1. The Tax tip off: Check your tax returns first. Do your numbers correspond to what you've earned, spent and saved? Do the 1099s seem right?  Remember that interest and dividends are reported on 1099s (along with the names of the financial institutions).  By the way: If you don't know where your assets are invested and where the accounts are kept, this would be the time to find out.

     2.  Cheating on taxes: Fancy financial footwork on tax returns or doctoring business expenses could be a bad sign. If your spouse is cheating the IRS, they could be cheating you, too. Another big time tip-off? Does your spouse want you to sign the tax return as they dash to the post office to get your return mailed in time?

    3. Big change in the way family finances are handled: Did your joint savings account suddenly disappear? Was there a piece of a stock portfolio that "got rolled over" into something else?  Wake up...you might be the one getting rolled-over.

    4. "Tapping" the budget: Unexplained cash advances or big grocery tabs. Is someone getting large chunks of cash back?  They're so gosh-darned willing to give some cash back when your pay with a debit card these days at places as diverse as the grocery store to the post office.  This is a perfect "black hole" for siphoning your dough out of the communal funds.  (It's time to wake up!)

    5. Mail delivered elsewhere: Does the mail come to your home? If not, that could be a red flag that your spouse doesn't want you to see certain incoming statements.  Those mail drops are great for guarding your mail against theft and the identity thieves, but also serves as a great cover for a devious spouse intent on cooking the books.

 

Incidentally, MP writes about something she calls Rebound Reticence: There's a greater incidence of hiding money in second and third marriages. People have been through their first divorce and they think they got the worse end of the deal - as everybody usually does - and they don't want it to happen again.  Read her complete story right here. 

Everytime I bring up the topic of taxes [it seems like it's every week] it always triggers the "where can I go for help?" questions: So this week, I'll beat you to the punch.  Non-filers (there's alotta you out there), Innocent Spouses (seems appropriate considering the lead story in this week's "Dose") or business owners fighting the battle to keep the doors open, but have gotten behind on those "941" (payroll taxes for the rest of you) obligations to our pals at the IRS.  You're gonna dig out much quicker if you're the one making the move first; I think the smartest representation route for fearful taxpayers has to be hiring an Enrolled Agent.  Click here for more details on how they work, why they're cheaper than a CPA or an attorney!

Planning a big trip this summer? Got a big shopping spree coming up?  You'd better make a few pre-trip/pre-spending frenzy phone calls before you pack your credit cards - or you may be setting yourself up for a whole new level of embarrassment and inconvenience at the hands of the card companies!

 

Before you travel anywhere outside your normal "day to day" range (especially if you're bound for Mexico or Eastern Europe), call the toll-free number on the back of your cards. After jumping through all their security questions "hoops," tell them where you'll be going and how long you plan on being away. Otherwise, they might misinterpret your unusual charge activity for fraud and turn your card(s) "off!"

 

As the credit card industry continues their battle against fraud, they're gonna make it tougher on you and me if we do anything out of character with our credit cards. Here are a few of the things that can trigger a fraud alert on your credit or debit cards:

    * Gas Binge: Filling up a car twice in one day, since thieves use gas purchases to see if stolen cards still work.

     * Power Shopping: Buying much more clothing than is typical for you.

     * Bicoastal Living:  (I said bi-coastal...get your mind outta the gutter.)  Using the card on the East and West coasts on the same day.

     * Spending Abroad: Making big purchases in a country with high fraud levels like Russia or South Africa.

 

Wanna know more?  Read the Wall Street Journal article for yourself...or review my spin on the topic as covered in my June 6, 2002 Ask Benjamin Dover column from The Dallas Morning News.

 

 

 

 

Older homeowners need to enjoy the rewards of a lifetime of hard work: That's why I love Reverse Mortgages...and one of my recent columns sure triggered an avalanche of e-mail and letters from 62 years young [plus!] homeowners, their kids and even a few grandchildren...so you might wanna check out this week's Ask Ben column from The Dallas Morning News.

 

 

 

 

And speaking of home ownership: Since I can't personally walk you through the home buying or re-financing process, here's the next best thing.  Get a free copy of my 2003 Home Buyer's [and Refinancing] Guide right here!

 

 

 

 

You don't think a company like H&R Block would try to sneak something past you when they prepare your taxes, do you? Our old pals agreed last week to pay $3.3 million to settle a dispute with 41 states...$1 million of it will be used as a pool of cash for refunds to eligible customers who bit on their so-called "Peace of Mind" guarantee in 2001.

 

H&R Block's standard policy has been to cover penalties and interest if they make an error on your tax return. But for an extra $22 fee, consumers could also buy their "Peace of Mind" guarantee, which put H&R Block on the hook to pay up to $5,000 in additional taxes assessed.

 

So far, so good. Unfortunately, over 163,000 people paid for "Peace of Mind" but (according to 41 State attorneys general) didn't know the service was optional or that they had agreed to accept the service for a fee.  Of course H&R Block agreed to the settlement without admitting wrongdoing and denied the states' allegations. It's just easier to pay the $3.3 million to make them go away.

