Lynda Online Courses Review

I recently came across Lynda.com via an email that I received from LinkedIn. I am a member of various social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and others, I’m sure you are too. One of these social networks is LinkedIn, which is similar to other social networks, but more for professionals. Well, lest I digress, I decided to check it out and see what Lynda.com had to offer.

Lynda.com is essentially an online learning website on which you can get paid membership and take various types of online courses. The company was founded way back in 1995 and started offering online courses in 2002. Lynda.com was recently acquired by LinkedIn in May 2015. They have a ton of useful video courses, many of which I am interested in taking myself. At first glance, as I checked out the website, I found it user-friendly and easy to navigate.

Lynda.com offers a range of online video courses from learning various types of software like MS Office and Adobe Photoshop, to Photography, Web Design and Development, to 3D Animation and Visual Effects, to courses on Business like Leadership, Management, Career Development, Project Management, and many other subjects and topics. The courses are delivered via structured video tutorials and can be taken at your own pace.  Once you have a membership, you can take unlimited number of courses and several courses at once. Upon successfully completing a particular course, you will get a Certificate of Completion.

When I received the email from Lynda.com, they offered a 21-day free trial to check out their online learning platform. So I checked the course outline and contents for some course that I was interested in. I decided to take one of the courses “Marketing & Monetizing on YouTube” and successfully completed it. I found the course very useful . Below is the course certificate of completion for the above mentioned course:

There are several membership options to choose from. The basic monthly membership costs $24.99, however, if you pay for this membership on an annual basis, you can get it for $19.99 per month. Their Premium membership costs $34.99 per month and allows members to download project files. You can get the Premium membership for $29.99 per month if you pay annually. They also offer group memberships. You can get a 10-Day Free Trial that gives you free unlimited access to all the courses on Lynda.com.

Lynda.com makes a great educational gift. That’s right, you can give the gift of education to your friends or family. Lynda.com has a variety of gift options like access to courses for one month ($24.99), three months ($74.97), six months ($149.94), and one year ($239.88). These prices are current at the time of writing this review, so bear in mind that they are subject to change and may be different when you check them out. Below you will find an example video tutorial of one of the courses offered at Lynda.com:

If you’re thinking how different it is from searching YouTube tutorials on the subject and learning for free. Well, of course you can do so on YouTube and you will find some great tutorials. However, on YouTube you will have to spend time searching for the right tutorials and be overloaded with advertisements. Also, on YouTube, though you will find some very good tutorials, it may not have a structured approach like you will find in the Lynda.com courses and the learning won't be so seamless.

You can try a Lynda.com membership for free and get a 10-day free access pass and check out any of the thousands of online courses they offer. You don't need to enter any credit card or payment information.

CREDITS:
Lynda.com® is a LinkedIn Company and is a registered trademark. All images, banners, and information used with permission. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

AFFILIATE DISCLAIMER:
If you use the links above to purchase the product/service. I may earn a commission as a Lynda.com affiliate. This recommendation and review is based on my firsthand experience using this service myself.

Employment Scams on LinkedIn™

Scams have been around for a long time now, but with the advent of the internet, they have become rampant in cyberspace. There are different types of online scams.

You name it, and there is a scam for it. Scams have become a reality in our lives and they are here to stay. That is indeed the harsh reality, however, we can educate ourselves and remain vigilant so we don’t fall victim to scammers.

In this blog post, my focus in on Employment Scams on LinkedIn™. You are probably aware of the professional network, LinkedIn™.

It’s the largest online professional network on which you will find people who have professional profiles. This social network is similar to Facebook, except that it is meant for professional use. You probably already have a LinkedIn™ profile yourself. It’s a great place to network with other professionals and companies. However, like any other popular places on the internet, LinkedIn™ has also become a breeding ground for scammers.

I’ve maintained a professional LinkedIn™ profile for many years now and it has helped me greatly. I’m picky on whose LinkedIn™ connection requests I accept, especially because of scammers and spammers. However, it’s not always easy to determine whether a specific connection is a scammer or not. So sometimes when I’m not sure, I will accept the connection request and take it from there.

Recently, I accepted two LinkedIn™ connection requests and both of them ended up being scammers. I’m not sure if you’ve heard about the Financial Coordinator or Accounts Receivable Scams, but that’s exactly what these two scammers approached me with. Basically, these scammers create fake profiles on LinkedIn™ and pose as real people.

