Security Tips to Protect Laptops, PDAs and Cell Phones

More and more businesses are providing employees with laptops, personal digital assistants (PDAs) and cell phones for speed, convenience and mobility of communication. The benefits can be enormous, particularly for business travelers. So can the security risks, if proper precautions are not taken.

Before handing out these high-tech communication tools, the Better Business Bureau advises business to instruct employees how to protect the security of data that is being transmitted or stored. The following guidelines may prove helpful:

• Always keep your laptop, PDA or cell phone within sight, even when at the office. Lock your business cell phone and PDA in a secure location when not in use. If possible, secure laptops in secure locked cabinets or safes overnight.
• Keep your portable device within eyesight and easy reach when traveling. Stealing laptops at airports and from trains and restaurants has become a popular data theft technique.
• If at all possible, do not store any sensitive customer or employee data (such as bank account numbers, ATM codes, Social Security numbers and credit/debit card info) on these portable devices.
• If any employee (a salesperson or telecommuter, for instance) needs to take customer data, employee date or other sensitive information off business premises on a laptop, CD, flash drive or other portable device, insist and make certain that the data is encrypted.
• Password-protect access to the laptop, DA and cell phone. Also make use of passwords to protect Internet access, e-mail, voicemail and address books.
• Turn off the devices when not in use.
• Do not download or accept file downloads from unknown sources.
• Do not share portable communication/organization tools with others.
• Back up all data regularly and keep back-up disks and other back-up materials in a locked, secure area. There are many web-based backup solutions now available from various vendors.

A final word of caution from the BBB: Do not assume that laptops are the only devices that can be hacked into. Criminals can hack into cell phones and steal stored files, contacts and voice mails. Viruses can also significantly disrupt cell phones. Cell phone owners should check with their providers regularly for updates on security features to make certain they have configured their settings for maximum security.

These and other guidelines to help businesses protect customer data are included in a toolkit, Security and Privacy - Made Simpler™, developed by the BBB and available for free download at http://www.bbb.org/securityandprivacy/.

Don't Be Conned by Foreign Lottery Scams

In recent months, Mississippi consumers have been reporting increasing solicitations by foreign "lottery" scams, which promise payouts reaching into the millions of dollars, but are in reality designed to capture bank account information and other information from consumers. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) of Mississippi receives dozens of calls and emails daily from consumers.

"Don't be fooled by these con artists," said Bill Moak, BBB Mississippi President. "Participating in these schemes can get you into trouble in more ways than one." Moak notes that not only can you lose all the money in your bank accounts, you could be subject to identity theft, and participation in foreign lotteries is prohibited by federal law.

Of special note is the "El Gordo" Lottery, which comes in a variety of forms. Recently, a consumer sent the BBB a copy of a solicitation supposedly originating from the "Santa Lucia Security Company S.A." in Madrid Spain, which promises the recipient that their "lucky number" has been drawn, entitling them to a payout of $615,810.00.

The lucky "winners" are instructed to act quickly to claim their prize, and to keep the letter confidential to avoid "double claiming or unwarranted taking of an advantage of this program by participants." A form is included with the letter, with instructions to write down the recipient's name, address, contact information, bank account and routing numbers, and even next-of-kin, and to send the form to an address in Rome, Italy.

"The best place for these offers is the shredder," Moak advises. "Consumers should not respond in any way to these offers."

Here are some additional tips:

• Participation could be illegal.
• There are no secret systems for winning foreign lotteries.
• If you play, expect more offers.
• Don’t give credit card and bank account numbers to scammers.

The Federal Trade Commission has a special section with more information on this and other cross-border fraud at http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/crossborder/coninfo.htm.

FTC Settles with Online Contact Lens Company Over Alleged Failure to Verify Prescriptions

The Federal Trade Commission has recently settled with a company which sold contact lenses over the Internet. The company, Walsh Optical, sells contact lenses on the sites http://www.lensworld.com/, http://www.contactmania.com/, and http://www.contactlensworld.com/. The company was cited by the FTC after allegations the company had failed to verify contact lens prescriptions, as required by the Contact Lens Sales Rule. The company paid a $40,000 fine and agreed to monitoring of its online activities.

