistent return on your investment. Aside from being easy to buy and to sell, many of them also come with capital­gains tax exemption.


Funds


Funds are a bundled type of investment that allows you to invest indirectly in corporate shares or other investments, such as bonds or shares. Oftentimes, they can also be contained within a tax­efficient ISA cover.


Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs)


Exchange traded funds (ETFs) are a security that monitors a commodity, an index, or a collection of assets, but trades like stocks on an exchange. Likewise, they are more­or­less secure, cost­effective way of investing in the gold­bullion sector.


Exchange Traded Commodities (ETCs)


ETCs are handily traded investments offering easy access to hard­to­access commodity markets. They fit into a vast selection of risk profiles as well.


Structured Products


Structured products include synthetic investment instruments, created to satisfy particular needs not provided by standardized financial instruments. They provide opportunities to invest in otherwise hard­to­access assets or take a risk­conformed exposure to traditional assets.


Foreign Exchange


There are many different classes of foreign exchange investments options ranging from pot exchanges to forward exchange contracts, including option dated forward exchange agreements.


Covered Warrants


Issued by financial agencies, covered warrants include flexible tools offering leveraged exposure to a broad selection of underlyings, such as baskets, equities, indices, currencies and commodities.


Contracts for Difference (CFDs)

CFDs is a leveraged ‘derivative’ product which offers the potential to trade on live­market price movements without physically holding the underlying instrument.


Financial Spread Trading (FST)


Financial Spread Trading lets you speculate on the rise­and­fall of international financial markets and delivers a tax­efficient option to other trading alternatives, such as share dealing.


Turbos


Turbos monitor an underlying asset, often a European currency or index and gives investors a way to acquire full exposure to an asset’s price. They also include a “knock­out barrier” and, therefore, offer limited downside risk.


New Issues


New issues opens options to access investments before they are traded on the market and come in two major forms: New Retail Bonds or Initial Public Offerings (IPOs).


Cash


Aside from bank and building society accounts, cash investment also involves bank deposit certificates and cash funds offered by fund managers

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MWI Consultants in Singapore, Asset Management Singapore, portfolio management: PRIVACY POLICY

Elza Sikora 8 years ago 0

This Privacy Policy governs the manner in which MWI Consultants collect, uses, maintains and discloses information collected from users (each, a "User") of the www.mwiconsultants.com (http://www.mwiconsultants.com) website.


We may collect personal identification information from Users in a variety of ways, including, but not limited to, when Users visit our site, fill out a form, and in connection with other activities, services, features or resources we make available on our Site.Users may be asked for, as appropriate, name, email address, mailing address, phone number. Users may, however, visit our Site anonymously. We will collect personal identification information from Users only if they voluntarily submit such information to us. Users can always refuse to supply personally identification information, except that it may prevent them from engaging in certain Site related activities


NON‐PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION INFORMATION


We may collect non­personal identification information about Users whenever they interact with our Site. Non­personal identification information may include the browser name, the type of computer and technical information about Users means of connection to our Site, such as the operating system and the Internet service providers utilized and other similar information

.

WEB BROWSER COOKIES


Our Site may use "cookies" to enhance User experience. User's web browser places cookies on their hard drive for record­keeping purposes and sometimes to track information about them. User may choose to set their web browser to refuse cookies, or to alert you when cookies are being sent. If they do so, note that some parts of the Site may not function properly.


HOW WE USE COLLECTED INFORMATION


MWI Consultants may collect and use Users personal information for the following purposes:


- To run and operate our Site

We may need your information display content on the Site correctly.

- To improve customer service

Information you provide helps us respond to your customer service requests and

support needs more efficiently.

- To personalize user experience

We may use information in the aggregate to understand how our Users as a group use

the services and resources provided on our Site.

- To improve our Site

We may use feedback you provide to improve our products and services.

- To send periodic emails

We may use the email address to send User information and updates pertaining to

their order. It may also be used to respond to their INQUIRIES , questions, and/or

other requests.


HOW WE PROTECT YOUR INFORMATION


We adopt appropriate data collection, storage and processing practices and security measures to protect against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure or destruction of your personal information, username, password, transaction information and data stored on our Site.


SHARING YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION


We do not sell, trade, or rent Users personal identification information to others. We may share generic aggregated demographic information not linked to any personal identification information regarding visitors and users with our BUSINESS partners, trusted affiliates and advertisers for the purposes outlined above.


CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY


MWI Consultants has the discretion to update this privacy policy at any time. When we do, we will post a notification on the main page of our Site. We encourage Users to frequently check this page for any changes to stay informed about how we are helping to protect the personal information we collect. You acknowledge and agree that it is your responsibility to review this privacy policy periodically and become aware of modifications.


CONTACTING US


If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, the practices of this site, or your dealings with this site, please contact us (contact_us.php).

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Pro Axia Consultants Business Consulting Group in Osaka, Tokyo, Nagoya, Japan: Voice Recognition

Emiko Matsusaki 8 years ago 0

Proaxia consulting provides open platform consulting services including development service on cutting edge technology and environment, and system design and development using .NET, JAVA, and other languages.


Voice Recognition


There is a technology of speech recognition as a technique for the eye in various places recently.For example, the iPhone Siri.


Google's Chrome of voice input, there is also such as Microsoft's Cortana.Applied technology has seen the spread, but I want to help you understand the future the mechanism of speech recognition.Also I think that if you can also introduced, such as tips for improving speech recognition.

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Pro Axia Consultants Business Consulting Group in Osaka Tokyo Nagoya Japan: Guidance of the Tokyo office relocation

Joshuyo Yamato 8 years ago 0

This time, because we have decided to relocate our Tokyo office below, we guide.

Both kindly future should be noted that I would like to ask your further support and your kindness.

«Tokyo office relocation destination»

Yubinbango141-0022

Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Higashi Gotanda chome third No. 1

Sompo Japan Nipponkoa Gotanda Kyodo Building 9F




TEL: 03-6450-4473

FAX: 03-6450-4902

Business start date: February 29, 2016

Proaxia Consulting provides open platform consulting services including development service on cutting edge technology and environment, and system design and development using .NET, JAVA, and other languages.

Core Systems Japan Co., Ltd. is a global company that provides ERP data-enabled services using the mobile.