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If you have a Visa gift card, you should know that it’s practically like cash money. That’s because you can buy products and services with it when you redeem your card.
In this article, we’ll explain how you can use your Visa gift card to buy stuff on the web.
Visa gift cards come with some great advantages that are hard to find in other brands. Here are some of its outstanding qualities:
- Accepted everywhere.
- Great customer service.
- Easy to use and make transactions.
Can I Use Visa Gift Cards Online?
You can use visa gift cards online for any purchases that you need to make. All you have to do is to enter the card number along with the expiration date.
Visa gift cards are one of the most universally accepted cards you can find.
Register Your Card
One of the first steps you’ll need to do in order to use your card online is to register it. Sometimes, a card will list instructions to do this.
You’ll typically need to enter your name and billing address.
Activate The Card
If your card hasn’t been used before, there’s a good chance that it still needs to be activated. To do this, you’ll need to either call the number on the back or front of the card, or you may be able to go online and do this.
Once your card is registered, you can use it. In many cases, you may also be able to activate your card at point of purchase, aka, the cash register.
You might also be prompted to enter the card’s three-digit code (CVV) located on the back.
Use Your Card Online
To use your card online, just enter some personal information, including the CVV. After following these simple steps, that’s it!
Final Word
Hopefully, you’ll be able to use your card shortly after you get it. Visa is one of the most respected brands in all of finance, so it shouldn’t be a problems.
For more financial content, follow your Money Section.
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Just about everyone I know uses Cash App in one way or another. Unfortunately, the money app says it’s been hacked. More than 8 million people have been exposed in the cybersecurity event.
Cash App reported in a Securities and Exchange Comission filing that a former employee accessed people’s account information after he was let go. This constitutes a major data breach.
If you’re more than a little worried, it’s understandable. At the same time, this article will tell you what you need to know.
8 Million Cash App Users Involved In Data Breach
Cash App, which was started by Twitter founder Jack Dorsey, has come clean after divulging that the hack took place in December 2021 (and they’re just now telling us).
According to Cash App, the data breach is not as widespread as you might imagine.
According to the company, here are some data points the breach did not affect:
- Usernames
- Passwords
- Social Security numbers
- Date of birth
- payment card information
- Addresses
- Bank account information
- Other personally identifiable information
So you can rest easy, we’ve compiled some great tips so you can feel safe using money apps.
Only Do Transaction With People You Know
Because crooks could reach out to you and demand money, you should never give or receive cash from people you don’t know personally. If an anonymous person reaches out to you asking for payment, assume it’s a scam.
Pay With Your Credit Card
It’s a good chance that many people who use money apps have them connected to their checking accounts. This is a terrible idea. Checking accounts use your money; use credit cards, which use the bank’s money.
When and if a problem occurs, the bank will also have an incentive to get its money back. That’s not always true when it’s your money.
Do Not Share Your Phone With Anyone
One old scam that apparently used to work is when a desperate stranger would ask to use your phone. When you give it to them they pretend to be dialing a number, but they’re quickly searching through your device for Cash App or some other money app.
Once they find it, they could send themselves thousands of dollars and you’d be none the wiser. Don’t lend your phone to strangers, unless you can dial the number yourself.
Final Word
Cash App and other money apps are very convenient tools to use when you need to make a transaction, but they have their respective places.
Just like money, you need to use your money apps wisely.
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If you’re a small business owner in Louisiana, you know how tough it has been to keep afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic. The good news is that help is out there. You just have to apply for it.
Selly Foundation
The Selley Foundation (Selley) is a donor-advised fund of the Greater New Orleans Foundation. Selley Trustees review grant requests in the areas of education, arts, and in certain cases the environment.
The Doris and Peter Hansen Technical Assistance Fund
The Doris and Peter Hansen Technical Assistance Fund for Arts Organizations gives monetary support to New Orleans organizations sponsoring cultural activities in the fields of classical music, theater, and fine arts. Apply here.
Facebook Small Grants Program
Facebook is another company offering big money to businesses. This time, the social media giant has pledged $40 million in grants. How it works is that Facebook will give $4,000 grants ($2500 cash, $1500 in optional ads credits) to 10,000 qualifying small businesses to keep them afloat.
Interested in the Facebook Small Grants Program? Apply here.
GoFundMe Small Business Relief Fund
GoFundMe has partnered with smaller stakeholders to offer the Small Business Relief Fund to those who apply. The grant gives those who are selected $500. Apply here.
