Sites like Bebo, MySpace and Facebook are part of an internet phenomenon known as ‘social networking’ or other related bookmarking associates. They can be great fun to use and are an important part of many young people’s social lives. But, like any internet tool, they can be used for harmful or criminal purposes.
Strathclyde Police and Associates Warning and Benefits, Other Risks
Social networking sites create a feeling of community. This can be positive or negative depending on the nature of the community created.
Because users access these sites from their own homes, they can sometimes forget that the internet is really a public space. This means they can be tempted to share more information than is sensible or safe.
You can help your children protect themselves by learning how these sites work and talking them through some basic advice as follows:
Stick with friends
Advise your child to make their profile private by changing the ‘privacy settings’ or ‘account settings’. This means only their friends will be able to see what’s on their profile. They’ll still be able to get friend requests, but are less likely to be pestered by strangers.
It’s also a good idea not to post personal details like last name, school or email address. After all, they might not know who their friends’ friends are. Remind them that there is always a chance someone else will see their information and not everyone online is honest.
Sharing is good, but…
Ask your kids to think carefully about:
• who they want to chat to
• what they want to say
• which pictures they put up on their site
Remember, even if it feels private, the internet is really a public space. And once they put something online, it will be there in some form forever, even if they delete it .
So if it isn’t something they’d be happy for their mum/dad/best friend or a total stranger to see, it’s probably best not to share it.
Think before they post
What your child puts online reflects the kind of person they are. So it’s important they don’t post racist, homophobic, bullying or threatening material. Encourage them to respect their friends and the social networking community and not bring real life arguments online.
Remember, too, that something they think is funny might not seem funny to others. What seems like a harmless joke in private may embarrass or humiliate someone in public.
Finally, if it’s illegal offline, it’s illegal online . Posting anything that promotes crime or violence or drug abuse could get them into serious trouble. Anything put online can be traced – even if they put in false details.
Report Abuse
If you or your child notice anyone promoting illegal activity or behaving in a threatening manner it’s important that you report it to the service provider. If someone is in immediate serious danger, contact the police.
On Facebook, you can now also download a 'ClickCEOP' button which enables users to get help and advice from the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre and report concerns directly to CEOP if necessary.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Strathclyde University and Associates: Boiler Room Movie Review
The Digital Information Office, Strathclyde University and Associates service for electronic resource management review by Bradley Null: America is the land of opportunity, and now more than ever, the opportunity that most Americans are preoccupied with is that of easy money. Our news media is saturated with stories of the instant millionaire, 25-year-old startup CEOs worth nine figures or the crafty investor that bought that startup on IPO and doesn't have to worry too much about his day job anymore either. There are a number of powerful cautionary tales waiting to be drawn from this unwholesome frenzy. Boiler Room tries to tell one of these stories, but sadly it fails to add much to the greed genre established by its two heavily referenced predecessors: Wall Street (1987) and Glengarry Glen Ross (1992).
Boiler Room is the story of Seth (Ribisi), a 19-year-old college dropout obsessed with the American dream of easy money. After concluding rather quickly that college isn't necessarily the fast track to a quick buck, he opens up an underground casino out of his house in Queens, providing a popular service for the local city college kids. After his disapproving father (Rifkin) finds out about the casino, Seth, feeling a repressed need to gain his father's approval, looks into an opportunity to become a stockbroker at the small firm of J.T. Marlin.
As it turns out, the firm, located in the heart of Long Island, conspicuously far from Wall Street, is a 'chop shop,' shorthand for a brokerage house more interested in pawning off securities for its own interests rather than serving its customers. When Seth's father discovers this, not only does Seth not find the approval he was hoping for, but he is excommunicated from the family.
Though he has only a minor part in the film, Ben Affleck is highlighted in trailers for the film, and the discerning observer will notice a strong similarity between his scene in the trailer, and Alec Baldwin's immortalized portrayal of a real estate shark in Glengarry Glen Ross. In fact, Affleck's big scene draws heavily on Baldwin's, though his performance (and the material he has to work with) does not live up to what is almost universally agreed upon as the best performance of Baldwin's career. This is not the only referencing of David Mamet's portrayal of the dark world of real estate cold-calling in this movie, however. Later in the film, when receiving some instructions on how to cold-call potential customers, Seth is told to remember one of Baldwin's catch phrases from that scene, 'A-B-C. Always Be Closing.' Boiler Room also liberally references, both directly and indirectly, its direct predecessor in the 'greed is good' category of filmmaking. Not only drawing its basic theme and plot structure from Wall Street, Boiler Room also draws its best dialogue during a scene in which a number of young stock brokers sitting in one of their sparely decorated mansions, compete with each other to quote lines from Wall Street, whose antagonist, Gordon Gecko, is obviously regarded as an idol within the group.
As a movie, Boiler Room is moderately entertaining. Vin Diesel in particular, off a strong turn in Saving Private Ryan, turns in another powerful performance as Chris, one of Seth's mentors at J.T. Marlin. Sadly though, Ben Younger, in his writing and directorial debut, adds very little to the filmic pantheon in his own voice. Even the film's most prolific statement on the American obsession with getting rich, 'either you're slinging crack rock or you've got a wicked jump shot,' is a quote of the rap star Notorious B.I.G. The most admirable outcome of this film might be that it leads viewers to check out its two predecessors. I would urge the same as well.
Boiler Room is the story of Seth (Ribisi), a 19-year-old college dropout obsessed with the American dream of easy money. After concluding rather quickly that college isn't necessarily the fast track to a quick buck, he opens up an underground casino out of his house in Queens, providing a popular service for the local city college kids. After his disapproving father (Rifkin) finds out about the casino, Seth, feeling a repressed need to gain his father's approval, looks into an opportunity to become a stockbroker at the small firm of J.T. Marlin.
As it turns out, the firm, located in the heart of Long Island, conspicuously far from Wall Street, is a 'chop shop,' shorthand for a brokerage house more interested in pawning off securities for its own interests rather than serving its customers. When Seth's father discovers this, not only does Seth not find the approval he was hoping for, but he is excommunicated from the family.
Though he has only a minor part in the film, Ben Affleck is highlighted in trailers for the film, and the discerning observer will notice a strong similarity between his scene in the trailer, and Alec Baldwin's immortalized portrayal of a real estate shark in Glengarry Glen Ross. In fact, Affleck's big scene draws heavily on Baldwin's, though his performance (and the material he has to work with) does not live up to what is almost universally agreed upon as the best performance of Baldwin's career. This is not the only referencing of David Mamet's portrayal of the dark world of real estate cold-calling in this movie, however. Later in the film, when receiving some instructions on how to cold-call potential customers, Seth is told to remember one of Baldwin's catch phrases from that scene, 'A-B-C. Always Be Closing.' Boiler Room also liberally references, both directly and indirectly, its direct predecessor in the 'greed is good' category of filmmaking. Not only drawing its basic theme and plot structure from Wall Street, Boiler Room also draws its best dialogue during a scene in which a number of young stock brokers sitting in one of their sparely decorated mansions, compete with each other to quote lines from Wall Street, whose antagonist, Gordon Gecko, is obviously regarded as an idol within the group.
As a movie, Boiler Room is moderately entertaining. Vin Diesel in particular, off a strong turn in Saving Private Ryan, turns in another powerful performance as Chris, one of Seth's mentors at J.T. Marlin. Sadly though, Ben Younger, in his writing and directorial debut, adds very little to the filmic pantheon in his own voice. Even the film's most prolific statement on the American obsession with getting rich, 'either you're slinging crack rock or you've got a wicked jump shot,' is a quote of the rap star Notorious B.I.G. The most admirable outcome of this film might be that it leads viewers to check out its two predecessors. I would urge the same as well.
Strathclyde Police Warning on Identity Theft Fraud, Scam and Boiler Room Associates
Your identity value and how to protect your details against identity theft. As technology advances, fraudsters have become increasingly sophisticated. The following pages from Strathclyde Associates Police highlight some recent types of fraud which are causing concern and give you advice about how to avoid being a victim.
Identity theft is a growing problem.
This type of fraud involves criminals accessing your personal information and using it to ‘steal’ your identity. In other words, they can pretend to be you in order to open bank accounts, get credit cards, loans, mortgages or to claim benefits. They could even take over your existing accounts and change the supplied address.
The result? You could be plunged into a nightmare situation where your credit history is ruined and you have to correct your record. The majority of victims ARE reimbursed by their banks, but it is a terrible experience nonetheless.
How the fraudsters operate
Fraudsters use a number of methods to obtain your information.
They can:
* Target flats where shared mail boxes make theft easier
* Bribe robbers or postal workers to hand over items containing your information
* Search unattended bags
* Rifle through your rubbish to find bills or bank statements which you have thrown out.
Be alert. There are warning signs to look out for. If you receive bills or invoices for goods you have not ordered, collection letters for debt you have not accrued or there are transactions on your bank/credit card statements that you do not recognise, then you are at risk. Also be aware if important documents, like your passport or driving licence, have been stolen.
What You Can Do
* Keep all your important documents safe and secure - do not compromise you personal details.
* When using a credit or debit card , make sure it is never out of your sight.
* Be wary if ATMs look as though they have tampered with, your cards could be skimmed and cloned.
* Never reveal your details when you are contacted by phone, fax, post or email if you believe the request not to be genuine. Always offer to ring back any suspicious callers.
* Destroy, preferably shred, all documents which may contain your information, such as bank statements and utility bills.
* Properly check all your bank/credit card statements and immediately report any transactions you do not recognise (even small amounts).
* Formally close all accounts you no longer require.
* Move your mail - when moving home. It is vital you notify all relevant organisations of your change of address.
If You Think You Are a Victim
* Contact your bank or building society and keep a record of all communication.
* Call your local police and report the matter – ask for a crime reference number.
* Request a copy of your credit report (Equifax or Experian). You can ask for incorrect information to be removed.
Identity theft is a growing problem.
This type of fraud involves criminals accessing your personal information and using it to ‘steal’ your identity. In other words, they can pretend to be you in order to open bank accounts, get credit cards, loans, mortgages or to claim benefits. They could even take over your existing accounts and change the supplied address.
The result? You could be plunged into a nightmare situation where your credit history is ruined and you have to correct your record. The majority of victims ARE reimbursed by their banks, but it is a terrible experience nonetheless.
How the fraudsters operate
Fraudsters use a number of methods to obtain your information.
They can:
* Target flats where shared mail boxes make theft easier
* Bribe robbers or postal workers to hand over items containing your information
* Search unattended bags
* Rifle through your rubbish to find bills or bank statements which you have thrown out.
Be alert. There are warning signs to look out for. If you receive bills or invoices for goods you have not ordered, collection letters for debt you have not accrued or there are transactions on your bank/credit card statements that you do not recognise, then you are at risk. Also be aware if important documents, like your passport or driving licence, have been stolen.
What You Can Do
* Keep all your important documents safe and secure - do not compromise you personal details.
* When using a credit or debit card , make sure it is never out of your sight.
* Be wary if ATMs look as though they have tampered with, your cards could be skimmed and cloned.
* Never reveal your details when you are contacted by phone, fax, post or email if you believe the request not to be genuine. Always offer to ring back any suspicious callers.
* Destroy, preferably shred, all documents which may contain your information, such as bank statements and utility bills.
* Properly check all your bank/credit card statements and immediately report any transactions you do not recognise (even small amounts).
* Formally close all accounts you no longer require.
* Move your mail - when moving home. It is vital you notify all relevant organisations of your change of address.
If You Think You Are a Victim
* Contact your bank or building society and keep a record of all communication.
* Call your local police and report the matter – ask for a crime reference number.
* Request a copy of your credit report (Equifax or Experian). You can ask for incorrect information to be removed.
Strathclyde Police Warning on Social Networking and Other Internet Scams
Sites like Bebo, MySpace and Facebook are part of an internet phenomenon known as ‘social networking’ or other related bookmarking associates. They can be great fun to use and are an important part of many young people’s social lives. But, like any internet tool, they can be used for harmful or criminal purposes.
Strathclyde Police and Associates Warning and Benefits, Other Risks
Social networking sites create a feeling of community. This can be positive or negative depending on the nature of the community created.
Because users access these sites from their own homes, they can sometimes forget that the internet is really a public space. This means they can be tempted to share more information than is sensible or safe.
You can help your children protect themselves by learning how these sites work and talking them through some basic advice as follows:
Stick with friends
Advise your child to make their profile private by changing the ‘privacy settings’ or ‘account settings’. This means only their friends will be able to see what’s on their profile. They’ll still be able to get friend requests, but are less likely to be pestered by strangers.
It’s also a good idea not to post personal details like last name, school or email address. After all, they might not know who their friends’ friends are. Remind them that there is always a chance someone else will see their information and not everyone online is honest.
Sharing is good, but…
Ask your kids to think carefully about:
• who they want to chat to
• what they want to say
• which pictures they put up on their site
Remember, even if it feels private, the internet is really a public space. And once they put something online, it will be there in some form forever, even if they delete it .
So if it isn’t something they’d be happy for their mum/dad/best friend or a total stranger to see, it’s probably best not to share it.
Think before they post
What your child puts online reflects the kind of person they are. So it’s important they don’t post racist, homophobic, bullying or threatening material. Encourage them to respect their friends and the social networking community and not bring real life arguments online.
Remember, too, that something they think is funny might not seem funny to others. What seems like a harmless joke in private may embarrass or humiliate someone in public.
Finally, if it’s illegal offline, it’s illegal online . Posting anything that promotes crime or violence or drug abuse could get them into serious trouble. Anything put online can be traced – even if they put in false details.
Report Abuse
If you or your child notice anyone promoting illegal activity or behaving in a threatening manner it’s important that you report it to the service provider. If someone is in immediate serious danger, contact the police.
On Facebook, you can now also download a 'ClickCEOP' button which enables users to get help and advice from the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre and report concerns directly to CEOP if necessary.
Strathclyde Police and Associates Warning and Benefits, Other Risks
Social networking sites create a feeling of community. This can be positive or negative depending on the nature of the community created.
Because users access these sites from their own homes, they can sometimes forget that the internet is really a public space. This means they can be tempted to share more information than is sensible or safe.
You can help your children protect themselves by learning how these sites work and talking them through some basic advice as follows:
Stick with friends
Advise your child to make their profile private by changing the ‘privacy settings’ or ‘account settings’. This means only their friends will be able to see what’s on their profile. They’ll still be able to get friend requests, but are less likely to be pestered by strangers.
It’s also a good idea not to post personal details like last name, school or email address. After all, they might not know who their friends’ friends are. Remind them that there is always a chance someone else will see their information and not everyone online is honest.
Sharing is good, but…
Ask your kids to think carefully about:
• who they want to chat to
• what they want to say
• which pictures they put up on their site
Remember, even if it feels private, the internet is really a public space. And once they put something online, it will be there in some form forever, even if they delete it .
So if it isn’t something they’d be happy for their mum/dad/best friend or a total stranger to see, it’s probably best not to share it.
Think before they post
What your child puts online reflects the kind of person they are. So it’s important they don’t post racist, homophobic, bullying or threatening material. Encourage them to respect their friends and the social networking community and not bring real life arguments online.
Remember, too, that something they think is funny might not seem funny to others. What seems like a harmless joke in private may embarrass or humiliate someone in public.
Finally, if it’s illegal offline, it’s illegal online . Posting anything that promotes crime or violence or drug abuse could get them into serious trouble. Anything put online can be traced – even if they put in false details.
Report Abuse
If you or your child notice anyone promoting illegal activity or behaving in a threatening manner it’s important that you report it to the service provider. If someone is in immediate serious danger, contact the police.
On Facebook, you can now also download a 'ClickCEOP' button which enables users to get help and advice from the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre and report concerns directly to CEOP if necessary.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Welcome to Strathclyde Associates Trading & Management Construction Company
The company was established in early 2005 to serve the booming international construction industry. We work with associate companies worldwide.
Soon after its establishment, Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company made a number of associations mainly in the Pacific and Southeast Asia regions. These business partnerships added extra strength to STRATHCLYDE ASSOCIATES TRADING & MANAGEMENT. We are proud to be associated with projects in countries including Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore and Korea.
Our main base of operations is at Baltimore, Maryland..
We have two main areas of expertise, international trading and shipments of construction products from cement to structural steel to panzer glass office windows and many more.
We also supply particularly to Bangkok Thailand, and Seoul Korea a wide range of highly skilled personnel from structural engineers to quantity surveyors.
The extensive building code and best practices knowledge that the construction defect litigation group provides is a significant advantage to our clients, allowing us to draw upon the years of experience in building projects and construction quality assurance of their GCs, Architects, and Engineers on every project."
Kevin Gilles, CEO
As mentioned our two main areas of expertise are construction materials and management personnel. In both these fields, there is some bad reputations in the area of fraud and fraudulant transactions. There are many scams and in the field of personnel, many scammers. We are proud of our reputation of checking and verifying all our products and personnel. Fraudulant financial transactions is the norm. Our checking procedures are second to none.
The company was established in early 2005 to serve the booming international construction industry. We work with associate companies worldwide.
Soon after its establishment, Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company made a number of associations mainly in the Pacific and Southeast Asia regions. These business partnerships added extra strength to Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company. We are proud to be associated with projects in countries including Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore and Seoul, S Korea.
Soon after its establishment, Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company made a number of associations mainly in the Pacific and Southeast Asia regions. These business partnerships added extra strength to STRATHCLYDE ASSOCIATES TRADING & MANAGEMENT. We are proud to be associated with projects in countries including Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore and Korea.
Our main base of operations is at Baltimore, Maryland..
