Computer Viruses: Prevent Them from Infecting Your System
Like viruses that infect living beings, computer viruses infect your computer. They are software, and are often attached to other software or documents you might receive. When you run the virus’s software or the file the virus has infected, the virus can infect your computer’s software.

There are many types of viruses. Many computer viruses are malicious — in other words, they can erase your files or lock up entire computer systems. Others are more benign — they don’t directly damage, other than by spreading themselves locally or throughout the Internet.

Computer viruses are designed to spread from your computer to other computers. Here are some of the most common ways they spread:

• If a virus infects your system, it may automatically send out emails containing more copies of the virus using the address book in your email program. This type of virus is called an Internet “worm,” because it is a self-propagating virus. Viruses like these can slow down your computer’s operation dramatically.

• If the virus is a macro virus (attached to a Microsoft Word document, for example), it may attach itself to any document you create or modify. If you send another document to someone by email, the virus goes along with it.

• “Fun” programs, such as electronic greeting cards, can secretly infect your system. If you pass the program along, not realizing that it contains a virus, you will be transmitting the virus manually to your friends, family, or colleagues.

• Some viruses can release confidential data such as credit card information, account numbers, and passwords by emailing it to random email addresses or the address of the virus writer.

• Some viruses plant monitoring software or change security settings that allow hackers to enter your computer without you knowing about it and steal information or control it. http://www.scambusters.org/Scambusters38.html

How to Protect Your Computer from Viruses
Viruses are here—and here to stay. New ones pop up almost every day. These tips will prevent most viruses from ever affecting your computer:
1. Beware of unexpected or unsolicited email attachments
Because email is one of the primary ways to exchange information among Internet users, it is also a key method for spreading viruses. A basic plain text email is unable to transmit most viruses. It is the attachment to the email that contains the potential hazard. If the attachment is unexpected or unsolicited and from an unknown sender, the wisest decision would be to delete the email without opening the attachment. If the email is from a known and trusted source, but you did not expect an attached file from that source, you may want to contact the sender to confirm that the attachment is legitimate.
2. Use an anti-virus program to regularly scan your hard drive
Even when you exercise reasonable caution, you may still be infected by a virus. An anti-virus program can be set up to regularly check your computer or even your incoming email attachments for viruses. This kind of program may even be able to constantly run in the background as you go about your work. Because viruses are being constantly created or changed, it is important to use a program that provides regular updates.
3. Use an anti-virus program to scan all incoming email attachments and all files or programs that came from someone else’s computer
Whenever someone puts a file or a program on their computer, there is always some risk that some virus may infect that file or program and remain undetected. By scanning all incoming files and programs, you may uncover a virus that someone else may have overlooked.
4. Update your anti-virus program regularly
New or improved viruses are regularly popping up on the Internet. Updating your anti-virus software will decrease the likelihood that you are affected by a new type of virus.
5. Back up your data files on a regular basis
In a worst case scenario, a virus may corrupt or destroy data on one or more files. Regular backups will allow you to recover more easily in the event that a virus damages your files.
6. Purchase or obtain files or software only from trusted sources
Don’t buy software whose price is suspiciously lower than manufacturer’s prices. It’s likely not an authorized copy and may be virus-laden. This tip includes software or files that are downloaded over the Internet.
7. Avoid forwarding email attachments unless you first scan the attachment for viruses
If you have an anti-virus program that scans all incoming email attachments, or if you scan the attachment after it arrives, then it is probably safe to forward the attachment. Otherwise, do not forward the attachment.
8. Look for an unexpected file extension on any attachment
If the subject line or the body of an email states that the attachment is a certain type of file or if the file icon implies a certain type of file and the file extension does not match, delete the file.
9. Data files will not carry viruses
A file that contains only data will not carry a virus since a virus has to have some kind of executable code. For example, files ending with the extension .txt, .gif, .jpg, .mp3, are common data files that would not have executable code. Files ending in .doc, .xls, .and exe. may have executable code and could potentially carry a virus.
10. Write-protect floppy disks that will be used in a read only mode
If you are sharing data that resides on disks or other portable storage media use the write-protect tab to prevent an accidental insertion of a virus.
11. Install security patches. Vulnerabilities in software are constantly being discovered and they don’t discriminate by vendor or platform. It’s not simply a matter of updating Windows; at least monthly, check for and apply updates for all software you use.
12. Use a firewall. No Internet connection is safe without one. Firewalls are necessary even if you have a dial-up Internet connection — it takes only minutes for a non-firewalled computer to be infected.
13. Take control of your email. Avoid opening email attachments received unexpectedly. Remember that most worms and Trojan-laden spam try to spoof the sender’s name. And make sure your email client isn’t leaving you open to infection. Reading email in plain text offers important security benefits that more than offset the loss of pretty colored fonts.
14. Treat IM suspiciously. Instant Messaging is a frequent target of worms and Trojans. Treat it just as you would email.
15. Keep abreast of Internet scams. Criminals think of clever ways to separate you from your hard earned cash. Don’t get fooled by emails telling sad stories, or making unsolicited job offers, or promising lotto winnings. Likewise, beware of email masquerading as a security concern from your bank.
16. Don’t fall victim to virus hoaxes. Dire-sounding email spreading fear, uncertainty and doubt about non-existent threats serve only to spread needless alarm and may even cause you to delete perfectly legitimate files in response.
http://antivirus.about.com/od/securitytips/a/safetytips.htm
http://www.speedbrake.com/security/viruses.htm

Determining If Your Computer Is Infected

How do you know if you have a computer virus? If you’re not running an antivirus program, you may not know at all since many viruses are benign.

Symptoms of a virus infection include:

–Your computer displays strange messages, plays music, or shows odd graphic displays.

–Your computer takes longer to boot up, operates more slowly than usual, and takes longer to start programs.

–Your computer has much less memory or hard drive space available.

Some legitimate software can cause these symptoms, so the only way you can be sure your computer is virus-free is to regularly scan it for viruses using antivirus software.

How Can You Protect Your Computer From Viruses?

Anti-virus software is essential—budget it into the costs of your computer. Otherwise disaster could happen.

After installing the antivirus software, download regular updates. Most antivirus software comes with a year’s worth of updates, and you can usually set the software to either automatically download the updates, or display a reminder for you to do so. Don’t shirk this vital responsibility—500 new viruses are discovered every month.

Norton AntiVirus and McAfee VirusScan are the two best-known antivirus programs for the Microsoft Windows operating systems. For Macintosh users, Norton AntiVirus and McAfee’s Virex for Macintosh provide protection.

All antivirus software scans a computer’s memory and hard drive for viruses. Depending on the software package, the antivirus program may also be able to protect against:

• Incoming emails and email attachments with viruses.

• Viruses received through instant messaging, such as ICQ.

