KFI Updates: Sunday, May 11, 2003: Do You Ever Use ATMs? You're At Risk Of A New Type Of Fraud! Plus: Could You Computer By Riddled With Viruses Or Spyware? (Chances Are...YES It Is!!!)

Didja miss the best 2-hours in talkradio Sunday morning? Whether you were sleeping late or live outside the Southern California broadcast area of KFI: Now listen to what you missed! Click here to access Ben's on-line radio show archive. Hey Einstein, are you taking full advantage of all of Ben's hard work that goes into every show, every KFI Update or Dose of Dover Newsletter? [I doubt it.] Seriously...you're leaving a bunch of additional information and entertainment value on the proverbial table if you don't "click over" to any hot-linked [highlighted] word or sentence you come across. Terrific insights and [frequently] twisted humor are only one click away... If you use ATMs, listen up because the bad guys have figured out a new way to steal your cash! If you're a frequent or even an occasional ATM user, you need to be aware of the latest skimming scam that's showing up around the nation. The bad guys attach a magnetic scanning device to an ATM. When you slide in your card, this device copies all of your information. So how do you know if you're using a compromised machine? Here's what to watch for the next time you stroll up to an ATM:  * Take a look at the ATM before you pop in your card...and if you see anything that looks suspicious, do not use the machine...and if you've got the time, call the cops.  * Be wary of nearby strangers or "good Samaritans" who offer to help, particularly when if the ATM eats your card. They could be in on the fix and trying to steal your card and [Personal ID Number] PIN.  * If an ATM has a discolored card reader or an unresponsive keypad, use another machine. The "it's not convenient" argument is exactly what the bad guys are betting on, and why they're successful.  * Don't key in your PIN until the ATM asks for it. * ATM 101: Never give your PIN to anyone!  * Don't ever try hiding your PIN in your wallet. The bad guys are a lot smarter than most of us - or at least a lot more devious. If your wallet gets stolen, you'll also be handing over the keys to your account.  * Only use ATMs that are in well-lit areas...and stay away from ATMs that are in hidden areas.  * After you've gotten your cash, jam it in your pocket or purse and get out of there quickly. Don't stand there and count it...you can count your cash once you're in a safe area...and away from the ATM. (Again, this sounds incredibly obvious, but I continue to be amazed at what easy targets many of you become when you decide to pull out a wad of cash amongst strangers.) You'll never super-size another fast food meal again after reading this story! Real dangers exist when you eat out...stuff like SARS, Hepatitis or even worse: A 16-year-old fast-food cook faces a felony charge on allegations that he hocked a loogie [technical law enforcement terminology] on a hamburger served to a police officer. San Antonio police officer Ray Garcia stopped at Whataburger restaurant last weekend and ordered a burger with bacon, cheese...and phlegm. (Okay, I made that last part up.) Showing the instincts that save cops from impending doom, Officer Garcia lifted off the bun and noticed "a clear sticky substance." The cook quickly confessed and was arrested on juvenile charges of tampering with a consumer product - a felony that could keep him in "juvey" until his 21st birthday. A Whataburger spokesman said he was immediately fired...and added that they still don't know what his (alleged) motivation was. While the authorities are awaiting the results of DNA tests to prove their case and convict the punk, the more serious message is obvious: Eating out really can be dangerous to your health! You never know who's having a bad day and who didn't wash their hands after their last bathroom break...or worse. And remember Dover's #1 cardinal rule for eating out safely: Don't treat your server rudely...at least until after you've eaten your meal. If your computer's running a little slower than usual, there might be sinister forces at work! New viruses and spyware are on the loose that could be spilling your cyber-guts to the bad guys: What's the #1 way the bad guys get in? By invitation! That's right...you're inviting them into your private world of credit card and bank account numbers: All of those .gifs or .jpegs or .mp3s you've been collecting, plus all of the sensitive e-mail that you just thought was private is anything, but. The gaping hole in your computer security is your unwillingness to install anti-virus software and your laziness when it comes to keeping your anti-virus definitions up-to-date. More than six months ago, a friend of mine got a hot new computer. Finally last week (after my continued brow-beatings) he installed a copy of Norton Antivirus, my anti-virus software of choice. Once he loaded it up and updated the antivirus definitions, he was shocked to find over one thousand virus-laden e-mails infecting not only his computer, but potentially everyone he sends an e-mail to (from that computer)! If you're spending any time on line, you've got to take this stuff seriously: If viruses aren't putting all of the data on your computer at risk, spyware lurking in the depths of your hard drive will. If you're seeing an increasing number of those irritating pop-up (or pop-under ads), there's a reasonable chance that you've got some form of spyware on your computer. This insidious for of software will hijack your browser...and some forms of spyware can even activate your modem and dial-out to those high-dollar, 900-numbers or banana-republic countries that charge $1,000 bucks or more for a 3-minute phone call. Here's more info about spyware and where to download free software that'll help you wipe this garbage off your computer once and for all: Spyware Info Spybot (this one works great...I've installed it on both of my computers) Doxdesk Lavasoft I gotta call on last week's show from one of you asking for help with a cell phone company that was ignoring repeated pleas for help. They not only responded...but delivered-in the name of customer service-in a big time way: I've said it before and I'll say it again: It's not what you say...and it's not how you say it...but WHO you say it, to! Dover's Six Steps To Successful Complaining Pays off once again: Last Sunday (5/4/03), Jim called asking for advice on how to deal with his cell phone company (Nextel) and their continued run-around. Check out his e-mailed description of his success: "Dear Ben: Jennifer [from Nextel] called me and offered me 8 months totally free unlimited