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PROTECTING YOURSELF FROM UNWANTED MARKETING and ID Theft

Sorting out good information from the bad, the important from the nosensical, is a time-consuming job. Email is a blessing, and a curse. We've all been SPAMMED, slammed, and taunted with virus-laden attachments. Here are some suggestions on how to protect yourself from unwanted marketing.

TELEMARKETING

NATIONAL DO NOT CALL REGISTRY

I can personally vow that this link reduced telemarketing to nearly zero in my own life. If you signed up with the National Do Not Call Registry five years ago, you will need to renew your wishes with them to continue being on the Do Not Call list.

http://www.donotcall.gov

The National Do Not Call Registry is a FREE service of the federal government. You can register online at http://www.donotcall.gov or by calling 1-888-382-1222; for TTY, call 1-866-290-4236. You must call from the phone number you wish to register.

If you are registered, most telemarketers must stop calling and you may file a complaint with the FTC if you receive telemarketing calls. Violators could be fined up to $11,000 per incident. Once you have
registered, your phone number registration will be effective for 5 years. The website www.donotcall.gov provides information about filing a complaint.

Telemarketers, sellers and their service providers are required to scrub their call lists against the National Do Not Call Registry at least once every three months. If you receive a call that violates the regulations, remind the telemarketer that you are signed up on the Do Not Call list, and use the words "Take me off your list and do not call me again." They are required by law to honor your request.

The National Do Not Call Registry applies to any plan, program or campaign to sell goods or services through interstate phone calls. This includes telemarketers who solicit consumers, often on behalf of third party sellers. It also includes sellers who provide, offer to provide, or arrange to provide goods or services to consumers in exchange for payment.

Some businesses are exempt from the National Do Not Call Registry, including:

a. long-distance phone companies
b. airlines
c. banks and credit unions; and
d. the business of insurance, to the extent that it is regulated by state law.

Although these companies are not subject to the National Do Not Call Registry, any telemarketers they hire to make calls on their behalf are required to comply (except for the business of insurance). The Federal Communications Commission has initiated a rulemaking proceeding that would extend the National Do Not Call Registry to many of the businesses that are exempt from FTC coverage.

The National Do Not Call Registry does not limit calls by political organizations, charities or telephone surveyors. It also does not apply if you engage solely in intrastate calls - that is, if you call ONLY within one state.

If you get a phone call from a company who won't identify themselves, you can learn a little about the company if you put their phone number from your caller ID into Google and do a search on it. Often, you'll find similar complaints from other victims of mass telephone solicitations.

SPAM & ID THEFT

Also known as unsolicited bulk E-mail, SPAM on the Internet has grown like Scotch Broom in the Gorge. Here is some information about the maggots of the Internet.

Best Practices

Here are some Best Practices from McAfee.com to reduce your SPAM and your vulnerability through SPAM for Identity Threat:

Never purchase Spam-advertised products!

Aside from encouraging the spammers, this also makes more of your personally identifiable information-name, address, phone number, credit card numbers, etc.-available to spammers. It also can guarantee that you'll get more Spam at your email address.

Always protect your personal information.

Only share your credit card, social security number or other personal information when making purchases from a company or financial institution that you know and trust.

Never send personal information to email requests.

You should never be asked for a password, credit card number or social security number from a legitimate source via email. Beware official-sounding notices that require you to "give up" your personal information due to supposedly dire consequences.

Verify any transaction.

If a Web site address looks different from the name of the organization that you're dealing with or if you have doubts about your transaction, look for a phone number on the Web site and call the organization to verify that the Web site is valid. Don't deal with any organization that doesn't clearly state its name, physical address and phone number on its Web site.

Beware of get rich quick schemes.

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Never pay "up front" for loans or credit.

Legitimate lenders generally do not "guarantee" a loan or credit card before you apply.

Refrain from clicking on Reply or Remove!

Avoid clicking the "unsubscribe" link in unsolicited messages. Spammers have already co-opted the system—clicking tells them you have a valid, active email address. Hit delete instead. Once they verify that it's a "live" email address, they will very likely share your email address with other spammers, which will lead to an explosion of SPAM email.

Report illegal Internet activity

Forward illegal and fraudulent SPAM to the Federal Trade Commission at uce@ftc.gov and the appropriate government investigation agency. You can learn how to report illegal internet activity and cybercrime by visiting the Department of Justice Computer Crime website. Illegal activity you should report to the Department of Justice include: Computer intrusion (i.e. hacking), Password trafficking, Copyright violations and piracy, Currency or Trademark counterfeiting, Child Pornography or Exploitation, Fraud, Internet harassment, and Bomb/Death threats.

How to Shop Safely on the Internet

--from an enewsletter issued by McAffee.com, 11/26/2007

The advantages of shopping online during the Holiday season are numerous. You have a world of products at your fingertips and you don’t have to deal with parking hassles, mall crowds, and long lines.

Unfortunately, despite all its benefits, there is one potential major drawback about buying items on the Internet. According to the Federal Trade Commission, in 2005, an estimated $300+ million was lost to online schemes. Smart cyber-shoppers should research any web site that they want to transact with before buying something.

To be a smart online shopper this holiday season, you need to adhere to a few basic dos and don’ts when purchasing from web sites to avoid becoming a victim of cyber-crime. In addition to the above (installing Virus Protection Software), consider the following:

Dos

Do pay by credit card. You can dispute purchases made after reporting you credit-card number has been stolen or used without your knowledge.
Do use a secure web site*.
Do keep copies of the sales transactions for future reference in case a dispute arises.
Do check your credit-card statements to make sure you were charged the proper amount and that no “extras” were added.
Do check the site’s privacy policy before you order.
Do purchase comprehensive computer security software like McAfee Total Protection with SiteAdvisor Plus to protect you whenever and wherever you go online.

* = Secure sites have a key or closed lock displayed in the web browser. Of course, you should also look for the HACKER SAFE icon. Another way to confirm a site is secure, check if the web address (URL) on the page begins with "https" instead of just "http." Please note, these efforts can be spoofed by cyber criminals.

Don'ts

Don’t send cash. Pay by credit card because you’re protected.
Don’t send any financial information via email. It is not a safe method for communicating this sensitive information (credit-card or Social Security numbers).
Don’t forget to read the return policy and other terms of the deal before ordering.
Don’t buy from a site you don’t feel absolutely comfortable with. If you sense something is just not right about the company you are ordering from, then don’t make a deal.
Don’t forget to inspect your new product as soon as it arrives. Notify the seller as soon as possible if there is a problem.

Test Your Online Shopping Knowledge

How savvy an online shopper are you? Take the McAfee Online Shopping quiz and get more tips about online and computer safety at McAfee Security Advice Center.