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How Insurers Investigate Fraud in Singapore

30 March 2015 By Digital Curator Leave a Comment

Image via Flickr user Still Frei

I almost got busted for insurance fraud once. That was when I microwaved oily bacon in tinfoil and set most of my kitchen on fire. “You were safe from fraud charges all the time Ryan.” I was? “Yeah, because stupidity is not the same as fraud.” LOL, damn right, the joke’s on them huh? Anyway, here’s how they investigate it:

What Exactly is Insurance Fraud?

In health insurance, there are broad kinds of insurance fraud. According to P., these are “fraudulent claims, and premium frauds.” Of the two, the latter is more common.

1. Checking the History of Claims

P. warns that insurers “talk to each other,” and are on guard when they realize someone has a history of repeated claims.

2. Checking the Timing of the Claim

Mugan says he’s often called in due to the timing of a claim. An example is when someone gets a medical condition just after buying a policy, or if all the old computers in an office are damaged shortly after general insurance is bought.

3. Actual Stakeouts

If you claim you can’t work, and your insurer finds it suspect, they might put you under surveillance.

If the investigator (very often a Private Investigator) spots you head banging in a nightclub despite your whiplash, the pictures will show up when you’re dragged to court.

4. Damage Analysis of Property

When property is damaged, investigators compare the type of damage to the claims being made. This is fairly easy in cars, thanks to dash cams.

5. Financial Background Checks

This is related to point 2. A suspicious insurer starts to check for debt, in particular decreasing credit scores. They might also note the sale of a house or car.

6. Stalking Social Media

These days, investigators have begun to monitor social media sites. These are a goldmine of information (not to mention photographs), and it’s easy to make a slip-up on Facebook.

Or congratulate him on his new job in the same line, even though he claimed he was unable to work in the same occupation.”

by Ryan Ong

See Full Story on blog.moneysmart.sg

Why Successful People Never Bring Smartphones Into Meetings

27 March 2015 By Digital Curator Leave a Comment

Image via Flickr user Peter Hayes

You are annoying your boss and colleagues any time you take your phone out during meetings, says new research from USC’s Marshall School of Business. And if you work with women and people over 40, they’re even more perturbed by it than everyone else.

The researchers conducted a nationwide survey of 554 full-time working professionals earning above $30K and working in companies with at least 50 employees. They asked a variety of questions about smartphone use during meetings and found:

• 86 percent think it’s inappropriate to answer phone calls during meetings

• 84 percent think it’s inappropriate to write texts or emails during meetings

• 66 percent think it’s inappropriate to write texts or emails even during lunches offsite

• The more money people make the less they approve of smartphone use.

The study also found that Millennials are three times more likely than those over 40 to think that smartphone use during meetings is okay, which is ironic considering Millennials are highly dependent upon the opinions of their older colleagues for career advancement.

TalentSmart has tested the emotional intelligence of more than a million people worldwide and found that Millennials have the lowest self-awareness in the workplace, making them unlikely to see that their smartphone use in meetings is harming their careers.

by Dr. Travis Bradberry

See Full Story on huffingtonpost.com

The 5 Fears Successful People Kick to the Curb

25 March 2015 By Digital Curator Leave a Comment

Image via Flickr user Steve Wilson

Your brain’s threat response is as old as the human race. This is where those who experience success intervene and take things back into their own hands. They feel the fear but make the conscious choice not to be paralyzed by the following common threats:

1. Fear of failure.
It’s probably the most common and crippling mindset that can prevent people from achieving success. Fear of failure is seen in artists who never finish their piece of work, because they don’t believe it will ever be perfect.

2. Fear of losing control.
We all know one. The friend who organises your social events down to the last detail, but irons out all the opportunities for spontaneous fun. The boss who wants the report to look a certain way, and doesn’t listen to new ideas.

3. Fear of standing out.
The old adage of ‘safety in numbers’ is where this one stems from. If you blend in you won’t get noticed and potentially rejected. If you go with popular opinion, you wont get criticized.

4. Fear of missing out.
Have you had that twisting feeling in the pit of your stomach, when you hear news that someone has been recognised for something that you have been aspiring to yourself?

5. Fear of facing the truth (or the victim mentality).
‘Why do these things always happen to me?’ This question is a sure sign that the victim mentality is at play. In your circle of friends and associates you probably see examples of the victim mentality more than you realize.

When someone believes that external factors are responsible for their dissatisfaction and that someone else is to blame for the position in which they find themselves, they are embracing the role of the victim.

by Susan Pearse

See Full Story on huffingtonpost.com

The Loss of Our Founding Father

23 March 2015 By Alex Tan Leave a Comment

The passing of one of our founding fathers, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, has saddened many people. Over the past many years, we are all used to having him around to take care of our Singapore. My friends and I were discussing how much he, who is our first prime minister since Independence Day, has contributed to our successful Singapore.

