Save Yourself the Headache: Five Tips for Financial Security

Everyone dreams of the day when they can finally retire from work and have the freedom to travel, pursue hobbies, and spend time with loved ones. These dreams can become reality if you are willing to follow some simple steps to attain the goal of financial security.

1. Save When You are Young

The single most important thing a young person can do is start saving right away. It may be tough to have the discipline, but saving now guarantees that your investments have decades of compound interest to help them grow. For example, if you put away $5,000 at the age of 20, that money will grow to $160,000 over 45 years at a steady eight percent interest rate. But put away the same amount of money at 39, and your money only grows to $40,000. That is the magic of compound interest.

2. Don't Get Divorced

Splitting a household of assets diminishes wealth like few other major events. Granted, there are times when staying married is unthinkable, but faced with the prospect of spending tens of thousands of dollars in attorney fees, dividing the family's assets, paying child support, and possibly dipping into retirement funds, couples therapy can be a much wiser investment for your financial future. This may not be a very popular point but nontheless you can save money by actually staying togther.

3. Refinance to a Shorter Term Mortgage

A traditional 30 year mortgage costs a homeowner, on average, hundreds of thousands of dollars in interest. Refinancing to a 10 or 15 year mortgage through a reputable company like Legacy Lending Group saves you money in two ways: The interest rate is lower, and principal payments on the loan are larger. This combination of factors allows you build equity faster, helping you to achieve financial security.

4. Make a Budget

It is hard to deny the real cost of your daily muffin and espresso if the figures are entered in a spreadsheet. If you chart every single expense for one month, you will have a much better idea of how to trim back your expenses. It is extremely surprising to me how many people don't do this because the money that you save, in turn, can be invested in an IRA or used to pay down your home mortgage faster.

5. Avoid Spending Habits

At an average of six dollars a pack, cigarettes are an expensive habit, hampering an individual's ability to save while they are young. For an older person, the loss of income due to smoking-related health problems and the higher cost of health care itself pose even more serious challenges to financial security. Other expensive habits include drinking alcohol or even frequent trips to the gas station for their daily coffee. Simply put, you can't afford not to quit these habits.

Attaining financial security is a goal within everyone's reach. You just have to plan carefully and make judicious short-term sacrifices to achieve those long-term rewards.

What Retirees Need to Know About Credit Cards

Retirees are generally in a different financial position to those yet to wrap up their working days and spend the rest of their years doing the things they never got around to in the past. As a result, they need to use their finances differently and also avoid incurring debt wherever possible, even short term debt if feasible.

However, certain forms of credit like credit cards are still handy to use in retirement though retirees are encouraged to use their credit cards effectively and without incurring unnecessary debt, and to also focus their attention on the most competitive credit cards on the market, like those offering interest free purchases and terms.

Three mistakes retirees often make with their credit cards:

Failing to choose the right credit card

The biggest mistake retirees often make with their credit cards is applying for and using the wrong card. There are often major differences between credit cards and retirees can avoid financial difficulties by selecting a card that’s suitable for their needs, like GemVisa low interest credit cards. 




What’s more, there’s generally a lot of fine print involved when applying, so it’s often a good idea to bring someone along, like an adult child, to help select a suitable card. 

Using credit cards to supplement income

Many retirees have the tendency to use their credit card for everyday purchases, which is fine, as long they possess the right card and they pay the balance in full each month. However, many use their credit cards to supplement their income and run into problems when they can’t make the repayments in full because the interest accumulates and becomes more difficult to pay off. 

Failing to make a debt plan

If you’re going to incur debt you need to make a plan to pay it off and without incurring more interest than you can afford to pay. Whilst pensions and similar forms of retirement income cannot be accessed by creditors, their retirement savings and nest egg can, so by failing to create a debt plan they’re putting their savings, and therefore their financial livelihood, at risk.