• Infected downloaded files, before you open the file.

• Attacks against your computer from outside (firewall software).

If you are strapped for cash, AVG Anti-Virus provides a free version of its antivirus program and free updates for Windows-based computers. And if you just want to scan your computer for viruses for free right now, check out Trend Micro’s free online virus scan and McAfee FreeScan.
http://www.scambusters.org/anti-virus.html

Fake Anti-virus, Anti-spyware Programs
Fake virus alerts are usually generated by a Trojan — a program that takes control of your computer — after you open an email attachment, click on a pop-up advertisement or visit a particular website. (adult sites especially).
Scammers want to scare you into buying “rogue” security software by making you think your computer is infected. (”Rogue” means software of unknown or questionable origin, or doubtful value.). In fact, fake “virus alerts” often mimic ones displayed by brand-name products.
Sometimes, a Trojan creates “false positive” readings, making you think viruses and spyware have infected your computer, even though nothing has. In other cases, scam software actually implants malicious code into your computer, especially if you request a “free virus scan.”
In other words, some peddlers of fake anti-virus software actually design the viruses, spyware and malware that their software is supposed to detect!
For example: “Your Computer Has Been Infected!” That’s what some pop-ups and phony alerts will say, hoping you’ll download fake anti-virus software. Don’t be scammed!
Meanwhile, ID thieves will use the fake software to gather your personal and financial information–for their own ID theft scams or for sale to others.

Tell-tale Signs of Rogue Software
• Rogue anti-virus/spyware programs often generate more “alerts” than the software made by reputable companies.
• Being bombarded with pop-ups, even when you’re not online.
• High-pressure sales copy will try to convince you to buy immediately.
• If you’ve been infected, your computer may dramatically slow down.
• Other signs of infection include: new desktop icons; new wallpaper, or having your default homepage redirected to another site.
Fake Anti Virus Prevention Tips
1. Use Firefox as your browser rather than Internet Explorer.
2. Keep your computer updated with the latest anti-virus and anti-spyware software, and be sure to use a good firewall.
3. Never open an email attachment unless you are positive about the source.
4. Never click on any pop-up that advertises anti-virus or anti-spyware software, especially a program promising to provide every feature known to mankind. (Also remember: the fakes often mimic well-known brands such as AVG, Norton and McAfee.)
5. If a virus alert appears on your screen, do not touch it. Don’t use your mouse to eliminate or scan for viruses, and do not use your mouse to close the window. Instead, hit control + alt + delete to view a list of programs currently running. Delete the “rogue” from the list of running programs, and call your computer maker’s phone or online tech support service to learn if you can safely use your computer.
6. Do not download freeware or shareware unless you know it’s from a reputable source. Unfortunately, freeware and shareware programs often come bundled with spyware, adware or fake anti-virus programs.
7. Avoid questionable websites. Some sites may automatically download malicious software onto your computer.
8. Reset your current security settings to a higher level.
9. Although fake software may closely resemble the real thing, it’s rarely an exact match. Look for suspicious discrepancies. .
http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.html

If your computer is infected by rogue software, stop work and contact your computer manufacturer’s tech-support hotline. Don’t use the computer. This may further damage your machine and provide identity thieves with more of your information.
Use of fake anti-virus, anti-spyware software is a fast-growing scam, especially as more people become aware of the dangers of spyware, adware and malware. By following the tips above, however, you’ll better protect yourself from becoming the next victim of scammers, identity thieves and hackers. http://www.scambusters.org/fakeantivirus.html

Worms, Trojan Houses, Spyware and More
In addition to computer viruses, there are other dangers to navigate:

Worms are self-propagating computer viruses. A worm is a program or algorithm that replicates itself over a computer network and usually performs malicious actions, such as using up the computer’s resources and possibly shutting the system down. Their impact is similar to computer viruses.

Trojan Horses are closely related to computer viruses, but they differ in that they do not attempt to replicate themselves. More specifically, a Trojan horse performs some undesired — yet intended — action while, or in addition to, pretending to do something else. A common example is a fake login program, which collects account information and passwords by asking for this info just like a normal login program does.

The term comes from a story in Homer’s Iliad, in which the Greeks give a giant wooden horse to their foes, the Trojans, ostensibly as a peace offering. But after the Trojans drag the horse inside their city walls, Greek soldiers sneak out of the horse’s hollow belly and open the city gates, allowing their compatriots to pour in and capture Troy.

Spyware is software that tracks your actions and/or your Internet use. It can capture what you type on your keyword, including passwords, and send it to the spyware creator.

Spyware applications are typically bundled as a hidden component of freeware or shareware programs that can be downloaded from the Internet; however, it should be noted that the majority of shareware and freeware applications do not come with spyware. Once installed, the spyware monitors user activity on the Internet and transmits that information in the background to someone else. Spyware can also gather information about e-mail addresses and even passwords and credit card numbers.

Because spyware is using memory and system resources, the applications running in the background can lead to system crashes or general system instability.

Adware is a form of spyware that collects information about the user to display advertisements in the Web.
Every day viruses cause major PC crashes and allow private information to be stolen.
The inconvenience and cost of repairing this physical damage is considerable.

Yet it’s relatively simple to protect yourself. But many people never protect themselves as they should. That’s because installing security and safety precautions seems costly, technical and intimidating. So the vast majority of people don’t do it — with devastating consequences! http://www.scambusters.org/viruses.html

Why You Need a Firewall

Using a firewall is one of the most highly recommended security practices today. A good firewall, combined with up to date security patches and antivirus and antispyware software, will protect you from Internet scams and threats.

A firewall is a barrier that protects a computer from anyone who tries to access it from outside without authorization. It scans everything that goes through an Internet access point and filters it based on customized settings.

There are two firewall varieties — hardware and software. A hardware firewall is electronic equipment generally used by businesses with larger networks.

Most home users employ a software firewall, which is a program running on your computer that scans traffic going through an Internet connection and stops anything that looks suspicious. A hardware firewall is generally more secure, and since prices are coming down on them, some home users have chosen to set up one of these as well.

Why Do I Need A Firewall?

Independent tests show that without a firewall, a standard PC that is connected to the Internet can be compromised in 10 minutes.

In the past, businesses have generally been more concerned about protecting their information, but now home computer users should use a firewall as well, as Trojans and virus emails are so widespread.

For instance, if you have your financial records stored on your computer, someone could access them and get all your credit card and banking information.

Having a firewall installed does not mean you are permanently safe from any Internet attack. A firewall won’t always stop a virus email, or adware or spyware from attacking your computer.

To protect from these you need to have up to date antivirus software installed, and a good spyware checker running.