We have two main areas of expertise, international trading and shipments of construction products from cement to structural steel to panzer glass office windows and many more.
We also supply particularly to Bangkok Thailand, and Seoul Korea a wide range of highly skilled personnel from structural engineers to quantity surveyors.
The extensive building code and best practices knowledge that the construction defect litigation group provides is a significant advantage to our clients, allowing us to draw upon the years of experience in building projects and construction quality assurance of their GCs, Architects, and Engineers on every project."
Kevin Gilles, CEO
As mentioned our two main areas of expertise are construction materials and management personnel. In both these fields, there is some bad reputations in the area of fraud and fraudulant transactions. There are many scams and in the field of personnel, many scammers. We are proud of our reputation of checking and verifying all our products and personnel. Fraudulant financial transactions is the norm. Our checking procedures are second to none.
The company was established in early 2005 to serve the booming international construction industry. We work with associate companies worldwide.
Soon after its establishment, Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company made a number of associations mainly in the Pacific and Southeast Asia regions. These business partnerships added extra strength to Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company. We are proud to be associated with projects in countries including Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore and Seoul, S Korea.
Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company
Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company have recently purchased and shipped a large quantity of cement type HE: High Early Strength from Indonesia for one of our projects in Seoul, South Korea. Though Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company did extensive quality control testing on arrival in Seoul, we found substantial defects in the quality of the cement.
Though Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company do not wish to name the manufacturer, please be extra careful in your quality control testing.
This was obviously blatant fraud and a scam. This sort of scamming is endemic and please be careful out there.
“As mentioned our two main areas of expertise are construction materials and management personnel. In both these fields, there is some bad reputations in the area of fraud and fraudulent transactions. There are many scams and in the field of personnel, many scammers. We are proud of our reputation of checking and verifying all our products and personnel. Fraudulent financial transactions is the norm. Our checking procedures are second to none.”
The company was established in early 2005 to serve the booming international construction industry. We work with associate companies worldwide.
Soon after its establishment, Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company made a number of associations mainly in the Pacific and Southeast Asia regions. These business partnerships added extra strength to Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company. We are proud to be associated with projects in countries including Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore and Seoul, S Korea.
Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company is passionate in the belief that from adversity comes opportunity. We believe that sustainable competitive advantage is always predicated upon the focused execution of a few core strengths or priniciples that are indemic to each particular company.
Though Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company do not wish to name the manufacturer, please be extra careful in your quality control testing.
This was obviously blatant fraud and a scam. This sort of scamming is endemic and please be careful out there.
“As mentioned our two main areas of expertise are construction materials and management personnel. In both these fields, there is some bad reputations in the area of fraud and fraudulent transactions. There are many scams and in the field of personnel, many scammers. We are proud of our reputation of checking and verifying all our products and personnel. Fraudulent financial transactions is the norm. Our checking procedures are second to none.”
The company was established in early 2005 to serve the booming international construction industry. We work with associate companies worldwide.
Soon after its establishment, Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company made a number of associations mainly in the Pacific and Southeast Asia regions. These business partnerships added extra strength to Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company. We are proud to be associated with projects in countries including Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore and Seoul, S Korea.
Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company is passionate in the belief that from adversity comes opportunity. We believe that sustainable competitive advantage is always predicated upon the focused execution of a few core strengths or priniciples that are indemic to each particular company.
About Us: Strathclyde Associates Trading & Management Construction Company
For over 5 years, Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company's professionals have been a leading Service Providers to the construction industry. Bringing together a wealth of Business, Legal, Financial, and Specialized Industry experience, Consolidated Construction Services helps industry professionals continue to thrive in an increasingly competitive and challenging business environment.
We are very involved in clean room IT factories in Thailand and particularly the new Songdo International City near Seoul in Korea.
Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company is passionate in the belief that from adversity comes opportunity. We believe that sustainable competitive advantage is always predicated upon the focused execution of a few core strengths or priniciples that are indemic to each particular company.
Challenging economic times provide the opportunity for companies to take the steps necessary to becoming more successful, to get leaner and more focused. Those actions taken today to make a company more successful, also provide the needed framework for eventual transition of the business.
We help companies find those core strengths and take those steps now.
As mentioned our two main areas of expertise are construction materials and management personnel. In both these fields, there is some bad reputations in the area of fraud and fraudulant transactions. There are many scams and in the field of personnel, many scammers. We are proud of our reputation of checking and verifying all our products and personnel. Fraudulant financial transactions is the norm. Our checking procedures are second to none.
The company was established in early 2005 to serve the booming international construction industry. We work with associate companies worldwide.
Soon after its establishment, Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company made a number of associations mainly in the Pacific and Southeast Asia regions. These business partnerships added extra strength to Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company. We are proud to be associated with projects in countries including Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore and Seoul, S Korea.
We are very involved in clean room IT factories in Thailand and particularly the new Songdo International City near Seoul in Korea.
Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company is passionate in the belief that from adversity comes opportunity. We believe that sustainable competitive advantage is always predicated upon the focused execution of a few core strengths or priniciples that are indemic to each particular company.
Challenging economic times provide the opportunity for companies to take the steps necessary to becoming more successful, to get leaner and more focused. Those actions taken today to make a company more successful, also provide the needed framework for eventual transition of the business.
We help companies find those core strengths and take those steps now.
As mentioned our two main areas of expertise are construction materials and management personnel. In both these fields, there is some bad reputations in the area of fraud and fraudulant transactions. There are many scams and in the field of personnel, many scammers. We are proud of our reputation of checking and verifying all our products and personnel. Fraudulant financial transactions is the norm. Our checking procedures are second to none.
The company was established in early 2005 to serve the booming international construction industry. We work with associate companies worldwide.
Soon after its establishment, Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company made a number of associations mainly in the Pacific and Southeast Asia regions. These business partnerships added extra strength to Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company. We are proud to be associated with projects in countries including Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore and Seoul, S Korea.
Strathclyde Police Warning on Identity Theft Fraud, Scam and Boiler Room Associates
Your identity value and how to protect your details against identity theft. As technology advances, fraudsters have become increasingly sophisticated. The following pages from Strathclyde Associates Police highlight some recent types of fraud which are causing concern and give you advice about how to avoid being a victim.
Identity theft is a growing problem.
This type of fraud involves criminals accessing your personal information and using it to ‘steal’ your identity. In other words, they can pretend to be you in order to open bank accounts, get credit cards, loans, mortgages or to claim benefits. They could even take over your existing accounts and change the supplied address.
The result? You could be plunged into a nightmare situation where your credit history is ruined and you have to correct your record. The majority of victims ARE reimbursed by their banks, but it is a terrible experience nonetheless.
How the fraudsters operate
Fraudsters use a number of methods to obtain your information. They can:
• Target flats where shared mail boxes make theft easier
• Bribe robbers or postal workers to hand over items containing your information
• Search unattended bags
• Rifle through your rubbish to find bills or bank statements which you have thrown out.
Be alert. There are warning signs to look out for. If you receive bills or invoices for goods you have not ordered, collection letters for debt you have not accrued or there are transactions on your bank/credit card statements that you do not recognise, then you are at risk. Also be aware if important documents, like your passport or driving licence, have been stolen.
What You Can Do
• Keep all your important documents safe and secure - do not compromise you personal details.
• When using a credit or debit card , make sure it is never out of your sight.
• Be wary if ATMs look as though they have tampered with, your cards could be skimmed and cloned.
• Never reveal your details when you are contacted by phone, fax, post or email if you believe the request not to be genuine. Always offer to ring back any suspicious callers.
• Destroy, preferably shred, all documents which may contain your information, such as bank statements and utility bills.
• Properly check all your bank/credit card statements and immediately report any transactions you do not recognise (even small amounts).
• Formally close all accounts you no longer require.
• Move your mail - when moving home. It is vital you notify all relevant organisations of your change of address.
If You Think You Are a Victim
• Contact your bank or building society and keep a record of all communication.
• Call your local police and report the matter – ask for a crime reference number.
• Request a copy of your credit report (Equifax or Experian). You can ask for incorrect information to be removed.
Identity theft is a growing problem.
This type of fraud involves criminals accessing your personal information and using it to ‘steal’ your identity. In other words, they can pretend to be you in order to open bank accounts, get credit cards, loans, mortgages or to claim benefits. They could even take over your existing accounts and change the supplied address.
The result? You could be plunged into a nightmare situation where your credit history is ruined and you have to correct your record. The majority of victims ARE reimbursed by their banks, but it is a terrible experience nonetheless.
How the fraudsters operate
Fraudsters use a number of methods to obtain your information. They can:
• Target flats where shared mail boxes make theft easier
• Bribe robbers or postal workers to hand over items containing your information
• Search unattended bags
• Rifle through your rubbish to find bills or bank statements which you have thrown out.
Be alert. There are warning signs to look out for. If you receive bills or invoices for goods you have not ordered, collection letters for debt you have not accrued or there are transactions on your bank/credit card statements that you do not recognise, then you are at risk. Also be aware if important documents, like your passport or driving licence, have been stolen.
What You Can Do
• Keep all your important documents safe and secure - do not compromise you personal details.
• When using a credit or debit card , make sure it is never out of your sight.
• Be wary if ATMs look as though they have tampered with, your cards could be skimmed and cloned.
• Never reveal your details when you are contacted by phone, fax, post or email if you believe the request not to be genuine. Always offer to ring back any suspicious callers.
• Destroy, preferably shred, all documents which may contain your information, such as bank statements and utility bills.
• Properly check all your bank/credit card statements and immediately report any transactions you do not recognise (even small amounts).
• Formally close all accounts you no longer require.
• Move your mail - when moving home. It is vital you notify all relevant organisations of your change of address.
If You Think You Are a Victim
• Contact your bank or building society and keep a record of all communication.
• Call your local police and report the matter – ask for a crime reference number.
• Request a copy of your credit report (Equifax or Experian). You can ask for incorrect information to be removed.
Strathclyde Police Internet Auction Warning on Fraud, Scam and Boiler Room Associates
As technology advances, fraudsters have become increasingly sophisticated. The following pages from Strathclyde Associates Police highlight some recent types of fraud which are causing concern and give you advice about how to avoid being a victim.
Internet auction sites like eBay and Yahoo provide a useful service for the public. However, like other areas of business, they have become the targets of fraudsters, with several thousand would-be traders falling victim every year.
Strathclyde Associates Police highlights on How internet auction sites work
These sites work as facilitators for transactions between sellers and buyers. Sellers post items for sale with terms and conditions set, and potential buyers make ‘bids’. The person who makes the highest offer within an allotted time wins. Arrangements are then made between the two parties for payment and delivery of the goods.
Payment is often arranged through an escrow service. These services hold the buyer’s payment in trust until the goods have been received and checked. The buyer then authorises the escrow service to release the payment to the seller.
How internet fraudsters operate
Internet fraudsters operate in a variety of ways including the following:
‘Invisible goods' fraud
The buyer sends the payment, but no goods are delivered and inevitably, the seller cannot be contacted, as false details were originally given. Using a legitimate escrow service can help protect the buyer from this type of fraud.
Non-Payment fraud
Buyers can also fail to pay. This can happen where the seller agrees to payment after delivery. It can also occur if a stolen credit card is used to make payment to an escrow service, and this is not discovered until after the goods are sent.
Please bear in mind that this is different from the case where there is no payment made as a result of a dispute between buyer and seller. This is a civil matter.
Strathclyde Associates Police highlights on online escrow fraud
Unfortunately, a number of fraudsters have created apparently genuine websites offering escrow services in order to defraud would-be customers.
The seller follows instructions on how to pay his money to the escrow site, usually by means of a cash transfer system such as Western Union. The escrow site then fails to pass the money on to the seller, and can no longer be contacted by either party.
These fraudsters also use a number of other methods to maximise their gain from such a website. Escrow fraudsters can commit invisible goods frauds or can contact the losing bidders for genuine auctions, claiming to be the seller with a similar product for sale. In both cases, the fraudster insists that payment is made through their fraudulent escrow service, with the same result as before.
In addition, escrow fraudsters can ensure winning bids on genuine auctions for high-value goods, again insisting that payment is made through them. When the seller checks the escrow service, he sees that payment has been made by the buyer and sends off the goods (usually to a foreign address). The seller thereafter loses contact with the buyer and the escrow service, and does not receive the promised payment.
Don’t Be Caught Out
There are a number of steps that can be taken to minimise the risks associated with carrying out business on the internet.
• Familiarise yourself thoroughly with the auction site terms and conditions.
• Get to know the seller/buyer - if possible, check the auction website for feedback on this person. Find out details, such as a permanent address and landline telephone number. Carry out online checks to verify that information.
• Ask questions about the goods. Try to verify that a seller has the items in front of him Consider the payment arrangements requested. Fraudsters will often insist on high-risk payment methods such as cash, cheque, wire transfer or cash transfer systems such as Western Union or Nocheques.
• Consider the seller/buyer's location. Very few internet auction frauds occur with the buyer and seller in the same police force area. Although these fraudsters do operate within the UK, they often prefer to commit their frauds in foreign countries, playing on the difficulties of international crime investigation.
• Check out escrow services - especially if the other party insists on using a particular service. These sites are often well presented and appear genuine, but fraudulent sites may have a number of spelling and grammar mistakes.
If you do find yourself a victim of internet auction fraud, report the fraudulent transaction to the internet auction site itself. You should then contact your local police office.
Internet auction sites like eBay and Yahoo provide a useful service for the public. However, like other areas of business, they have become the targets of fraudsters, with several thousand would-be traders falling victim every year.
Strathclyde Associates Police highlights on How internet auction sites work
These sites work as facilitators for transactions between sellers and buyers. Sellers post items for sale with terms and conditions set, and potential buyers make ‘bids’. The person who makes the highest offer within an allotted time wins. Arrangements are then made between the two parties for payment and delivery of the goods.
Payment is often arranged through an escrow service. These services hold the buyer’s payment in trust until the goods have been received and checked. The buyer then authorises the escrow service to release the payment to the seller.
How internet fraudsters operate
Internet fraudsters operate in a variety of ways including the following:
‘Invisible goods' fraud
The buyer sends the payment, but no goods are delivered and inevitably, the seller cannot be contacted, as false details were originally given. Using a legitimate escrow service can help protect the buyer from this type of fraud.
Non-Payment fraud
Buyers can also fail to pay. This can happen where the seller agrees to payment after delivery. It can also occur if a stolen credit card is used to make payment to an escrow service, and this is not discovered until after the goods are sent.
Please bear in mind that this is different from the case where there is no payment made as a result of a dispute between buyer and seller. This is a civil matter.
Strathclyde Associates Police highlights on online escrow fraud
Unfortunately, a number of fraudsters have created apparently genuine websites offering escrow services in order to defraud would-be customers.
The seller follows instructions on how to pay his money to the escrow site, usually by means of a cash transfer system such as Western Union. The escrow site then fails to pass the money on to the seller, and can no longer be contacted by either party.
These fraudsters also use a number of other methods to maximise their gain from such a website. Escrow fraudsters can commit invisible goods frauds or can contact the losing bidders for genuine auctions, claiming to be the seller with a similar product for sale. In both cases, the fraudster insists that payment is made through their fraudulent escrow service, with the same result as before.
In addition, escrow fraudsters can ensure winning bids on genuine auctions for high-value goods, again insisting that payment is made through them. When the seller checks the escrow service, he sees that payment has been made by the buyer and sends off the goods (usually to a foreign address). The seller thereafter loses contact with the buyer and the escrow service, and does not receive the promised payment.
Don’t Be Caught Out
There are a number of steps that can be taken to minimise the risks associated with carrying out business on the internet.
• Familiarise yourself thoroughly with the auction site terms and conditions.
• Get to know the seller/buyer - if possible, check the auction website for feedback on this person. Find out details, such as a permanent address and landline telephone number. Carry out online checks to verify that information.
• Ask questions about the goods. Try to verify that a seller has the items in front of him Consider the payment arrangements requested. Fraudsters will often insist on high-risk payment methods such as cash, cheque, wire transfer or cash transfer systems such as Western Union or Nocheques.
• Consider the seller/buyer's location. Very few internet auction frauds occur with the buyer and seller in the same police force area. Although these fraudsters do operate within the UK, they often prefer to commit their frauds in foreign countries, playing on the difficulties of international crime investigation.
• Check out escrow services - especially if the other party insists on using a particular service. These sites are often well presented and appear genuine, but fraudulent sites may have a number of spelling and grammar mistakes.
If you do find yourself a victim of internet auction fraud, report the fraudulent transaction to the internet auction site itself. You should then contact your local police office.
Welcome to Strathclyde Associates Trading & Management Construction Company
The company was established in early 2005 to serve the booming international construction industry. We work with associate companies worldwide. Soon after its establishment, Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company made a number of associations mainly in the Pacific and Southeast Asia regions. These business partnerships added extra strength to STRATHCLYDE ASSOCIATES TRADING & MANAGEMENT. We are proud to be associated with projects in countries including Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore and Korea. Our main base of operations is at Baltimore, Maryland.. We have two main areas of expertise, international trading and shipments of construction products from cement to structural steel to panzer glass office windows and many more. We also supply particularly to Bangkok Thailand, and Seoul Korea a wide range of highly skilled personnel from structural engineers to quantity surveyors. The extensive building code and best practices knowledge that the construction defect litigation group provides is a significant advantage to our clients, allowing us to draw upon the years of experience in building projects and construction quality assurance of their GCs, Architects, and Engineers on every project." Kevin Gilles, CEO As mentioned our two main areas of expertise are construction materials and management personnel. In both these fields, there is some bad reputations in the area of fraud and fraudulant transactions. There are many scams and in the field of personnel, many scammers. We are proud of our reputation of checking and verifying all our products and personnel. Fraudulant financial transactions is the norm. Our checking procedures are second to none. The company was established in early 2005 to serve the booming international construction industry. We work with associate companies worldwide. Soon after its establishment, Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company made a number of associations mainly in the Pacific and Southeast Asia regions. These business partnerships added extra strength to Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company. We are proud to be associated with projects in countries including Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore and Seoul, S Korea.
