RB Community Watch by Jacquie Nelson

The last word on dot.cons
Can you avoid getting caught by a scam artist working the web? Not always. But common sense and foresight help. The Federal Trade Commission offers these tips to help you avoid getting caught by an offer that just may not click:

Be wary of extravagant claims about performance or earnings potential.

Get all promises in writing and review them carefully before making a payment or signing a contract.
Read the fine print and all relevant links. Fraudulent promoters sometimes bury the disclosures they're not anxious to share by putting them in teeny-tiny type or in a place where you're unlikely to see them.
Look for a privacy policy. If you don't see one - or if you can't understand it - consider taking your business elsewhere.

Be skeptical of any company that doesn't clearly state its name, street address and telephone number. Check it out with the San Diego Better Business Bureau (858-496-2131, a 24-hr consumer hotline), consumer protection office or the CA Attorney General (800-952-5225).

The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop and avoid them. To file a complaint, or to get free information on any of 150 consumer topics, call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357), or use the online (www.ftc.gov) complaint form. The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies U.S. and abroad.

To read the first two installments of Top Dot.CONs, published by the RB NEWSJournal, go to www.rbernardo.com to 'news' to RB Community Watch archives.

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A personal note: I and all of Rancho Bernardo mourn the loss of Stuart Glassman and Ralph Bing. I have worked with both of them on the Community Council and the RB Press Club, with Stu on the Hall of Fame, and with Ralph as an enthusiastic dog lover. These men have done so much to make our community what it is, and they will be hugely missed. My heartfelt sympathy goes to their families.

Courtesy RB NEWSJournal
September 6, 2001