cellular service and a new $500 phone for free. Do you think thats a good deal? I do! Thanks a lot, Ben. I couldn't have done it without you. Thanks Again, Jim B., Los Angeles." Ben's Bottom line? Cut through the crap, keep it simple, short and sweet, put it in writing...and direct your complaint to the right people the first time out. Don't waste time on toll-free numbers, and don't waste your energy sending e-mails through their conventional customer service channels. Follow the steps that'll set you free..... We used to get it for free but even if you have to pay for it, 50 cents for 5-minutes worth of air to fill-up the tires on your car is a cheap investment in your ride: Did you know that under-inflation (of your tires) can increase fuel consumption by as much as 20 percent? Under-inflation also causes flats (87 percent of flat tires have a history of under-inflation), and leads to handling problems, especially on trucks and SUV's. Almost 25% of all cars and a third of the SUV's and light trucks on the roads are operating with at least one tire that's under-inflated. Ben's Solution? Quit being lazy...because basic tire care's simple. Find the suggested pressure numbers inside the door frame or in your owner's manual. (Don't go by the figure stamped on the tire; it's the maximum pressure for the tire itself but may not be right for your particular car.) Use a tire gauge to check your tires: They should be checked when cool or at least after a relatively short drive. Oh yeah: Don't forget to check your spare. Read the entire New York Times story right here. [And don't whine if you have to register to access their website; it's free...and you can always use a fake name/personal info if you're overly-concerned about giving up this information.] The latest example of gullibility-meets-vulnerability was exposed by the Feds last week...and it's possible many of you may have already bitten on this latest anti-telemarketer scam! The Federal Trade Commission is kinda upset with a guy in Northern California because he's been fleecing gullible consumers by selling the FTC's own national do-not-call registry as bait. The two websites the FTC shut down were popped for making deceptive claims that they'll pre-register consumers for the national do-not-call list for a nominal fee: Oops...this registry's actually free and won't start signing up people until July 1st. Consumers who responded to the sites received an e-mail stating that their pre-registration was received and their "information will been transmitted to the FTC as soon as the list becomes available." One of the sites advertised a subscription service for blocking telemarketing calls, unsolicited faxes and junk mail costing anywhere from $9.99 to $17.99 per year and falsely claimed it could place consumers on the government's national do-not-call registry. The most devious spin of this story? They had a parallel "Do Not Call List" scam going: Identity thieves posing as FTC officials working on the do-not-call list are calling consumers and tricking them into giving up personal information such as Social Security, bank account and credit card numbers. There's no damned excuse for scumbag parents that aren't paying what they owe in child support: I hate hearing the stories...and they're all pretty much the same. (So there's no need to re-visit the misery and circumstances that lead to child support deadbeats.) In honor of Mother's Day 2003, here are Dover's 4 Steps To Getting The Back Child Support Cash Flow(ing): 1. Get proactive: There are several parent empowerment groups out there that support custodial parents in their quest for cash. The biggest and best organized organization is The Association for Children for Enforcement of Support, also known as ACES. They're worth taking a look at, and will teach you how to pursue the dollars you're owed so that you get to keep every penny collected. They're also the most cost-effective...with membership fees based on your annual income: The highest price tag's only $25. Call 800 738-ACES. Although their website's pretty amateurish, they've got some excellent information and ideas. 2. Do your research: There's plenty of books out there on this topic of collecting child support...and two of my favorites have a similar message: Pursue the scumbag through conventional channels, but be willing to get creative and play private eye if you want to ever see some real cash coming your way. Here's two books worth reading: Collecting Child Support by Susan Herskowitz and Deadbeats: What Responsible Parents Need to Know About Collecting Child Support by Simone Spence. 3. Hire a professional collector: Hold your water and don't waste your time writing me poison-pen e-mails about having to pay a debt collector a third of everything they collect. Either get 66.66% of something or 100% of nothing, which is what you've got now if you're reading this: How many custodial parents have time to chase the deadbeat parents? Answer: Very few. There are some pretty decent child support collection agencies out there, but make sure you clearly understand the terms of their agreement before you sign up. Don't agree to big up-front fees...ever. If they collect, they get paid... but if they don't produce, they don't get a penny. 4. Be willing to move on with your life and not become obsessed with the scumbag: I'm not suggesting you throw in the towel, but there comes a point in your life when your chance of seeing any return on your investment of time becomes negligible. And what's your obsession doing to your kid or kids? How's it affecting them emotionally? You've gotta get real and learn to move on. Wanna know more? Review Ben's past articles or TV segment notes on the topic by clicking here. If you know a woman who's divorced or widowed or disabled, I've gotta new resource that could mean cash or benefits: Here's where you can get your free copy of a new booklet from the Social Security Administration on-line...or call 'em toll-free: (800) 878-3256. You're guilty until proven innocent!!! (At least in the world of credit reporting you are.) Have you (or someone you know) been the victim of sloppy/erroneous reporting by our pals in the credit reporting world? You're gonna love next week's show; our resident giant killer--our David to the credit reporting world's Goliath, Los Angeles-based attorney Bob Brennan will be on hand to help you level the playing field and maybe even get even. Put it on your calendar...it's the next, exciting and life-changing edition (Sunday, May 18, 2003) from 7-9 am (Pacific Time) of The Benjamin Dover Show on KFI-AM/640, Los Angeles!

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