However, a good firewall will go a long way towards protecting your computer and all your personal information from unauthorized access. http://www.scambusters.org/firewall.html

Videos:

Avoid Computer Viruses: http://video.about.com/antivirus/Avoid-Computer-Viruses.htm

AVG: Free Antivirus Protection: http://videos.howstuffworks.com/computer/computer-virus-videos-playlist.htm#video-2738

Ten Worst Computer Viruses: http://videos.howstuffworks.com/computer/computer-virus-videos-playlist.htm#video-35442

Trojan Horses Explained: http://videos.howstuffworks.com/computer/computer-virus-videos-playlist.htm#video-3549

“Disinfecting” Your Computer—Resources: http://videos.howstuffworks.com/computer/computer-virus-videos-playlist.htm#video-698

Books:

Virus Defense: http://www.amazon.com/Art-Computer-Virus-Research-Defense/dp/0321304543

Virus Reference: http://www.amazon.com/Giant-Black-Book-Computer-Viruses/dp/0929408233

Surviving Viruses, Worms and Trojan Horses: http://books.google.com/books/about/Computer_Virus_Survival_Guide.html?id=Lj9Go6gjzuEC

Scams That Target Our Children—Online and Off

The most common scam aimed at kids is usually an online sale ad for a piece of hi-tech gadgets, an iPhone perhaps, at a knock-down price. Youthful scam victims may use a chunk of their savings to pay for something that doesn’t exist.
In addition, children selling goods online are often targeted by scammers using phony escrow companies or forged checks to lure the teens into sending off their stuff before being paid.
Children can also be unwittingly hooked into phishing and ID theft scams by giving away personal information about themselves or their family online.
And, of course, there are far worse threats in the form of predators who hang out on social networking sites or in chat rooms pretending to be someone else to gain their victims’ confidence.
Again, teenagers may be too embarrassed to admit being scammed—and probably don’t want to be preached to by parents about being so foolhardy.
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How to Protect Your Child
1. Educate yourself. If your children are old enough to be downloading programs, music and games from the Internet, then find out what sites are trusted sources for this information.
If your children have email accounts, learn how to recognize spam and scams. Find out about the social networking sites that your child may be part of. Learn the risks related with those websites.
Check out sites such as the National Cyber Security Alliance or the Business Software Alliance that offer tools for parents to teach their children Internet safety.
2. Teach your children. Once you know the threats, you can begin to explain them to your children.
• Tell them why they should not offer any personal information to strangers.
• Depending on their age, teach them about all Internet scams, identity theft, copyright laws, and virus threats from unfamiliar downloads.
• Educate them about the risks of posting personal information and pictures on social networking sites.
• Tell them what to do if they view inappropriate material online.
• Guide them in how to deal with communications from Internet strangers including people in forums, chat rooms, and social networking sites.
When told in a simple language, even the youngest child can understand possible threats. For example, you can tell your child that they shouldn’t download anything unless they know who it is from because people put programs inside of other programs that can break the computer.
3. Make family rules. An important step to online safety is to make a list of rules that all computer users must follow to protect the family from online scams.
Your family should make your own list, but depending on the ages of your children, your rules might include some of the following:
• Do not download anything unless a parent approves it.
• Do not click anything inside a “pop-up” window.
• Do not share any personal information with websites or strangers.
• Only visit parent-approved websites.
• Do not open any email that is from a stranger.
• Do not forward emails to mass groups.
4. Invest in anti-virus and anti-spyware software. Protecting your computer from viruses is very important, with or without children. Always keep your virus protection and anti-spyware software running and up to date.
If your computer has personal information (and almost all do), consider using passwords to log onto the computer.
These simple measures can go a long way to protecting your family from Internet scams.
5. Consider watching your children’s computer usage. You can do this by keeping the computer in a central location in the house. You can also install web-monitoring software.
http://www.complaintsboard.com/articles/teach-your-children-to-recognize-and-avoid-internet-scams.html

The Most Insidious Scam—Using Kids as “Front Men”
Children are more trusting and naïve than adults, and project this natural aura of innocence. So we as adults are more likely to believe hard-luck stories about kids and want to help them financially.
Beggars and pan-handlers know this–and often are accompanied by a child or even carry a baby as part of a come-on for cash contributions. This is a common ruse aimed at tourists in third world countries.
It’s a simple step from there to using them, or fabricated tales concerning children, as a way of raising money. It might be donation boxes in convenience stores, supposedly to raise money for medical treatment for a child, to street and door-to-door collections for non-existent children’s charities.
In a recent case in Gainesville, Florida, a woman collected thousands of dollars from local churches after falsely claiming she needed the money for kidney treatment for her son.
Scammers sing the name of a children’s organization can fool us into making irrational decisions. A well-practiced example is the Church of Children scam, which, for good measure, rolls in another trustworthy connection: religious missionary affiliations that seem to legitimize the location, usually Togo in Africa.
Bogus orders for banners for the church are placed with manufacturers who are then asked to pre-arrange shipment with a freight company that has to be paid in advance. The freight company is bogus. It’s an advance payment scam.
What can you do? Be skeptical about any child-related charity that is going to cost you money. Make donations directly to charities rather than into collection boxes unless you’re sure they’re legitimate.
We owe it to our younger generation to do all we can to protect them from scams. But we also owe it to ourselves not to fall for kid scams. In particular, technology has put a powerful weapon into the hands of potential young crooks.

The Artful Dodgers—Children Scammers
On the one hand, they seem innocent and naive. On the other hand some children are streetwise and worldly-wise. And they know how to play on your emotions to empty your wallet or pocket book.
Young people are also the most Internet-savvy generation and it’s not unusual to find hackers and online fraudsters in their early teens — like the 14-year-old who made $800,000 on a pump and dump stock scheme a few years back and the Japanese high-school kid who hacked into an online game and stole $360,000 of virtual money, which could be converted into hard cash.
One of the most frequent kid scams, where children are the perpetrators rather than the victims, is the magazine subscription con, where children go from door to door selling subscriptions to non-existent publications, supposedly to help other children.
Often they claim to be on a character-building exercise devised by their school or sports coach.
What to Do: Remember that age is not necessarily a predictor of innocence. Treat any transaction with a young person with the same wariness you’d apply to anyone else you don’t know. http://www.complaintsboard.com/articles/teach-your-children-to-recognize-and-avoid-internet-scams.html

Five great sites with information on how to protect and educate your children:
1. The National Cyber Security Alliance offers tools for parents to teach their children Internet safety.
2. The Business Software Alliance has a website designed to teach parents and children about Internet scams and safety. They offer safety games and puzzles for children to solve. They also talk about cyber-ethics.
3. Backed by the Internet Education Foundation, GetNetWise gives parents tools for educating themselves and their children about Internet safety.
4. SafeKids.com offers articles on protecting your children from Internet scams and online predators.
5. WiredKids.org offers articles and information for children ranging from age 7 to 18 as well as information for adults and parents. It offers children articles, video clips, and stories written by children for children. Not all content is about online safety.
The Internet is a wide, wonderful place. It offers an amazing chance to learn, and it doesn’t have to be a scary place.
The most important way to keep your children safe is to teach them about Internet scams and threats. Teach them how to stay safe. Let them know that they can always talk to you if they have questions about Internet scams.