 

Ben's Bottom Line? Anytime you're signing the line for what sounds like a wonderful perk or extra service, make sure you know what you're agreeing to. I've seen countless cases where consumers signed a stack of documents and added hundreds...and sometimes thousands...of dollars in extra fees to the transaction because the salesperson snuck something by them.

 

Case in point? Borrowing money and being forced to buy "credit life insurance" - a ridiculously-high cost type of insurance that pays off the debt if you die during the repayment term. Companies love to sell credit life insurance because it covers them if you default-by-death. But the bigger incentive is the commission to the seller or salesperson trying to slip it in.

 

By the way: You never have to agree to purchase these "credit life insurance" add on policies to borrow money...it's illegal, and the lender cannot force you. If they do or have...let me know and we'll go after them.

 

 

 

 

Didja hear about the airport workers who got popped for stealing over 400,000 little bottles of booze? How about the commercial airline pilots who just got fired for flying nekkid?  Last week, 11 workers at New York's LaGuardia Airport were charged with stealing about $1.5 million mini-bottles worth of liquor, including Dewar's scotch, Courvoisier cognac and Bacardi rum over the last year.

 

And if thieving airport ground crew workers doesn't instill confidence...a couple of Southwest Airline pilots were fired last week for allegedly turning their cockpit into a clothing-optional playpen. The male pilot and co-pilot, who were dismissed for allegedly taking off all or most of their clothes, are appealing their termination, sources say.  They contend that one of them removed his uniform after coffee was spilled. A flight attendant saw them after being summoned to the cockpit to bring paper towels and soda water. Southwest is treating the episode as a prank that went too far.  

 

 

 

 

It's one of the hottest trends in banking...and if you take the bait being dangled by the biggest banks and credit card companies on the planet, you could end up putting some cash in your pocket!  The race for online bill-paying customers is on...and the big banks are playing (and paying) to win. That's right: Chase and Citibank are now willing to pay you to use their on-line bill pay services: At Chase, customers who open checking accounts can earn up to $150 - $5 a bill for up to 10 bills a month for three months.

 

For Citibank customers, each online payment in April and May counts as an entry in a weekly drawing to win a cruise to Mexico or the Caribbean. In addition to 10 getaway trips, a first-class 17-day cruise valued at $42,000 will go to one winner. Citibank also rewards new online bill-paying customers up to $25.  Last year, Bank of America offered customers in some markets $25 for their first online payments.

 

Ben's "Are You Leaving Money On The Table?" Question: Have you checked with your bank to see what sort of incentives they offer to give their on-line bill pay service a try? Go to your current bank's website and look around...if they're offering incentives to new customers, they'd better be willing to let you in on the action in order to keep you in the fold.

 

 

 

 

Did you know that one third of all Americans suffer from some form of chronic pain?  Ouch!  Unfortunately, I'm a member of that "one-third" (thanks to my acute case of ADS...(Asphalt Deceleration Syndrome), a direct result of my little motorcycle accident in 1989 and the 14 surgeries that followed).  Life's too damned short to "learn to live with the pain" and frankly, there's only so much your family doctor, orthopedic specialist or chiropractor can do for you.  Aggressive pain management is the way to go, kids...my choice?  Check out my friends at PainNet Medical Group...call (800) PAINNET to find a location near you.

 

 

What are you doing to sabotage your chances at a big raise or promotion? You could be the biggest obstacle in your quest to land a new job...or a promotion...or a raise if you're unknowingly violating a few simple rules:  With the economy as tight as it is and unemployment and corporate down-sizing creating one of the most competitive workplace environments in years, I thought it might make sense to pick the brain of one of the nation's top executive recruiters.

 

Even if you're not in what would be widely-considered as a white color type of job, the following tips  - as common-sense as they might sound -could very well make the difference between a paycheck and another unemployment check.

 

According to Smooch Reynolds, author of  "Be Hunted! 12 Secrets To Getting On The Headhunter's Radar Screen," you don't have to be shooting for the type of position that requires the services of a headhunter, to screw yourself up.  Check out her website for even more information...

 

 

 

 

Please help me stop the B.S. e-mail that continues to circulate the Internet by forwarding this week's "Dose" to everyone in your Address Book. "Beginning July 1st, everyone that wants access to your credit reports will get it, unless you call this (888) 567-8688 "Opt Out."  Will ya get a grip, please?  One more time: It's a bunch of fear-mongering chain-e-mail garbage that many of you are perpetuating by forwarding these half-baked truths. Eloquently debunked on Experian's website (the spelled-out/toll-free phone number) (888) 5-OPT-OUT is legit and allows consumers to opt out of all three credit bureau pre-approved marketing lists...but not drop out of the credit reporting system altogether.