The goal of the scammers is to target anyone, whether you’re looking for a job or not. They approach you politely asking if you’d be interested in a part-time job while still working at your current job. The scammers say that their company is expanding in your country and they would like you to be their payment coordinator. They try to get your personal information, including your banking information. These scammers make it look real by picking actual and legitimate companies that are currently in operation, and pose as if they work for that company. Check the video below to see how the scam actually works.

Both these scammers that I encountered on LinkedIn™ approached me with the same scam, but for different companies. When they started corresponding with me, I immediately knew that they were scammers. So I decided to play along to just prove to them that they were scammers on LinkedIn™.

(Excerpt of Scam Email I Received on LinkedIn)

The above image is a an excerpt of one of the scam emails I received from one of the scammers. And further down the page, you can check my video on how I went about my correspondence with the scammers on LinkedIn™. You will also find out how the scam works and how innocent people have fallen victim to it and lost their hard-earned money.

Hope this was helpful. Stay vigilant and be careful with whom you connect with on social networks, be it Facebook, LinkedIn™, or any other online networks. I’ve even seen these kind of scam emails via spam email in my inbox. As I said earlier, this is just one type of scam.

There are many other types of scams around all over the world wide web. You can check my article on The Black Book of Scams, Canadian Edition, to learn about different scams that are being used to target innocent Canadians.

Credits: LinkedIn, the LinkedIn logo, the IN logo and InMail are registered trademarks or trademarks of LinkedIn Corporation and its affiliates in the United States and/or other countries.

Niagara Falls Clifton Hill Attractions and Entertainment

I’ve visited Niagara Falls and Clifton Hill several times in the past 15 years. In a previous blog post, I covered some of the major tourist attractions at Niagara Falls. In this blog post, I will cover some of the most popular Clifton Hill Attractions and Entertainment.

Niagara SkyWheel: if you want to get a truly breathtaking view from 175 feet up in the sky, then get on the Niagara SkyWheel.

This gigantic Ferris wheel is equipped with comfortable, enclosed and temperature-controlled gondolas (or cars). So the gondolas are heated during the winter, and air-conditioned during the summer. This Ferris wheel ride offers visitors a magnificent bird’s eye view of the Niagara Falls and the surrounding areas. The SkyWheel operates throughout the year and the ride is around 10 to 15 minutes. While atop the Ferris wheel, you can take amazing aerial photos as well.

Wizards Golf or Dinosaur Adventure Golf: both these Clifton Hill attractions are great for mini-golf enthusiasts. They are both 18-hole courses that offer a unique miniature golf experience with two unique options. The Wizards Golf course is an in-door glow-in-the-dark mini-golf course that will help you get lost in the world of dragons, trolls and wizards. Whereas the Dinosaur Adventure Golf consists of dual outdoor 18-hole courses in a Jurassic Park-kind of setting with life-size dinosaurs, steam-based volcanic eruptions, and jungle sound effects to make it an unique experience. It is Canada’s largest mini-golf course covering 70,000 square feet.

Wax Museums: if you would like to experience real life-sized Hollywood and music celebrities in wax, then you’re going to love Movieland Wax Museum of Stars and Louis Tussaud’s Wax Museum. These two wax museums feature popular old and new movie and music stars like Elvis Presley, Harrison Ford (as Indiana Jones), Marilyn Monroe, Michael Jackson, Arnold Schwarzenenegger (as the Terminator), Justin Bieber, and many more.

Other Fun Museums: if you’re fascinated by the record-breaking feats and facts, and interested in exploring the world of no-limits, then you will enjoy “Ripley's Believe or Not Museum” and the “Guinness Museum”. You will find yourself lost in this world of out-of-this-world human achievements and fascinating stories. The Ripley’s museum houses over 500 exhibits that will amuse you.

Wild & Entertaining Rides: if you enjoy coaster rides, then you will find some thrilling and entertaining fun riding the “Wild West Coaster” and “Ripley’s 4D Ride”. The Wild West Coaster is a unique 6D motion ride that you will find yourself immersed in and feel part of the action. The Ripley’s 4D Ride is a moving theatre which will thrill many of your senses while keeping you entertained.

If you’re looking for something spooky with a haunted-house like theme, then you will enjoy the “Ghostblasters Dark Ride” which is located in the Great Canadian Midway. This interactive and fun ride will keep you at the edge of your seat while you’re confronted with darkness, black-light, and animated props while you blast your way with a laser gun.

Great Canadian Midway

Great Canadian Midway: is the largest video arcade at Clifton Hill, Niagara Falls. This 70,000 square feet video arcade features 300 plus games for everyone, including a rock n' roll themed 10-pin bowling alley.