When buying contact lenses (or any prescription product) over the Internet, consumers should become suspicious when the retailer:

• Fills a contact lens prescription unless the seller has either received a copy of the prescription or verified the prescription.
• Fills a contact lens prescription if the prescription is inaccurate, expired, or otherwise invalid.
• Alters contact lens prescriptions.
• Represents that consumers can get contact lenses without a prescription.

"With the online sale of contact lenses and other prescription products skyrocketing, there are a lot of companies out there, and your health could be at risk if prescriptions are not followed," said Bill Moak, President of the Better Business Bureau of Mississippi. "It's important to ensure that you thoroughly check out the company before doing business with them, and to make sure the company follows the prescription to the letter."

Here are some more tips for purchasing contact lenses or glasses online:

Make sure the company asks for your prescription information, and check with your optometrist or ophthalmologist to ensure that the company has checked with them to verify the prescription.

Keep careful records of any online transactions.

Note any return policies, which should be prominently listed on the website.

Make sure the website is secure by looking for the letters "https" in the address bar and a padlock symbol on the bottom of your browser. This helps to ensure your information is kept secure from hackers.

Check licensing requirements. Companies selling contact lenses and glasses in Mississippi are required to be licensed by the Mississippi State Board of Optometry.

For more information, or to see the complete report from the Federal Trade Commission, click on http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2006/08/walsh.htm.

BBB Warns Consumers About Fake Check Schemes

Counterfeit check scams are defrauding consumers across the country according to complaints filed with the Better Business Bureau and state Attorneys General.

The most common type of scheme involves a counterfeit cashier’s check, traditionally considered a trusted form of payment. Unfortunately, the advent of high quality printers and scanners is making it easier for counterfeiters to produce official-looking checks of all types and caliber, including cashier’s checks.

The problem occurs when a consumer deposits the counterfeit check in a bank account and, a few days later, asks the financial institution if the money is “available.” When told yes, the consumer assumes that they can safely draw upon that money. That is not the case! Until the financial institution can confirm the funds have been “finally collected”, the consumer is responsible for any funds they may withdraw against that check deposit. The amount of time it can take for the bank to finally collect the money can vary, particularly with out-of-state or out-of-country checks.

In most cases, victims report that they wired money to the check issuer only to find that the deposited check was uncollectible. This has happened to consumers who were told they won an international lottery and were advised to pay a clearance fee or taxes out of their “winnings” check; consumers who responded to work-at-home opportunities and were told to deposit a cashier’s check and then wire money elsewhere; and to online auction sellers who accepted certified checks for payment from far-away buyers and sent the merchandise, only to discover later that the checks were counterfeit.

The BBB and State Attorneys General offer tips to evaluate the legitimacy of checks you receive from individuals or businesses that you do not know:

• Independently verify that the check is drawn from an actual account at a legitimate financial institution.
• Do not rely on the telephone number listed on the check.
• Use directory assistance to get the telephone number of the financial institution and call them to verify the check.
• Do not rely on the money until the funds have been finally collected by your financial institution. Funds “availability” is not good enough.
• If you have any questions about whether a transaction is legitimate, talk to your bank or credit union.
  

Those who have been victimized by a phony check drawn on a federally insured financial institution should phone the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation at 877. 275.3342, and report the incident to the Mississippi Attorney General's office at 800.281.4418. If the check is drawn on a foreign bank, contact the United States Secret Service at 202.406.5572 or go to www.secretservice.gov.

Will Your Auto Insurance Weather the Storm?

Hurricanes, floods, tornadoes and hailstorms can wreak havoc your car, as well as your home. But when it comes to insurance, people shopping only for the lowest rates too often don’t notice their lack of certain types of coverage until they try to make a claim.

The number of vehicle losses due to hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, large hailstorms, firestorms and other severe storms nearly doubled in the five years between 2001 and 2005, according to ISO's Property Claim Services (PCS) unit, the recognized authority on insured property losses from catastrophes in the United States, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The number of reported claims for vehicle loss from natural disasters recorded by PCS increased steadily, from 485,150 claims in 2001 to 982,350 claims in 2005, for a total of 3.3 million losses over the past five years. PCS's numbers track auto insurance claims on vehicles with insurance policies that include comprehensive coverage, which covers damages or loss due to natural disasters, catastrophes or events other than a collision with another car.