The Family Online Safety Institute
Check out the Family Online Safety Institute, which is a non-profit, international group that is both a lobbying and an educational organization dedicated to what they call good digital citizenship.
Among many initiatives, FOSI has produced a Blueprint for Safe and Responsible Online Use, which warns of the dangers of inappropriate online behaviors and advises parents they “should be aware of what their children are doing online and have a basic understanding of the different modes of socialization online, including social networking sites, texting, video games, cell phones, etc.
Parents should have a continuous conversation with their kids about what they are doing online and should establish household rules for the Internet.
Schools also have a responsibility for kids’ safety online, says FOSI, with media lessons incorporated into the curriculum at every grade level.
The blueprint document also has list tools provided by its members (who include Microsoft, Google and Facebook) for safe online use, plus an outline of federal and state laws and links to other independent organizations offering help.
These include the Internet Keep Safe Coalition and, for younger children, Hector’s World.
You can also download the FOSI blueprint PDF.

Federal Trade Commission’s Net Cetera
The Net Cetera campaign and guide, produced by the Federal Trade Commission, highlights the best way for parents to talk to and guide their children about online safety.
An important point they stress is that many parents don’t realize that children don’t really distinguish between face-to-face socializing and meeting up online. They’re equally trusting and open in either case.
It’s important for you to point out the key differences: that people may not be who they say they are and that, just because sending inappropriate messages is easier when you can’t see someone, doesn’t make it acceptable.
Net Cetera also provides guidance on a whole range of computer and Internet-related issues for young people, including social networking, cyberbullying, so-called “sexting” (sending inappropriate images and text messages), social mapping (GPS software on mobile devices that lets people know where they are), and computer security. http://www.nyc.gov/html/dca/downloads/pdf/internet.pdf

Teach Kids Online Safety
If you’re a parent, you can help your kids use the Internet safely by teaching some basic rules. Here are some basic lessons that parents can help their kids learn.
• Encourage kids to keep passwords secret
Kids create online user names and passwords for school, game websites, social networking, posting photos, shopping, and more.
According to a study by Teen Angels of Wired Safety.org, 75 percent of 8- to 9-year olds shared passwords with someone else, and 66 percent of girls, grades 7-12, said they shared their password with someone else.
The first rule of Internet safety is: keep passwords secret. Encourage kids to treat their passwords with as much care as the information that they protect.
Here are some rules that kids should know and follow.
o Don’t reveal passwords to others. Keep your passwords hidden, even from friends.
o Protect recorded passwords. Be careful where you store passwords that you record or write down. Don’t store passwords in your backpack or wallet. Don’t leave records of your passwords anywhere that you would not leave the information that the passwords protect. Don’t store your passwords on a file in your computer. Criminals look there first.
o Never provide your password over email or in response to an email request. Any email message that requests your password or requests that you to go to a website to verify your password could be a kind of fraud called a phishing scam.
This includes requests from trusted sites that you might visit all the time. Fraudsters often create fake email messages with logos and language from real sites.
o Do not type passwords on computers that you do not control. Don’t use public computers in your school, library, Internet cafes, or computer labs for anything other than anonymous Internet browsing.
Don’t use these computers for any account that requires a user name and password. Criminals can purchase keystroke logging devices for very little money and they take only a few moments to install. With these devices malicious users can gather information typed on a computer from across the Internet.
• Help your kids use social networking safely
Your kids may use social networking sites designed for children such as Club Penguin, or sites designed for adults such as Windows Live Spaces, YouTube, MySpace, Twitter, Facebook, and others.
Kids use social networks to connect with others who might live halfway around the world and with their peers whom they see every day at school.
Kids should understand that many of these social networking sites can be viewed by anyone with access to the Internet. As a result, some of the information they post can make them vulnerable to phishing scams and Internet predators. Here are several ways to help kids use social networking sites safely.
o Communicate with kids about their experiences. Encourage your children to tell you if something they encounter on the Internet makes them feel anxious, uncomfortable, or threatened. Stay calm and remind your kids it is okay to bring it to your attention. Let them know you will work with them to help resolve the situation positively.
o Establish Internet rules. As soon as your children use the Internet on their own, establish rules for Internet use. These rules should define whether your children can use social networking sites and how they can use them.
o Ensure your kids follow age limits. The recommended age to sign up for social websites is usually 13 and over. If your children are under the recommended age, do not let them use the sites. You cannot rely on the services themselves to keep your underage child from signing up.
o Educate yourself. Evaluate the sites that your child plans to use and make sure both you and your child understand the privacy policy and the code of conduct. Find out if the site monitors content that people post. Also, review your child’s page periodically.
o Teach your children never meet anyone in person that they’ve communicated with online only. Kids are in real danger when they meet strangers in person whom they’ve communicated with online only. It might not be enough to simply tell your child not to talk to strangers because your child might not consider someone they’ve “met” online to be a stranger.
o Encourage your children to communicate with people they already know. You can help protect your children by encouraging them to use these sites to communicate with friends, but not with people they’ve never met in person.
o Ensure your kids don’t use full names. Teach your child to use only a first name or nickname, but not a nickname that would attract inappropriate attention. Also, do not allow your children to post the full names of their friends.
o Be wary of identifiable information in your child’s profile. Many social websites allow kids to join public groups that include everyone who goes to a certain school.
Be careful when your children reveal information that can identify them, such as a school mascot, a workplace, or the name of the town they live in. Too much information can make your children vulnerable to cyberbullying, Internet predators, Internet fraud, or identity theft.
o Be smart about details in photographs. Explain to your children that photographs can reveal a lot of personal information. Encourage your children not to post photographs of themselves or their friends with clearly identifiable details such as street signs, license plates on their cars, or their school name on clothing.
o Warn your child about expressing emotions to strangers. You’ve probably already encouraged your kids not to communicate with strangers directly online. However, kids use social websites to write journals and poems that often express strong emotions.
Explain to your children that anyone with access to the Internet can read their words and predators often search out emotionally vulnerable kids.
o Teach your children about cyberbullying. As soon as your children are old enough to use social websites, talk to them about cyberbullying. That is, people sending degrading or threatening messages. Tell them that if they think they’re being cyberbullied, they should share this information right away with a parent, a teacher, or another adult that they trust. It’s also important to encourage kids to communicate with other people online in the same way they would face-to-face. Ask kids to treat other people the way they would prefer to be treated.
o Removal of your child’s page. If your children refuse to follow the rules you’ve set to help protect their safety and you’ve attempted to help them change their behavior, you can contact the social website your child uses and ask them to remove the page.
If your kids blog, make sure they don’t reveal too much
The practice of blogging, short for keeping a “web log” or online personal journal, has spread like wildfire-especially among teenagers, who sometimes maintain blogs without the knowledge of their parents or guardians.
Social networking has now surpassed blogging as the online pastime of choice for most teenagers, however many kids still blog on their social networking website. Recent studies show that teenagers write roughly half of all blogs today, with two out of three providing their age, three out of five revealing their location and contact information, and one in five revealing their full name. There are risks in sharing detailed personal information.
Although keeping a blog offers potential benefits including improved writing skills and communication, it’s important to educate your kids about the Internet and blogging before they begin-much like completing driving school before driving a car. Here are a few suggestions to get started:
o Establish rules for online use with your kids and be diligent.
o Screen what your kids plan to post before they post it. Seemingly innocuous information, such as a school mascot and town photo, could be put together to reveal where the author goes to school.
o Ask yourself (and instruct your kids to do the same) if you are you comfortable showing any of the content to a stranger. If in doubt, have them take it out.
o Evaluate the blogging service and find out if it offers private, password-protected blogs.
o Save the web address of your child’s blog and review it on a regular basis.
o Check out other blogs to find positive examples for your kids to emulate.
• Beware of online fraud
According to the Federal Trade Commission, 31 percent of reported victims of identity theft are young people. Teenagers make attractive targets because they have good credit ratings and little debt, and they tend to be less savvy than adults about how to keep personal information secure.
Some things that your children should know in order to be smart consumers and avoid online fraud
o Never share personal information. Don’t give out personal information, such as your full name or hometown, in an instant message (IM) or a chat room unless you are certain of the identity of the person with whom you are chatting.
o Log off in public. If you use computers in a library or Internet cafe, log off completely before you leave. You don’t know what software is installed on these computers or what it does and it might have keystroke tracking software installed.
o Create secure passwords and keep them secret. For more information see item 1 above.
o Use only secure sites. If your kids shop on the web, they should be sure the URL of any site where they enter financial information begins with https:// and features a yellow lock icon in the bottom right corner or a green address bar. They can click the icon or address bar to check the security certificate for the site.
o Recognize and report fraud. Teach your kids about the warning signs of identity fraud: preapproved credit card offers, calls from collection agencies, or unfamiliar financial statements. If your child suspects identity fraud, take action immediately to limit the damage. Contact their credit card company, banks, all three credit reporting agencies, and the police. Close any fraudulent accounts, and tell them to change their passwords for all online accounts. Keep records of all actions that you’ve taken.
http://www.microsoft.com/security/family-safety/childsafety-internet.aspx

