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How to be Safe When Banking Online

Tuesday, August 12th, 2008
banking software
Andrew Regan asked:


In today’s modern world, people use every resource to make their hectic lifestyles a little easier. The World Wide Web has made many menial tasks much simpler and quicker to perform than they might otherwise be done through conventional methods. An email to Australia, for example, can be delivered in seconds whereas the same letter sent by standard mail could take several days or even weeks to arrive at its destination. Similarly, with a few clicks of your mouse it’s possible to have your weekly groceries packed and delivered to your front door without you ever needing to leave the house.

However, for many World Wide Web users, online banking is a bone of contention as doubts about the security of online banking remain abundantly clear. Recent figures have revealed that 21 per cent of British internet users feared being a victim of a phishing scam or ID theft more than car theft, burglary and even mugging. However, online banking needn’t be an ordeal, so how do you protect yourself from fraudsters?

Firstly, the way you set up your login details for your online banking account is vital to protecting the integrity of your account. Many people tend to choose passwords that are easily memorable, such as a child’s or pet’s name, but these can be easily guessed. Instead, choose a username and password consisting of a mixture of letters and numbers, and avoid using the same password for other online accounts.

Secondly, check to make sure the site you are on is secure. To do this, check that your internet browser displays a small padlock icon in the bottom of your screen. This icon indicates that any information you enter and send through the internet will be encrypted, making it much harder for internet thieves to intercept and decipher the data.

Phishing has become something of a buzzword when it comes to internet fraud, with losses due to phishing scams reaching £23 million by the end of 2006. Phishing is a method used by fraudsters to acquire sensitive information such as usernames, passwords and credit card details by masquerading as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication - most commonly via email. Phishing emails typically take the form of an official document from a bank, credit card company, or other financial institution and claims that there has been a problem with the user’s account, or requests the user update their details. The email usually includes a link to follow which redirects the user to a dummy site, where users input sensitive information, including usernames, account numbers and passwords. These dummy sites resemble the authentic websites of the real institutions and can catch unsuspecting users. Remember, your bank will never send you an email asking you to update your details online, so if you receive an email like this, the best course of action is to use the ‘delete’ key!

Using a good antivirus software program can help provide extra protection from Trojans and other software designed to gather data from your computer. These programs are commonly disguised as common software applications and can log keystrokes made by the user, such as passwords and credit card numbers. There are also programs designed to eradicate these malicious components and preserve the integrity of your data, many of which are free to use.

Despite tales to the contrary, online banking can be quick, convenient and safe. Providing you take steps to protect your online current account, online banking needn’t be an ordeal. After all, you wouldn’t leave your wallet lying around - so why do the same with your bank account details?



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BVI Banking: One Of The Best Developed Tax Havens In The World

Wednesday, January 30th, 2008
banking
Ramapati Singhania asked:


The banking sector of the British Virgin Islands is strong and dynamic with the availability of modern international banking services. It offers access to clients 365 days a year and though it also offers internet banking with a USD account, other major currency deposits are also accepted.

However BVI banks do not issue corporate debit cards and companies involved in ecommerce are not accepted but it offers customers USD corporate chequing accounts. On the other hand BVI banking services offers debit cards on personal accounts.

The first Caribbean International bank (FCIB), First bank BVI and VP bank (BVI) are the prominent banks of British Virgin Islands with FCIB specializing in international banking, offshore banking services for IBCs, internet banking facilities and international credit cards.

Certain documents are required by the banks prior to opening an account in BVI. Below is a general guideline for existing BVI banking services.

The documents that banks generally ask for are permanent address verification report, a duly completed and signed bank application form, certificate of incorporation certified copy, memorandum and articles of association certified copy, two picture IDs in the form of passport/drivers license (certified copy), a reference letter from a bank and a board resolution appointing authorized signatories.

BVI banks consider the passport to be the most authentic document for identification purposes and hence the passport should be notarized. Once the bank related documents are submitted to the concerned bank the particular BVI bank account should be activated within two working days from the receipt of the documents by depositing the minimum initial deposit which is 2,500 US dollars. Though documentary requirements may vary from bank to bank generally, they will need to know and identify the actual owner/owners and everyone else who has been given account signatory rights.

Although personal appearance of the owner of the company is not necessary while opening an account in a BVI bank, still laws regulating the banking industry make it mandatory for banks to know their clients background thoroughly, and they also require an account introduction through an approved intermediary. Approved intermediaries are in the form of professional incorporation service providers based in the British Virgin Islands.

Banking secrecy is a fundamental cornerstone of BVI banking services and under no circumstances can a clients background information be leaked to a third party. This is the reason why BVI banks are very particular with documents prior to opening an account because while protecting a clients background they never want to be caught on the wrong foot.

However there are instances when a clients information may be divulged by a BVI bank and these may be under a proper criminal investigation carried out by local police authorities in-land or when ordered by a court in BVI.

BVI Information: British Virgin Islands is one of the most beautiful territories in the Caribbean. Its total area is just around 150 sq km compromising of 60 islands and even the population is in few thousands.

British Virgin Islands is under British authority and some key points are summarized below:

* Many mutual and hedge funds, insurance companies, trading companies, expatriate individuals, intellectual property rights owners, property investors and just high net worth individuals use BVI banking offshore to pay fewer taxes and save wealth.

* There is no restriction on the nationality of the bank account owner, however most banks prefer that the individual accounts be opened along with corporate accounts, of companies incorporated in the BVI.

* Privacy and confidentiality come as a given but we have to wait and see how the UK reacts to pressures from the EU for BVI bank disclosures.

* Account holders are just charged with few thousand dollars every year for the license fees of banks.

* 9/11 has changed the concept of privacy as it was accepted by us. Now governments, in the name of anti-terror laws have started usurping authority to look into anyones personal information for no strong reason.

* Its not just about privacy and taxes, banking BVI Offshore gives you all the luxuries that you can get in a world class bank.

* World class infrastructure, communication systems, modern day facilities like credit cards, internet, online banking and courier services are available in British Virgin Islands.

* You will also be saved from the tensions of legal issues as someone rarely thinks of filing a suit in a far away country and even if someone does plan to, there is legal protection provided to you in the British Virgin Islands, as in other offshore tax havens.



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