Three credit card strategies retirees should take note of 

Don’t stop using your debit card

This is the first rule of effectively using your credit card as a retiree – only use it when it’s necessary. Credit cards and debit cards are just as convenient as each other, and whether you have your weekly, fortnightly or monthly spending allowance in your debit card account or another from which you transfer money over, you’ll generally find that you can use a debit card instead of a credit card for everyday purchases.

Pay your outstanding credit card balance in full every month

The longer you leave your debts the more interest accrues and the more you’ll need to find a means of repaying. Credit cards are a luxury during retirement, after all, most retirees don’t have a regular income coming in unless they have investments and even then they still shouldn’t incur new debts. 

Avoid using your savings to pay off your credit card balance

You should avoid dipping into your savings or nest egg at all costs, and especially not to pay off your credit card balance at the end of the month. You should have created a budget to live off comfortably and if you’re going to use a credit card make sure that you’re able to pay the balance off using your retirement income – investments, pension, superannuation, etc – not your nest egg.

Enjoy a comfortable, hassle-free retirement by selecting and using your credit cards wisely.

About the Author:
A company that brings to the world the GemVisa low interest credit cards, GE Finance and Insurance is a leading alternative to banks. They are a part of GE Capital and cater to clients from all over New Zealand.

5 Insurance Tips for People Over the Age of 50

If you've ever been in a hospital you’ll know how expensive healthcare is. Insurance is the only way the common man can afford healthcare. However in many cases insurance premiums can also be quite expensive, especially for senior citizens. It’s like being between a rock and a hard place. For a senior citizen being eligible for health insurance is a task in itself. On top of that the exorbitant premiums pretty much annihilate their chances of getting insurance. Here are a few insurance tips for senior citizens. 

Lead a Healthy Life

It’s bad enough being plagued by diseases in your twilight years, but to add to it yourself is madness. Senior citizens have to be in tip top shape to be eligible for healthcare. Insurance is a bit like loans. You can only get it if you can prove that you don’t need it. If you’re in peak physical condition the insurance company may be inclined to reduce your premiums. However, that’s not a certainty, but it is a possibility. And that’s pretty much all you get these days, so make use of it. 

Prepare For Your Retirement

It doesn’t hurt to plan ahead. In fact, it’s imperative to plan ahead. As you start approaching the age of retirement you should already have a plan in place. This plan will see you through the rest of your years. Making provisions for health insurance in this plan is very important. Once the money stops coming in you’ll be struggling to make insurance payments, which is why you should set some money aside just for that. Calculate how much your insurance will cost you after your retirement and set that money aside. In some cases health insurance can be more helpful than your kids, I’m just saying.

Streamline Your Policy

As you grow older your insurance premium becomes more expensive. Soon there’ll come a point where you won’t be able to afford it. That’s when you’ll have to start making some tough decisions. You’ll have to streamline your insurance policy to meet your financial status. That means losing some aspects of your coverage, such as disability and long-term care. It’s a sacrifice you’ll have to make eventually. You know your health and you know what you’re prone to, so make specific provisions accordingly. Your health insurance plan should be suited to your needs. At the same time it shouldn’t cripple you financially. 

Beware of Conmen

When you’re at the end of the road people will try to take advantage of you. Senior citizens suffering from life threatening diseases and who can’t afford treatment are susceptible to anything. Conmen are pretty aware of this situation. They roam hospital corridors looking for such individuals and promise them an insurance plan or health discount card that can potentially save their life. To add insult to injury these people wear breast cancer ribbons to seem more caring and friendly. Before you deal with such people always do a background check on the internet about their product and their company. 

Rely On the Government

When all else fails it’s time to rely on the government. Sometime they actually come through for you. Take COBRA for example. It’s a law that keeps you protected under your former employer’s insurance coverage for about 18 months, as long as you continue to make payments. There are other state aids available that can help you through unemployment. Research them to see if you’re eligible. However, keep looking for a way to get back up on your feet, because government help is not eternal. You can only take advantage of them for so long before they decide to let you go.