Fearless Strivers Grant Contest
The Fearless Strivers Grant Contest is open only to black women who meet the eligibility requirements. You can get $10,000 if you are accepted.
Apply for the Fearless Strivers Grant Contest here.
Halstead Grant
The Halstead Grant is an annual award for emerging silver jewelry artists. Applicants submit answers to 15 business questions in addition to their design portfolios. The grand prize is a $7,500 cash grant plus other benefits.
The postmark deadline is August 1, 2022. Apply for a Halstead Grant here.
Visa • IFundWomen Grant
Visa is partnering with IFundWomen to offer grants to Black women-owned small businesses. The program is providing 10 grants of $10,000 each as well as one year of IFundWomen Annual Coaching Membership.
To qualify for the grant, you must:
- Be a Black woman
- Have a business up and running for at least two years
- Have a minimum annual revenue of at least $24,000
Apply for the Visa + IFundWomen Grant Here.
Hidden Star Minority Grant
Hidden Star is offering $3,500 grants for minority businesses. If you’re interested, apply for the Hidden Star grant.
Small Business Administration Restaurant Revitalization Fund
The Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) provides funding to help restaurants and other eligible businesses stay open. Food businesses may be eligible to get funding equal to their pandemic-related revenue loss up to $10 million per business and no more than $5 million per physical location.
Recipients don’t have to repay the grant if the money is used for eligible expenses by March 11, 2023.
Apply for the SBA Restaurant Revitalization Fund
Final Word
It’s not easy being a business owner in New Orleans or any city. Do you know of any other grant opportunities out there? Let us know in the comments.
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I think I speak for all when I say that unsolicited text messages can be annoying. Who are these people?
Well, in a word, they are most likely scammers trying to entrap you into giving up some sensitive personal information. One way they accomplish that is through a method called “smishing”
Smishing is basically when you receive a text message appearing to be legitimate, only to find out that it is from a fraudster. Usually, you find this out when it’s too late.
Why Am I Getting Spam Text Messages?
The reasons why you could be getting spam text messages are many: You could have shared your phone number on an unsecure website or to someone shiesty.
Another reason why you may be getting a lot of spam text messages may be because there’s an upcoming election in your area. Many political campaigns pay for phone lists so that volunteers can text and call potential voters.
When someone uses SMS methods, they may try to lure you into divulging your information by posing to be someone they’re not. This is called smishing.
The practice of smishing has been around for quite some time, but crooks continue to apply new twists to it.
How To Report Spam Texts
To report spam texts, all you have to do is copy the message and forward it to 7726 (SPAM). You can also alert the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
How To Protect Yourself
Here’s how to avoid smishing if you have one of the major wireless providers.
Verizon
Verizon says smishing, phishing, spam text messages and text scams are increasing. “Typically, smishing scammers will send you text messages that attempt to get you to click a link and then provide personal or financial information about yourself. Smishing is serious and can lead to identity theft,” the carrier says.
If you get a suspicious text message, Verizon wants you to forward it right away to S-P-A-M (7726).
T-Mobile
T-Mobile says if you download its Scam Shield app, you can you can take advantage of the wireless provider’s free mobile scam protection tools like:
- Scam Block and Caller ID
- Voicemail-to-text
- xxxx
T-Mobile says on its website. You can activate Scam Block and Caller ID, see the calls T-Mobile has blocked on your behalf, mark favorites, and report likely scam calls.
With the app, you can report likely scam calls as well as enable voicemail-to-text, providing voicemail transcripts in the Visual Voicemail app or via text.
AT&T
Here’s what AT&T calls this scam, “This is called SMiShing because texts are SMS or “short message system” messages.
AT&T says if you receive a suspicious text message, alert AT&T by forwarding the text to 7726 (SPAM). Messages forwarded to this number are free and will not count toward your text plan. If you get a suspicious email or text, do not reply. If you suspect you are a target of fraud on your AT&T mobile phone account, you can report it to our Fraud team here. If you suspect fraud on another account, call the customer service number on your bill for help.
Final Word
Criminals are always trying to get some money out of you, so you have to stay vigilant. If you get a text message from someone you don’t know, instead of clicking on the link, see if you can do a Google search to find the company and click there.
- Don’t trust text messages from strangers.
- Never send someone who only know through text messaging your personal information.
- Never click on a link sent to you from a suspicious number.
Any U.S. citizen who believes they are a victim of smishing, spam texts or even caller ID spoofing can file a report with the FCC Consumer Complaint Center. The FCC imposes a fine of up to $10,000 per violation.
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