Canadian checks in U.S. dollars - your bank
may or may not assess a foreign item charge on the deposit - so you'll
get less on your deposit. You might want to request a postal money order, which can be cashed directly at the
post office, but I have had a problem with the post office recognizing a
"period" in a spot, making the decimal point in the wrong place and decreasing
the amount by a factor of 10 or 100 (and the post office will not forgive this, so if
this happens, take the money or
Laptop Heat -
Laptop heat can cause fertility problems for men, as well as
cause burning on the thighs in certain cases, or some batteries overheat so much that a fire can start! There have
been recalls on certain laptop batteries due to the high heat problem. Think of
the warnings for electric blankets - a plugged in laptop on your lap may have similar effects. You need to get the
laptop off of your lap or off of a blanket, etc. - anything that may plug the air flow holes.
The best solution I have found is
to use a LapGenie laptop desk -
it is so easy to adjust to the placement you want, and get the laptop off of your
lap. You can get the screen to an optimal position, as well as the keyboard - the laptop is not an ergonomically optimized
product! Using a laptop can cause back and neck strain, or contribute to carpal tunnel syndrome. Adjust it to the best
position possible.
Teflon Warning - get rid of your Teflon cooking items - Teflon is suspected to
release toxic chemicals and fumes. When Teflon is heated, it may release chemicals which can harm the ozone
layer, and also some of its chemicals can end up in your food, or in your lungs. It is a known fact that birds in
the kitchen during cooking with Teflon have died. It is not considered safe to cook with Teflon now that
studies have been done.
Pushy Agents - watch out for agents who "push" you to try to
commit more than you truly need in getting an advance -
stand your ground with the terms that are available. In certain cases you can only ask for a minimum amount and
there is no leeway, but when an agent tries to make you take out a larger amount of money than you are wanting, put
up a red flag. You know your situation better than anyone else. They are just trying to "up" their commission and
you should get only what you are needing.
Get Prepared! Always keep enough supplies at home or in your car for a short emergency, perhaps
3 days' worth of water, food, clothing, medications, communications, signaling, etc. In winter you can drive off the road and be
stranded for awhile, and if you have prepared, you survive until help comes. At home, there can be a flood, a tornado, a
hurricane, an earthquake, a blizzard, a fire, etc. - and you will need to have enough emergency supplies stocked up to
make it through for an interim time. Pack things ready to go if you must flee your home. Check out the following sites for
great lists of how to get prepared: Red Cross, and
Citizen's Corp.
Don't leave your car running unattended or unlocked. Did you know car thieves can make more money by selling
your car parts than by selling the car itself? It can take them as little as 5 minutes to dismantle a car and take off,
leaving a mess of useless muck for you to find - if you can even find enough of it to identify it! Thieves are
looking for easy cars to take - ones with easy access to keys, ones unlocked, ones parked in secluded areas or areas without
light (have you seen how many cars are broken into when parked at hiking areas?), ones without alarm systems. Keep your
car locked (they need not have a key if they know they have 5 minutes to dismantle the car). More car safety tips
here.
Pay Per Click (PPC) - have you noticed that your pay per click funds are being run down, but you
are not getting many or any leads or purchases like you used to? There are a number of programs that pay people to
click on ads and sit on them for several seconds, for the purpose of running down the account money. Some
competitors pay for people to do this, and as long as the same computer isn't being used to run the same clicks, it's
hard to catch. Make sure your PPC program has good programs to catch fraudulent clicks - although this particular
problem is not easy to catch - it's designed to be hard to figure out.
Sun Exposure - Don't burn in the sun and risk skin cancer! Protect yourself with a safe non-toxic sunscreen SPF 30. Don't forget your
lips, either. Wear a hat, stay out of the sun from 10am-2pm, and use sunglasses. However, do spend some time in the sun without
protection, perhaps 15 minutes a day, for 3 days a week - not enough to burn you, but perhaps enough to all you to get a dose of
much needed vitamin D. It's now a concern that people are not getting enough of this through food sources, and
need some sun exposure. Sun Care Here.
Summer Fun Here.
Fax Blasting - Do you suffer from getting fax blasted with advertisements?
They drain your fax ink, your paper tray supply, your
patience? My favorite area (and now national) troubleshooter has launched a
program to go after illegal fax-blasters for the penalty and
will gladly pay you for your faxes ($25 per fax, and he'll
do all the legwork and court fights). Keep your faxes & see
Fax Wars.
National "Do Not Call" List If you are sick of
telemarketers calling you with ads, you can register to be on the national
do-not-call list - which telemarketers are required to get a copy of. Starting
in October, the FTC will begin to enforce the rules. Already Colorado and other states have had
this no call list option, and it has made a HUGE difference in the amount of
telemarketing calls that are made to our listed numbers. We only get an errant one
about once every two weeks. Find out more here.
Bank Checks - Be aware that your checks from the
bank can be used be anyone - even if they don't have a physical check! If
they have access to your routing numbers, anyone can generate a "check"
and have it payable to himself. Check your balances daily - and call the
bank if there is a withdrawal on a check you did not write. The bank may
require an exact amount, date, check number, etc. in order to validate
your reversal request.