Just because you’re over a certain age doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the benefits of health insurance. If you play it smart you can remain protected under a decent coverage for the rest of your days. Keep these tips in mind and you won’t have to rely on your kids for help. You’ve taken care of yourself for this long, why shouldn’t you be able to continue to do it? The one thing I know about senior citizens is, that they’re proud. And as they say pride can only be surrendered, it can’t be taken away from you.

Author Bio:
This article is authored by Jenny Wadlow, a professional freelance blogger. She writes articles for Fundraising for a Cause, a website selling pink ribbon products. Her hobbies include gardening and home brewing.

3 No Credit Check Loans That You Must See

Are you desperately in need of a new loan? Do you believe that your credit rating will be a problem? If so, do not panic, there are a number of options out there for you, all of which tick the full range of financial boxes.

Finding the Best Option For You

With so many options currently available and opinions on some of these no credit check loans varying wildly, it can still be a confusing time for borrowers. Finding the best and most affordable option for you is crucial and below we have identified 3 of the most popular to give you a little insight into the facts that you need to know.

Guarantor Loans

Although the concept of the guarantor loan has been around for a very long time, it is only recently that their popularity has begun to increase.

Guarantor loan lenders are prepared to look past the credit rating of the loan applicant but only on the proviso that the applicant identifies a third party (the guarantor) who will co-sign the loan agreement, guaranteeing that they will pick up the repayments should the applicant fall behind.

There are obviously some criteria which the potential guarantor must satisfy in order to be eligible for the role, age, residency, income etc but if they tick all of the boxes, there is every chance the loan application will be granted.

Popular choices for guarantors include family members and close friends, but whoever is asked, must understand the agreement into which they are entering.

Because guarantor loans are unsecured personal loans, they can be used for whatever (legal) purpose the borrowers deems fit. Often used as a method of debt consolidation, they can just as easily be used to buy a new car or pay for a holiday.

Payday Loans

Payday loans have had a rough ride in the press recently, and if used irresponsibly, the bad press is not without reason.

A payday loan is a short-term advance designed to tide you over financially until payday, with a strong emphasis being placed on the phrase ‘short term’.

If used as intended, they can be the perfect short term fix for anyone who cannot turn to a high street lender. It is only when they begin to be used over longer terms that they begin to be very expensive and potentially dangerous.

Payday loans are typically paid directly into your bank account and nearly always within 1 day of your application being approved. The payday loan repayment, plus interest, will then be deducted directly from your account on the due date.

It is always worth remembering that a typical charge for a payday loan will be approximately £25 per month for every £100 borrowed. Advertised interest rates (APRs) are generally around 1,750%.

Logbook Loans

Logbook loans are a different type of no credit check loan because the lender will insist on a form of security.

Falling between guarantor loans and payday loans in regards to the level of APR which is charged, lenders are prepared to look beyond the credit rating of the borrower if they are prepared to offer the logbook of their vehicle as security against the balance of the loan.

If the loan is repaid in full and on time, the logbook will be returned at the end of the loan period. If however this is not the case, the lender will be quite within their rights to sell the vehicle to recoup their losses. It is even possible that if the losses do not cover the outstanding balance, the borrower will still be liable to make any further outstanding payments.

As with all financial matters, it is crucial that you do the appropriate homework to ensure that you enter into the agreement with an open mind and your eyes open. This will help you to make the best decision for your individual circumstances.

The Opportunities of Property Investment

You may have some savings in large numbers. And one thing you should think about is how you will do something with it. Today, there are many prospects that we can take from many business opportunities. Each opportunity offers advantages in certain ways. That's where you have to pick your challenge for a brighter future. In fact, every level has a different challenge that will determine the quality of your business. Try to consult with Ori Tal finance guy, and you will have the best advice for your investment. What is it? Yes. You will look at the opportunities of property investment.