Welcome to Strathclyde Associates Trading & Management Construction Company
The company was established in early 2005 to serve the booming international construction industry. We work with associate companies worldwide. Soon after its establishment, Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company made a number of associations mainly in the Pacific and Southeast Asia regions. These business partnerships added extra strength to STRATHCLYDE ASSOCIATES TRADING & MANAGEMENT. We are proud to be associated with projects in countries including Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore and Korea. Our main base of operations is at Baltimore, Maryland.. We have two main areas of expertise, international trading and shipments of construction products from cement to structural steel to panzer glass office windows and many more. We also supply particularly to Bangkok Thailand, and Seoul Korea a wide range of highly skilled personnel from structural engineers to quantity surveyors. The extensive building code and best practices knowledge that the construction defect litigation group provides is a significant advantage to our clients, allowing us to draw upon the years of experience in building projects and construction quality assurance of their GCs, Architects, and Engineers on every project." Kevin Gilles, CEO As mentioned our two main areas of expertise are construction materials and management personnel. In both these fields, there is some bad reputations in the area of fraud and fraudulant transactions. There are many scams and in the field of personnel, many scammers. We are proud of our reputation of checking and verifying all our products and personnel. Fraudulant financial transactions is the norm. Our checking procedures are second to none. The company was established in early 2005 to serve the booming international construction industry. We work with associate companies worldwide. Soon after its establishment, Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company made a number of associations mainly in the Pacific and Southeast Asia regions. These business partnerships added extra strength to Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company. We are proud to be associated with projects in countries including Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore and Seoul, S Korea.
Strathclyde Police Warning on Social Networking and Other Internet Scams
Sites like Bebo, MySpace and Facebook are part of an internet phenomenon known as ‘social networking' or other related bookmarking associates. They can be great fun to use and are an important part of many young people's social lives. But, like any internet tool, they can be used for harmful or criminal purposes.
Strathclyde Police and Associates Warning and Benefits, Other Risks
Social networking sites create a feeling of community. This can be positive or negative depending on the nature of the community created.
Because users access these sites from their own homes, they can sometimes forget that the internet is really a public space. This means they can be tempted to share more information than is sensible or safe.
You can help your children protect themselves by learning how these sites work and talking them through some basic advice as follows:
Stick with friends
Advise your child to make their profile private by changing the ‘privacy settings' or ‘account settings'. This means only their friends will be able to see what's on their profile. They'll still be able to get friend requests, but are less likely to be pestered by strangers.
It's also a good idea not to post personal details like last name, school or email address. After all, they might not know who their friends' friends are. Remind them that there is always a chance someone else will see their information and not everyone online is honest.
Sharing is good, but…
Ask your kids to think carefully about:
* who they want to chat to
* what they want to say
* which pictures they put up on their site
Remember, even if it feels private, the internet is really a public space. And once they put something online, it will be there in some form forever, even if they delete it .
So if it isn't something they'd be happy for their mum/dad/best friend or a total stranger to see, it's probably best not to share it.
Think before they post
What your child puts online reflects the kind of person they are. So it's important they don't post racist, homophobic, bullying or threatening material. Encourage them to respect their friends and the social networking community and not bring real life arguments online.
Remember, too, that something they think is funny might not seem funny to others. What seems like a harmless joke in private may embarrass or humiliate someone in public.
Finally, if it's illegal offline, it's illegal online . Posting anything that promotes crime or violence or drug abuse could get them into serious trouble. Anything put online can be traced – even if they put in false details.
Read more: http://www.articlesbase.com/national-state-local-articles/strathclyde-police-warning-on-social-networking-and-other-internet-scams-4116671.html#ixzz1CEdjuKdo
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution
Strathclyde Police and Associates Warning and Benefits, Other Risks
Social networking sites create a feeling of community. This can be positive or negative depending on the nature of the community created.
Because users access these sites from their own homes, they can sometimes forget that the internet is really a public space. This means they can be tempted to share more information than is sensible or safe.
You can help your children protect themselves by learning how these sites work and talking them through some basic advice as follows:
Stick with friends
Advise your child to make their profile private by changing the ‘privacy settings' or ‘account settings'. This means only their friends will be able to see what's on their profile. They'll still be able to get friend requests, but are less likely to be pestered by strangers.
It's also a good idea not to post personal details like last name, school or email address. After all, they might not know who their friends' friends are. Remind them that there is always a chance someone else will see their information and not everyone online is honest.
Sharing is good, but…
Ask your kids to think carefully about:
* who they want to chat to
* what they want to say
* which pictures they put up on their site
Remember, even if it feels private, the internet is really a public space. And once they put something online, it will be there in some form forever, even if they delete it .
So if it isn't something they'd be happy for their mum/dad/best friend or a total stranger to see, it's probably best not to share it.
Think before they post
What your child puts online reflects the kind of person they are. So it's important they don't post racist, homophobic, bullying or threatening material. Encourage them to respect their friends and the social networking community and not bring real life arguments online.
Remember, too, that something they think is funny might not seem funny to others. What seems like a harmless joke in private may embarrass or humiliate someone in public.
Finally, if it's illegal offline, it's illegal online . Posting anything that promotes crime or violence or drug abuse could get them into serious trouble. Anything put online can be traced – even if they put in false details.
Read more: http://www.articlesbase.com/national-state-local-articles/strathclyde-police-warning-on-social-networking-and-other-internet-scams-4116671.html#ixzz1CEdjuKdo
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution
Strathclyde Police Warning on Social Networking and Other Internet Scams
Sites like Bebo, MySpace and Facebook are part of an internet phenomenon known as ‘social networking’ or other related bookmarking associates. They can be great fun to use and are an important part of many young people’s social lives. But, like any internet tool, they can be used for harmful or criminal purposes.
Strathclyde Police and Associates Warning and Benefits, Other Risks
Social networking sites create a feeling of community. This can be positive or negative depending on the nature of the community created.
Because users access these sites from their own homes, they can sometimes forget that the internet is really a public space. This means they can be tempted to share more information than is sensible or safe.
You can help your children protect themselves by learning how these sites work and talking them through some basic advice as follows:
Stick with friends
Advise your child to make their profile private by changing the ‘privacy settings’ or ‘account settings’. This means only their friends will be able to see what’s on their profile. They’ll still be able to get friend requests, but are less likely to be pestered by strangers.
It’s also a good idea not to post personal details like last name, school or email address. After all, they might not know who their friends’ friends are. Remind them that there is always a chance someone else will see their information and not everyone online is honest.
Sharing is good, but…
Ask your kids to think carefully about:
who they want to chat to
what they want to say
which pictures they put up on their site
Remember, even if it feels private, the internet is really a public space. And once they put something online, it will be there in some form forever, even if they delete it .
So if it isn’t something they’d be happy for their mum/dad/best friend or a total stranger to see, it’s probably best not to share it.
Think before they post
What your child puts online reflects the kind of person they are. So it’s important they don’t post racist, homophobic, bullying or threatening material. Encourage them to respect their friends and the social networking community and not bring real life arguments online.
Remember, too, that something they think is funny might not seem funny to others. What seems like a harmless joke in private may embarrass or humiliate someone in public.
Finally, if it’s illegal offline, it’s illegal online . Posting anything that promotes crime or violence or drug abuse could get them into serious trouble. Anything put online can be traced – even if they put in false details.
Report Abuse
If you or your child notice anyone promoting illegal activity or behaving in a threatening manner it’s important that you report it to the service provider. If someone is in immediate serious danger, contact the police.
On Facebook, you can now also download a 'ClickCEOP' button which enables users to get help and advice from the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre and report concerns directly to CEOP if necessary.
# # #
With approximately 8,000 police officers and 2,600 police staff working round the clock, Strathclyde Police is Scotland’s largest police force, and one of the biggest in the UK.
The Force was formed in 1975 and provides a vast range of policing services on behalf of 12 local authorities.
We currently protect nearly 2.3 million people across 5,371 square miles of Scotland — from Glasgow’s lively urban areas to the rural remoteness of the Inner Hebrides — with policing services specifically tailored to the individual needs of our various communities.
There are eight territorial divisions within Strathclyde Police, each headed by a divisional commander. Each division is divided into sub divisions, serving the public at a local level.
Strathclyde Police and Associates Warning and Benefits, Other Risks
Social networking sites create a feeling of community. This can be positive or negative depending on the nature of the community created.
Because users access these sites from their own homes, they can sometimes forget that the internet is really a public space. This means they can be tempted to share more information than is sensible or safe.
You can help your children protect themselves by learning how these sites work and talking them through some basic advice as follows:
Stick with friends
Advise your child to make their profile private by changing the ‘privacy settings’ or ‘account settings’. This means only their friends will be able to see what’s on their profile. They’ll still be able to get friend requests, but are less likely to be pestered by strangers.
It’s also a good idea not to post personal details like last name, school or email address. After all, they might not know who their friends’ friends are. Remind them that there is always a chance someone else will see their information and not everyone online is honest.
Sharing is good, but…
Ask your kids to think carefully about:
who they want to chat to
what they want to say
which pictures they put up on their site
Remember, even if it feels private, the internet is really a public space. And once they put something online, it will be there in some form forever, even if they delete it .
So if it isn’t something they’d be happy for their mum/dad/best friend or a total stranger to see, it’s probably best not to share it.
Think before they post
What your child puts online reflects the kind of person they are. So it’s important they don’t post racist, homophobic, bullying or threatening material. Encourage them to respect their friends and the social networking community and not bring real life arguments online.
Remember, too, that something they think is funny might not seem funny to others. What seems like a harmless joke in private may embarrass or humiliate someone in public.
Finally, if it’s illegal offline, it’s illegal online . Posting anything that promotes crime or violence or drug abuse could get them into serious trouble. Anything put online can be traced – even if they put in false details.
Report Abuse
If you or your child notice anyone promoting illegal activity or behaving in a threatening manner it’s important that you report it to the service provider. If someone is in immediate serious danger, contact the police.
On Facebook, you can now also download a 'ClickCEOP' button which enables users to get help and advice from the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre and report concerns directly to CEOP if necessary.
# # #
With approximately 8,000 police officers and 2,600 police staff working round the clock, Strathclyde Police is Scotland’s largest police force, and one of the biggest in the UK.
The Force was formed in 1975 and provides a vast range of policing services on behalf of 12 local authorities.
We currently protect nearly 2.3 million people across 5,371 square miles of Scotland — from Glasgow’s lively urban areas to the rural remoteness of the Inner Hebrides — with policing services specifically tailored to the individual needs of our various communities.
There are eight territorial divisions within Strathclyde Police, each headed by a divisional commander. Each division is divided into sub divisions, serving the public at a local level.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Welcome to Strathclyde Associates Trading & Management Construction Company
Dec 21,2010 - The company was established in early 2005 to serve the booming international construction industry. We work with associate companies worldwide.
Soon after its establishment, Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company made a number of associations mainly in the Pacific and Southeast Asia regions. These business partnerships added extra strength to STRATHCLYDE ASSOCIATES TRADING & MANAGEMENT. We are proud to be associated with projects in countries including Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore and Korea.
Soon after its establishment, Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company made a number of associations mainly in the Pacific and Southeast Asia regions. These business partnerships added extra strength to STRATHCLYDE ASSOCIATES TRADING & MANAGEMENT. We are proud to be associated with projects in countries including Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore and Korea.
New Strathclyde Associates Construction Management News: Design Firms Are Reluctant to Adopt Collaborati
Dec 22,2010 - WAYLAND, Mass. — Many architecture and engineering leaders believe integrated project delivery (IPD) — where architects, engineers, owners, contractors, and subcontractors work collaboratively as a team from the inception of a project and share the benefits and risks — is riddled with too many unknowns to even consider at this point, according to a survey by The Zweig Letter.
Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Tips for hiring contractors
Tips for hiring contractors (and 10 ways to avoid scammers). Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company: To protect yourself — and your money — here are 4 tips to ensure that your next remodeling project goes smoothly.
We love building for ourselves, but some jobs just need to be subbed out. Unfortunately, a competent, honest remodeling contractor is no easy find. There are thousands of reliable, trustworthy contractors out there — but there are quite a few toolbox-wielding knuckleheads, too. Here’s what you should keep your eye on:
Tips for hiring contractors (and 10 ways to avoid scammers). Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company: Avoid sleazy or shady tactics.
The first thing to do is make sure you're not being scammed. Beware these 10 red flags:
The contractor ...
Provides credentials or references that can't be verified.
Offers a special price, but only if you sign a contract today.
Accepts only cash, requires large deposits or wants the entire cost up front.
Asks you to write a check in his name (not to the business).
Won't provide a written contract or complete bid.
Refuses to apply for building permits, and asks you to get them.
Offers exceptionally long warranties.
Proposes to do most or all of the work on weekends and after-hours.
Gives you a low-ball offer that sounds too good to be true.
Has "Will work for beer" painted on the side of his trucks .
Tips for hiring contractors (and 10 ways to avoid scammers). Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company: Check the construction work.
When you meet with contractors, ask each to bring photos or drawings of completed jobs that are similar to yours. When possible, ask to visit a completed project. Get in touch with the homeowners involved, says construction manager Amy Johnston, author of “What the Experts May Not Tell You about Building or Renovating Your Home.” Ask pointed, pertinent questions such as:
What was the original construction budget?
What was the final construction budget?
How would you describe the quality of the work?
Was the job site kept clean and organized?
Was the project completed on time?
Were any liens filed on your property?
Would you work with this contractor again?
Vetting a contractor through customers works both ways — word-of-mouth recommendations have long been one of the most reliable means of finding competent contractors. Seek references from neighbors, friends, architects, colleagues and real-estate agents. You can also find local contractors, along with ratings and reviews, from online sources, such as Angie's List.
Tips for hiring contractors (and 10 ways to avoid scammers). Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company: Check the paperwork.
Check to make sure contractors are licensed and insured. A good pro should volunteer documentation. If you have doubts, contact the Better Business Bureau and check for complaints. When comparing competitors' bids, make sure everything is spelled out. This includes the scope of the work, materials specified, warranties, references, time frames, cost overruns, payment
Once you have chosen a contractor, obtain a written contract that includes the items specified in the original bid, plus the final price, payment terms, sales tax, permit fees, the specific work to be performed, materials to be used, warranties, start and end date, change-order processes, final review and sign-off procedures and debris removal. Once the job is under way, make sure the necessary building permits are on display.
Tips for hiring contractors (and 10 ways to avoid scammers). Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company: Check the bills.
When advancing money for materials, ask the contractor if you can pay the supplier directly. Always pay with a check, never by cash. Take a carrot-and-stick approach to completed work — pay incrementally as each significant phase of work is completed. Be careful about paying for work that hasn't been finished. Before making the final payment, do a visual inspection of the entire project and make a punch list of any repairs or uncompleted work. Put all change orders in writing; avoid verbal contracts.
A small but important technicality: Request signed lien releases from all major subcontractors and suppliers before making final payments. A lien release guarantees that the contractor has fully paid his materials suppliers. Former contractor Tom Philbin, author of "How to Hire a Home-Improvement Contractor Without Getting Chiseled," tells the story of a Memphis, Tenn., homeowner who had some work done on his house. "The job went smoothly and he paid the general contractor all the money for the job. But the contractor hadn't paid his supplier, who slapped a lien on the homeowner. The homeowner ultimately had to pay an additional $20,000, even though he had paid the contractor in full." Get those lien releases. By Joseph Truini, Popular Mechanics
Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company is passionate in the belief that from adversity comes opportunity. We believe that sustainable competitive advantage is always predicated upon the focused execution of a few core strengths or priniciples that are indemic to each particular company.
We love building for ourselves, but some jobs just need to be subbed out. Unfortunately, a competent, honest remodeling contractor is no easy find. There are thousands of reliable, trustworthy contractors out there — but there are quite a few toolbox-wielding knuckleheads, too. Here’s what you should keep your eye on:
Tips for hiring contractors (and 10 ways to avoid scammers). Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company: Avoid sleazy or shady tactics.
The first thing to do is make sure you're not being scammed. Beware these 10 red flags:
The contractor ...
Provides credentials or references that can't be verified.
Offers a special price, but only if you sign a contract today.
Accepts only cash, requires large deposits or wants the entire cost up front.
Asks you to write a check in his name (not to the business).
Won't provide a written contract or complete bid.
Refuses to apply for building permits, and asks you to get them.
Offers exceptionally long warranties.
Proposes to do most or all of the work on weekends and after-hours.
Gives you a low-ball offer that sounds too good to be true.
Has "Will work for beer" painted on the side of his trucks .
Tips for hiring contractors (and 10 ways to avoid scammers). Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company: Check the construction work.
When you meet with contractors, ask each to bring photos or drawings of completed jobs that are similar to yours. When possible, ask to visit a completed project. Get in touch with the homeowners involved, says construction manager Amy Johnston, author of “What the Experts May Not Tell You about Building or Renovating Your Home.” Ask pointed, pertinent questions such as:
What was the original construction budget?
What was the final construction budget?
How would you describe the quality of the work?
Was the job site kept clean and organized?
Was the project completed on time?
Were any liens filed on your property?
Would you work with this contractor again?