The “Wild West Coaster” and “Ghostblasters Dark Ride” mentioned above are also located in the Great Canadian Midway.

If you have limited time and want to cover some of the most popular Niagara Falls attractions, you can consider the Clifton Hill FUN PASS. This pass will also save you money and covers the following five attractions. If purchased online, you may get a discounted price or added bonuses:

• The Niagara SkyWheel
• Wizards Golf or Dinosaur Adventure Golf
• Movieland Wax Museum of Stars
• Wild West Coaster
• Ghostblasters Dark Ride
• Great Canadian Midway Tokens

Niagara Falls is the most beautiful waterfalls I’ve ever visited in my life so far. Even though I’ve been to the Falls numerous times, there is still so much I haven’t done or experienced there. So I look forward to my next visit to Niagara Falls. In the meantime, hope you found this useful to help you prepare for your trip to Niagara Falls.

Credits & Information Links:
All photos on this blog post belong to the author of this blog.
Niagara Falls Visitor & Tourism Information
Niagara Falls Visitors Guide
Municipal Parking Lots

Things To Do at Niagara Falls Canada

Niagara Falls in the Winter

Since I immigrated to Canada over 15 years ago, I’ve visited Niagara Falls (also known as the Horseshoe Falls) many times.

In fact, I lived in St. Catherines, Ontario for a couple of years which is about 15 to 20 minutes drive to Niagara Falls. Anyway, lest I digress – my point is that I’ve visited the Falls so many times that I’ve lost count.

Needless to say, every time I visited the Horseshoe Falls, I’ve always enjoyed my visit and it’s never been the same as my prior visits. One of the reasons being that every season you go to the Falls, it’s different.

Every season, be it Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter, you will have a different experience. My most recent visit was during winter 2015 with a few of my friends. We went on a week day so it wasn’t too crowded and spent all day there.

There is no way, you will be able to cover everything in one day, unless you are the Flash, in terms of sight-seeing and other local attractions. Therefore, it’s important to plan your visit ahead of time. During my last visit, we spent some time at the waterfalls and experienced nature’s beauty. And the rest of the time at Clifton Hill where we had lunch and then played a couple of bowling games at the Great Canadian Midway.

Below I will list down some of the major tourist attractions at Niagara Falls:

Niagara Falls Canada

Maid of the Mist: if you are adventurous and want to get really close to the waterfalls, then you should definitely take the “Maid of the Mist” boat tours. These 30-minute boat tours operate between April and October every year and let you experience the American Falls and the Horseshow Falls like none other. You will get wet, but they do provide a disposable poncho (raincoat).

Journey Behind the Falls: is exactly what it sounds like. During the months of spring and summer, visitors can experience the Falls from behind through descending elevators and via the Upper and Lower observation decks. This Behind the Falls tour last around 45 minutes and you will also receive a disposable poncho to keep you dry.

Niagara Falls Helicopter Ride: gives you an breathtaking aerial tour of some beautiful sections of the Niagara region. This aerial tour gives you a unique opportunity to experience the Falls from the sky and take amazing pictures. It covers areas like the Falls, the whirlpool area and rapids, the Rainbow bridge, scenic beauty of Queen Victoria Park, and the Niagara river, to name a few. You can get a special discounted rate for the helicopter ride if you book your hotel accommodation at the Clifton Hill Comfort Inn.

Skylon Tower Niagara Falls

Skylon Tower: located at the heart of Niagara Falls is an observation tower towering 520 feet from street level (775 feet from the bottom of the Falls). The Skylon tower has three Yellow Bug elevators on the outside of the tower that take 52 seconds to get to the top of the tower.

There is an inner and outer observation deck a top the tower allowing visitors the highest vantage point in Niagara Falls to experience the beauty of the Falls and thousands of square miles of cityscape. The Skylon Tower has a revolving dining restaurant as well as a casual Summit Suite Buffet and much more.

Hornblower Cruises: as the name suggests, these are boat cruises. They are similar to the “Maid of the Mist” boat tour, but different at the same time. There are different cruises options: Voyage to the Falls, Falls Illumination Cruise, Falls Fireworks Cruise, and Sunset Cocktail Cruise. These boat 30 to 45 minute boat cruises allow you to have an immersive experience of the Falls in a very unique manner. You can check all the Hornblower Cruise Options.