"Drivers spend a lot of money on auto insurance and it is important for them to be as familiar as possible with what their coverage includes when they're making their purchase decision," said Bill Moak, President of the BBB Mississippi. "But too often, people shopping only for the lowest rates don't notice their lack of certain types of coverage until they try to make a claim."

The best advice is to be prepared to know what your auto insurance covers and what you should do if your car is damaged in a storm by following these tips:

• Know what your insurance covers. Be familiar with the details of your coverage. For example, don't wait to find out that your policy doesn't include comprehensive or won't automatically cover costs for emergency roadside assistance or a replacement rental car.
  
• Report damage as soon as possible. If your car is not drivable, your agent or claims center may be able to save you time and money by having the car towed directly to the repair facility instead of to a temporary storage facility. In addition, arrangements may be made immediately to provide you with a replacement rental car, if your policy includes this coverage.
  
• Know what your deductible is and any other additional charges before authorizing work. Expect your insurance adjuster, claims representative or repair facility appraiser to review the damage with you and explain the repair process, including the use of original or generic auto parts. Before authorizing repairs, know what your deductible is, as well as any additional charges you will be expected to pay once repairs are complete.
  
• Ask about warranties on repairs. Ask whether your insurer has a repair facility referral program that offers a written limited or lifetime repair warranty backed both by the repairer and insurer for as long as you own your vehicle.
  
• Do business only with a reputable company. Obtain insurance from companies, independent brokers or direct marketers that have a proven track record of handling auto insurance claims effectively. Get a referral or contact your Better Business Bureau or Mississippi Department of Insurance.

According to the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.), a non-profit organization, comprehensive coverage will reimburse you for loss due to damage caused by something other than a collision with another car or object, such as fire, falling objects, catastrophic storms, vandalism, or contact with animals such as birds or deer. Flooding also is covered by auto insurance, as long as your policy includes comprehensive.

Comprehensive insurance is usually sold with a $100 to $300 deductible, though you may want to opt for a higher deductible as a way of lowering your premium. Comprehensive insurance will also reimburse you if your windshield is cracked or shattered. States do not require that you purchase comprehensive coverage, but if you have a car loan, your lender may insist you carry it until your loan is paid off.

"But, even if you have comprehensive coverage, it is not always guaranteed to meet your individual needs," says Carolyn Gorman, vice president of the I.I.I. "For example, you may be surprised to discover that after a storm your auto insurance does not automatically cover the cost of a replacement rental car while your car is in the repair shop or you wait for authorization for a new car from your insurance company."

She added that an individual could end up paying as much as $1,000 to rent a replacement car. "But rental reimbursement coverage, which is only a couple of dollars a month, covers the cost of a rental car while your car is being repaired or you are waiting for authorization for a new car. This means that renting a car for one day can cost more than one full-year's coverage for rental reimbursement," Gorman said.

As part of a nationwide consumer education program, entitled Wiser Driver Wise Up, the Council of Better Business Bureaus and the Insurance Information Institute have teamed up to inform and educate drivers to review their auto insurance policy annually to make sure they have adequate coverage for various types of incidents, including severe storms. The "Wiser Drivers Wise Up" program includes a detailed Web site at http://wiserdrivers.com/

The Council of Better Business Bureaus says that some of the least expensive options may not be mentioned to those shopping for the lowest premiums. In addition, since many people purchase automobile insurance several years prior to making a claim, they may forget what their coverage includes. If they don't have the coverage or don't know to ask if the cost is covered when they make a claim, they can end up paying more than they anticipated.

Understanding the differences in insurance coverage can be confusing. "Many of us think that we have adequate coverage, but most of us don't find out until after we contact the insurance company what is not covered," says Moak.

Both the Insurance Information Institute and the Council of Better Business Bureaus advise drivers to take a few minutes to read their policy or talk to their insurance agent once a year to make sure they have the coverage they want and need. The best advice is not to assume anything when it comes to insurance. If a specific coverage is not listed and explained in the policy, the loss probably won't be covered. For more details, go to http://www.iii.org/individuals/auto/a/basic/.