Investment property offers many different opportunities from other businesses. As a comparison, you can look at a car rental business. You definitely are interested in buying a number of vehicles that could be a means of your business. However, it will not guarantee your chances at a greater rate. Sometimes, there are some obstacles such as weather conditions and the needs of the client. Perhaps, it would be very suitable in tourist areas. Still, it would be highly dependent on the season. Well, it is clearly different from the real estate business will always survive in any monetary situation. This has been evident from the many news about the real estate business is actually constantly evolving in every turnover year.

A number of surveys proving that there are many people who are always interested in buying property. Perhaps, they take it as an investment for the future. Or they may have the same mind with you. And it will always thrive on one thing that always creates big profit. Yes. That's because there are many families who need the comfort of the residence. In the modern world, it is something that is almost impossible. And fortunately there are a lot of real estate offers residential concept in quality.

If you are planning an investment property, it means that you will be working with the team. On the one hand, you feel that it would be a little complex. But know that you will carry less risk. The professionals will always accompany and support you exceptional targets. And you will be able to explore the potential of natural resources for the property development. So, when you encounter a problem, you can entrust it to a consultant who will promptly address it appropriately. However, it would be a great business concept. So, you have to understand it well.

Today, development is always developed on a massive scale. Almost every country has its own concept in implementing economic development. Meanwhile, every country has a prospective lands can be managed professionally. Uniquely, it creates an incredible network of business people who are always interested in finding new experiences. In the property sector, there are many new companies are trying to look for opportunities in other fields. It was like doing the most risky speculation on the stage. Well, it also can create the greatest gains in company history. So, you can take inspiration and motivation from these experiences to new challenges.

6 Cheap and Creative Ways to Effectively Advertise Your Business

In today's digital age, business owners must reconsider their marketing strategies to ensure that they are effectively targeting the best market for their products and services. Technology has created a variety of different ways that businesses can reach out to potential customers, but this variety of different choices can often obscure the choices that will truly yield results and a return on investment. Thus, consider the following inexpensive and innovative ways you can spread the word about your company, all of which you can try without fear of losing a great deal of money.

Blog Online

Establishing an online blog in your line of business is a great way to position yourself as an expert while promoting your company. Add a blog to your website or join Bloggit.com or Blogger.com to start a separate blog. Discuss problems addressed by your goods or services, and readers will remember your company when a need arises. The key with blogging is to not advertise your product. Yes, you can talk a bit about your products, but you usually want to talk about general topics within your industry. By doing this, you will get a greater number of followers, which increases your ranking in search engines and introduces your website to a greater number of people.

Be Interviewed

Offer interviews on relevant subjects to local radios, newspapers, and Internet communications. For example, if you sell gardening tools, offer an interview in February or March about spring planting. Listeners and readers will appreciate the free advice and consider you an expert when they need additional gardening help. If you are unable to find local opportunities for offering interviews, you might want to consider starting up your own podcast or starting a YouTube channel that contains videos that address relevant topics and issues.

Write Articles

Offer op ed pieces to community newspapers or magazines, or submit an article to the trade publication associated with your company's industry. In marketing your knowledge and skills, others will appreciate your expertise and contact you with future business needs, such as a financial adviser for someone who is planning for retirement. Also, consider writing articles for other blogs, since this might give you valuable links back to your website and blog.

Give Donations

When possible, donate equipment, expertise, or services to individuals or programs who can benefit. Contribute to special holiday collections for the needy. Participate in volunteer programs. Sponsor children's educational initiatives. Giving back to the community will not only make you feel good, but it can also help others consider your business in a favorable light.

Demonstrate Skills

If you have a skill that others might value, whether or not it is company-related, share it with the public. Libraries, schools, and certain social service organizations appreciate those who are willing to share their knowledge and experience to help others. For example, if you own a restaurant, you may want to teach a nutrition class or workshop at a high school or college, or perhaps to a group of low-income residents at a housing development. They will recognize you as someone who cares and be likely to do business with you in the future when possible.

Join Organizations

Become a member of the chamber of commerce and other civic groups. Network with members to learn more about their services and how your business might complement their enterprises. Ask them, where should I advertise my business? Networking is often the best way to get new customers and valuable referrals, and it is completely free and relatively easy in most cases.