Also - always make sure your checks have the correct routing numbers on them -
bank number, your account. Then make sure the check number that is with the
routing number matches the check number on top - it can cause problems with cashing the
check if they do not match.
Downloads & Greeting Cards - Do NOT download ANY
attachments coming via your email unless you KNOW you are supposed to expect it.
Hackers and worm programs know how to make emails look like they are coming
from someone you know. Verify with the person that he did send you an attachment.
Also - do NOT download or go to a site that has "sent you a greeting" - there
are programs people buy that send these "greetings" in order to place spyware
onto your computer. Make sure to do a regular sweep of your computer for
viruses and for spyware.
Does your computer seem to be running slower than usual? If you've downloaded any music, movie clips, or games in
the past 2 months, then your computer may be infected with "AdWare" and "SpyWare"! Advertisers
use downloadable music as a vehicle to "legally" add "Spy Ware" and "AdWare" to consumer PCs.
You should run your computer tools to optimize the computer, and clear out caches and cookies, old websites, etc.
Voicemail Spam -
Do you know that people from other countries (or within our country - prisoners do this as well) can call
your number in which the voicemail accepts the calls - and then your number
is able to be used to make more long distance calls! Many people have bills
totaling $1400 - $30,000 and the phone company is taking them to court to collect! Any
time you get a phone bill - check it carefully and discuss with phone company immediately if
you see a problem. They need to set up an investigation right away, and not have more bills stacking up.
Manipulated Discussions - There is at least
one company using a tactic in which a rep will call a company and then ask to
speak to a higher ranking person. The rep will ask questions that illicit certain
responses, such as a "yes" and a name. Then the company will get a bill for
something not ordered or delivered. The rep's company will call and play
"proof" - a manipulated recording in which it sounds like the deal may have
been authorized, but it is obvious it is pieced and spliced together. Do NOT
fall for this. Do NOT pay for this product. It cannot win in court - the tape
is so amateur and cannot hold up. Get your company attorney to write a quick "cease & desist" note.
Pay to Send Emails? There was a movement to try to make people pay for
emails sent and/or received. Pay attention to more discussions so this doesn't happen - Internet will be way too
expensive if we all have to pay per email.
Kazaa, Gater and other Programs - Read all
terms of programs you accept - some will have you downloading Kazaa or Gater
without your knowledge - and that opens up NASTY other possibilities. You
may be buying products that switch commissions to go to Gater, rather than
anyone you bought from. You might be allowing access into your computer to do work
for Kazaa - including storage of files onto your hard drive, distributing files
from your computer, using your bandwidth, and doing other work for them using
your computer! Uninstall these and similar programs.
Yahoo! Email Addresses - you probably should consider getting a
new email address - Yahoo! email addresses are being blocked in masses after Yahoo!
announced a turn-in-spam contest. Now people do not want to deal with Yahoo!
email addresses for fear of being turned in for spam, even if the contest is over.
Alert! Toxins in your Home! Potentially harmful
ingredients are in your everyday products - find out why you should read the
ingredients and which ones are bad for you - check here.
Warning! If your computer is acting up - you may have a virus - you should get a good
virus protection program, 
and run a virus scan.
Security and Safety Alerts & Products for your home and person - home alarm systems,
personal alarms at bargain pricing. Safety tips and alerts, too - all
here.
Alerts! Health Concerns - West Nile, Toxins in Products You Use, Water Purity, and more are
discussed and available here.
Heads Up! Go to http://google.com and
run a search for your telephone number. You will find varied references to you if
there are any, PLUS your address AND a map of how to get to your address! If you
don't want people physically finding you - you need to get Google to REMOVE
your phone number - click on the phone icon and try to get removed. It may
or may not "take" so check for your number again later.
Identity Theft is a HUGE
problem - find out how to protect yourself and don't get caught by the
thieves! Do NOT give out ANY information of ANY sort over the phone or
by mail or email or by website - if some entity has contacted you to "update" or "verify" your account information, or
if you are told you "won" something, or even if you are awarded a government grant - if you have to give out account
information in order to receive your award, it's got to be a scam. Shred your documents, any bank statements, anything
with your social security number or credit card number (some receipts still retain your CC number on them), etc. People
are known to go through the trash looking for just such types of papers, and then use them to commit identity theft or some
other type of fraud. It has also been reported that in stores or other areas (such as restaurants, etc.), workers
have acted suspiciously when handed a credit card - such as looking at the card very hard (perhaps trying to memorize the
card information), or picking up their cellphone and perhaps using it to "take a picture" that can record your
card information. If you run into any such instance - take note and call the bank to
cancel your card, and get sent a new one - it is inconvenient for you, but better to be safe than have
someone make charges on your See more here.
Nigerian Money Scam - this has more forms than
you can imagine, with new ones every day or week. It's not just Nigeria now - but
from other countries. The general theme goes like this - it's from a head
of some orgnaization or a widow, or some entity that has stowed away a large
sum of money that needs to be laundered or sneaked out of the country, and
they want your cooperation in doing this. It involves your bank account
information and perhaps other factors (booking a flight to meet them, etc.).
