DawsonTimes.com

[ In Money ]
Bank Closing - The First State Bank, Stockbridge, GA
On Friday, January 20, 2012, The First State Bank (CERT #19252), Stockbridge, GA was closed by the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance. All deposits, excluding certain brokered deposits, were transferred to the acquiring institution...
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[ In Money ]
Top Scams of 2011

Better Business Bureau investigates thousands of scams every year, from the latest gimmicks to schemes as old as the hills. We’ve divided scams up into nine major categories and picked the top scam in each, plus our Scam of the Year...

 
 

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[ In Money ]
Treasure Hunting Through Attic Trash?
From PBS’ “Antiques Roadshow” to A&E’s “Storage Wars,” reality TV has capitalized on our fascination with discovering treasure in household junk. It happened to historian Michael Mendoza, whose patient culling through boxes of old papers was rewarded when he found a Civil War veteran’s personal account of his experiences...
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[ In Money ]
What To Know When Dealing With A Debt Collector
The holiday season brings lots of joy but leaves many people in debt! Many are unaware of the laws that protect them from unscrupulous debt collectors or how collection agencies can conduct business.   With the help of the Federal Trade Commission, BBB provides the following information to better help you understand your rights when dealing with a debt collector... 
 
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[ In Money ]
Trashed Ticket Leads to $250,000 Lottery Win
A Dawsonville man’s trash turned into his treasure. Andrew Hunter, 24, won $250,000 after playing Mega Millions with winnings from a tossed ticket. “I didn’t realize you could win $3 for matching one number plus the Mega Ball,” he said. “I pulled it out of the trash and cashed it in for three more tickets.”...
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[ In Money ]
Top Ten Cyber Monday Tips for Staying Safe When Shopping Online
Cyber Monday—the Monday after Thanksgiving—has officially replaced Black Friday—the day after Thanksgiving—as the most popular day to shop for the holidays. Shopping online means avoiding the crowds, but it also opens the buyer up to attacks from scammers and hackers. In order to fight these online grinches, the Better Business Bureau recommends 10 tips for staying safe when holiday shopping online...
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[ In Money ]
Century Bank of Georgia, Cartersville, Assumes All of the Deposits of Community Bank of Rockmart, Georgia
Community Bank of Rockmart, Rockmart, Georgia, was closed today by the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance, which appointed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) as receiver. To protect the depositors, the FDIC entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with Century Bank of Georgia, Cartersville, Georgia, to assume all of the deposits of Community Bank of Rockmart...
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[ In Money ]
BBB Advises Business Owners to Secure Their Online Banking
Online banking is a great tool to help small businesses quickly and conveniently track financial information, as well as pay their bills and employees. However, data thieves are now targeting small business owners — and their employees — to get access to their online banking credentials and accounts so that they can make unauthorized money transfers. A small business can protect itself against increased liability on its financial transactions by using strong procedures to secure the credentials they use to access their bank accounts...
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Dawson County Chamber of Commerce Consumer Expo
The public is invited to attend the 11th Annual Consumer Expo! Invite your family, co-workers, neighbors and friends...
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[ In Money ]
Online Penny Auctions: Nothing for Something?
Who doesn't love to get a good deal? Some people shop sales circulars, others clip coupons. Still others find online penny auctions to be a fun way to try to get big ticket items like electronics, jewelry, gift cards, appliances, and sports equipment at reduced prices. But in many ways, penny auctions are more like lotteries than traditional online auction sites. In a penny auction, you have to pay to bid...
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Twenty-three More Counties Named Camera Ready Communities
Governor Nathan Deal and the Georgia Film, Music & Digital Entertainment Office, a division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), designated 23 Georgia counties Camera Ready at the annual Governor’s Tourism Conference yesterday. The state’s Camera Ready Community Program was started in October 2010 to support the growing film and television industry...
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[ In Technology ]
Cyber Relationships … Real, Fantasy, or Just a Way Out?
After an exhausting day, all you want to do is put your feet up and spend time with the person you care about the most … and then your spouse walks into the room. Upon their arrival, you close your computer hoping you don’t appear too startled to raise suspicion. Sharing intimate details of your life on Facebook with someone else probably wouldn’t go over so well with your significant other. Your relief is temporary, because this will likely become a reoccurring theme when you continue to “network” with that special person...
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Tips on Selling Your Gold for Cash
The price of gold is up 20% since the beginning of 2011, and by mid-August gold was going for over $1,700 per ounce. With record high levels being paid for gold, many people are cashing in by selling gold jewelry and other items...
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First Citizens Bank of Georgia in Dawsonville Pledges to Support Student Loan Program