"Microsoft Outlook Award" Lottery Scam Hitting State

Consumers call us often asking about letters and emails they've gotten. Jim A. of Jackson has forwarded us a copy of an email that promises 100 million Euros (About $78 million) for an "Microsoft Outlook Award" lottery, then goes on to ask for personal information. All of this is to be sent to an address in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Of course, Jim never entered any lottery.

If you get this email, the best thing to do is to delete it immediately. This is a relatively new scam to hit our area, and we don't know if the intent is phishing or just an attempt to sucker a few unwitting victims out of their hard-earned money. Regardless, you don't have to be a victim.

Getting Off the Lists

Are you buried under an avalanche of unwanted mail? Do you get solicitations from telemarketers when you least want it? There is something you can do. You can Opt Out! There are several methods for getting your name off telephone and direct mail lists. Most recently, the nation's four Credit Bureaus (TransUnion, Experian, Equifax and Innovis) have begun providing a service to remove your name from receiving mailings from "preapproved" or other unsolicited credit-card offers. Below is a list of some of the resources available to you. You have the power, so take control!

Preapproved credit card offers:

• Toll-free (automated system): 1.888.567.8688
• Web: www.optoutprescreen.com
  

General Direct Mail

• Toll:free (automated system): 1-888-5-OPTOUT
• Web: http://www.dmaconsumers.org/cgi/offmailinglist#howto
  (This will cost you $5 to register online, or you can download a form to be sent by U.S. mail for free).
  

Email "Spam"

• Web: http://www.e-mps.org/
  

Do-Not-Call Lists

• Federal List – www.donotcall.gov
• State List – http://www.psc.state.ms.us/

Welcome to the BBB Mississippi Weblog!

Welcome!

This weblog (or "blog") is the site for breaking news, bulletins, and information you need to know. It will contain information from our consumers here in Mississippi, as well as our sister Better Business Bureaus around the nation, and a variety of other sources.

This site will be growing daily and weekly, as we add new news and information. There will also be many new features which will allow you to ask questions and provide input. You can subscribe easily to this blog, to get notification of new postings and information.

I encourage you to read the postings on a regular basis. Often, you will read about scams and schemes that we are hearing about from consumers like you, as well as topics like identity theft and phishing . We believe the best way to protect you is to provide you with information so you can protect yourself. As someone once said, "Forewarned is Forearmed." Thanks for reading!

-- Bill Moak, President, Better Business Bureau of Mississippi

Choosing a Financial Planner

Consumers look to financial planners to provide objective, knowledgeable advice about managing an important aspect of their lives: their money. Because the field is largely unregulated, however, the title "financial planner" does not guarantee any level of qualifications or expertise. Consumers therefore need to exercise caution when choosing someone with whom to entrust financial resources.

Recommendations from friends, relatives, and colleagues may be a good first step to finding a financial planner. Carefully consider the education and professional background of prospective planners. Financial planners who hold the designations RFC (Registered Financial Consultant), CFP (Certified Financial Planner), or ChFC (Chartered Financial Consultant) or who are members of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors have codes on ethics, honesty, and conflicts of interests which they are obligated to uphold.Once you have selected a prospective planner, schedule a preliminary interview. Question the financial planner about his or her professional background, education, employment history, investment philosophy, and areas of specialization. Ask for the names of recent clients and examples of plans and monitoring reports. Does the planner keep current on financial matters through continuing education and training? Also ask how the financial planner expects to be compensated (e.g., fees, commissions, or a combination of the two) and get a written estimate of the cost for services.

Remember, a good financial planner should help you get a clear picture of your financial situation and lay the foundation for future investment decisions. Beware of planners who offer few or no alternatives in your investment plan, which may indicate the planner's intent to steer you into a fraudulent scheme or sell a specific product for the commission. Similarly, avoid planners who use high-pressure sales tactics or promise unusually high rates of return on investments. Be on guard for possible Ponzi schemes that can masquerade as tax shelters, precious metals, commodities, high-tech stocks, and other investment vehicles.

Further protect yourself against fraud by contacting your Better Business Bureau and Secretary of State's Office to determine if the planner has a background of noncompliance with state and federal laws or a history of complaints.