Vetting a contractor through customers works both ways — word-of-mouth recommendations have long been one of the most reliable means of finding competent contractors. Seek references from neighbors, friends, architects, colleagues and real-estate agents. You can also find local contractors, along with ratings and reviews, from online sources, such as Angie's List.
Tips for hiring contractors (and 10 ways to avoid scammers). Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company: Check the paperwork.
Check to make sure contractors are licensed and insured. A good pro should volunteer documentation. If you have doubts, contact the Better Business Bureau and check for complaints. When comparing competitors' bids, make sure everything is spelled out. This includes the scope of the work, materials specified, warranties, references, time frames, cost overruns, payment
Once you have chosen a contractor, obtain a written contract that includes the items specified in the original bid, plus the final price, payment terms, sales tax, permit fees, the specific work to be performed, materials to be used, warranties, start and end date, change-order processes, final review and sign-off procedures and debris removal. Once the job is under way, make sure the necessary building permits are on display.
Tips for hiring contractors (and 10 ways to avoid scammers). Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company: Check the bills.
When advancing money for materials, ask the contractor if you can pay the supplier directly. Always pay with a check, never by cash. Take a carrot-and-stick approach to completed work — pay incrementally as each significant phase of work is completed. Be careful about paying for work that hasn't been finished. Before making the final payment, do a visual inspection of the entire project and make a punch list of any repairs or uncompleted work. Put all change orders in writing; avoid verbal contracts.
A small but important technicality: Request signed lien releases from all major subcontractors and suppliers before making final payments. A lien release guarantees that the contractor has fully paid his materials suppliers. Former contractor Tom Philbin, author of "How to Hire a Home-Improvement Contractor Without Getting Chiseled," tells the story of a Memphis, Tenn., homeowner who had some work done on his house. "The job went smoothly and he paid the general contractor all the money for the job. But the contractor hadn't paid his supplier, who slapped a lien on the homeowner. The homeowner ultimately had to pay an additional $20,000, even though he had paid the contractor in full." Get those lien releases. By Joseph Truini, Popular Mechanics
Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company is passionate in the belief that from adversity comes opportunity. We believe that sustainable competitive advantage is always predicated upon the focused execution of a few core strengths or priniciples that are indemic to each particular company.
Home-renovation Scams - Strathclyde Associates Trading
Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company: Renovations are stressful, but if you rush through important details you could fall prey to one of these scams.
Scam artists are nothing new, but there are plenty of reasons to predict that even more of them will be around, due to tough economic times. While they tend to prey on the elderly, anyone who is not cautious and informed is a potential victim. Your best defense is a skeptical mind and knowing what to look out for when you hear about an offer that's "too good to refuse." Here are some of the most popular, and costly, home-improvement scams.
Home-renovation Scams - Strathclyde Associates Trading: One-time special
It's a rare business that's had only one sale in its entire history. The reality is that most businesses hold sales throughout the year, and that's not likely to change any time soon. If a contractor approaches you with a special offer, ask for concrete evidence that the quoted price is lower than what they have charged in the past for the same work. This could include a past catalog, special mailing, dated price list or evidence of identical work for a past customer.
Don't be pressured into accepting a deal that will expire before you've had a chance to do research, get competing bids and check references.
Home-renovation Scams - Strathclyde Associates Trading: I might as well
Be wary of the contractor who knocks on your door and says he's working just down the street. He tells you that he noticed a few things that need some work on your house and that you could save money by hiring him on the spot. Coincidentally, he just happens to have all the materials and tools to start right away.
This approach is often used to entice you into doing things that are visible from the outside, like roof repair, painting, window caulking, deck restoration, driveway coating and chimney repair. If the contractor claims to have all the materials, ask him where they came from and who paid for them. If they are left over from an earlier job, there's some chance that the previous homeowner footed the bill.
Cash before work
Nothing should set off more alarm bells than the contractor who wants to be paid in full for a project before it's started. This arrangement sets you up for a disappearing contractor who never starts the work.
A reasonable down payment is expected, to cover startup labor costs and materials. Normally, this should not exceed one-third of the total contract value; it's wise to make it as small as possible. The balance of the money can be tied to completion milestones to keep the contractor motivated to stay on schedule. Hold a sizable portion of the money until the project is finished, and make final payment dependent on your personal inspection and satisfaction.
Financing offers
Another warning flag is the offer to arrange financing to pay for your renovation, sometimes from a lender that the contractor knows personally. The offer may include a special interest rate for a limited time only. What won't be disclosed is that the contractor may be getting kickbacks or other favors from the lender.
If you don't review the loan papers carefully, you may later find out that you've signed up for a refinancing or high-interest home-equity loan, or unknowingly transferred your deed. If the money goes to the contractor, there's no incentive to complete the work. Always shop around for the best loan available, and consult an attorney if you need help understanding the terms and conditions.
Fly-by-night contractor
Be extremely wary if a contractor pulls into your driveway in an unmarked truck. If you talk to him, do it outside in public view. Anyone who enters your home is a potential burglar, or worse. If the truck has out-of-state plates, don't even waste your time.
For all contractors, you should apply due diligence. Verify name, business name and license number, address and telephone number. Ask for insurance papers, and verify that they are bonded in accordance with applicable laws.
Model home
Beware of the contractor who wants to fix up your home so he can show it off to other potential customers. You will likely be tempted by a deal that seems too good to pass up. But chances are pretty good that some or all of the work he's recommending doesn't really need to be done. Reputable contractors don't need models to showcase their work, and if they needed one, they wouldn't use an occupied home for that purpose.
Home-renovation Scams - Strathclyde Associates Trading: The bottom line
Use resources such as the Better Business Bureau, the Department of Consumer Protection and the local licensing board to check the contractor's business reputation and credentials. A history of consumer complaints, lawsuits and expired licenses are reasons to keep looking for a reliable contractor.
Common sense and good judgment offer the best protection from home-renovation scams. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. It's always wise to get multiple estimates before starting any project. If there are wide differences in the quotes, try to figure out why. Most importantly, don't sign any contract that you don't understand completely.
Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company is passionate in the belief that from adversity comes opportunity. We believe that sustainable competitive advantage is always predicated upon the focused execution of a few core strengths or priniciples that are indemic to each particular company.
Scam artists are nothing new, but there are plenty of reasons to predict that even more of them will be around, due to tough economic times. While they tend to prey on the elderly, anyone who is not cautious and informed is a potential victim. Your best defense is a skeptical mind and knowing what to look out for when you hear about an offer that's "too good to refuse." Here are some of the most popular, and costly, home-improvement scams.
Home-renovation Scams - Strathclyde Associates Trading: One-time special
It's a rare business that's had only one sale in its entire history. The reality is that most businesses hold sales throughout the year, and that's not likely to change any time soon. If a contractor approaches you with a special offer, ask for concrete evidence that the quoted price is lower than what they have charged in the past for the same work. This could include a past catalog, special mailing, dated price list or evidence of identical work for a past customer.
Don't be pressured into accepting a deal that will expire before you've had a chance to do research, get competing bids and check references.
Home-renovation Scams - Strathclyde Associates Trading: I might as well
Be wary of the contractor who knocks on your door and says he's working just down the street. He tells you that he noticed a few things that need some work on your house and that you could save money by hiring him on the spot. Coincidentally, he just happens to have all the materials and tools to start right away.
This approach is often used to entice you into doing things that are visible from the outside, like roof repair, painting, window caulking, deck restoration, driveway coating and chimney repair. If the contractor claims to have all the materials, ask him where they came from and who paid for them. If they are left over from an earlier job, there's some chance that the previous homeowner footed the bill.
Cash before work
Nothing should set off more alarm bells than the contractor who wants to be paid in full for a project before it's started. This arrangement sets you up for a disappearing contractor who never starts the work.
A reasonable down payment is expected, to cover startup labor costs and materials. Normally, this should not exceed one-third of the total contract value; it's wise to make it as small as possible. The balance of the money can be tied to completion milestones to keep the contractor motivated to stay on schedule. Hold a sizable portion of the money until the project is finished, and make final payment dependent on your personal inspection and satisfaction.
Financing offers
Another warning flag is the offer to arrange financing to pay for your renovation, sometimes from a lender that the contractor knows personally. The offer may include a special interest rate for a limited time only. What won't be disclosed is that the contractor may be getting kickbacks or other favors from the lender.
If you don't review the loan papers carefully, you may later find out that you've signed up for a refinancing or high-interest home-equity loan, or unknowingly transferred your deed. If the money goes to the contractor, there's no incentive to complete the work. Always shop around for the best loan available, and consult an attorney if you need help understanding the terms and conditions.
Fly-by-night contractor
Be extremely wary if a contractor pulls into your driveway in an unmarked truck. If you talk to him, do it outside in public view. Anyone who enters your home is a potential burglar, or worse. If the truck has out-of-state plates, don't even waste your time.
For all contractors, you should apply due diligence. Verify name, business name and license number, address and telephone number. Ask for insurance papers, and verify that they are bonded in accordance with applicable laws.
Model home
Beware of the contractor who wants to fix up your home so he can show it off to other potential customers. You will likely be tempted by a deal that seems too good to pass up. But chances are pretty good that some or all of the work he's recommending doesn't really need to be done. Reputable contractors don't need models to showcase their work, and if they needed one, they wouldn't use an occupied home for that purpose.
Home-renovation Scams - Strathclyde Associates Trading: The bottom line
Use resources such as the Better Business Bureau, the Department of Consumer Protection and the local licensing board to check the contractor's business reputation and credentials. A history of consumer complaints, lawsuits and expired licenses are reasons to keep looking for a reliable contractor.
Common sense and good judgment offer the best protection from home-renovation scams. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. It's always wise to get multiple estimates before starting any project. If there are wide differences in the quotes, try to figure out why. Most importantly, don't sign any contract that you don't understand completely.
Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company is passionate in the belief that from adversity comes opportunity. We believe that sustainable competitive advantage is always predicated upon the focused execution of a few core strengths or priniciples that are indemic to each particular company.
Home-renovation Scams - Strathclyde Associates Trading
Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company: Renovations are stressful, but if you rush through important details you could fall prey to one of these scams.
Scam artists are nothing new, but there are plenty of reasons to predict that even more of them will be around, due to tough economic times. While they tend to prey on the elderly, anyone who is not cautious and informed is a potential victim. Your best defense is a skeptical mind and knowing what to look out for when you hear about an offer that's "too good to refuse." Here are some of the most popular, and costly, home-improvement scams.
Home-renovation Scams - Strathclyde Associates Trading: One-time special
It's a rare business that's had only one sale in its entire history. The reality is that most businesses hold sales throughout the year, and that's not likely to change any time soon. If a contractor approaches you with a special offer, ask for concrete evidence that the quoted price is lower than what they have charged in the past for the same work. This could include a past catalog, special mailing, dated price list or evidence of identical work for a past customer.
Don't be pressured into accepting a deal that will expire before you've had a chance to do research, get competing bids and check references.
Home-renovation Scams - Strathclyde Associates Trading: I might as well
Be wary of the contractor who knocks on your door and says he's working just down the street. He tells you that he noticed a few things that need some work on your house and that you could save money by hiring him on the spot. Coincidentally, he just happens to have all the materials and tools to start right away.
This approach is often used to entice you into doing things that are visible from the outside, like roof repair, painting, window caulking, deck restoration, driveway coating and chimney repair. If the contractor claims to have all the materials, ask him where they came from and who paid for them. If they are left over from an earlier job, there's some chance that the previous homeowner footed the bill.
Cash before work
Nothing should set off more alarm bells than the contractor who wants to be paid in full for a project before it's started. This arrangement sets you up for a disappearing contractor who never starts the work.
A reasonable down payment is expected, to cover startup labor costs and materials. Normally, this should not exceed one-third of the total contract value; it's wise to make it as small as possible. The balance of the money can be tied to completion milestones to keep the contractor motivated to stay on schedule. Hold a sizable portion of the money until the project is finished, and make final payment dependent on your personal inspection and satisfaction.
Financing offers
Another warning flag is the offer to arrange financing to pay for your renovation, sometimes from a lender that the contractor knows personally. The offer may include a special interest rate for a limited time only. What won't be disclosed is that the contractor may be getting kickbacks or other favors from the lender.
If you don't review the loan papers carefully, you may later find out that you've signed up for a refinancing or high-interest home-equity loan, or unknowingly transferred your deed. If the money goes to the contractor, there's no incentive to complete the work. Always shop around for the best loan available, and consult an attorney if you need help understanding the terms and conditions.
Fly-by-night contractor
Be extremely wary if a contractor pulls into your driveway in an unmarked truck. If you talk to him, do it outside in public view. Anyone who enters your home is a potential burglar, or worse. If the truck has out-of-state plates, don't even waste your time.
For all contractors, you should apply due diligence. Verify name, business name and license number, address and telephone number. Ask for insurance papers, and verify that they are bonded in accordance with applicable laws.
Model home
Beware of the contractor who wants to fix up your home so he can show it off to other potential customers. You will likely be tempted by a deal that seems too good to pass up. But chances are pretty good that some or all of the work he's recommending doesn't really need to be done. Reputable contractors don't need models to showcase their work, and if they needed one, they wouldn't use an occupied home for that purpose.
Home-renovation Scams - Strathclyde Associates Trading: The bottom line
Use resources such as the Better Business Bureau, the Department of Consumer Protection and the local licensing board to check the contractor's business reputation and credentials. A history of consumer complaints, lawsuits and expired licenses are reasons to keep looking for a reliable contractor.
Common sense and good judgment offer the best protection from home-renovation scams. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. It's always wise to get multiple estimates before starting any project. If there are wide differences in the quotes, try to figure out why. Most importantly, don't sign any contract that you don't understand completely.
Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company is passionate in the belief that from adversity comes opportunity. We believe that sustainable competitive advantage is always predicated upon the focused execution of a few core strengths or priniciples that are indemic to each particular company.
Scam artists are nothing new, but there are plenty of reasons to predict that even more of them will be around, due to tough economic times. While they tend to prey on the elderly, anyone who is not cautious and informed is a potential victim. Your best defense is a skeptical mind and knowing what to look out for when you hear about an offer that's "too good to refuse." Here are some of the most popular, and costly, home-improvement scams.
Home-renovation Scams - Strathclyde Associates Trading: One-time special
It's a rare business that's had only one sale in its entire history. The reality is that most businesses hold sales throughout the year, and that's not likely to change any time soon. If a contractor approaches you with a special offer, ask for concrete evidence that the quoted price is lower than what they have charged in the past for the same work. This could include a past catalog, special mailing, dated price list or evidence of identical work for a past customer.
Don't be pressured into accepting a deal that will expire before you've had a chance to do research, get competing bids and check references.
Home-renovation Scams - Strathclyde Associates Trading: I might as well
Be wary of the contractor who knocks on your door and says he's working just down the street. He tells you that he noticed a few things that need some work on your house and that you could save money by hiring him on the spot. Coincidentally, he just happens to have all the materials and tools to start right away.
This approach is often used to entice you into doing things that are visible from the outside, like roof repair, painting, window caulking, deck restoration, driveway coating and chimney repair. If the contractor claims to have all the materials, ask him where they came from and who paid for them. If they are left over from an earlier job, there's some chance that the previous homeowner footed the bill.
Cash before work
Nothing should set off more alarm bells than the contractor who wants to be paid in full for a project before it's started. This arrangement sets you up for a disappearing contractor who never starts the work.
A reasonable down payment is expected, to cover startup labor costs and materials. Normally, this should not exceed one-third of the total contract value; it's wise to make it as small as possible. The balance of the money can be tied to completion milestones to keep the contractor motivated to stay on schedule. Hold a sizable portion of the money until the project is finished, and make final payment dependent on your personal inspection and satisfaction.
Financing offers
Another warning flag is the offer to arrange financing to pay for your renovation, sometimes from a lender that the contractor knows personally. The offer may include a special interest rate for a limited time only. What won't be disclosed is that the contractor may be getting kickbacks or other favors from the lender.
If you don't review the loan papers carefully, you may later find out that you've signed up for a refinancing or high-interest home-equity loan, or unknowingly transferred your deed. If the money goes to the contractor, there's no incentive to complete the work. Always shop around for the best loan available, and consult an attorney if you need help understanding the terms and conditions.
Fly-by-night contractor
Be extremely wary if a contractor pulls into your driveway in an unmarked truck. If you talk to him, do it outside in public view. Anyone who enters your home is a potential burglar, or worse. If the truck has out-of-state plates, don't even waste your time.
For all contractors, you should apply due diligence. Verify name, business name and license number, address and telephone number. Ask for insurance papers, and verify that they are bonded in accordance with applicable laws.
Model home
Beware of the contractor who wants to fix up your home so he can show it off to other potential customers. You will likely be tempted by a deal that seems too good to pass up. But chances are pretty good that some or all of the work he's recommending doesn't really need to be done. Reputable contractors don't need models to showcase their work, and if they needed one, they wouldn't use an occupied home for that purpose.
Home-renovation Scams - Strathclyde Associates Trading: The bottom line
Use resources such as the Better Business Bureau, the Department of Consumer Protection and the local licensing board to check the contractor's business reputation and credentials. A history of consumer complaints, lawsuits and expired licenses are reasons to keep looking for a reliable contractor.
Common sense and good judgment offer the best protection from home-renovation scams. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. It's always wise to get multiple estimates before starting any project. If there are wide differences in the quotes, try to figure out why. Most importantly, don't sign any contract that you don't understand completely.
Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company is passionate in the belief that from adversity comes opportunity. We believe that sustainable competitive advantage is always predicated upon the focused execution of a few core strengths or priniciples that are indemic to each particular company.
Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company
We have recently purchased and shipped a large quantity of cement type HE: High Early Strength from Indonesia for one of our projects in Seoul, South Korea. Though we did extensive quality control testing on arrival in Seoul, we found substantial defects in the quality of the cement.
Though we do not wish to name the manufacturer, please be extra careful in your quality control testing.
This was obviously blatant fraud and a scam. This sort of scamming is endemic and please be careful out there.
“As mentioned our two main areas of expertise are construction materials and management personnel. In both these fields, there is some bad reputations in the area of fraud and fraudulent transactions. There are many scams and in the field of personnel, many scammers. We are proud of our reputation of checking and verifying all our products and personnel. Fraudulent financial transactions is the norm. Our checking procedures are second to none.”
For over 5 years, Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company's professionals have been a leading Service Providers to the construction industry. Bringing together a wealth of Business, Legal, Financial, and Specialized Industry experience, Consolidated Construction Services helps industry professionals continue to thrive in an increasingly competitive and challenging business environment.
We are very involved in clean room IT factories in Thailand and particularly the new Songdo International City near Seoul in Korea.
Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company is passionate in the belief that from adversity comes opportunity. We believe that sustainable competitive advantage is always predicated upon the focused execution of a few core strengths or priniciples that are indemic to each particular company.
Challenging economic times provide the opportunity for companies to take the steps necessary to becoming more successful, to get leaner and more focused. Those actions taken today to make a company more successful, also provide the needed framework for eventual transition of the business.
We help companies find those core strengths and take those steps now.
Soon after its establishment, Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company made a number of associations mainly in the Pacific and Southeast Asia regions. These business partnerships added extra strength to Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company. We are proud to be associated with projects in countries including Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore and Seoul, S Korea.
Though we do not wish to name the manufacturer, please be extra careful in your quality control testing.
This was obviously blatant fraud and a scam. This sort of scamming is endemic and please be careful out there.
“As mentioned our two main areas of expertise are construction materials and management personnel. In both these fields, there is some bad reputations in the area of fraud and fraudulent transactions. There are many scams and in the field of personnel, many scammers. We are proud of our reputation of checking and verifying all our products and personnel. Fraudulent financial transactions is the norm. Our checking procedures are second to none.”
For over 5 years, Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company's professionals have been a leading Service Providers to the construction industry. Bringing together a wealth of Business, Legal, Financial, and Specialized Industry experience, Consolidated Construction Services helps industry professionals continue to thrive in an increasingly competitive and challenging business environment.
We are very involved in clean room IT factories in Thailand and particularly the new Songdo International City near Seoul in Korea.
Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company is passionate in the belief that from adversity comes opportunity. We believe that sustainable competitive advantage is always predicated upon the focused execution of a few core strengths or priniciples that are indemic to each particular company.
Challenging economic times provide the opportunity for companies to take the steps necessary to becoming more successful, to get leaner and more focused. Those actions taken today to make a company more successful, also provide the needed framework for eventual transition of the business.
We help companies find those core strengths and take those steps now.
Soon after its establishment, Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company made a number of associations mainly in the Pacific and Southeast Asia regions. These business partnerships added extra strength to Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company. We are proud to be associated with projects in countries including Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore and Seoul, S Korea.
Sleazy home improvement scams- Strathclyde Associates Trading
Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company: Spring's the time homeowners get to work -- and shady contractors come of out of the woodwork. Here's how to smell a suspicious deal. By Bankrate
Like most homeowners, you probably spent the winter months talking about the home improvements you'd like to make. Now that spring is here, it's time to act on those remodeling impulses. After all, spring is a time of renewal, change and new beginnings.
Unfortunately, it's also a time when shady contractors come out of the woodwork to prey on innocent homeowners. "Some are actual scam artists, while others are just incompetent or unethical," says Ellis Levinson, a consumer reporter and the author of the book "Hiring Contractors Without Going Through Hell."
The good news is that you can protect yourself against these scams. In fact, many scams are easy to detect if you take the time to become an educated, savvy consumer. "Compare prices, call references and research the project you're undertaking in advance," says Bruce Johnson, the author of "50 Simple Ways to Save your House." It seems simple, but many people find this process overwhelming.
Levinson calls it emotional laziness. "It's amazing to me how much time people will put it into buying a TV because it's fun. But when it comes to remodeling a kitchen, people have no time. They see it as drudgery," Levinson says. Ultimately, he says, doing the research to protect yourself is much easier than paying for the consequences.
To help you differentiate a scam from the real deal, Bankrate has compiled a list of the most common remodeling scams. Beware of the following key phrases, and remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company: 'I just happen to be working in your neighborhood'
This happens when contractors appear at your home unsolicited to inform you that they noticed some problems with your home's (insert: chimney, driveway, windows, plumbing, etc.) while working on a neighboring home. For example, a contractor might say he or she was on the roof of your neighbor's home and noticed missing shingles on your roof. This may be the case, but often no repair is needed.
More important, legitimate, established and reputable contractors tend to find enough work through word-of-mouth referrals that they don't need to be going door to door to attract customers. Be especially skeptical if the contractor drives a vehicle with no company name, no phone number or with out-of-state license plates. "Do not let these people enter your home," Johnson warns. "Often they want to be invited inside to see if something is worth stealing."
Also, be sure to ask for proof that he or she is insured, licensed and bonded. "Homeowners that check out contractors beforehand and research their credibility are usually more satisfied with the job than if they abruptly chose a contractor," says Jeremy Zidek, communications coordinator for the Better Business Bureau in Alaska.
Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company: 'I have materials left over'
Sometimes contractors will offer a discount for the job under the pretense that they have extra materials and want to use up their supply. Good contractors order just enough supplies to meet the needs of each job, as often the price for supplies is included in the contract.
If a contractor has materials left over from a previous job and is making them available to you, he either didn't finish the job or is cheating the previous customer. Or he didn't have a previous job but has materials to make it look like he did.
Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company: 'I need cash upfront'
This contractor will take your money and disappear before or (even worse) after your project gets under way. It can be frustrating trying to chase after him, getting him to come back and finish the job or hiring someone else to clean up a messy work site. Don't ever pay in full for a project before any work has been done.
However, you may be expected to pay a down payment. "The contractor may not want to block out time in his busy schedule without some money upfront," Levinson says. He recommends creating a payment schedule with the contractor at the start -- wherein you pay a sizable portion only upon completion of a project. Johnson swears by the one-third theory.
Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company is passionate in the belief that from adversity comes opportunity. We believe that sustainable competitive advantage is always predicated upon the focused execution of a few core strengths or priniciples that are indemic to each particular company.
Like most homeowners, you probably spent the winter months talking about the home improvements you'd like to make. Now that spring is here, it's time to act on those remodeling impulses. After all, spring is a time of renewal, change and new beginnings.
Unfortunately, it's also a time when shady contractors come out of the woodwork to prey on innocent homeowners. "Some are actual scam artists, while others are just incompetent or unethical," says Ellis Levinson, a consumer reporter and the author of the book "Hiring Contractors Without Going Through Hell."
The good news is that you can protect yourself against these scams. In fact, many scams are easy to detect if you take the time to become an educated, savvy consumer. "Compare prices, call references and research the project you're undertaking in advance," says Bruce Johnson, the author of "50 Simple Ways to Save your House." It seems simple, but many people find this process overwhelming.
Levinson calls it emotional laziness. "It's amazing to me how much time people will put it into buying a TV because it's fun. But when it comes to remodeling a kitchen, people have no time. They see it as drudgery," Levinson says. Ultimately, he says, doing the research to protect yourself is much easier than paying for the consequences.
To help you differentiate a scam from the real deal, Bankrate has compiled a list of the most common remodeling scams. Beware of the following key phrases, and remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company: 'I just happen to be working in your neighborhood'
This happens when contractors appear at your home unsolicited to inform you that they noticed some problems with your home's (insert: chimney, driveway, windows, plumbing, etc.) while working on a neighboring home. For example, a contractor might say he or she was on the roof of your neighbor's home and noticed missing shingles on your roof. This may be the case, but often no repair is needed.
More important, legitimate, established and reputable contractors tend to find enough work through word-of-mouth referrals that they don't need to be going door to door to attract customers. Be especially skeptical if the contractor drives a vehicle with no company name, no phone number or with out-of-state license plates. "Do not let these people enter your home," Johnson warns. "Often they want to be invited inside to see if something is worth stealing."
Also, be sure to ask for proof that he or she is insured, licensed and bonded. "Homeowners that check out contractors beforehand and research their credibility are usually more satisfied with the job than if they abruptly chose a contractor," says Jeremy Zidek, communications coordinator for the Better Business Bureau in Alaska.
Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company: 'I have materials left over'
Sometimes contractors will offer a discount for the job under the pretense that they have extra materials and want to use up their supply. Good contractors order just enough supplies to meet the needs of each job, as often the price for supplies is included in the contract.
If a contractor has materials left over from a previous job and is making them available to you, he either didn't finish the job or is cheating the previous customer. Or he didn't have a previous job but has materials to make it look like he did.
Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company: 'I need cash upfront'
This contractor will take your money and disappear before or (even worse) after your project gets under way. It can be frustrating trying to chase after him, getting him to come back and finish the job or hiring someone else to clean up a messy work site. Don't ever pay in full for a project before any work has been done.
However, you may be expected to pay a down payment. "The contractor may not want to block out time in his busy schedule without some money upfront," Levinson says. He recommends creating a payment schedule with the contractor at the start -- wherein you pay a sizable portion only upon completion of a project. Johnson swears by the one-third theory.
Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company is passionate in the belief that from adversity comes opportunity. We believe that sustainable competitive advantage is always predicated upon the focused execution of a few core strengths or priniciples that are indemic to each particular company.
Goldhill Associates – Right Choice, Our Philosophy
Goldhill Associates completely understand just how an investment performance can be affected by a myriad of factors. Clients know that many of these factors are out of the control of anyone. But the experienced investor knows that there are many they can control. They know how to approach an investment opportunity and the factors that they consider most important in the investments that they choose.
Goldhill Associates believes that the client whose focus is mostly on the factor that they can control will find themselves of the road to financial freedom and investment success.
It does not matter if you are a beginner or an experience investor of many years. Goldhill Associates believes that these three factors are the most important in an investment philosophy:
• Successful Investing is a Long-term Principle: No-one can expect a short-term trend to be a reliable source of successful investment performance. There are significant hazards in the stock and bond markets for any short-term strategy to work. These markets are just too susceptible to significant price declines. You must look towards a longer trend to rising prices. Goldhill Associates believes you must consider any investment for a minimum of fives years. Consider it money you can afford to leave for that time period or longer.
• Diversification of Assets: Many novice investors find it counter-intuitive, but the most important decision an investor makes is not what to invest in but the allocation of your investments. This is the mixture of stocks and bond you invest your money into. Our advisers will explain the best strategy for you in achieving the best returns possible.
• Additional Costs: Along with any investment you must account for additional costs. Look for low transaction fees or portfolio management costs. Look to tax advantages along with built in diversification within a particular market sector. Goldhill Associates’s policy is towards generally lower transaction expenses.
The Company Overview
Goldhill Associates was formed by two investment fund managers and a investment analyst seventeen years ago, their aim was to create one of the worlds leading boutique financial advisory services. Their idea was born from the frustrations that they felt working in the bureaucratic and cumbersome structure of the big dominant financial institutions.
Our founding partners formed Goldhill Associates with the simple idea that what the markets needed then and now is a company that is small, agile and dynamic. One that would show time and time again that they had to performance needed to produce the kind of results the giants of the industry would be envious of. The ideas created by Goldhill Associates would also be shown, time and time again, to have great benefits for their individual clients.
Our great advantage over the industry giants is our ability to individually build a bespoke solution for each and every client, no matter how large or small their investment capital or assets are. Our method allowed us to show our clients significantly grater returns on their investment than they had previously experienced.
Over the years since our inception Goldhill Associates has built upon our reputation within the industry of being able to identify companies for our investors that will go on to demonstrate an exceptional often unique ability to out perform their rivals in their market sector.
Goldhill Associates believes that the client whose focus is mostly on the factor that they can control will find themselves of the road to financial freedom and investment success.
It does not matter if you are a beginner or an experience investor of many years. Goldhill Associates believes that these three factors are the most important in an investment philosophy:
• Successful Investing is a Long-term Principle: No-one can expect a short-term trend to be a reliable source of successful investment performance. There are significant hazards in the stock and bond markets for any short-term strategy to work. These markets are just too susceptible to significant price declines. You must look towards a longer trend to rising prices. Goldhill Associates believes you must consider any investment for a minimum of fives years. Consider it money you can afford to leave for that time period or longer.
• Diversification of Assets: Many novice investors find it counter-intuitive, but the most important decision an investor makes is not what to invest in but the allocation of your investments. This is the mixture of stocks and bond you invest your money into. Our advisers will explain the best strategy for you in achieving the best returns possible.
• Additional Costs: Along with any investment you must account for additional costs. Look for low transaction fees or portfolio management costs. Look to tax advantages along with built in diversification within a particular market sector. Goldhill Associates’s policy is towards generally lower transaction expenses.
The Company Overview
Goldhill Associates was formed by two investment fund managers and a investment analyst seventeen years ago, their aim was to create one of the worlds leading boutique financial advisory services. Their idea was born from the frustrations that they felt working in the bureaucratic and cumbersome structure of the big dominant financial institutions.
Our founding partners formed Goldhill Associates with the simple idea that what the markets needed then and now is a company that is small, agile and dynamic. One that would show time and time again that they had to performance needed to produce the kind of results the giants of the industry would be envious of. The ideas created by Goldhill Associates would also be shown, time and time again, to have great benefits for their individual clients.
Our great advantage over the industry giants is our ability to individually build a bespoke solution for each and every client, no matter how large or small their investment capital or assets are. Our method allowed us to show our clients significantly grater returns on their investment than they had previously experienced.
Over the years since our inception Goldhill Associates has built upon our reputation within the industry of being able to identify companies for our investors that will go on to demonstrate an exceptional often unique ability to out perform their rivals in their market sector.
Trends in Smartcard fraud - Abstract: University of Strathclyde and Associates
GLASGOW, SCOTLAND, November 28, 2010 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Susan Burns, George R. S. Weir, Department of Computer and Information Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G1 1XH, UK {susan.burns, george.weir}@cis.strath.ac.uk
University of Strathclyde and Associates: Abstract. The introduction of smartcard technologies has reduced the incidence of card fraud in the UK, but there are still significant losses from fraudulent card use. In this paper we detail the context of smartcard introduction and describe the types of fraud that remain a threat to cardholders and other stakeholders in the card system. We conclude with a risk analysis from the cardholder's perspective and recommend greater cardholder awareness of such risks.
University of Strathclyde and Associates: Introduction. A recent report from the European Security Transport Association (ESTA) found that nearly 20% of the adult population in Great Britain has been targeted as part of a credit or debit card scam. As a result, the UK has been termed the 'Card Fraud Capital of Europe' [1], with UK citizens twice as likely to become victims of card fraud as other Europeans. Plastic card fraud is a lucrative exploit for criminals and the proceeds may be used to fund organised crime. Smart payment cards (Chip and PIN cards) were introduced in the UK to replace magnetic stripe cards and support PIN verification of card transactions. By the end of 2005, more than 107 million of the 141.6 million cards in the UK had been upgraded to smart cards [2]. Levels of plastic card fraud fell by 13% to GBP439.4 million in 2005 [3] and again to GBP428 million in 2006 (Figure 1). The reduction has been widely attributed to the rollout of smart cards with Chip and PIN authentication.
If the media is to be believed, the UK introduction of Chip and PIN authentication for credit and debit card transactions is flawed and has failed to reduce levels of card fraud across the board. Specific cases highlighting the security implications of smart card based technology have been widely reported, including exploits at Shell petrol stations [4] and Tesco self-service tills.
As cards are a widely accepted international form of payment, fraud can happen virtually anywhere in the world or on the Internet. Cards can be compromised in the UK and then used overseas. Cardwatch research shows that most of the fraud committed abroad on UK cards affects cards that have been compromised in the UK
Although the financial cost of card fraud is largely borne by the banking industry, the cardholder experiences loss of time in taking steps to resolve matters, as well as inconvenience, worry and frustration while a fraudulent incident is investigated. The cardholder's credit rating can be affected and the whole affair can be a distressing experience.
Strathclyde is a great place to study and enjoy life at the same time. And this is where you can find out everything about us - from how we teach, to what's on in Glasgow and how to get around. We want to help you make the most of your time here, so we hope you'll come back to these pages to get all the latest news about what's happening on campus and in and around the city.
University of Strathclyde and Associates: Abstract. The introduction of smartcard technologies has reduced the incidence of card fraud in the UK, but there are still significant losses from fraudulent card use. In this paper we detail the context of smartcard introduction and describe the types of fraud that remain a threat to cardholders and other stakeholders in the card system. We conclude with a risk analysis from the cardholder's perspective and recommend greater cardholder awareness of such risks.
University of Strathclyde and Associates: Introduction. A recent report from the European Security Transport Association (ESTA) found that nearly 20% of the adult population in Great Britain has been targeted as part of a credit or debit card scam. As a result, the UK has been termed the 'Card Fraud Capital of Europe' [1], with UK citizens twice as likely to become victims of card fraud as other Europeans. Plastic card fraud is a lucrative exploit for criminals and the proceeds may be used to fund organised crime. Smart payment cards (Chip and PIN cards) were introduced in the UK to replace magnetic stripe cards and support PIN verification of card transactions. By the end of 2005, more than 107 million of the 141.6 million cards in the UK had been upgraded to smart cards [2]. Levels of plastic card fraud fell by 13% to GBP439.4 million in 2005 [3] and again to GBP428 million in 2006 (Figure 1). The reduction has been widely attributed to the rollout of smart cards with Chip and PIN authentication.