The above methods can help your business get noticed. Start growing your company innovatively.

Watch Out! Scams That Come Out For the Holidays

Gift Cards (Photo credit: PersonalMoneyNetwork)

The holidays are an expensive time when people spend large amounts of money on their families, friends, or themselves. It is often helpful to find deals and discounts that save money. Buyers must beware, however, for the ever-present scammers and swindlers who will try and separate consumers from their money. Some scams are always around, but some come out just for the holidays.

The Charity Scam

Over half of American adults give to some sort of charity during the holidays, and criminals know that. Most of the charity scams are accomplished over the telephone in the form of cold calls. Scammers will call your phone, and state they are representing some sort of charity. They will say all the right things, and have all the right information; however they will not be affiliated with any charity. Eventually they will ask for your personal information, to include your banking or credit card information, and take you for as much money as they can.

Special attention should be paid to charities claiming to represent emergency services workers such as police, fire, and veteran's groups. Often, scammers will claim to represent these groups in an effort to garner additional sympathy from you. Even if the name of the charity they are using is legitimate, the callers may not be. If you feel like donating, contact the charity directly instead of responding to a received phone call.

Cybersquatting

This type of scam is more high-tech, but even more dangerous. These days, consumers complete a fair portion of their shopping online. When done correctly, you can receive discounts and additional savings by shopping online. When searching for cheaper prices online, look-a-like websites are set up to fool you into buying from them instead of the legit site. Make sure the online coupons you run across have details that distinguish it from others like it that are scams.

Often, the website itself will be an exact replica of the proper site, with the only clue to the scam residing in the address bar. The website will be slightly altered in some way, and if the link has been clicked from a search results page, it is very easy to inadvertently put in your credit card information into the fake site.

Fake Gift Cards

In recent years with the explosion of gift card sales, retailers have set up in-store displays of all kinds of cards. In most cases, you can buy more types of gift cards than the average store brand. It is not uncommon to happen upon a rack in a department store with many different gift cards, from restaurants to online retailers. It turns out that scammers have targeted these cards with frightening results.

Using a handheld scanner or by simply peeling off the sticker on the back, thieves copy the gift card information and place the cards back on the rack. They simply lie in wait for the cards to be purchased, and once they discover the card has been bought and activated, they use the pilfered card information online before you even get a chance to use it. Instead, you should buy the gift cards directly from the retailer’s website or at an attended customer service counter.

Scams have always been around, and the tactics will continue to change. It’s important to remain abreast of new techniques and ways to protect yourself and your money.

Money Management Tips

Budget (Photo credit: Tax Credits)

Buying a home comes with a whole list of new expenses, including a mortgage, insurance, and home maintenance. It’s best to have a working budget firmly in place before purchasing a home in order to avoid financial trouble further down the road.

A solid budget is one that meets both your short term and long term needs and goals. The key to any successful budget is managing money. Every budget looks good on paper, but remember, it’ll only work if you stick to it.

Making a Budget

When making a monthly budget for your household, you need to be sure to include all your expenses, including possible surprises or emergencies. Rent, utilities, car payments and groceries are the basics, but there are other expenses that can really add up. These extra expenses are the things that can really derail a budget if you don’t plan for them. Other expenses include savings, gas, entertainment, medical expenses, clothing, and shoes. Keep track of each expense, add them up at the end of each month, compare them to your income, and make adjustments where necessary.

Building Savings

The key to weathering any financial storm is a savings account. Unexpected expenses are going to come up in life, and there’s no way to stop them. Kids break arms, employees are laid off, roofs need to be replaced, and cars break down at the most inconvenient times. A savings account is the solution to all of these problems. It’s best to have at least 3 months worth of income set aside in savings before buying a home, so you won't have to worry about losing your home every time things get rough. If you can swing it, 6 months is even better.