 

 

 

 

These so called "non-profit" credit counseling agencies are soooooooooo full of crap: If you know someone that's buried in debt, or is currently in a "debt management" or "credit counseling" program, you really might wanna be a hero and pass along the information I've compiled here on the website.  And if you're tired of robbing from Peter to pay Paul, there's no better time than now to get the facts, know your options and get on with your life.

 

 

 

 

It's a sign of the times in Asia...and I'll bet it's heading this way. Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is forcing the service industry to resort to strange, antiseptic sales pitches across Asia: At one Hong Kong restaurant, customers are greeted by "hygiene ambassadors" wearing a nurse's uniforms, spraying your hands with disinfectant and offering your antibacterial wipes. 

 

Another seafood restaurant in Hong Kong squirts its customers' hands with a sanitizer spray and then tries to sell patrons their own personal take-home bottle for only $13 American!  The chef at a popular Singapore restaurant whips out an instant, digital thermometer like a refrugee from a Benihana's, motioning over a busboy who slips a new plastic sheath on the tip of the device, and then sticks it in his ear.  (I'm not kiddin' ya.)

 

Ben's Bottom Line: If you walk into a restaurant and they're all wearing surgical masks and gloves, you might wanna cook in tonight.

 

SARS is also having a major impact on the sin industry...(no, not the one in the Valley!)  You know, the other organized sin industry...the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong has temporarily abandoned using confessionals (where priests are more likely to be exposed to SARS) in favor of better-ventilated, congregation-wide absolutions. The chancellor of the Hong Kong diocese, warned - and priests repeated on Easter Sunday - that this is no excuse to commit sins and that sinners had better come talk to a priest once the SARS scare is over.

 

 

Just wanted to remind you that Mother's Day (May 11th) is now 12 days away: So do something original this year that'll score you some points. Send Mom some beautiful flowers [by the way Dads...they make great gifts from the kids].  They'll last at least twice as long as the usual junk you end up sending (or pick-up on the way to see her).  Of course I'm talking about amazing flowers, FedExed direct by our friends at www.tropicalcolors.com

 

 

 

 

[Shhhhhhhhh!] Wanna know a little secret?  There's alotta twisted humor on my website you probably have missed out on.  Anytime you see a "hot-linked" word in the Dose of Dover (or anywhere on the site for that matter), you're really missing out if you don't hit it.  Turn your speakers up...and have fun.

 

 

 

Visa USA announced last week that it's now providing member banks with ID theft insurance as an optional free benefit for card holders: The coverage would provide eligible card holders with up to $15,000 in reimbursement for lost wages, legal fees and other costs associated with recovering from identity theft. Banks that issue Visa cards have the option of extending coverage to all their credit and debit card holders, offering it as an incentive to sign up for a particular card, or as a reward for premium card holders.

 

This might sound good...but then again, so does credit card protection insurance that they try to sell you: Do you remember their pitch?  It's also known as credit disability insurance...and it's a buncha crap: You lose your job or get sick, and this form of insurance is supposed to kick in and make your minimum payments on your credit cards.  

 

That's the bait...here's the hook: Over the years, I've heard nothing but horrible things from consumers who were rudely jolted by reality when it came time to cash in and get the credit card companies to pay off. Time and again, I've been told how difficult the card companies make it to qualify for these payments...your credit reports get trashed because you're 90 days late because your pals that sold you the credit card protection/credit disability insurance didn't pay off (certainly not fast enough) as promised.  As far as I'm concerned, it's a total rip-off.

 

This ID theft insurance might give you the warm and fuzzies, but it sounds like a marketing ploy with a lot more sizzle than steak: My advice? If they offer it for free, take it. Otherwise, steer clear until Visa USA has a chance to prove whether they are really out to help - or just playing a new game with the same deck of cards.

 

 

 

 

Speaking of ID Theft insurance, one of my callers asked about the Street Smart ID Theft protection program: It's being pitched by John Walsh of "America's Most Wanted" and the Street Smart program sounded good until I got the heart of the service.  According to the website, the information source for this service is being provided by TransUnion, without question, the worst of the "Big Three" credit reporting bureaus.  Based on that one key piece of information, don't waste your money!

 

 

 

 

Do you own any pets?  How much?  Another recent column (and accompanying TV segments) on pet health insurance was a catalyst for a slew of e-mails wanting to know more.  Check out the special section on my website, devoted to the topic (and make sure you've got those speakers turned up...).

 

 

 

 

It's the biggest financial threat of our generation, and you could be the next victim: What do you do when your parents turn to you for financial help? What to do and how to protect everyone involved...it's yet one more reason (like you need another one?) why you can't afford to miss the next edition--Sunday, May 4, 2003 edition (from 7-9 am PT) of The Benjamin Dover Show: 5-7am (Hawaiian Time)  7-9 am (Pacific Time) 8-10 am (Mountain)  9-11 am (Central)  10 am-12 noon (Eastern)  3-5 pm (GMT) on KFI-AM/640, Los Angeles!