February 6, 2012
BE WARY OF
ONLINE BANKING FRAUD – If you receive an email saying your online
banking or other account may have been compromised, and you are asked to
click on a link to verify your account information, do not. As
legitimate as the email may appear with logos, etc., a reputable
organization would not ask for that information online. Log on as usual,
or telephone your bank to discuss the attempted fraud.
BILLSHRINK MAY
PRODUCE SAVINGS ON EVERYDAY BILLS -- BillShrink is a free,
personalized savings tool that may help you save money on everyday
bills. The company puts technology to work by scanning millions of data
points and constantly re-calculates use and needs against various
product combinations. BillShrink claims it can save the average user
$1,500 using continuous money-saving recommendations sent by email
alerts. For more information, go to:
www.billshrink.com.
BALDRIGE
PERFORMANCE WEBSITE A TOOL FOR ENHANCED PERFORMANCE – Many business
owners today face the challenge of how to survive while making
improvements for opportunities tomorrow. One resource to consider is the
Department of Commerce’s Malcolm Baldrige Performance Excellence Program
web site. The Baldrige tools section offers several organization survey
and assessment tools to get started. To assess your business
organization’s performance, go to:
nist.gov/baldrige/enter/new.cfm.
VMA TO OFFER
PROGRAM ON THE IMPACT OF PROPERTY TAXES –The Volusia Manufacturers
Association (VMA) will present a breakfast program on tangible and real
property taxes. The presenter will be Suzanne E. Forbes, a CPA with
James Moore & Co. The presentation will cover valuations, how to
protest, and tangible sales tax exemptions. The session will be February
7 at 7:45 a.m. in the Volusia Room at Daytona International Airport.
Parking will be validated. Registration is required and can be made by
calling Jayne Fifer at 386-673-0505 or online at
VMAonline.com.
SMALL BUSINESS
LENDING HITS FOUR-YEAR HIGH -- In a possible sign of economic
recovery, small business lending hit a four-year high in November, a new
Thomson Reuters/PayNet Index report shows. At the same time, the number
of small business loans in delinquency declined. The Small Business
Lending Index mirrors other economic indicators that seem to suggest a
recovery, Reuters reports. For more information go to:
tinyurl.com/86gsgl5.
IDENTITY THEFT
RESOURCE CENTER DEDICATED TO CYBER THEFT PREVENTION -- According to
the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC), last year there were 662
organizations that disclosed cyber data breaches, a figure that includes
theft, accidents and cyber intrusions. The ITRC is a nonprofit
organization dedicated to the understanding and prevention of identity
theft, and it advises law enforcement and businesses about the evolving
and growing problem of identity theft. For more information go to:
idtheftcenter.org/index.html.
GREENERGADGETS.COM A SITE FOR RATING ENERGY-EFFICIENT PRODUCTS --
GreenerGadgets.com is a site to explore how to buy the most
energy-efficient products, how to recycle electronics, and has an energy
calculator to show dollar savings. Sixty percent of consumers buy
products based on their power consumption. For more information go to:
GreenerGadgets.com.
NEWS ITEMS
WANTED! – Please send your business news items to Dave Byron,
Volusia County Community Information Director, 123 W. Indiana Ave.,
DeLand, 32720-4612, by fax at (386) 822-5072 or by e-mail at
dbyron@co.volusia.fl.us