Covering Your Assets

Insurance premiums seem like a waste of money when you send out the payment each month and receive nothing in return, but they are a real life saver when you need them. Suffering an uninsured loss can lead you to lose your vehicle, all your savings, and even your home. Protect all of your hard work by staying properly insured.

Managing Debt

Debt is a normal part of American life, and it can be healthy for your finances if you manage it properly. Your mortgage, and a couple of well-managed credit cards are great for your credit, but be careful not to get in over your head. If you ever find yourself using credit to make payments on other debts, you know you’ve got a problem. You’re debt should always be kept at a level where your monthly income is enough to cover all of your payments, with plenty leftover for other expenses.

Planning for the Future

All of the budgeting tips listed above will keep your head above water for now, but what about in the future? At some point you’re going to want to retire, and the time to plan for that is now. Meet with an experienced financial advisor to find out what kinds of investments and accounts you should be participating in so you can meet your long-term financial goals.


Author Bio: Tiecen Anderson
In her former life, Tiecen worked in sales and marketing for a large insurance company. Before starting a family, she decided to switch gears and pursue a career that would give her a little more time at home. She finished up her degree from California Sate University in 2008 and started picking up work as a corporate web content writer. She enjoys learning new things every day as she works with a wide variety of clients, like Axiom Financial.

5 Secrets to Getting Your Business Loan Approved

English: (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Applying for and obtaining a business loan can feel like an overbearing process. Every year, thousands of people apply for loans for their business, be it a new business or a credited one, and do not get approved. Here are some facts and tips to make sure you can secure the funds you need.

1. Be able to articulate the future

Borrowers need to have an updated business plan. Show the lenders how the business is expected to grow in every aspect. Have a detailed report of how you believe you will profit from the loan. More and more lenders and starting to dig deeper into the plans of businesses. You should talk about all aspects of your business from employees, to management, to cash flow. Lenders will feel much more confident in loaning their money if they feel good about your plans and know exactly what the money is going towards.

2. Know Your Business History

When it comes to getting a business loan, your past history definitely becomes a major supporting factor in the decision of whether you are acceptable for a business loan. Lenders will review past business earnings as well as business history to help decide if your request warrants an approval. New businesses can still get a loan without any history by having a well-organized and situated business plan.

3. Be smart in other financial aspects of your life

When applying for a business loan, lenders will examine all aspects of your financial life including your personal credit. Personal credit can play a huge role in deciding if you are granted approval for your loan request. To the lenders, how you manage your personal expenses are most likely how you are going to handle your business expenses.

4. Present yourself well

Bankers do not want to give their money out to people they do not believe can pay it back. First impression makes a huge difference when meeting with a loan advisory board. You should come into the meeting with a detailed business plan extremely confident, without appearing needy or helpless. Dress professional, be clean-shaven, shake hands, look the lenders in the eye and be stern. If you present yourself well and provide a great business plan, it gives the lenders confidence in you, they will feel better about lending their money to you.

5. Build a board of advisers

Building a board of advisers will put you over the top in your loan seeking process. If possible, put together your team of accountants, management, legal experts, marketing advisors etc. Some small businesses simply cannot compile advisers, however. Contracting your business with an agency, such as the CPA who understands the world of business and can work on tax returns, looks just as good in the eyes of the lenders. This compiled with the rest of the steps stated above will show lenders how organized and thought out your business plan is. The more detailed your overall plans are, the better bankers will feel about lending you money.

By following these 5 simple tips, you’ll give yourself the best chance of getting the business loan you need.

Author Bio: – Jason Bengert is a professional blogger and works at Park Place Equity. He is a fun loving person and his areas of interest are finance and technology. You can connect with him at Google+.

Getting Out From Under the Mountain of Credit Card Debt

Credit cards (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

We all know that credit cards are a convenient way to pay for purchases when you're on the go or in between paychecks. According to The Nilson Report, as cited by Forbes, credit card transactions made up for a little over half of total consumer spending in 2012.