While news of the passing of Lee Kuan yew has been circulating online since early this morning, I can’t help but have many thoughts coming through my head upon seeing the video where our current PM, Lee Hsien Loong, addressing the nation at 8am. Some people said he almost cried while addressing, while others commented he can’t cry on national TV because as our current leader, he has to be strong and lead the nation forward. But how is he really feeling right now?

I was born in a family where helping out in the family business is inevitable. Through my life, many people has look upon me as ‘The Boss’s son’, and while doing my degree, friends will often remind me that I don’t have to study so hard since my career path has already been set. At work, colleagues will always know me as ‘The second generation’ of the business. The term ‘second generation’ I believe also applies to our current PM. Many people will always judge how can the second generation do better than the first? While others will say ‘You are where you are today because of what the first generation has provided you’

As a second generation, I always try my best to show that the second generation’s work is not just based on or continued from the first. I truly feel and understand there was always a need to prove that the second generation can achieve success on their part. While it has been built from the first generation, the second generation has to work even harder to not only maintain the success, but build on and achieve the next tier of success. In Chinese, there is a saying ‘创业难, 守业更难’ Not many people understand this. They see success that the second generation is enjoying but yet, they don’t see how pressure is also building up on them to make it even better. The second generation might be able to work things out but there will always be a doubt somewhere in them that they will want to seek advice or assurance from the first generation to endorse what they are doing is right.

While our Current PM is grieving over the loss of his father, I am sure he is also facing the pressure to carry on the success to the next level. Now that he can’t seek advice from his father, he will face a bigger test and pressure than ever before.

While we continue to mourn over the passing of Lee Kuan Yew for the next seven days, let us not forget that we, whether the second, third or even fourth generation of Singapore, must start working even harder to bring and maintain the success and peace that we have enjoyed today and before. Rest in peace, Mr Lee.

Here’s how successful people deal with bad days

23 March 2015 By Digital Curator Leave a Comment

Image via Flickr user Kris Krug

Even the happiest, most successful people have bad days.

In the post, which de Haaff was inspired to write after his sister-in-law died last week from breast cancer at the age of 40, he lays out what successful people do when they have a really bad day.

Here are two things they always do:

1. Acknowledge it.

“Feeling lousy is part of life,” he says. “It is okay to feel pain and more important not to run from it. The most important thing you can do when bad news arrives is to take a moment to acknowledge it.”

Talk to people about it, he suggests, “and shine a light on it through your words and actions.”

2. Maintain a routine.

Successful people are disciplined, and typically live by good habits, he points out. “Hold on to as many of those habits as possible. Even when it’s hard. It’s why I kept working out last week — despite feeling sick.”

He reminds readers that we can’t stop bad things from happening — but we do have control over our reaction.

by Jacquelyn Smith

See Full Story on businessinsider.com

9 successful people share the one thing they buy that makes their lives easier or better

20 March 2015 By Digital Curator Leave a Comment

Image via Flickr user thetaxhaven

How do some of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs spend their money to make their lives easier and/or better?

It’s one of my favorite questions to ask of my guests on my daily podcast, So Money.

Since launching the show two months ago, I’ve had the great privilege to interview some of the world’s top business minds, authors, and influencers including Tim Ferriss, Tony Robbins, and Robert Kiyosaki.

Here’s what they — and six others — had to say.

Farnoosh Torabi is an award-winning financial author and host of the daily podcast So Money. Want to learn more? Download her free e-book, “SoMoney Secrets: Financial Habits of Highly Successful People.“

by Farnoosh Torabi

See Full Story on businessinsider.com

COE update on 18th March 2015

18 March 2015 By Alex Tan Leave a Comment

Looks like there will be no cheers for car buyers after the release of prices at 4pm today. Here are the comparison of the latest prices on COE

18th March 2015 4th March 2015 17th Feb 2015

Cat A $64,700 $61,410 $57,199

Cat B $71,889 $68,668 $66,751

Cat C $59,999 $56,501 $53,202

Cat D $5,610 $5,501 $5,800

Cat E $72,100 $70,500 $67,901

Yup, the day where we all feared. COE INCREASED AGAIN. Hopes of buying a car at a cheaper price has been dashed again.

Ever since there was an announcement in January that supply of COE quota has increased for the 3 month period ending April, many potential car buyers especially me are anticipating the drop. Although we were given hope during Feb that prices are indeed coming down, however it has only dropped to the lowest during 4th Feb at $57k, as indicated above. So those buyers who got in during this Feb 4th window are the biggest winners now.

The last three prices will show that COE will hardly drop beyond $50k, well at least we know what to expect from now on. Lets hope for the best in April.

Data from Onemotoring

12 best-kept secrets of successful business people

18 March 2015 By Digital Curator Leave a Comment

Image via Flickr user Kris Krug

They have calm, consistent morning routines.