Marineland: is great for families with kids as well as thrill-seekers. You can experience exciting rides like the world’s tallest triple tower, the Sky Screamer, Dragon Mountain roller coaster, as well as many other amusement park rides. You can attend a variety of live shows and experience trained dolphins, walruses and sea lions perform fun and entertaining tricks. You get an opportunity to interact with some of the fascinating creatures of the oceans. You can also get an up-close look at Beluga whales and Killer whales at the Arctic Cove and the Friendship Cove.

As I mentioned earlier, there is so much you can do at Niagara Falls. However, depending on how much time you decide to spend there, you may not be able to cover all the attractions. If you have limited time and want to cover some of the most popular Niagara Falls attractions, you can consider the Clifton Hill FUN PASS. This pass will also save you money and covers the following five attractions. If purchased online, you may get a discounted price or added bonuses:

• The Niagara SkyWheel
• Wizards Golf or Dinosaur Adventure Golf
• Movieland Wax Museum of Stars
• Wild West Coaster
• Ghostblasters Dark Ride
• Great Canadian Midway Tokens

You can buy individual tickets to Clifton Hill attractions, but if you buy the Clifton Hill FUN PASS, you can save up to 50% on many popular local attractions. You can also check these Niagara Falls Attraction Coupons to save some money. Children ages 12 and under get a special discounted price on the Clifton Hill FUN PASS as well as individual tickets.

Check my blog post, on Clifton Hill Attractions and Entertainment.

Niagara Falls is the most beautiful waterfalls I’ve ever visited in my life so far. Even though I’ve been to the Falls numerous times, there is still so much I haven’t done or experienced there. So I look forward to my next visit to Niagara Falls. In the meantime, hope you found this useful to help you prepare for your trip to Niagara Falls.

Credits & Information Links:
All photos on this blog post belong to the author of this blog.
Niagara Falls Visitor & Tourism Information
Niagara Falls Visitors Guide
Municipal Parking Lots

Beware: Tax Refund Scams

March is Fraud Prevention month and with tax season here, scammers are keeping busy trying to claim victims via phone and email scams.

During tax season, it is common to see fraudulent phone calls and email from scammers. They disguise themselves as coming from legitimate government agencies like the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).

Some of these emails claim that the recipient has received a refund because the CRA has recalculated their tax return. Others claim that the the recipient owes the CRA money. I've personally received a few of these fraudulent emails asking me to claim my tax refund.

These fraudulent emails contain links that are disguised as legitimate, but are used for phishing purposes. Some of these links may be used to spread malware, spyware or viruses. You can check the video below to see some of these sample emails that I've received.

Others have received fraudulent phones calls saying that the recipient owes the CRA monies that needs to be paid immediately. Their main goal is to create a sense of urgency and put the potential victim on the spot and feed off their fear.

"The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) warns all taxpayers to beware of telephone calls or emails that claim to be from the CRA but are not. These are phishing and other fraudulent scams that could result in identity and financial theft." - Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)

Below is an image of a fraudulent email that I received in February 2015. As you will notice, it is disguised as coming from the Canada Revenue Agency, however on closer look it is quite easy to tell that this particular email message is fraudulent.

How can you tell if this is a fraudulent email message? Well, one clue is the email address. Notice the email address "Customer...@imm.apple.com". Clearly, it is not well disguised. The second clue was the "CLICK HERE" hyperlink towards the end of the email. When I hovered my mouse over the link, it showed some weird-looking website address something like "http://fert56thyuj78p9l.is-a-financialadvisor.com/uebimiau/theme/index.php"

I've received several other fraudulent emails messages like the one below. This particular email message was quite easy to detect as fraudulent, but others may be very well disguised. Therefore, it's important to stay vigilant and be prepared. There are various other types and format of fraudulent email messages. You can check the CRA website to see Samples of Fraudulent Email Messages.

Similarly, you may receive fraudulent phone calls from scammers claiming to be from the Canada Revenue Agency. These fraudulent people calling may claim that you owe the CRA back taxes or ask you to claim a refund. They try to create a sense of urgency so as to cause fear and panic in order for potential victims to act on impulse. In doing so, they get you to divulge sensitive and personal information which is used for identity or financial theft.

There are many things you can do to ensure that you don't fall victim to scams discussed above. Watch the informational video below that I created and be prepared, and protect yourself and family:

There are many other types of scams and you can check the Little Black Book of Scams to learn more and ensure that you don't fall victim to these scams. Also, you check this Guide on Shopping Safely Online. Should you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to leave them in the comments section below. Also, feel free to share your experiences and tips on tax refund and tax owing scams.