This has been going on for years, and has been presented by email, by postal
solicitation, and even by phone. I was approached by phone, since I am a
funding agent - and it was presented to me with a twist to try to get
funding for a project, and it was suspicious the entire time. Also, today I got
an email that used the parties involved to be "relatives" of Mr. & Mrs. Name - where
"Name" is my maiden name and they are trying to make me think it will
benefit my relatives! They are apparently digging far into your personal
information to get you to "connect" with the story. BEWARE!
Phishing - this is a term that refers to phone solititations, mail and email
solititations that ask you for your personal information by telling you to update your account information with a bank, or the IRS,
or the FDIC, or eBay, or PayPal, etc. Or it might be they tell you you won a government grant and now need your bank account information to
send the funds. Or you have a relative that died and there is a large amount of money that needs to go through
you to be released. Or a credit hound who says you owe on an account - but might not have the name or social security number right -
often collectors call similar names asking for an individual but the person is not the correct one. Or that a shipment has been
sent to you (wait to see if you get it - it's not for real), or a wrong shipment has been sent to you. Or you
have won a lottery and need to pay a fee to get the winnings. Or your email account has changed or a new one added to an
account - there are so many scams out! Never give out your
personal account or social security information - and never follow a link or call a phone number supplied by these tactics - always
look it up yourself and call or email from a legit address (even if it looks legitimate, emails and websites can do a
"mouseover" to make it look like the site is for real, and they can station scammers to answer your phone calls - remember the movie
"The Sting"?). Verify info from them - if they have info on you that is correct. Don't verify it to them, but get as much information
as you can to help report the scam. If they tell you you have a tax lien due to a payroll account, but you have no employees, ask
where the information is so you can look into it, then call the county or state or IRS with the tracking info you got, and see if
there is such a thing, and correct it with the source, not an outside agency. If you are awarded a government grant, and they tell
you the government has all your information, then spits out your address or something that is in public records - once they ask you something like
your age - ask why the government doesn't know that - red flag! Your bank account should never be told to these people!
NEVER call a number given on an email or on a mailed letter as the number to call. Always look it up in a phone book.
Many times the number is part of a scam to get you to admit personal information to another party, pretending to be
your bank or whatever. For the same reason, never click on a link in an email. Do not give out the information even if you
get a call "from your bank" - it can be a scammer just calling to get you to talk and give him your information. Always
tell them you'll call back, and take down the number. Call your bank and ask if they called, then compare the phone number.
Chances are they will want to report the incident and try to track down the number. Always err on the side of caution.
As for eBay - you may get a lot of emails from "prospective buyers" or "purchasers who haven't received your product" -
look at your email address - they might not even be sending it to your email address that is registered at eBay! If they are
sending to the correct one, read the email - is it YOUR product? Don't click on a link or reply to these - if in doubt,
contact eBay directly to see if there is a buyer for your product that is sending these.
As for PayPal - there are so many types of PayPal scams. The scammers send emails that you received money from someone, and give
you a link to click, at which time they'll get you to input your PayPal sign-on information. Or you get notified that
a new email address was added to your account, and it's not one you recognize. Don't sweat - just log onto your
PayPal account directly (NOT from a link in the email), and you'll see if there is anything fishy going on.
I just got an email that many people will probably think is for real - but BEWARE! NO credible company will EVER send you
an email or snail mail of this sort! DO NOT REPLY to it, click on the links, and above all DO NOT give out your account or
personal information!!! Here is the email:
"Verified By Visa has recently made adjustments and updates to ensure a high level of security to our numerous customers in the US
and Worldwide. Visa remains the leader in online Credit Card Payment option with millions of Customers Worldwide. Since the 1st of
August all the online stores participating in Verified by Visa will not accept for online transactions Visa cards not registered in
Verified by Visa. Be sure to activate your card before the 1st of August or you will not be able to use your Visa card for online
transactions."
"As part of our continuing Improvement to Protect Your Visa card and in order to continue use, You have to enroll for Your Verified
By visa Online use and Activate. Once upon Enrollment Your Verified By Visa Card will be Activated and you will be prompted every
time you carry out an online transaction for you Verified By Visa password and this is one of the many features to ensure secure
payments online. To activate your Verified By Visa Card Please use any of the links Below:"
This will surely come in many forms - it will eventually refer to all kinds of credit cards and such. It is an obvious scam - and by
the way, neither Visa nor my bank have access to my email address to which this came! Beware!!!
Don't answer ANY solicitation for information of ANY personal kind - social security, bank, checkbook,
credit card, login, PayPal, eBay, or anything. Known as "phishing," scammers are "fishing" for people
who will give up their personal information so it can be used against you - or to enable them
to steal your identity. If you feel there is a legitimate request, then call or contact the
entity (bank or whatever) with a contact method YOU find in the phone book, or from a
website you know or you can do a search for. Do NOT use ANY contact information sent to you
within the solicitation. A contact method given to you will likely take you to a bogus site or call or
person that is impersonating the real thing - have you ever watched "The Sting"? Same type
of set-up that is used when perpetuating these crimes.