First Citizens Bank of Georgia in Dawsonville is the latest member bank of the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) to commit loan funding to the iHELP private student loan program. First Citizens Bank of Georgia will also join iHELP as the originating lender for the state of Georgia...
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[ In Technology ]
Current News Stories Creating Scams On Facebook
In light of the bombing and shootings in Norway, it’s hard to believe that scammers would take advantage of such a tragic situation. But that’s just what’s happening on Facebook today, where a bogus post claims to link you to a video from an Oslo security camera showing the detonation of a car bomb near a Norwegian government building in which at least 10 people were killed...
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Are You a Giver or a Taker?
oe Scott believes that life would be a lot easier if people recognized there are really only three kinds of people in the world...
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Is Retirement in Your Future?
Having an alternate plan for retirement is becoming the norm today. With the changes in retirement rules and the fact that employees are cutting back on what they contribute to an employee’s retirement, consumers now realize they must take more personal responsibility for their retirement finances. In this economy, how do you go about making sure you will have the finances needed for a secure retirement...
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Who Can Lead the Economy to Recovery? It’s Not the GOP or the Dems – It’s CEOs
Mark Faust is tired of hearing politicians complain about President Obama, Obama complain about Congress and Congress complain about taxes when it comes to the stuttering economic recovery...
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BBB Warns Of Possible Phishing Scam With Google And Gmail
Email purporting to be from Google Support claims that the recipient will lose their Gmail account if they do not reply with the account's username and password and other personal information within seven days of receiving the message...
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Financial Fraud And Elder Abuse
BBBs nationwide receive hundreds of phone calls each year from senior citizens who have been targeted or victimized by scammers...
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How to Build a Facebook Presence That Works to Your Business’ Benefit
Social media has become a dominating force in the eyes of today’s consumer. From YouTube to Facebook, consumers are turning to social media sites now more than ever to get more deeply connected to a business. Better Business Bureau is advising businesses to use their Facebook presence to their advantage...
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North Georgia College & State University has $232 Million Impact on Region
 A newly released report states that North Georgia College & State University made an economic impact of more than $230 million and accounted for 2,462 jobs in a six-county area in Fiscal Year 2010. The study area included Lumpkin, Hall, Dawson, White, Forsyth, and Union counties...
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Can We Prevent Everyday Conflicts?
It starts in the morning with the kids before you go to work, then kicks into second gear with your co-workers or your boss, and finally culminates at home with your spouse and children; it’s conflict...
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[ In Money ]
BBB Warns of Scam Artists Using Name of American Soldier
BBB Serving Metro Atlanta, Athens & Northeast Georgia, Inc. issues warning to consumers to avoid email appearing to be coming from an American soldier...
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[ In Spotlight ]
When You Have Done The Best You Can
Having the opportunity to be of service to families is something I hold near and dear. But at the end of the day I can’t help but wonder; Have I done all that I could to help them get through such am emotional and difficult period in their lives? Our entire staff dedicates all the time and efforts we possess to work toward that goal...
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Choosing A Credit Card For Your Business
If expense reports are piling up and you’re tired of hearing your employees complain about not getting reimbursements, it might be time to consider a business credit card. The Better Business Bureau offers advice to business owners on choosing the right credit card for your business...
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[ In Technology ]
Is It Time For You To Start A New Business?
 It’s one thing to develop a new gadget or piece of software that does something cool, but entrepreneurs need to ask themselves if it actually solves a problem. Cool doesn’t sell. Meeting the needs of consumers and businesses does...
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[ In Money ]
Weekly Financial Commentary, March 23, 2011
According to the Federal Reserve, 19 banks have added $25 billion in earnings since 2008. This from a recent stress test, or Comprehensive Capital Analysis and Review, report, several banks, including Wells Fargo, JP Morgan Chase, BBT, and US Bancorp, have announced share buybacks, repayment of TARP funds, increased dividends, or some combination of the three...
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Emergency Cash Is Essential To Life - Therefore Make it Fast and Easy
United Community Title Pawn Services, Inc. explains how they provide emergency cash quick and in a hurry...
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[ In Spotlight ]
Forsyth's Silver Lining
James McCoy, President & CEO of the Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce, presented Forsyth’s Silver Lining: Why We Are Choosing Not to Participate in the Recession at the Rotary Club of South Forsyth, Wednesday, April 29.  McCoy presented research that points to the continuing expansion of our community and made the case that growth is just around the corner...
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