Fake endorsements and online scams have become so common over the last few years that founders are taking to social media platforms to warn their customers and fans to be more cautious.
Billionaire founder and serial entrepreneur Richard Branson recently took to social media to break down some popular online and phishing scams that involved or used his name. He revealed two things he never does on social media and how followers can tell the real Richard Branson from the fakes.
Don’t believe everything you read “Even if it’s a verified account with a blue tick, know that I never direct message anyone, nor does any of my team,” he said in a delightful animated video on how to spot a scam before it’s too late. He also specified that he never endorses any get-rich-quick schemes.
“This is a growing problem, with cases of fraud, including online scams, topping UK crime statistics for the first time in 2019 and costing UK consumers £190bn per year,” the founder wrote on his blog.
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He urged followers to be on their guard and to report any suspicious cases that featured him or Virgin to the company’s new reporting portal.
Branson is not the first founder to caution his followers. A few weeks ago, Paytm founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma also asked customers to remain vigilant and not fall for scam messages and emails from fraudsters pretending to be company officials.
Paytm founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma also asked customers to remain vigilant and not fall for scam messages and emails from fraudsters pretending to be company officials.
“Pls don’t trust any SMS send of blocking your Paytm account or suggestion to do a KYC,” Sharma tweeted. “These or some SMS with some lucky draw are examples of fraudsters attempting to get your details. Don’t fall for them.”
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Pls don’t trust any SMS send of blocking your Paytm account or suggestion to do a KYC. These are fraudsters attemp… https://t.co/aLoRuCxfit
Business As Usual: 5 Entrepreneurial Lessons To Learn From Richard Branson
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Flamboyant and successful, British tycoon Richard Branson, has a net worth of US $410 crores. The business magnate, investor, author and philanthropist founded the Virgin Group in the 1970s. The parent company controls more than 400 companies the world over. He features on the Forbes rich-list as well as the Time 100 Most-Influential People in the World list. Breaking into the world of business at a tender age of 16, Branson who turns 69 today is an inspiration to many.
Branson is the founder of Virgin Group, the conglomerate that owns Virgin America, Virgin Mobile, Virgin Galactic and Virgin Atlantic, just to name a few.
If you are looking to become a sensation in the world of entrepreneurs, here are 5 business lessons from Branson himself that will help you fulfill your dreams.
Flamboyant and successful, British tycoon Richard Branson, has a net worth of US $410 crores. The business magnate, investor, author and philanthropist founded the Virgin Group in the 1970s. The pare..
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Branson was just 16 when he first found success. He launched a magazine named 'Student' in the year 1966. And, by 22 he had founded Virgin Records. Branson was born in Blackheath, London. His mother was a former ballet dancer and air hostess, and father was a barrister. Branson was educated at Scaitcliffe School, a prep school in Surrey, before briefly attending Cliff View House School in Sussex. The successful entrepreneur had dyslexia and a was poor in academics. On his last day at school, his principal told him he would either end up in prison or become a millionaire, and the rest as they say is history.
Branson was just 16 when he first found success. He launched a magazine named 'Student' in the year 1966. And, by 22 he had founded Virgin Records. Branson was born in Blackheath, London. His mother ..
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This is probably one of the best business lessons one can imbibe from Richard Branson. Did you know that his magazine led him to sell records. And, the record store forged the path for him to start his own record label. What followed next is something that you cannot imagine. His record label led him to buy a recording studio and a night club. The business magnate basically built on a network of businesses that reinforced each other and only strengthened them further. In 1970, he started selling records by mail-order, opened his first record shop on Oxford Street in 1971. The Virgin Recording Studio became a reality in 1972, and the Virgin Record label in 1973.
(In Pic: In this file photo taken on February 07, 2019 Virgin Galactic founder Sir Richard Branson speaks during a ceremony to award test pilots Mark 'Forger' Stucky and Frederick 'CJ' Sturckow their FAA commercial astronaut wings during a ceremony at the Department of Transportation in Washington, DC.)
This is probably one of the best business lessons one can imbibe from Richard Branson. Did you know that his magazine led him to sell records. And, the record store forged the path for him to start h..
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Before hitting the success button with his magazine 'Student', Branson had two failed business attempts at growing Christmas tress and sell budgerigars. But, that did not deter him from trying again and he's never looked back ever since the launch of the magazine, 'Student'. Branson went on to build the Virgin empire. The tycoon swears by a quote by himself, "The brave may not live forever, but the cautious do not live at all!” Branson says, "my mother taught me that I should not focus on past regrets, so with regards to business I don’t. My teams and I do not allow mistakes or failures to deter us. In fact, even when something goes wrong, we continue to search for new opportunities”.
(In Pic: Sir Richard Branson attends the 'Venezuela Aid Live' concert near the Tienditas cross-border bridge between Colombia and Venezuela, in Cucuta, Colombia.)
Before hitting the success button with his magazine 'Student', Branson had two failed business attempts at growing Christmas tress and sell budgerigars. But, that did not deter him from trying again ..
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Richard Branson who is at the head of The Virgin Group has the ability to foresee the future, which is the true sign of an entrepreneur par excellence. HE thought of space travel way before many of his competitors decided to pursue it commercially. Virgin Galactic is one among the many other examples where Richard Branson foresaw an emerging market. Recently, the baron decided that Virgin Holidays will not sell tickets to attractions with captive whales and dolphins. In 2014, Branson had announced the Virgin Pledge which was all about protecting planet Earth and working towards a greener and cleaner future.
(Image: Instagram/Richard Branson)
Richard Branson who is at the head of The Virgin Group has the ability to foresee the future, which is the true sign of an entrepreneur par excellence. HE thought of space travel way before many of h..
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The Virgin boss is not a big fan of the smartphone. He feels most millennials waste way too much time on the device, taking away from their precious time. He also believes in maintaining a work-life balance. While most of us fall in the rut of the vicious email cycle of 'see, reply & repeat', Branson asserts that one needs to use technology judiciously and not be addicted to it. And, if you ever forget cracking the code to this balance, remember what he has to say, "Don't become a slave to technology - manage your phone, don't let it manage you."
(In Pic: Richard Branson, John Major, Norma Major and David Beckham in the Royal Box before the semi-final match between Ukraine's Elina Svitolina and Romania's Simona Halep.)
The Virgin boss is not a big fan of the smartphone. He feels most millennials waste way too much time on the device, taking away from their precious time. He also believes in maintaining a work-life ..