Bibliography

Videos:
Business scams aimed at children: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=br78nc-0U9c
Dangers of social networking for underage kids: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvgxSkqnqdQ&feature=related
Club Penguin—a safe social networking site for kids: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uv9V9sLQeGs&feature=related
When should kids get cell phones? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvzRpTdY3is&feature=related
Better Business Bureau on Internet safety: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7GHhy8KgDg&feature=related
Ten Tips for Teens on Online Safety: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdLIgHf-RI4&feature=related

How to Spot a Foreclosure Rescue Scam!

Ask these simple questions:

1) Are they licensed by Connecticut Banking Department?

Foreclosure Mediation/Modification has to be licensed and bonded by the Conn Depart of Banking.

Go to Banking Department’s website: http://www.ct.gov/dob/site/default.asp and check under ‘Verify a License’.

Call on their toll-free number (800) 831-7225 and ask the Banking Staff.

2) Is the Mortgage Modification Company out-of-state or do they have a local office?

If they are out-of-state, they are a fraud! Do a Google search on them. Type in the name of the company or organization, for example, ‘Mortgage Rescue Specialists’ and type the word ‘fraud’ , or ‘scam’ or ‘complaint’ after their name and see if anything appears.

Go to www.rip-off report.com and do a search under their name.

Checking with the Better Bureau is a good idea but don’t stop there. Many times the scam artists register as a new company, and at the beginning, they won’t have any complaints. After complaints mount, they close shop and open under a new name and start all over again.

With a local office, you can go to them and poke your finger in their face and scream, ‘You lied to me.’

3) How long have they been in business and do they have any references.?

4) Do they ask for payment?

Under the Federal Law they can’t be paid until after they have completed their work. Collecting any money up-front for their services is illegal. This law was enacted to stop the flood of scam artists into this field. A local attorney is not subject to this law because he/she comes under the jurisdiction of the Conn Judicial Department.

5) Are they on the approved list of Department of Housing and Urban Development’s list of approved agencies?

Go to www.hud.gov and search the approved agencies or call them (877) HUD-1515 (877-483-1515).

6) Have you searched in Google or Yahoo Under ‘FTC Mortgage Scams’? (FTC=Federal Trade Commission) Have you searched in Google or Yahoo under ‘Connecticut Attorney General Mortgage Scams?’ You’ll be shocked and convinced that the Internet, Television, Radio and the mail are infested with ‘mortgage scams’.

7) DO YOU OFFER MORTGAGE MODIFICATION?

Yes, we do and we have been so for several years. If this is something of interest to yourself, call our office for a FREE AND CONFIDENTIAL consultation. Call Today (860) 449-1510

LEGAL VOCABULARY:

The term “remittitur” refers to:
A) An order to resubmit court papers
B) A reduction in a will bequest to benefit a disinherited spouse or child
C) A court-ordered decrease of an excessive jury award
D) Gloving both hands of a convicted felon.

Ans: C

“Equitable Servitude” refers to
A) Duties imposed on officers of the law
B) Liens placed on transferred property
C) Marriage
D) Proposed alternatives to the Emancipation Proclamation establishing “separate but equal” plantations.

Answer: B

VOLUME 7

Telemarketing Scams

Getting Ripped Off

“Hello.” You are annoyed that the phone has rung, as Simon Cowell is eviscerating a contestant on American Idol-a yodeler dressed in Bavarian shorts and suspenders who should never under any circumstances quit his day job “calling pigs” on his farm.
The voice on the other end: ‘This is Jack Daniels and I’m calling from the Security and Fraud Department at VISA. My badge number is 711. Your credit card has been flagged for an unusual purchase pattern, and I’m calling to verify. This is on your VISA card which was issued by People’s Bank. Did you purchase an Anti- Telemarketing Device for $497.99 from a marketing company based in London?”
“Why, no,” you say, alarmed. “Then we will be issuing a credit to your account. This is a company we have been watching and the charges range from $297 to $497, just under the $500 purchase pattern that flags most cards. Before your next statement, the credit will be sent to 180 New London Turnpike, Norwich, Connecticut, 06388. Is that correct?”
You say “yes”. The caller continues: “I will start a fraud investigation. If you have any questions, call the 800 number listed on the back of your card and ask for Security. You will need to refer to this Control Number. The caller then gives you a 6-digit number.