If the media is to be believed, the UK introduction of Chip and PIN authentication for credit and debit card transactions is flawed and has failed to reduce levels of card fraud across the board. Specific cases highlighting the security implications of smart card based technology have been widely reported, including exploits at Shell petrol stations [4] and Tesco self-service tills.
As cards are a widely accepted international form of payment, fraud can happen virtually anywhere in the world or on the Internet. Cards can be compromised in the UK and then used overseas. Cardwatch research shows that most of the fraud committed abroad on UK cards affects cards that have been compromised in the UK
Although the financial cost of card fraud is largely borne by the banking industry, the cardholder experiences loss of time in taking steps to resolve matters, as well as inconvenience, worry and frustration while a fraudulent incident is investigated. The cardholder's credit rating can be affected and the whole affair can be a distressing experience.
Strathclyde is a great place to study and enjoy life at the same time. And this is where you can find out everything about us - from how we teach, to what's on in Glasgow and how to get around. We want to help you make the most of your time here, so we hope you'll come back to these pages to get all the latest news about what's happening on campus and in and around the city.
Strathclyde University and Associates: Boiler Room Movie Review
The Digital Information Office, Strathclyde University and Associates service for electronic resource management review by Bradley Null: America is the land of opportunity, and now more than ever, the opportunity that most Americans are preoccupied with is that of easy money. Our news media is saturated with stories of the instant millionaire, 25-year-old startup CEOs worth nine figures or the crafty investor that bought that startup on IPO and doesn't have to worry too much about his day job anymore either. There are a number of powerful cautionary tales waiting to be drawn from this unwholesome frenzy. Boiler Room tries to tell one of these stories, but sadly it fails to add much to the greed genre established by its two heavily referenced predecessors: Wall Street (1987) and Glengarry Glen Ross (1992).
Boiler Room is the story of Seth (Ribisi), a 19-year-old college dropout obsessed with the American dream of easy money. After concluding rather quickly that college isn't necessarily the fast track to a quick buck, he opens up an underground casino out of his house in Queens, providing a popular service for the local city college kids. After his disapproving father (Rifkin) finds out about the casino, Seth, feeling a repressed need to gain his father's approval, looks into an opportunity to become a stockbroker at the small firm of J.T. Marlin.
As it turns out, the firm, located in the heart of Long Island, conspicuously far from Wall Street, is a 'chop shop,' shorthand for a brokerage house more interested in pawning off securities for its own interests rather than serving its customers. When Seth's father discovers this, not only does Seth not find the approval he was hoping for, but he is excommunicated from the family.
Though he has only a minor part in the film, Ben Affleck is highlighted in trailers for the film, and the discerning observer will notice a strong similarity between his scene in the trailer, and Alec Baldwin's immortalized portrayal of a real estate shark in Glengarry Glen Ross. In fact, Affleck's big scene draws heavily on Baldwin's, though his performance (and the material he has to work with) does not live up to what is almost universally agreed upon as the best performance of Baldwin's career. This is not the only referencing of David Mamet's portrayal of the dark world of real estate cold-calling in this movie, however. Later in the film, when receiving some instructions on how to cold-call potential customers, Seth is told to remember one of Baldwin's catch phrases from that scene, 'A-B-C. Always Be Closing.' Boiler Room also liberally references, both directly and indirectly, its direct predecessor in the 'greed is good' category of filmmaking. Not only drawing its basic theme and plot structure from Wall Street, Boiler Room also draws its best dialogue during a scene in which a number of young stock brokers sitting in one of their sparely decorated mansions, compete with each other to quote lines from Wall Street, whose antagonist, Gordon Gecko, is obviously regarded as an idol within the group.
As a movie, Boiler Room is moderately entertaining. Vin Diesel in particular, off a strong turn in Saving Private Ryan, turns in another powerful performance as Chris, one of Seth's mentors at J.T. Marlin. Sadly though, Ben Younger, in his writing and directorial debut, adds very little to the filmic pantheon in his own voice. Even the film's most prolific statement on the American obsession with getting rich, 'either you're slinging crack rock or you've got a wicked jump shot,' is a quote of the rap star Notorious B.I.G. The most admirable outcome of this film might be that it leads viewers to check out its two predecessors. I would urge the same as well.
About University of Strathclyde
Strathclyde is a great place to study and enjoy life at the same time. And this is where you can find out everything about us - from how we teach, to what's on in Glasgow and how to get around. We want to help you make the most of your time here, so we hope you'll come back to these pages to get all the latest news about what's happening on campus and in and around the city.
Boiler Room is the story of Seth (Ribisi), a 19-year-old college dropout obsessed with the American dream of easy money. After concluding rather quickly that college isn't necessarily the fast track to a quick buck, he opens up an underground casino out of his house in Queens, providing a popular service for the local city college kids. After his disapproving father (Rifkin) finds out about the casino, Seth, feeling a repressed need to gain his father's approval, looks into an opportunity to become a stockbroker at the small firm of J.T. Marlin.
As it turns out, the firm, located in the heart of Long Island, conspicuously far from Wall Street, is a 'chop shop,' shorthand for a brokerage house more interested in pawning off securities for its own interests rather than serving its customers. When Seth's father discovers this, not only does Seth not find the approval he was hoping for, but he is excommunicated from the family.
Though he has only a minor part in the film, Ben Affleck is highlighted in trailers for the film, and the discerning observer will notice a strong similarity between his scene in the trailer, and Alec Baldwin's immortalized portrayal of a real estate shark in Glengarry Glen Ross. In fact, Affleck's big scene draws heavily on Baldwin's, though his performance (and the material he has to work with) does not live up to what is almost universally agreed upon as the best performance of Baldwin's career. This is not the only referencing of David Mamet's portrayal of the dark world of real estate cold-calling in this movie, however. Later in the film, when receiving some instructions on how to cold-call potential customers, Seth is told to remember one of Baldwin's catch phrases from that scene, 'A-B-C. Always Be Closing.' Boiler Room also liberally references, both directly and indirectly, its direct predecessor in the 'greed is good' category of filmmaking. Not only drawing its basic theme and plot structure from Wall Street, Boiler Room also draws its best dialogue during a scene in which a number of young stock brokers sitting in one of their sparely decorated mansions, compete with each other to quote lines from Wall Street, whose antagonist, Gordon Gecko, is obviously regarded as an idol within the group.
As a movie, Boiler Room is moderately entertaining. Vin Diesel in particular, off a strong turn in Saving Private Ryan, turns in another powerful performance as Chris, one of Seth's mentors at J.T. Marlin. Sadly though, Ben Younger, in his writing and directorial debut, adds very little to the filmic pantheon in his own voice. Even the film's most prolific statement on the American obsession with getting rich, 'either you're slinging crack rock or you've got a wicked jump shot,' is a quote of the rap star Notorious B.I.G. The most admirable outcome of this film might be that it leads viewers to check out its two predecessors. I would urge the same as well.
About University of Strathclyde
Strathclyde is a great place to study and enjoy life at the same time. And this is where you can find out everything about us - from how we teach, to what's on in Glasgow and how to get around. We want to help you make the most of your time here, so we hope you'll come back to these pages to get all the latest news about what's happening on campus and in and around the city.
Trends in Smartcard fraud – Abstract: University of Strathclyde and Associates
University of Strathclyde and Associates: Abstract. The introduction of smartcard technologies has reduced the incidence of card fraud in the UK, but there are
University of Strathclyde and Associates
Submitted by davidgani on October 6, 2010 - 14:15
Susan Burns, George R. S. Weir, Department of Computer and Information Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G1 1XH, UK {susan.burns, george.weir}@cis.strath.ac.uk
University of Strathclyde and Associates: Abstract. The introduction of smartcard technologies has reduced the incidence of card fraud in the UK, but there are still significant losses from fraudulent card use. In this paper we detail the context of smartcard introduction and describe the types of fraud that remain a threat to cardholders and other stakeholders in the card system. We conclude with a risk analysis from the cardholder’s perspective and recommend greater cardholder awareness of such risks.
University of Strathclyde and Associates: Introduction. A recent report from the European Security Transport Association (ESTA) found that nearly 20% of the adult population in Great Britain has been targeted as part of a credit or debit card scam. As a result, the UK has been termed the ‘Card Fraud Capital of Europe’ [1], with UK citizens twice as likely to become victims of card fraud as other Europeans. Plastic card fraud is a lucrative exploit for criminals and the proceeds may be used to fund organised crime. Smart payment cards (Chip and PIN cards) were introduced in the UK to replace magnetic stripe cards and support PIN verification of card transactions. By the end of 2005, more than 107 million of the 141.6 million cards in the UK had been upgraded to smart cards [2]. Levels of plastic card fraud fell by 13% to £439.4 million in 2005 [3] and again to £428 million in 2006 (Figure 1). The reduction has been widely attributed to the rollout of smart cards with Chip and PIN authentication.
If the media is to be believed, the UK introduction of Chip and PIN authentication for credit and debit card transactions is flawed and has failed to reduce levels of card fraud across the board. Specific cases highlighting the security implications of smart card based technology have been widely reported, including exploits at Shell petrol stations [4] and Tesco self-service tills.
As cards are a widely accepted international form of payment, fraud can happen virtually anywhere in the world or on the Internet. Cards can be compromised in the UK and then used overseas. Cardwatch research shows that most of the fraud committed abroad on UK cards affects cards that have been compromised in the UK
Although the financial cost of card fraud is largely borne by the banking industry, the cardholder experiences loss of time in taking steps to resolve matters, as well as inconvenience, worry and frustration while a fraudulent incident is investigated. The cardholder’s credit rating can be affected and the whole affair can be a distressing experience.
University of Strathclyde and Associates
Submitted by davidgani on October 6, 2010 - 14:15
Susan Burns, George R. S. Weir, Department of Computer and Information Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G1 1XH, UK {susan.burns, george.weir}@cis.strath.ac.uk
University of Strathclyde and Associates: Abstract. The introduction of smartcard technologies has reduced the incidence of card fraud in the UK, but there are still significant losses from fraudulent card use. In this paper we detail the context of smartcard introduction and describe the types of fraud that remain a threat to cardholders and other stakeholders in the card system. We conclude with a risk analysis from the cardholder’s perspective and recommend greater cardholder awareness of such risks.
University of Strathclyde and Associates: Introduction. A recent report from the European Security Transport Association (ESTA) found that nearly 20% of the adult population in Great Britain has been targeted as part of a credit or debit card scam. As a result, the UK has been termed the ‘Card Fraud Capital of Europe’ [1], with UK citizens twice as likely to become victims of card fraud as other Europeans. Plastic card fraud is a lucrative exploit for criminals and the proceeds may be used to fund organised crime. Smart payment cards (Chip and PIN cards) were introduced in the UK to replace magnetic stripe cards and support PIN verification of card transactions. By the end of 2005, more than 107 million of the 141.6 million cards in the UK had been upgraded to smart cards [2]. Levels of plastic card fraud fell by 13% to £439.4 million in 2005 [3] and again to £428 million in 2006 (Figure 1). The reduction has been widely attributed to the rollout of smart cards with Chip and PIN authentication.
If the media is to be believed, the UK introduction of Chip and PIN authentication for credit and debit card transactions is flawed and has failed to reduce levels of card fraud across the board. Specific cases highlighting the security implications of smart card based technology have been widely reported, including exploits at Shell petrol stations [4] and Tesco self-service tills.
As cards are a widely accepted international form of payment, fraud can happen virtually anywhere in the world or on the Internet. Cards can be compromised in the UK and then used overseas. Cardwatch research shows that most of the fraud committed abroad on UK cards affects cards that have been compromised in the UK
Although the financial cost of card fraud is largely borne by the banking industry, the cardholder experiences loss of time in taking steps to resolve matters, as well as inconvenience, worry and frustration while a fraudulent incident is investigated. The cardholder’s credit rating can be affected and the whole affair can be a distressing experience.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Strathclydeuni And Associates Quick Facts On Email Scams, Fraud And Boiler Rooms
Strathclyde community and association quick facts on email scams, fraud and boiler rooms. A warning before investing and how to protect your personal information online.
Some email users have lost money to bogus offers that arrived as spam in their in-box. Con artists are very cunning; they know how to make their claims seem legitimate. Some spam messages ask for your business, others invite you to a website with a detailed pitch. Either way, these tips can help you avoid spam scams:
Protect your personal information. Share credit card or other personal information only when you're buying from a company you know and trust.
Know who you're dealing with. Don't do business with any company that won't provide its name, street address, and telephone number.
StrathclydeUni and Associates tips: Take your time. Resist any urge to "act now" despite the offer and the terms. Once you turn over your money, you may never get it back.
Read the small print. Get all promises in writing and review them carefully before you make a payment or sign a contract.
Never pay for a "free" gift. Disregard any offer that asks you to pay for a gift or prize. If it's free or a gift, you shouldn't have to pay for it.Free means free.
While some consumers find unsolicited commercial email also known as "spam" informative, others find it annoying and time consuming. Still others find it expensive: They're among the people who have lost money to spam that contained bogus offers and fraudulent promotions.
Many Internet Service Providers and computer operating systems offer filtering software to limit the spam in their users' email inboxes. In addition, some old-fashioned 'filter tips' can help you save time and money by avoiding frauds pitched in email. OnGuard Online wants computer users to screen spam for scams, send unwanted spam on to the appropriate enforcement authorities, and then hit delete. Here's how to spot 10 common spam scams:
StrathclydeUni and Associates tips: The "Nigerian" Email Scam
The Bait: Con artists claim to be officials, businesspeople, or the surviving spouses of former government honchos in Nigeria or another country whose money is somehow tied up for a limited time. They offer to transfer lots of money into your bank account if you will pay a fee or "taxes" to help them access their money. If you respond to the initial offer, you may receive documents that look "official." Then they ask you to send money to cover transaction and transfer costs and attorney's fees, as well as blank letterhead, your bank account numbers, or other information. They may even encourage you to travel to the country in question, or a neighboring country, to complete the transaction. Some fraudsters have even produced trunks of dyed or stamped money to try to verify their claims.
The Catch: The emails are from crooks trying to steal your money or your identity. Inevitably, in this scenario, emergencies come up, requiring more of your money and delaying the "transfer" of funds to your account. In the end, there aren't any profits for you, and the scam artist vanishes with your money. The harm sometimes can be felt even beyond your pocketbook: according to State Department reports, people who have responded to "pay in advance " solicitations have been beaten, subjected to threats and extortion, and in some cases, murdered.
StrathclydeUni and Associates tips: Your Safety Net: If you receive an email from someone claiming to need your help getting money out of a foreign country, don't respond. Forward "Nigerian" scams including all the email addressing information to spam@uce.gov. If you've lost money to one of these schemes, call your local Secret Service field office. Local field offices are listed in the Blue Pages of your telephone directory.
Some email users have lost money to bogus offers that arrived as spam in their in-box. Con artists are very cunning; they know how to make their claims seem legitimate. Some spam messages ask for your business, others invite you to a website with a detailed pitch. Either way, these tips can help you avoid spam scams:
Protect your personal information. Share credit card or other personal information only when you're buying from a company you know and trust.
Know who you're dealing with. Don't do business with any company that won't provide its name, street address, and telephone number.
StrathclydeUni and Associates tips: Take your time. Resist any urge to "act now" despite the offer and the terms. Once you turn over your money, you may never get it back.
Read the small print. Get all promises in writing and review them carefully before you make a payment or sign a contract.
Never pay for a "free" gift. Disregard any offer that asks you to pay for a gift or prize. If it's free or a gift, you shouldn't have to pay for it.Free means free.
While some consumers find unsolicited commercial email also known as "spam" informative, others find it annoying and time consuming. Still others find it expensive: They're among the people who have lost money to spam that contained bogus offers and fraudulent promotions.
Many Internet Service Providers and computer operating systems offer filtering software to limit the spam in their users' email inboxes. In addition, some old-fashioned 'filter tips' can help you save time and money by avoiding frauds pitched in email. OnGuard Online wants computer users to screen spam for scams, send unwanted spam on to the appropriate enforcement authorities, and then hit delete. Here's how to spot 10 common spam scams:
StrathclydeUni and Associates tips: The "Nigerian" Email Scam
The Bait: Con artists claim to be officials, businesspeople, or the surviving spouses of former government honchos in Nigeria or another country whose money is somehow tied up for a limited time. They offer to transfer lots of money into your bank account if you will pay a fee or "taxes" to help them access their money. If you respond to the initial offer, you may receive documents that look "official." Then they ask you to send money to cover transaction and transfer costs and attorney's fees, as well as blank letterhead, your bank account numbers, or other information. They may even encourage you to travel to the country in question, or a neighboring country, to complete the transaction. Some fraudsters have even produced trunks of dyed or stamped money to try to verify their claims.
The Catch: The emails are from crooks trying to steal your money or your identity. Inevitably, in this scenario, emergencies come up, requiring more of your money and delaying the "transfer" of funds to your account. In the end, there aren't any profits for you, and the scam artist vanishes with your money. The harm sometimes can be felt even beyond your pocketbook: according to State Department reports, people who have responded to "pay in advance " solicitations have been beaten, subjected to threats and extortion, and in some cases, murdered.
StrathclydeUni and Associates tips: Your Safety Net: If you receive an email from someone claiming to need your help getting money out of a foreign country, don't respond. Forward "Nigerian" scams including all the email addressing information to spam@uce.gov. If you've lost money to one of these schemes, call your local Secret Service field office. Local field offices are listed in the Blue Pages of your telephone directory.