Too many books and courses on personal success act like we’re robots, and completely overlook the enormous power of our emotions. The less frenzied emotions we have at the start of the day, the less we will have all day. Because when we start the day in a calm, mindful state, it’s easy to focus and get the right things done.

But when we wake up and stress is already upon us – phones ringing, emails and texts dinging, fire alarms going off – you spend the whole day reacting, instead of being proactive. This means you’re not in the driver’s seat working on your priorities – the things that drive success – you’re simply responding to what gets thrown at you, whether it’s important or not.

Try to have the first hour of your day vary as little as possible. A trusted routine can be extremely effective in helping you feel in control and non-reactive, which reduces anxiety and stress, and therefore makes you more mindful and competent. The bottom line is that how you start the day has an enormous effect on your overall effectiveness.
They eliminate all needless busywork.

At some point we all wonder, “Why is it so impossible to get everything done?” But the answer is stunningly simple: We’re doing too many of the wrong things.

Several research studies have shown that people never get more done by blindly working more hours on everything that comes up. Instead, they get more done when they follow careful plans that measure and track key priorities and milestones. So if you want to be more successful and less stressed, don’t ask how to make something more efficient until you’ve first asked, “Do I need to do this at all?”

Simply being able to do something well does not make it the right thing to do. I think this is one of the most common problems with a lot of time-management advice; too often productivity gurus focus on how to do things quickly, but the vast majority of things people do quickly should not be done at all.

If you think about it, it’s actually kind of ironic that we complain we have so little time, and then we prioritize like time is infinite. So do your best to focus on what’s truly important, and not much else.

by Quora

See Full Story on fortune.com

15 Body Language Blunders Successful People Never Make

16 March 2015 By Digital Curator Leave a Comment

Image via Flickr user Steve Wilson

What follows are the 15 most common body language blunders that people make, and emotionally intelligent people are careful to avoid.

1. Slouching is a sign of disrespect. It communicates that you’re bored and have no desire to be where you are. You would never tell your boss, “I don’t understand why I have to listen to you,” but if you slouch, you don’t have to—your body says it for you, loud and clear.

2. Exaggerated gestures can imply that you’re stretching the truth. Aim for small, controlled gestures to indicate leadership and confidence, and open gestures—like spreading your arms apart or showing the palms of your hands—to communicate that you have nothing to hide.

3. Watching the clock while talking to someone is a clear sign of disrespect, impatience, and inflated ego. It sends the message that you have better things to do than talk to the person you’re with, and that you’re anxious to leave them.

4. Turning yourself away from others, or not leaning into your conversation, portrays that you are unengaged, uninterested, uncomfortable, and perhaps even distrustful of the person speaking.

Try leaning in towards the person who is speaking and tilt your head slightly as you listen to them speak. This shows the person speaking that they have your complete focus and attention.

by Travis Bradberry

See Full Story on forbes.com

9 Things Remarkably Successful People Never Do

13 March 2015 By Digital Curator 1 Comment

Image via Flickr user Executives International

Possibly you’ve stopped paying attention. Or possibly you’ve fallen into bad habits. Or possibly you’ve grown complacent.

Here are nine things remarkably successful people never do:

1. They never let the past dictate their future.

We all have limitations. We all have challenges. We all make mistakes. The key is to not be constrained by those things but to learn from them.

2. They never gossip.

It’s hard to resist the inside scoop. Finding out the reasons behind someone’s decisions, the motivations behind someone’s actions, the skinny behind someone’s hidden agenda–much less whether Hugo is really dating Jeanette in accounting–those conversations are hard to resist.

3. They never say “yes” when they really mean “no.”

Refusing a request from colleagues, customers, or even friends is really hard. But rarely does saying no go over as badly as you expect. Most people will understand, and if they don’t, should you care too much about what they think?

4. They never interrupt.

When you interrupt someone, what you’re really saying is, “I’m not thinking about what you are saying. I’m thinking about what I want to say … and what I want to say is so important you need to hear it now.”

5. They’re never late (without an incredibly good reason).

I know. You’re overwhelmed. So you’re always running behind. It stresses you out like crazy.

And it makes other people resent you like crazy. Whenever you’re late, other people rightly assume you feel your time is more important than theirs. (Which, of course, kills your chance of building an outstanding personal or professional relationship.)

6. They never resent.

Take it from Nelson Mandela: “Resentment is like drinking poison and then hoping it will kill your enemies.”

7. They never decide they don’t have the time.

Everyone knows someone who just seems to get a lot more done than other people. It’s the craziest thing. How do these folks do it? They must have no life, right?

8. They never fit in (just to fit in).

Though entire industries are based on making us think otherwise, no one actually likes us for the clothes we wear, the car we drive, or the house we live in. No one likes us for our titles, either.

9. They’re never afraid to do the things that matter.

“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself,” is true, but in some ways a better quote might be, “The only thing we have to fear is ourselves.”

by Jeff Haden

See Full Story on inc.com

Insurance Agency Singapore | Commercial Insurance and Personal Insurance