How to Claim Your Money? DRAM Class Action Settlement

The DRAM Class Action Lawsuit Settlement has been reached. Have you claimed your refund yet? I submitted my DRAM claim and found the process fairly simple and fast.

Well, if you’re wondering what this is about, let me explain. DRAM stands for Dynamic Random Access Memory. It’s a type of memory chip that is used in computers and many electronic products.

Based on the lawsuit filed, Canadian were paying more for DRAM and devices that contained DRAM between April 1, 1999 and June 30, 2002. It was alleged that DRAM manufacturers agreed to price fix and thereby Canadians overpaid for the above mentioned products.

There were several “representative plaintiffs” who sued the DRAM manufacturers on behalf of “class members” (i.e. eligible Canadians). Some of the DRAM manufacturers pleaded guilty to the charges of DRAM price fixing. A settlement of over $80 million (includes interest earned) was reached with eleven DRAM manufacturers who pleaded guilty.

Canadians who currently live in Canada or lived in Canada between April 1, 1999 and June 30, 2002; and who purchased DRAM or electronic products containing DRAM are eligible to claim a refund. Also, if you currently live in the US or lived in the US during the above mentioned period, but purchased DRAM or electronic products containing DRAM, you will be eligible to claim a refund. This applies to individuals and companies who purchased the said products for personal, commercial, and manufacturing purposes.

There are different types of claims: (1) End Consumer, (2) Electronic Manufacturing Services, and (3) Other DRAM Purchaser claims. Depending in which category you fall, you will accordingly receive a set percentage of net settlement funds. You can check the FAQ Section (see Informational Links below) for more details. In case you have questions regarding the type of DRAM claim, you can call the Claims Administrator (NPT RicePoint) at 1-866-855-5586.

All eligible Canadians will receive a minimum of $20 refund on their claim. You do not require a receipt (for proof of purchase) if you submit a Simplified Claim (i.e. claiming no more than $20). For DRAM claims above $20, you will need to submit a Standard Claim and receipts/documentation may be required as proof of purchase. You can use the End Consumer Claim Calculator (see Informational Links below) to determine approximately how much you are eligible to claim from the DRAM settlement.

There is no cost involved in filing a DRAM claim. However, there is a deadline for claim submission which is June 23, 2015. Once you submit your claim, you will receive a confirmation with a claim ID. The Claims Administrator expects to start processing DRAM claim cheques in the Fall of 2015.

As mentioned earlier, I have already submitted my DRAM claim and found the process quite simple. It took me less than 5 minutes to file my claim online. Of course, if you are claiming more than $20, your claim may take longer to submit. You can watch the video below for more information:

Informational Links:

• Canadian DRAM Class Action Settlement FAQs
• DRAM Class Action Settlement Claim Form
• End Consumer Claim Calculator

Canadian National Flag 50th Anniversary

Happy Birthday to the Canadian National Flag. The official National Flag of Canada was inaugurated on February 15, 1965 which means that this year 2015 marks the 50th anniversary of the Canadian Maple Leaf flag.

Before confederation, July 1, 1867, there were several Canadian flags that were used, many of which were not official flags of Canada. February 15th is National Flag of Canada Day.

Some of the flags that were used in Canada’s colonial history were the fleur-de-lis (1647) and St. George’s Cross (1577). In the ninetieth century the British Union Jack became the official national flag of Canada. Though even after confederation, the Canadian red ensign flag was used. You can see the pictures of the Canadian flags below.

The initial design of the Canadian flag which found Prime Minister Lester Pearson’s favour had three maple leafs with two blue stripes which became known as the Pearson Pennant. In fact, establishing a distinct Canadian flag was part of Mr. Pearson’s Liberal party platform which he promised in 1961.

Public Domain Canadian Flag Images

The current red and white flag with the red maple leaf was suggested by George Stanley and was approved by Canadian parliament in 1964. Reaching a consensus was not without bitter debate and protest, but this new flag design became officially effective on February 15, 1965.

I’ve seen many of the earlier version and proposals of the Canadian national flag, and to be honest, my favourite choice is definitely the current flag. I moved to Canada in early 1998 and now call Canada my home. To me, when I see the Canadian national flag, I think unity, peace and freedom. I am proud to be Canadian. Happy National Flag of Canada Day!

Image Credits: The Canadian flags used on this blog are public domain images. The intro picture was taken by blog author at Port Credit, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.