Strathclyde University and Associates: Boiler Room Movie Review
The Digital Information Office, Strathclyde University and Associates service for electronic resource management review by Bradley Null: America is the land of opportunity, and now more than ever, the opportunity that most Americans are preoccupied with is that of easy money. Our news media is saturated with stories of the instant millionaire, 25-year-old startup CEOs worth nine figures or the crafty investor that bought that startup on IPO and doesn't have to worry too much about his day job anymore either. There are a number of powerful cautionary tales waiting to be drawn from this unwholesome frenzy. Boiler Room tries to tell one of these stories, but sadly it fails to add much to the greed genre established by its two heavily referenced predecessors: Wall Street (1987) and Glengarry Glen Ross (1992).
Boiler Room is the story of Seth (Ribisi), a 19-year-old college dropout obsessed with the American dream of easy money. After concluding rather quickly that college isn't necessarily the fast track to a quick buck, he opens up an underground casino out of his house in Queens, providing a popular service for the local city college kids. After his disapproving father (Rifkin) finds out about the casino, Seth, feeling a repressed need to gain his father's approval, looks into an opportunity to become a stockbroker at the small firm of J.T. Marlin.
As it turns out, the firm, located in the heart of Long Island, conspicuously far from Wall Street, is a 'chop shop,' shorthand for a brokerage house more interested in pawning off securities for its own interests rather than serving its customers. When Seth's father discovers this, not only does Seth not find the approval he was hoping for, but he is excommunicated from the family.
Though he has only a minor part in the film, Ben Affleck is highlighted in trailers for the film, and the discerning observer will notice a strong similarity between his scene in the trailer, and Alec Baldwin's immortalized portrayal of a real estate shark in Glengarry Glen Ross. In fact, Affleck's big scene draws heavily on Baldwin's, though his performance (and the material he has to work with) does not live up to what is almost universally agreed upon as the best performance of Baldwin's career. This is not the only referencing of David Mamet's portrayal of the dark world of real estate cold-calling in this movie, however. Later in the film, when receiving some instructions on how to cold-call potential customers, Seth is told to remember one of Baldwin's catch phrases from that scene, 'A-B-C. Always Be Closing.' Boiler Room also liberally references, both directly and indirectly, its direct predecessor in the 'greed is good' category of filmmaking. Not only drawing its basic theme and plot structure from Wall Street, Boiler Room also draws its best dialogue during a scene in which a number of young stock brokers sitting in one of their sparely decorated mansions, compete with each other to quote lines from Wall Street, whose antagonist, Gordon Gecko, is obviously regarded as an idol within the group.
As a movie, Boiler Room is moderately entertaining. Vin Diesel in particular, off a strong turn in Saving Private Ryan, turns in another powerful performance as Chris, one of Seth's mentors at J.T. Marlin. Sadly though, Ben Younger, in his writing and directorial debut, adds very little to the filmic pantheon in his own voice. Even the film's most prolific statement on the American obsession with getting rich, 'either you're slinging crack rock or you've got a wicked jump shot,' is a quote of the rap star Notorious B.I.G. The most admirable outcome of this film might be that it leads viewers to check out its two predecessors. I would urge the same as well.
Boiler Room is the story of Seth (Ribisi), a 19-year-old college dropout obsessed with the American dream of easy money. After concluding rather quickly that college isn't necessarily the fast track to a quick buck, he opens up an underground casino out of his house in Queens, providing a popular service for the local city college kids. After his disapproving father (Rifkin) finds out about the casino, Seth, feeling a repressed need to gain his father's approval, looks into an opportunity to become a stockbroker at the small firm of J.T. Marlin.
As it turns out, the firm, located in the heart of Long Island, conspicuously far from Wall Street, is a 'chop shop,' shorthand for a brokerage house more interested in pawning off securities for its own interests rather than serving its customers. When Seth's father discovers this, not only does Seth not find the approval he was hoping for, but he is excommunicated from the family.
Though he has only a minor part in the film, Ben Affleck is highlighted in trailers for the film, and the discerning observer will notice a strong similarity between his scene in the trailer, and Alec Baldwin's immortalized portrayal of a real estate shark in Glengarry Glen Ross. In fact, Affleck's big scene draws heavily on Baldwin's, though his performance (and the material he has to work with) does not live up to what is almost universally agreed upon as the best performance of Baldwin's career. This is not the only referencing of David Mamet's portrayal of the dark world of real estate cold-calling in this movie, however. Later in the film, when receiving some instructions on how to cold-call potential customers, Seth is told to remember one of Baldwin's catch phrases from that scene, 'A-B-C. Always Be Closing.' Boiler Room also liberally references, both directly and indirectly, its direct predecessor in the 'greed is good' category of filmmaking. Not only drawing its basic theme and plot structure from Wall Street, Boiler Room also draws its best dialogue during a scene in which a number of young stock brokers sitting in one of their sparely decorated mansions, compete with each other to quote lines from Wall Street, whose antagonist, Gordon Gecko, is obviously regarded as an idol within the group.
As a movie, Boiler Room is moderately entertaining. Vin Diesel in particular, off a strong turn in Saving Private Ryan, turns in another powerful performance as Chris, one of Seth's mentors at J.T. Marlin. Sadly though, Ben Younger, in his writing and directorial debut, adds very little to the filmic pantheon in his own voice. Even the film's most prolific statement on the American obsession with getting rich, 'either you're slinging crack rock or you've got a wicked jump shot,' is a quote of the rap star Notorious B.I.G. The most admirable outcome of this film might be that it leads viewers to check out its two predecessors. I would urge the same as well.
Strathclyde University and Associates: Boiler Room Movie Review
The Digital Information Office, Strathclyde University and Associates service for electronic resource management review by Bradley Null: America is the land of opportunity, and now more than ever, the opportunity that most Americans are preoccupied with is that of easy money. Our news media is saturated with stories of the instant millionaire, 25-year-old startup CEOs worth nine figures or the crafty investor that bought that startup on IPO and doesn't have to worry too much about his day job anymore either. There are a number of powerful cautionary tales waiting to be drawn from this unwholesome frenzy. Boiler Room tries to tell one of these stories, but sadly it fails to add much to the greed genre established by its two heavily referenced predecessors: Wall Street (1987) and Glengarry Glen Ross (1992).
Boiler Room is the story of Seth (Ribisi), a 19-year-old college dropout obsessed with the American dream of easy money. After concluding rather quickly that college isn't necessarily the fast track to a quick buck, he opens up an underground casino out of his house in Queens, providing a popular service for the local city college kids. After his disapproving father (Rifkin) finds out about the casino, Seth, feeling a repressed need to gain his father's approval, looks into an opportunity to become a stockbroker at the small firm of J.T. Marlin.
As it turns out, the firm, located in the heart of Long Island, conspicuously far from Wall Street, is a 'chop shop,' shorthand for a brokerage house more interested in pawning off securities for its own interests rather than serving its customers. When Seth's father discovers this, not only does Seth not find the approval he was hoping for, but he is excommunicated from the family.
Though he has only a minor part in the film, Ben Affleck is highlighted in trailers for the film, and the discerning observer will notice a strong similarity between his scene in the trailer, and Alec Baldwin's immortalized portrayal of a real estate shark in Glengarry Glen Ross. In fact, Affleck's big scene draws heavily on Baldwin's, though his performance (and the material he has to work with) does not live up to what is almost universally agreed upon as the best performance of Baldwin's career. This is not the only referencing of David Mamet's portrayal of the dark world of real estate cold-calling in this movie, however. Later in the film, when receiving some instructions on how to cold-call potential customers, Seth is told to remember one of Baldwin's catch phrases from that scene, 'A-B-C. Always Be Closing.' Boiler Room also liberally references, both directly and indirectly, its direct predecessor in the 'greed is good' category of filmmaking. Not only drawing its basic theme and plot structure from Wall Street, Boiler Room also draws its best dialogue during a scene in which a number of young stock brokers sitting in one of their sparely decorated mansions, compete with each other to quote lines from Wall Street, whose antagonist, Gordon Gecko, is obviously regarded as an idol within the group.
As a movie, Boiler Room is moderately entertaining. Vin Diesel in particular, off a strong turn in Saving Private Ryan, turns in another powerful performance as Chris, one of Seth's mentors at J.T. Marlin. Sadly though, Ben Younger, in his writing and directorial debut, adds very little to the filmic pantheon in his own voice. Even the film's most prolific statement on the American obsession with getting rich, 'either you're slinging crack rock or you've got a wicked jump shot,' is a quote of the rap star Notorious B.I.G. The most admirable outcome of this film might be that it leads viewers to check out its two predecessors. I would urge the same as well.
About University of Strathclyde
Strathclyde is a great place to study and enjoy life at the same time. And this is where you can find out everything about us - from how we teach, to what's on in Glasgow and how to get around. We want to help you make the most of your time here, so we hope you'll come back to these pages to get all the latest news about what's happening on campus and in and around the city.
Boiler Room is the story of Seth (Ribisi), a 19-year-old college dropout obsessed with the American dream of easy money. After concluding rather quickly that college isn't necessarily the fast track to a quick buck, he opens up an underground casino out of his house in Queens, providing a popular service for the local city college kids. After his disapproving father (Rifkin) finds out about the casino, Seth, feeling a repressed need to gain his father's approval, looks into an opportunity to become a stockbroker at the small firm of J.T. Marlin.
As it turns out, the firm, located in the heart of Long Island, conspicuously far from Wall Street, is a 'chop shop,' shorthand for a brokerage house more interested in pawning off securities for its own interests rather than serving its customers. When Seth's father discovers this, not only does Seth not find the approval he was hoping for, but he is excommunicated from the family.
Though he has only a minor part in the film, Ben Affleck is highlighted in trailers for the film, and the discerning observer will notice a strong similarity between his scene in the trailer, and Alec Baldwin's immortalized portrayal of a real estate shark in Glengarry Glen Ross. In fact, Affleck's big scene draws heavily on Baldwin's, though his performance (and the material he has to work with) does not live up to what is almost universally agreed upon as the best performance of Baldwin's career. This is not the only referencing of David Mamet's portrayal of the dark world of real estate cold-calling in this movie, however. Later in the film, when receiving some instructions on how to cold-call potential customers, Seth is told to remember one of Baldwin's catch phrases from that scene, 'A-B-C. Always Be Closing.' Boiler Room also liberally references, both directly and indirectly, its direct predecessor in the 'greed is good' category of filmmaking. Not only drawing its basic theme and plot structure from Wall Street, Boiler Room also draws its best dialogue during a scene in which a number of young stock brokers sitting in one of their sparely decorated mansions, compete with each other to quote lines from Wall Street, whose antagonist, Gordon Gecko, is obviously regarded as an idol within the group.
As a movie, Boiler Room is moderately entertaining. Vin Diesel in particular, off a strong turn in Saving Private Ryan, turns in another powerful performance as Chris, one of Seth's mentors at J.T. Marlin. Sadly though, Ben Younger, in his writing and directorial debut, adds very little to the filmic pantheon in his own voice. Even the film's most prolific statement on the American obsession with getting rich, 'either you're slinging crack rock or you've got a wicked jump shot,' is a quote of the rap star Notorious B.I.G. The most admirable outcome of this film might be that it leads viewers to check out its two predecessors. I would urge the same as well.
About University of Strathclyde
Strathclyde is a great place to study and enjoy life at the same time. And this is where you can find out everything about us - from how we teach, to what's on in Glasgow and how to get around. We want to help you make the most of your time here, so we hope you'll come back to these pages to get all the latest news about what's happening on campus and in and around the city.
Strathclyde Associates Trading – Things Contractors Won’t Tell You
Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company: Learning a few tricks of their trade will help you ensure you get the job done right and at a fair price and to avoid scam By SmartMoney
Things Contractors won’t tell you, avoid scam – “My license is laughable.”
When you hire a general contractor to build an addition onto your house, you probably assume you’re getting someone who has spent years learning his craft, giving him the proper credentials to saw a hole in the side of your den. In reality, you could be getting a madman with a toolbox who answers to no one. That’s because only 27 states have any state-licensing requirements — and where regulations do exist, they vary. In California, one of the stricter states, aspiring contractors must have four years’ experience, prove their financial solvency and pass a written exam to become licensed, whereas in South Carolina, they need only two years of experience along with an exam and submission of financials. Maybe the disparity helps in part to explain why the Better Business Bureau received 1.1 million inquiries in 2006 from people seeking “reliability reports” on specific contractors — to ensure they were trustworthy enough to hire — ranking them third among industries for that request, according to the Council of BBBs.
So how should you shop for a contractor? Ask for and check references, of course. One good resource is Handyman Online, a referral service that can connect you with contractors in your area who are legitimately licensed, carry liability insurance and have at least three references. And Tom Pendleton, owner of McLean, Va.-based consulting firm The House Inspector, offers this advice: “Close to 95 percent of home-improvement contractors go out of business or change their name within three years” due to consumer complaints or mismanagement, he says, “so you want a contractor who’s been in business under the same name for more than three years.”
Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company: “Our contract favors me …”
When it’s time to sign on the dotted line, most contractors will present you with a boilerplate agreement based on one created by the American Institute of Architects. It lays out the job’s details, including its scope, materials to be used and a payment schedule. Not surprisingly, according to Mark Levine, co-author of “The Big Fix-Up,” a consumer guide to home remodeling, some contractors will set up a schedule that puts your payments ahead of the work. “When (a contractor) has received 50 percent of the money for 25 percent of the work, that’s when he stops showing up as often,” he says.
Levine suggests a plan such as paying 10 percent down, 25 percent when plumbing and electrical work are done, 25 percent after cabinets and windows are finished, and 25 percent for flooring and painting. “And don’t hand him the last 15 percent on his final day,” Levine says. “It’s called ‘retainage,’ and you should keep it for 30 extra days just to make sure everything is working the way it should.” In addition, if the job is big enough — say, $50,000 or more — Levine suggests investing in four hours of attorney fees to devise a contract that includes a fair payment plan, with retainage, and stipulates that disputes will be settled through arbitration (the quick and easy way to do it).
“… So I can take your money and run.”
Mark Zarrilli decided to enhance his Wall, N.J., home by putting a new path around his swimming pool. It was an $11,000 job, and he paid $7,000 upfront to the contractors — supposedly for materials. “They brought somebody in to do the preliminary brickwork, and then played a duck-and-run game for three months,” Zarrilli says. “They’d tell me the truck broke down, the wife was sick, the cement company couldn’t deliver. I’ll never get my money back.” Zarrilli took the dispute to the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s office, who charged the contractor with theft by deception. (The contractor eventually pleaded guilty.)
Mark Herr, former director of the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs, calls this alleged scam “spiking the job,” and it’s one of the worst possible outcomes when you’ve signed a contract that includes a front-loaded payment schedule. “By completing a little bit of the work, they can face only civil rather than criminal charges,” Herr says. You might get sucked into such a scenario if your contractor tells you — like Zarrilli’s did — that the upfront cash is for materials. “Typically,” Herr says, “that happens because the guy needs to pay upfront for goods since he has no credit, probably because he screwed up somewhere else.” Your pre-emptive strategy: Offer to have the materials delivered to your house and to pay for them C.O.D.
“Bargains don’t exist in my world.”
Before hiring a contractor, you’ll probably solicit various bids. If one comes in much lower than the others, it’s natural to think you’ve lucked out, but that’s not necessarily the case, says Lisa Curtis, former director of consumer services for the Denver district attorney’s office. Because of the fixed costs of materials and labor, a stunningly low bid is a red flag.
Common tactics include starting a job based on a bargain-basement price, then telling the customer that the work is more complicated (and more costly) than originally thought. Then there’s the contractor who quotes a price that includes windows he knows are of poor quality; once the job is under way, he’ll present his client with what is clearly a better window and talk him into upgrading. “Ultimately,” Curtis says, “you may pay more than you would have with a reputable person who started off at a reasonably higher price.”
“I’ll be back when I feel like it.”
So you found yourself a good contractor. Terrific — but here’s the bad news. When contractors are busy with multiple jobs, as the best in the business inevitably are, you can pretty much expect the schedule for completing your job will go out the window. “If the contractor’s got too many jobs going,” Pendleton says, “the workers might only be in your house for two hours when they should have been there all day.”
One way to guarantee that your job won’t stretch to Wagnerian lengths, he says, is to hire a contractor with a lead person or project manager, “a working supervisor who is on the job from beginning to end.” If the job drags, the contractor still has to pay that person, so it “becomes in the contractor’s interest to finish the job,” Pendleton says.
Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company is passionate in the belief that from adversity comes opportunity. We believe that sustainable competitive advantage is always predicated upon the focused execution of a few core strengths or principles that are endemic to each particular company.
Things Contractors won’t tell you, avoid scam – “My license is laughable.”
When you hire a general contractor to build an addition onto your house, you probably assume you’re getting someone who has spent years learning his craft, giving him the proper credentials to saw a hole in the side of your den. In reality, you could be getting a madman with a toolbox who answers to no one. That’s because only 27 states have any state-licensing requirements — and where regulations do exist, they vary. In California, one of the stricter states, aspiring contractors must have four years’ experience, prove their financial solvency and pass a written exam to become licensed, whereas in South Carolina, they need only two years of experience along with an exam and submission of financials. Maybe the disparity helps in part to explain why the Better Business Bureau received 1.1 million inquiries in 2006 from people seeking “reliability reports” on specific contractors — to ensure they were trustworthy enough to hire — ranking them third among industries for that request, according to the Council of BBBs.