(http://www.snopes.com/crime/warnings/creditcard.asp)

How The Scam Works

The caller then says, “I need to verify you are in possession of your card. Would you turn your card over and look for some numbers?” On the back are 7 numbers; the first 4 are part of your card number; the next 3 are the security numbers that verify you are the possessor of the card.†
These are the numbers you use to make Internet purchases to prove that you possess the card. The caller asks you to read the last 3 numbers to him. After you read the three numbers, the caller says “That is correct. I just needed to verify that the card has not
been lost or stolen and that you still have it.” The callers asks if you have any questions, you say “no”
and he thanks you and tells you not to hesitate to call back if you do. ‘Click.’ He hangs up. And you’re screwed! The scammer is now able to use your card to make purchases.
You didn’t say much, and the caller never asks for or tells you the card number. The caller did not ask for your card number; he already has it.
Beware!! This phone credit card scam is pretty slick because the caller provides all the information – except for the one number he wants: the 3-digit code!

(http://www.guy- sports.com/humor/urban_myth/credit_card_scam.htm )

What To Do

What to do: Before you give out the 3-digit code on the back of your card, call the card company and ask for verification of your conversation. The real card company, such as Visa or MasterCard, will tell you that they never ask for any information from your card- they already know it since they issued the card!
If you give the scammers your 3-Digit PIN Number, you think you’re receiving a credit. However, by the time you get your statement you’ll see charges for purchases you didn’t make, and by then it’s almost too late and/or more difficult to actually file a fraud report. How can scammers get your credit card number? Easily from a discarded slip. And your phone number is most likely in the phone book Scammed!

Bizarre Scams (that worked)

Selling the Ritz - If someone offers you the Ritz, one of London’s most expensive hotels, at less than half its face value, you might imagine that something is up. You should also probably check if the man trying to sell it to you is a penniless truck driver. However, just such a thing happened in late 2006 when Terence Collins paid Anthony Lee a £1m down payment on the understanding that the Ritz’s owners had “secretive reasons” for wanting to quietly dispose of the city centre property. After going on a colossal spending spree, during which Lee went on a cruise and bought a car, he eventually landed himself in court and then, more recently, in jail.
Forging Hitler’s diaries - Not having kept a diary and barely having touched pen to paper in the later years of his life, it came as some- thing of a shock to the world to discover in 1983 that Adolf Hitler had written more than 60 volumes of personal diaries. The note- books were bought by German magazine Stern and then syndi- cated around the world, at huge expense. There was one prob- lem – they were terrible forgeries. The experts who vouched for them were apparently convinced of their authenticity by their huge quantity and staggeringly mundane contents. However, when properly examined, it was discovered that they were made on modern paper, using modern ink and had plastic lettering attached to their covers (which read ‘FH’ not ‘AH’ – as seen above). Furthermore, they were not in Hitler’s handwriting and contained historical inaccuracies, repeating the mistakes made inone of the forger’s favorite sources. Too late, the forgery was discovered – and eventually the man who made them and several others were imprisoned.

Faking identity to enter Princeton – When James Hogue enrolled at Princeton University he didn’t do so under his own name – he enrolled as Alexi Indris Santana, a self taught orphan from Utah. In his application materials he claimed he had slept outside in the Grand Canyon, raising sheep and reading philosophers’ texts. When his true identity was revealed he was charged with defraud- ing the university of $30,000 in financial aid – but was only given probation and community service. He later worked as a security guard at Harvard – and was charged with stealing items worth $50,000.
http://www.popcrunch.com/10-most-bizarre-scams-that-actually-worked/

VOLUME 8

Insurance Fraud

A Very Serious Problem

Fraud and abuse are widespread and very costly to America’s health-care system. Fraud involves intentional deception or misrepresentation intended to result in an unauthorized benefit. An example would be billing for services that are not rendered. Abuse involves charging for services that are not medically neces- sary, do not conform to professionally recognized standards, or are unfairly priced. An example would be performing a laboratory test on large numbers of patients when only a few should have it. Abuse may be similar to fraud except that it is not possible to establish that the abusive acts were done with an intent to deceive the insurer.
Although no precise dollar amount can be determined, some authorities contend that insurance fraud constitutes a $100- billion-a-year problem. The United States Goverment Accountabil- ity Office (GAO) estimates that $1 out of every $7 spent on Medi- care is lost to fraud and abuse and that in 1998 alone, Medicare lost nearly $12 billion to fraudulent or unnecessary claims [1].

Types of Fraud Abuse

False claim schemes are the most common type of health insurance fraud. The goal in these schemes is to obtain unde- served payment for a claim or series of claims [2]. Such schemes include any of the following when done deliberately for financial gain:
Billing for services, procedures, and/or supplies that were not provided.
Misrepresentation of what was provided; when it was provided; the condition or diagnosis; the charges involved; and/or the identity of the provider recipient.

Providing unnecessary services or ordering unnecessary tests [3].

Many insurance policies cover a percentage of the physician’s “usual” fee. Some physicians charge insured patients more than uninsured ones but represent to the insurance companies that the higher fee is the usual one. This practice is illegal. It is also illegal to routinely excuse patients from copayments and deductibles. (A copayment is a fixed dollar amount paid whenever an insured person receives specified health-care services. A deductible is the amount that must be paid before the insurance company starts paying.) It is legal to waive a fee for people with a genuine finan- cial hardship, but it is not legal to provide completely free care or discounts to all patients or to collect only from those who have insurance. Studies have shown that if patients are required to pay for even a small portion of their care they will be better consumers and select items or services because they are medically needed rather than because they are free. Routine waivers thus raise overall health costs. They are considered fraudulent because averaging them with the doctor’s full fees would make the “usual” fees lower than the amounts actually billed for.

Other Illegal Procedures Include

Charging for a service that was not performed.
Unbundling of claims: Billing separately for procedures that normally are covered by a single fee. An example would be apodiatrist who operates on three toes and submits claims for three separate operations.
Double billing: Charging more than once for the same service.
Upcoding: Charging for a more complex service than was performed. This usually involves billing for longer or more complex office visits (for example, charging for a comprehensive visit when the patient was seen only briefly), but it also can involve charging for a more complex procedure than was performed or for more expensive equipment than was delivered. Medicare documenta- tion guidelines describe what the various levels of service should involve [4].
Miscoding: Using a code number that does not apply to the procedure.
Kickbacks: Receiving payment or other benefit for making a
Criminals sometimes obtain Medicare numbers for fraudulent billing by conducting a health survey, offering a free “health screening” test, paying beneficiaries for their number, obtaining beneficiary lists from nursing homes or boarding facilities, or offer- ing “free” services, food, or supplies to beneficiaries.