Unfortunately, those very benefits also make it incredibly easy to find yourself under a mountain of debt that could take years to pay off. To top it off, you're losing money each month in interest and fees as you pay the balances down. With a little planning, you can chip away at your credit card debt much faster, but you'll need to decide which approach works the best for you first.

Snowball

The debt 'snowball' approach to credit cards is fairly simple. Determine a budget and decide how much extra you have each month to put towards credit cards while covering all your other expenses. Cut out unnecessary spending, such as restaurant meals, as much as possible for now so you have more to put toward your debt clearance.

List all your credit cards in order of total balance from smallest to largest. Each month, put all the extra money you have toward your smallest card and only make the minimum payments on the rest. Once a card is paid off, apply the minimum payment for that card to the next card on the list in addition to whatever you're able to apply based on your budget. As you work your way through the list, you'll see the 'snowball' effect as your payments become larger and larger, working the debt down faster and faster.

The debt snowball method is beneficial in that it's easy to follow, and the results you'll see will encourage you to stick with it. But you may not be paying the debt in the most advantageous way regarding interest using this method.

Interest Order

Under an interest order approach, you'll still need to make a budget to determine what you can afford to put toward your debt, but you're changing the payment order. Instead of listing debts by balance, you'll list the credit cards in order from highest APR to lowest APR. The interest method saves you money by reducing higher interest balances faster, but it isn't as simple as the debt snowball.

Before you commit to a method of credit card debt elimination, try to decide which method is most likely to keep you motivated over the long term. While you can save more over time using the interest order method, it may not be ideal if you're the type of person who needs more immediate results to keep yourself on any sort of program.

On the other hand, if you're a numbers person, the interest order approach may work better for you than the debt snowball method because you'll be keeping a tally of your savings. Regardless of which way you decide to go, make sure to cut as much spending as possible to work down your debt quickly. 

Image credit : http://www.flickr.com/photos/68751915@N05/6355848263/

Stop Your Employees Fiddling the Paper Work

The Greater London Police were called in to investigate fraud committed by staff working for Serco in August 2013. It was discovered that employees had fiddled the paper work to claim prisoners were being made ready to be transported to court, when in fact they were not. They were working for Serco who had been awarded a contract worth £285million to transport the prisoners across London.

Serco had been aware that there were some internal problems when persistent delays were reported in the transportation of the visitors from courts to jails in the summer of 2012. As a result of the delays they created an official improvement notice but that wasn't enough to solve the problems. Instead of improving their work the employees simply fiddled the paperwork. In addition to this problem Serco has also been accused of overcharging for their contracts and as a result they must allow an outside forensic audit to find out if they have been acting and performing dishonestly.

Protecting Your Business

Fraud happens, it’s something that costs businesses in the UK millions of pounds and it can leave companies closed and individuals behind bars. As a business owner it’s very important that you try to protect your company from those who are always looking to make money off the back of others.

The Greater London police have provided a lot of advice regarding fraud for business owners. Fraudsters find all sorts of ways to target businesses, whether they are attacking you from the outside or internally. You may be targeted by a lone fraudster or a gang, either way you must be aware of some of the methods that could be used.

Transferring Money

Criminals will use telegraphic transfer requests to take money from your account. The criminals get hold of your bank details and most commonly send a transfer request from another country. A letter is produced and sent to your bank requesting the money and the bank will send the amount that’s been asked for.

An Inside Job

Employees are increasingly being involved in cases of business fraud. The individuals often work on their own to try and gain personal details in order to commit fraud through identity theft. The criminals will come to work for you with the intention of stealing from you but often they will target other employees within your company. The employees may be questioned in a relaxed or social setting and unwittingly give away some information that the criminal can use to their advantage. Alternatively they may be threatened or blackmailed into delivering financial data of the company.

Suspecting Fraud Within Your Company

If you think your company may have been targeted by fraudsters you will need to discover what’s been going on. You can use your internal audit systems and enroll the assistance of forensic accountants in London so you’re fully aware of the extent of the damage to the assets of your company. You must also make a report to the police who will be able to investigate the incident.