So how should you shop for a contractor? Ask for and check references, of course. One good resource is Handyman Online, a referral service that can connect you with contractors in your area who are legitimately licensed, carry liability insurance and have at least three references. And Tom Pendleton, owner of McLean, Va.-based consulting firm The House Inspector, offers this advice: “Close to 95 percent of home-improvement contractors go out of business or change their name within three years” due to consumer complaints or mismanagement, he says, “so you want a contractor who’s been in business under the same name for more than three years.”
Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company: “Our contract favors me …”
When it’s time to sign on the dotted line, most contractors will present you with a boilerplate agreement based on one created by the American Institute of Architects. It lays out the job’s details, including its scope, materials to be used and a payment schedule. Not surprisingly, according to Mark Levine, co-author of “The Big Fix-Up,” a consumer guide to home remodeling, some contractors will set up a schedule that puts your payments ahead of the work. “When (a contractor) has received 50 percent of the money for 25 percent of the work, that’s when he stops showing up as often,” he says.
Levine suggests a plan such as paying 10 percent down, 25 percent when plumbing and electrical work are done, 25 percent after cabinets and windows are finished, and 25 percent for flooring and painting. “And don’t hand him the last 15 percent on his final day,” Levine says. “It’s called ‘retainage,’ and you should keep it for 30 extra days just to make sure everything is working the way it should.” In addition, if the job is big enough — say, $50,000 or more — Levine suggests investing in four hours of attorney fees to devise a contract that includes a fair payment plan, with retainage, and stipulates that disputes will be settled through arbitration (the quick and easy way to do it).
“… So I can take your money and run.”
Mark Zarrilli decided to enhance his Wall, N.J., home by putting a new path around his swimming pool. It was an $11,000 job, and he paid $7,000 upfront to the contractors — supposedly for materials. “They brought somebody in to do the preliminary brickwork, and then played a duck-and-run game for three months,” Zarrilli says. “They’d tell me the truck broke down, the wife was sick, the cement company couldn’t deliver. I’ll never get my money back.” Zarrilli took the dispute to the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s office, who charged the contractor with theft by deception. (The contractor eventually pleaded guilty.)
Mark Herr, former director of the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs, calls this alleged scam “spiking the job,” and it’s one of the worst possible outcomes when you’ve signed a contract that includes a front-loaded payment schedule. “By completing a little bit of the work, they can face only civil rather than criminal charges,” Herr says. You might get sucked into such a scenario if your contractor tells you — like Zarrilli’s did — that the upfront cash is for materials. “Typically,” Herr says, “that happens because the guy needs to pay upfront for goods since he has no credit, probably because he screwed up somewhere else.” Your pre-emptive strategy: Offer to have the materials delivered to your house and to pay for them C.O.D.
“Bargains don’t exist in my world.”
Before hiring a contractor, you’ll probably solicit various bids. If one comes in much lower than the others, it’s natural to think you’ve lucked out, but that’s not necessarily the case, says Lisa Curtis, former director of consumer services for the Denver district attorney’s office. Because of the fixed costs of materials and labor, a stunningly low bid is a red flag.
Common tactics include starting a job based on a bargain-basement price, then telling the customer that the work is more complicated (and more costly) than originally thought. Then there’s the contractor who quotes a price that includes windows he knows are of poor quality; once the job is under way, he’ll present his client with what is clearly a better window and talk him into upgrading. “Ultimately,” Curtis says, “you may pay more than you would have with a reputable person who started off at a reasonably higher price.”
“I’ll be back when I feel like it.”
So you found yourself a good contractor. Terrific — but here’s the bad news. When contractors are busy with multiple jobs, as the best in the business inevitably are, you can pretty much expect the schedule for completing your job will go out the window. “If the contractor’s got too many jobs going,” Pendleton says, “the workers might only be in your house for two hours when they should have been there all day.”
One way to guarantee that your job won’t stretch to Wagnerian lengths, he says, is to hire a contractor with a lead person or project manager, “a working supervisor who is on the job from beginning to end.” If the job drags, the contractor still has to pay that person, so it “becomes in the contractor’s interest to finish the job,” Pendleton says.
Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company is passionate in the belief that from adversity comes opportunity. We believe that sustainable competitive advantage is always predicated upon the focused execution of a few core strengths or principles that are endemic to each particular company.
Overregulation of steel, economic downturn suffocate wire industry: Strathclyde Associates Construction Management News
The South African wire
industry has been adversely affected by the economic downturn, especially since stadium contracts for the 2010 FIFA World Cup were completed, while the overregulation of the steel industry by government is resulting in the closure of factories and job losses, says South African Wire Association chairperson Rick Allen.
Strathclyde Associates Construction Management News: “In some areas, like competition law, overregulation is having exactly the opposite effect intended and reducing South Africa’s ability to compete both internationally and domestically. The elimination of competition from smaller players and a single national price for steel are direct consequences of actions by the Competition Commission. There needs to be more trust and discussions between government, labour and business if the steel industry is to regain its former position as a significant contributor to exports and economic development. Current policies are not unified,” he says.
“Further, margins in some areas are below cost, while the association is unsure about whether discussing nonexistent margins with mills constitutes a Competition Commission offence. Therefore, important issues, such as exports, adding value (in terms of manufacturing and steel converting), developing the industry and saving jobs are not discussed.”
Strathclyde Associates Construction Management News: Construction has slowed down and export markets are weak, while uncertainty in the fields of mining and agriculture is also a challenge. In the past, the wire industry exported about 50% of its production, but now South Africa faces competition from China, locally and in other African countries. “Industry in China has greater support from government, compared with the support received by local industry from the South African government, and the costs of adding value are much lower. China also does not have to deal with regulatory burdens as South Africa does,” he says.
Strathclyde Associates Construction Management News: Competition Commission manager for advocacy and stakeholder relations Oupa Bodibe says that competition policy exists to encourage the dynamism of firms through legitimate competition and not through shady collaboration between competitors to fix prices allocate markets and rig bids.
“Legitimate competition means that a firm constantly strives to win customers by offering better products through constant innovation and by offering competitive prices. It will be irresponsible for the Commission to condone anticompetitive conduct, from whatever quarter, including small businesses. However the competition act allows firms to apply for exemption if the objective cannot be achieved without the collaboration of firms,” he explains.
Cape Town-based research company Econresearch’s Mike Sampson believes that coastal manufacturers have no alternative but to close down unprofitable operations and revert to importing finished goods, such as nails and netting, while China is able to add value at a lower cost. Further, China’s government believes that the need to maintain employment as critical.
Strathclyde Associates Construction Management News: Administered expenses, such as electricity, labour and harbour costs, all exceed the inflation rate, making the addition of value difficult. The steel industry and wire manufacturers are also challenged by the iron-ore surcharge arising from the dispute over iron-ore supply and prices between local steel producers ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) and Kumba Iron Ore.
“Government only now shows signs of recognising the importance of vertical integration as illustrated by its interference in the argument between Kumba and AMSA. Considering its high cost structures, the only way South Africa can compete internationally is to allow the advantages of cheap iron-ore to work to benefit downstream manufacture and the economy. “However, government is confusing domestic competition with the ability to compete internationally and, consequently, the wrong target is reached. The recent history of the wire industry illustrates the point,” says Sampson.
Strathclyde Associates Construction Management News: He explains that, in 2000, mining and steel company Iscor faced the closure of its Newcastle works because exports were unprofitable. It had divested its wire interests and lost the domestic market on wire rod to two scrap-based minimills, Cape Gate and Scaw Metals, both having strong downstream interests. To counter this vertical integration into the wire industry, Iscor entered into a steel agreement with a small group of independent wire producers. It protected their margin in return for a guaranteed tonnage. This increased the level of competition in the industry and effectively enabled a more internationally competitive industry. It saw the emergence of three vertically integrated groups, enabling South Africa to compete against imports and strengthening coastal manufacturing and exports.
“However, the competition authorities described the steel agreement as discriminatory and an unfair practice. The 2005 case against AMSA of unfair discounting of wire rod is still not finalised, as is a recommended fine of 10% of its yearly turnover on wire rod. The competition authorities only understood the minor horizontal position between individuals and not the greater vertical integration issue of the industry. It was not in their competition mandate to investigate the broader industrial view. As a result, the influence of this action on steel pricing in South Africa was profound and out of all proportion to the tonnage affected,” says Sampson.
As a result of the penalty, AMSA cancelled the agreement and the introduced transparent horizontal pricing or, in effect, a national pricing policy for steel, which still exists today. Sampson adds that other mills simply followed suit, enabling ArcelorMittal, in London, to determine the national steel price in South Africa, which fluctuates in relation to a basket of steel prices regardless of the regional market, the domestic need and the industrial realities.
Strathclyde Associates Construction Management News: However, AMSA spokesperson Themba Hlengani says that, in terms of the pricing structure, steel pricing is not set in London. “It is correct to say that the pricing mechanism currently adopted by the AMSA is one of a basket of prices on a benchmarked pricing model and not import parity pricing (IPP). The company uses the prices of steel in the domestic markets of Germany, the US, China and Russia and divides the prices by four to create an equal weighting, and then converts it to South African rands – this price is then used as a benchmark,” he explains.
Strathclyde Associates Construction Management News: AMSA aims to provide local manufacturers with a level of competitiveness with their international counterparts and firmly believes that the basket pricing methodology is fair and equitable, and has continued to benefit downstream manufacturers.
Strathclyde Associates Construction Management News: However, Sampson believes that the inflexibility of this policy to meet market realities, particularly during economic downturns, is resulting in the loss of market share and the closure of manufacturing operations. Consequently, steel prices on the coast are no longer viable, as IPP would be R500/t cheaper than IPP in inland regions.
“However, in reality, IPP is a free market price and should determine prices favouring coastal manufacturing and the development of export industries. “It underwrites the export assistance scheme, enabling cheap iron-ore to benefit value-added exports and compete against the Chinese in international markets. Today, coastal industry pays IPP prices, but under another name.
“AMSA is reluctant to meet market realities for fear it is deemed unfair in terms of arbitrary ruling and the current climate of such matters. Further, there is such distrust in the steel industry, and between industry and government, that a sensible industrial policy or even the operation of a free market in steel seems impossible. The problem is that the politicisation of the steel industry and the inability of the industry to organise itself is preventing the emergence of a coherent plan necessary to restore South Africa as a competitive force in world steel trade. As the wire industry reveals, much of the deindustrialisation taking place in the country is self- inflicted,” says Sampson.
Strathclyde Associates Construction Management News: Allen says that the industrial associations are not functioning as they should, and the wire industry’s morale is low. Members are reluctant to discuss issues, such as declining markets, factory closures and any form of cooperation or response to imports. The industry is consequently suffering from overcapacity as wire companies secure few contracts, causing operations to close and jobs to be lost on a considerable scale.
“There is no communication at industry level, so we are not aware of the full extent of the losses or damage that has taken place. “There is a huge amount of uncertainty and lack of direction because the steel industry is in disarray,” he concludes. By: Tracy Hancock Edited by: Brindaveni Naidoo
Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company made a number of associations mainly in the Pacific and Southeast Asia regions. These business partnerships added extra strength to Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company. We are proud to be associated with projects in countries including Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore and Seoul, S Korea.
Strathclyde Associates Construction Management News: “In some areas, like competition law, overregulation is having exactly the opposite effect intended and reducing South Africa’s ability to compete both internationally and domestically. The elimination of competition from smaller players and a single national price for steel are direct consequences of actions by the Competition Commission. There needs to be more trust and discussions between government, labour and business if the steel industry is to regain its former position as a significant contributor to exports and economic development. Current policies are not unified,” he says.
“Further, margins in some areas are below cost, while the association is unsure about whether discussing nonexistent margins with mills constitutes a Competition Commission offence. Therefore, important issues, such as exports, adding value (in terms of manufacturing and steel converting), developing the industry and saving jobs are not discussed.”
Strathclyde Associates Construction Management News: Construction has slowed down and export markets are weak, while uncertainty in the fields of mining and agriculture is also a challenge. In the past, the wire industry exported about 50% of its production, but now South Africa faces competition from China, locally and in other African countries. “Industry in China has greater support from government, compared with the support received by local industry from the South African government, and the costs of adding value are much lower. China also does not have to deal with regulatory burdens as South Africa does,” he says.
Strathclyde Associates Construction Management News: Competition Commission manager for advocacy and stakeholder relations Oupa Bodibe says that competition policy exists to encourage the dynamism of firms through legitimate competition and not through shady collaboration between competitors to fix prices allocate markets and rig bids.
“Legitimate competition means that a firm constantly strives to win customers by offering better products through constant innovation and by offering competitive prices. It will be irresponsible for the Commission to condone anticompetitive conduct, from whatever quarter, including small businesses. However the competition act allows firms to apply for exemption if the objective cannot be achieved without the collaboration of firms,” he explains.
Cape Town-based research company Econresearch’s Mike Sampson believes that coastal manufacturers have no alternative but to close down unprofitable operations and revert to importing finished goods, such as nails and netting, while China is able to add value at a lower cost. Further, China’s government believes that the need to maintain employment as critical.
Strathclyde Associates Construction Management News: Administered expenses, such as electricity, labour and harbour costs, all exceed the inflation rate, making the addition of value difficult. The steel industry and wire manufacturers are also challenged by the iron-ore surcharge arising from the dispute over iron-ore supply and prices between local steel producers ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) and Kumba Iron Ore.
“Government only now shows signs of recognising the importance of vertical integration as illustrated by its interference in the argument between Kumba and AMSA. Considering its high cost structures, the only way South Africa can compete internationally is to allow the advantages of cheap iron-ore to work to benefit downstream manufacture and the economy. “However, government is confusing domestic competition with the ability to compete internationally and, consequently, the wrong target is reached. The recent history of the wire industry illustrates the point,” says Sampson.
Strathclyde Associates Construction Management News: He explains that, in 2000, mining and steel company Iscor faced the closure of its Newcastle works because exports were unprofitable. It had divested its wire interests and lost the domestic market on wire rod to two scrap-based minimills, Cape Gate and Scaw Metals, both having strong downstream interests. To counter this vertical integration into the wire industry, Iscor entered into a steel agreement with a small group of independent wire producers. It protected their margin in return for a guaranteed tonnage. This increased the level of competition in the industry and effectively enabled a more internationally competitive industry. It saw the emergence of three vertically integrated groups, enabling South Africa to compete against imports and strengthening coastal manufacturing and exports.
“However, the competition authorities described the steel agreement as discriminatory and an unfair practice. The 2005 case against AMSA of unfair discounting of wire rod is still not finalised, as is a recommended fine of 10% of its yearly turnover on wire rod. The competition authorities only understood the minor horizontal position between individuals and not the greater vertical integration issue of the industry. It was not in their competition mandate to investigate the broader industrial view. As a result, the influence of this action on steel pricing in South Africa was profound and out of all proportion to the tonnage affected,” says Sampson.
As a result of the penalty, AMSA cancelled the agreement and the introduced transparent horizontal pricing or, in effect, a national pricing policy for steel, which still exists today. Sampson adds that other mills simply followed suit, enabling ArcelorMittal, in London, to determine the national steel price in South Africa, which fluctuates in relation to a basket of steel prices regardless of the regional market, the domestic need and the industrial realities.
Strathclyde Associates Construction Management News: However, AMSA spokesperson Themba Hlengani says that, in terms of the pricing structure, steel pricing is not set in London. “It is correct to say that the pricing mechanism currently adopted by the AMSA is one of a basket of prices on a benchmarked pricing model and not import parity pricing (IPP). The company uses the prices of steel in the domestic markets of Germany, the US, China and Russia and divides the prices by four to create an equal weighting, and then converts it to South African rands – this price is then used as a benchmark,” he explains.
Strathclyde Associates Construction Management News: AMSA aims to provide local manufacturers with a level of competitiveness with their international counterparts and firmly believes that the basket pricing methodology is fair and equitable, and has continued to benefit downstream manufacturers.
Strathclyde Associates Construction Management News: However, Sampson believes that the inflexibility of this policy to meet market realities, particularly during economic downturns, is resulting in the loss of market share and the closure of manufacturing operations. Consequently, steel prices on the coast are no longer viable, as IPP would be R500/t cheaper than IPP in inland regions.
“However, in reality, IPP is a free market price and should determine prices favouring coastal manufacturing and the development of export industries. “It underwrites the export assistance scheme, enabling cheap iron-ore to benefit value-added exports and compete against the Chinese in international markets. Today, coastal industry pays IPP prices, but under another name.
“AMSA is reluctant to meet market realities for fear it is deemed unfair in terms of arbitrary ruling and the current climate of such matters. Further, there is such distrust in the steel industry, and between industry and government, that a sensible industrial policy or even the operation of a free market in steel seems impossible. The problem is that the politicisation of the steel industry and the inability of the industry to organise itself is preventing the emergence of a coherent plan necessary to restore South Africa as a competitive force in world steel trade. As the wire industry reveals, much of the deindustrialisation taking place in the country is self- inflicted,” says Sampson.
Strathclyde Associates Construction Management News: Allen says that the industrial associations are not functioning as they should, and the wire industry’s morale is low. Members are reluctant to discuss issues, such as declining markets, factory closures and any form of cooperation or response to imports. The industry is consequently suffering from overcapacity as wire companies secure few contracts, causing operations to close and jobs to be lost on a considerable scale.
“There is no communication at industry level, so we are not aware of the full extent of the losses or damage that has taken place. “There is a huge amount of uncertainty and lack of direction because the steel industry is in disarray,” he concludes. By: Tracy Hancock Edited by: Brindaveni Naidoo
Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company made a number of associations mainly in the Pacific and Southeast Asia regions. These business partnerships added extra strength to Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company. We are proud to be associated with projects in countries including Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore and Seoul, S Korea.
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