Excessive or Inappropriate Testing

Many standard tests can be useful in some situations but not in others. The key question in judging whether a diagnostic test is necessary is whether the results will influence the management of the patient. Billing for inappropriate tests—both standard and nonstandard—appears to be much more common among chiro- practors and joint chiropractic/medical practices than among other health-care providers. The commonly abused tests include:

Indirect kickbacks can involve overpayment for some- thing of value. For example, a supplier whose business depends on physician referrals may pay excessive rent to physicians who own the premises and refer patients. Another example would be a mobile testing service that performs diagnostic tests in a doctor’s office. Kickbacks can distort medical decision-making, cause overutilization, increase costs, and result in unfair competition by freezing out competitors who are unwilling to pay kickbacks. They can also adversely affect the quality of patient care by encourag- ing physicians to order services or recommend supplies based on profit rather than the patients’ best medical interests. In 2000, the Office of the Inspector General issued a fraud alert warning against kickbacks disguised as rental payments [5].

Computerized inclinometry: Inclinometry is a procedure that measures joint flexibility. Inclinometer testing may be useful if precise range-of-motion measurements are needed for a disabil- ity evaluation, but routine or repeated measurements “to gauge a patient’s progress” are not appropriate [6].
Nerve conduction studies: These tests can provide valuable information about the status of nerve function in various degen- erative diseases and in some cases of injury [7]. However, “personal injury mills” often use them inappropriately “to “follow the progress” of their patients.

To read the rest of this article, please visit:
http://www.quackwatch.org/02ConsumerProtection/insfraud.html

VOLUME 6

Spotlight on Mortgage Fraud

Foreclosure Notice? Mortgage “Experts” to the Rescue!

The day you’ve been dreading: a foreclosure notice from your bank arrives in the mailbox. Your mortgage payments have been late—or not paid at all. You’re about to lose your home…

Then you get a call from a “mortgage specialist,” claiming years of mortgage and legal expertise—who promises to make things right with your lender and save your home. Just pay him some upfront fees—hundreds or thousands of dollars—and you’ll be able to rest easy, secure in your house. Sounds like a plan…

But it is a scam designed to bilk you of not only the fees you pay—but eventually your home as well!
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cS2HsaBA5No)

How this mortgage scam works:
Foreclosure notices are public records; they are filed at city hall. Unscrupulous scam artists look them up to find prospects for their mortgage swindles. That’s how they know you are in foreclosure trouble—and why you get unsolicited phone calls from them.

They take advantage of your desperation to save your home. So you pay their hefty upfront fees—and then you have to sign a mountain of documents to get the ball rolling. The documents include one that signs your deed over to them. But they assure you it’s necessary so they can pay off your mortgage and save your house. Then you can pay them back at a much better rate over time. Once they have the deed they know how to get a considerably larger mortgage from the bank. They secure this loan, and while it goes unpaid, they may even ask you to pay rent to live in what used to be your home. When they get the larger loan, they pay off your mortgage—then pocket the difference, tens of thousands of dollars. Then they run for the hills, never to be heard from again. What have you lost?
- Thousands of dollars in upfront fees
- The rent you paid while the new loan goes unpaid
- Ultimately, you become evicted.
(http://www.freddiemac.com/avoidfraud/fraud_schemes.html#rescue)

The Warning Signs of Mortgage Fraud
According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) there are warning signs that should tip you off that you are about to be scammed. Avoid any “mortgage specialists” who engage in these practices:
Call from out-of-state (especially Florida, California and Texas – the ’sand states’).
They do not have a local office.
Are not licensed by the Connecticut Department of Banking. Call 1-800-831-7225 and ask for the Consumer Credit Division and ask the staff person if the Mortgage Specialist is licensed and bonded by the Connecticut Department of Banking. You can go to their website to check. www.ct.gov/dob and go to ‘Verify a License’.
If they don’t have a local office and they are not licensed and bonded by the Conn Department of Banking, there’s a 99.9% chance that they are ’scam artists’.
Guarantee to stop the foreclosure process – no matter what your circumstances.
Accept payment only by cashier’s check or wire transfer.
Tell you to make your mortgage payments directly to their business, rather than to you lender.
(http://www.scambusters.org/foreclosurescams.html)

So here’s something which I can’t write a letter to the editor. (I obtained this information confidentially and; therefore, I cannot cite any authority.) But with the recent lay-offs at the Mohegan, it is rumored that the primary people being fired are the those who have health insurance coverage with the casino. It costs more to have a worker who depends on the casino for health care coverage for himself and his family versus a worker who might be covered for health care by a spouse who doesn’t work at the casino.

How does this ‘twist the tail of the lion’? Well, Rush Limbaugh, and all the talking heads at Fox are complaining that with Obama we have ‘European style socialism’ or the ‘nanny state’ taking over our health care. Our great bastion of capitalism which built this nation is at risk. Well, no one thinks of Japan as a socialistic state but they have socialized medicine. Why is this important? When Honda or Toyota makes an automobile, they don’t have to include health insurance costs in pricing the car. They have socialized medicine. Therefore, they have a significant economic advantage in pricing their automobiles.

Here’s an example where socialized medicine is an advantage to the employer.

And when it comes time to getting fired from a job, it stands to sense that under our capitalist system, the more expensive an employee is to the employer, the more likely he will be the one to be laid-off.

Here’s an example where socialized medicine is an advantage to the employee.

I don’t have any proof that Mohegan Casino is laying off more of the employees who have their health insurance through them as opposed to employees who don’t have health insurance through them because they are more ‘expensive’ but if an investigative reporter could uncover such a pattern in the lay-off process, then all the ’spin’ and ‘bluster’ and ‘BS’ from Fox News would be exposed as pure propaganda. See Wendell Porter’s book, Dangerous Spin. Wendell was a senior vice-president with CIGNA in charge of ‘public relations’ when he finally got so disgusted with their lies and propaganda, that he retired and wrote this book which blows the lid off of the Fox News Channel and that drug addict and great entertainer, Rush Limbaugh. See Wendell Porter: http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/07102009/watch2.html

watch2.html

The Consumer Finance Protection Bureau is a new agency whose purpose is to protect the consumer from credit cards, loans and other financial ‘products’ that banks and similar institutions offer to consumers

It needs a real consumer advocate at the helm who has a passion and commitment to protecting the consumer’s interest. Elizabeth Warren is the ‘godmother’ of this agency because this agency is her ‘brain child’. She was the one who pushed and prodded Congress to consider this type of agency.

Elizabeth Warren is a Harvard Law School Professor who has conducted extensive research into bankruptcy, predatory lending and many other consumer financial issues. She is well qualified for this position. And for those who say that her resume lacks in experience in overseeing a Federal agency, my answer is that position needs a real consumer advocate and not a former lobbyist for Goldman Sachs who would seek to restrain the agency in favor of appeasing Wall Street.

President Obama has a real choice here. He sat on the side-lines when the consumer reform legislation was proposed that bankruptcy judges could lower the interest rates on mortgages which would have saved many homes from foreclosure. He actually didn’t even say ‘boo’ when the center piece of his legislation to prevent foreclosures was defeated by 6 Democratic Senators. And Senator Dodd has been quoted as saying that it will be difficult to confirm Elizabeth Warren to head the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau. And that’s because Wall St. doesn’t want her to head this agency. I can think of no higher recommendation.

I urge President Obana and Senator Dodd to ‘stop selling us’ that they want to help ‘the little guy’ and ‘start producing’ by vigorously supporting Elizabeth Warren as the agency head for the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau.

The Supremes: ‘You Keep Me Hanging On…..’

I called the US Supreme Court: The Supremes because they ‘keep me hanging on for justice’.

Presently, there’s a consumer bankruptcy case before The Supremes and it’s In re Ransom. This case is very important to the little guy trying to get out of debt. Why? This case represents a very pro-consumer case for the little guy. Under the Bush Administration, they had enacted into law the new bankruptcy law called ‘BAPCPA’ or the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention Consumer Protection Act of 2005. The only problem with this law is that there are no Consumer Protections provided but that’s typical on how the lobbyists get a pro-creditor bill labeled. Truth in legislative labeling isn’t required by Congress so they are free to mislabel legislation as it has done for generations.

In a nutshell, MBNA went before the US Senate and told our esteemed Senators that there was ‘abuse in the bankruptcy law’. This was like when Robert Preston in the Music Man went into Rivercity and told the people that there was ‘sin in Rivercity’. The citizens of Rivercity were shocked. The Music Man told them that the boys were going behind the barn and smoking cigarettes. The boys were playing pool and worse, they were reading French magazines behind the barn. And that did it. The citizens were shocked. And our US Senators were shocked when they were told that there was abuse in the bankruptcy law.

And therefore, MBNA, (the largest credit card company in the world who paid Barbara Bush $250,000 per appearance to explain to their executives how to bake chocolate chip cookies -I’m not making this up- and MBNA was the same company who was the fourth largest donor to the Bush Re-election Campaign and you must remember that the Bush campaign had to raise $400,000,000 for his presidential election campaign in order that he could take a job paying $250,000 per year because he was desperate to serve our country because his oil company was losing money and his baseball team wasn’t doing well (check out my numbers on http://www.opensecrets.org/

Most people haven’t heard of Charles Cawley but he was the CEO of MBNA See attached article. ) Well under the leadership of Cawley, his swarm of attorney-lobbyists ran the magic elixir of ‘campaign contributions’ under the noses of our US Senators and then they got religion. They had to reform Rivercity and the Bankruptcy Code was amended under Bush. Clinton had vetoed the legislation after talking with consumer advocate Elizabeth Warren and Hilary.

Essentially, you have to admire Cawley because for relatively a few million dollars he was purchasing the whole Federal Bankruptcy judicial system. And who ever said that our Congress isn’t the best legislative body that body can buy? And what would this prize mean to Charles Cawley? He was turning the entire Federal Bankruptcy Court system into his private collection agency. You have to admire the man. He has total ‘cojones’. His political strategy is simple, daring and imaginative. In a word, he’s brilliant because he knows that ‘he who pays for the political campaigns, calls the legislative shots’. But to their credit both he and Bush did have a sense of restraint in passing this legislation because they didn’t require that U.S. Bankruptcy Judges to wear the Walmart happy face logos on the back of their robes with the saying, “How Can We Help the Credit Card Industry, today?”

Now having said all of that, let’s back to the main agenda, In re Ransom. The Courts and the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys have not gone gently into BAPCPA (Just call it: ‘The Bush: New Debtors’ Prison Act’) and a number of Court have made decisions which the credit card industry sees as a potential threat to its ‘Debtors’ Prison Act’ (There hasn’t been a Debtors’ Prison in the US since about 1810 but Cawley and his attorney-accountant lobbyists want to have a ‘Plastic Prisons’ versus a prison with iron bars’)

Essentially, according to the ‘Means Test’ in Ransom, a debtor can take a deduction for a car loan for which he isn’t presently paying under the theory that everyone has to eventually pay on a car loan. This is a very common sense observation but it’s very inconvenient to the evil forces Cawley gathering on Witch Mountain. Therefore, you can guess who is trying to ask our Supremes to over-turn the 9th Circuit’s position that the consumer can take this deduction under the Means Test. And this would mean a stunning blow against all the work of the credit card industry to establish their ‘New Debtors’ Plastic Prison’.

And, of course, I am worried. Our Supremes have consistently voted in favor of Wall Street and Big Money. And we must not forgot that this is the same U.S. Supreme Court that brought us Gore v. Bush which most legal scholars see as a ‘stain on the U.S. Supreme Court’ because they blatantly interfered in the political process and make a partisan and political decision to repay various Republicans for their appointed positions. The U.S. Supreme Court maintains its moral authority by being ‘above politics’ and making impartial decisions. The Gore v Bush decision will smell to high heaven for all eternity and like a nuclear power plant, ‘heaven and earth will pass away but their radiation will keep on decaying’.

One of the arguments for the Supremes interfering in the Bush Presidential Election was that they had to prevent a ‘constitutional crisis’ and our Nation couldn’t withstand the indecision.

If you remember: the people were not rioting, no one was torching buildings, the military forces were not disorganized. Everyone was just patiently waiting for the process to take its course because historically we have had presidential elections which were too close to call and the U.S. Constitution provides for this problem and the election can be decided by the House of Representatives. See Rutherford Hays and Samuel Tilden election 1876 Presidential election.

But the Supremes saw a serious problem. The U.S. House of Representatives had a majority of Democrats and Al Gore was a Democrat and by using their advanced mathematical skills, the Supremes concluded that this was a very dangerous situation. The Laws of Probability said that the Democrats would vote for a Democrat, namely, Al Gore; therefore, we wouldn’t have a Republican President who could drive the national debt into the stratosphere and wage 2 wars which no one understands.

And so many decisions by the Supremes have been completely aligned with Wall St and Big Money that I fully expect that their decision in Ransom will be just another ‘tip of the hat’ to Bank of America who is taking the appeal and this is the same bank that is ‘too big to fail’, so the average citizen’s tax money had to be used to keep them out of bankruptcy. I can only shake my head at the irony and promise to print a retraction or at least acknowledge their decision if the Supremes vote for the consumer.