Alotta people have gotten burned by the
most recent "My Doom" computer virus; over a million personal
computers have been affected — generating a wave of "spam e-mails" crippling
corporate e-mail servers and slowing down Internet traffic around the world.
Question 1: Should people be
worried?
Question 2: But sometimes
there are attachments we need to open; what should we do about these?
Answer 2: Unless you're
expecting a document from someone, don't open it until you've verified that
it's a legitimate document. That means e-mail the sender--assuming you know
them of course--e-mail them to confirm they sent you an attachment. Of
course if you don't know the sender, that's a huge warning flag in and of
itself.
And use your head and make sure you've got an anti-virus program not only
running on your computer, but UPDATED DAILY.
I use Norton Anti-Virus...MacAfee's just as good....and they're cheap
insurance. $20 a year after an initial investment of under $40.
Question 3: Let's get back
to the question of on-line safety when it comes to our personal
information. A question in your column in
this morning's Dallas Morning News asks about the safety of
getting updated credit reports on-line...is it safe?
Answer 3: Sure, as long as
you're on a safe connection...meaning if you've got a wireless network
running through your home or office, make sure it's got the encryption
activated--otherwise it's just a matter of time before someone starts
pilfering your private info.
Of course you've gotta make sure you're on a real site--not one of these
fake "phisher" sites--but a real source with a secure/encrypted website when
obtaining your credit reports.
Answer 5:
ABSOLUTELY! Think of it as a "burglar alarm system"
for your personal ID: Credit monitoring services have
finally come of age, and the need to spend $80 a year to protect yourself
from the bad guys is as much a necessity as insurance for your home, auto or
health. You wire your home or car with an alarm that'll go off when someone
crosses the line...think of a credit monitoring service as a similar
protection for your Social Security Number.
What’s it worth to protect yourself from identity theft?
Government experts estimate that
consumers will spend over $2,000 in real time, phone calls, postage and
other brain-damage after they’ve discovered they been hit by the ID
thieves–but I think it’s a lot higher, especially when you factor in the
reality of losing out on the lowest interest rates available because of the
damage inflicted by these scumbags. It's cheap insurance.
Close: All of Ben's advice, as well as
protecting yourself from the latest computer viruses and what to look for
when signing up for credit monitoring services is posted on his award-winning website:
www.benjamindover.com,
or you can always link to his site from ours at www.kvue.com
!
By the way Ben: I hear you're getting
in the Valentine's Day spirit on next week's segment?
Reply: You could say that. Just in
time for the big day of the year for lovers, I'll tell you how to catch a
cheating spouse. When you consider that Valentine's Day is the #1 day of
the year for marriage proposals, and then you realize that 50% of first
marriages and 60% of second marriages end up in divorce...I think that my
topic is at the very least, timely. And it might save you a bunch of cash,
especially when you hear some of the "ohmygod!" signs that your spouse or
significant other might have their hand in the ol'
cookie jar.
Let’s see–it’s the "off-time" of year and interest
rates are at 6-month lows. What other kicks-in-the-butt do you need to
move into the home ownership world? Maybe you already own a home and
just need to re-fi your investment, now's the time to get off the proverbial
dime. Ben's no-brainer choice?
W.R. Starkey Mortgage has the Dover Seal of Approval because they're
the best, no-B.S. mortgage company in the nation...period.
They consistently on their company positioning statement:
"A different kind or mortgage company where people
come first."
If you're considering
taking the home ownership plunge this year, get smart(er) about the process:
Click here to get your free
copy of Ben's 2004 Home Buyer's Guide.
Take the Dover-proven
route to stress-free finance, and take advantage while interest rates are STILL
at incredibly-low levels! Do it all
on-line or on the phone
with the official mortgage company of www.benjamindover.com
and your first (and only) stop:
W.R. Starkey Mortgage.
Hit their website
or call their Austin office
at:(512) 329-9040 or toll-free: (877)
340-9040.
The cold weather making you think about getting a
new set of wheels? Now's the perfect time to cash in on [still] low
interest rates...lower financing rates will give you more bang for your
four-wheeled buck, but id you get hosed during the process, it doesn't matter.
Click here to get a free copy of Ben's Smart Car Seminar guide to avoiding car-buying brain
damage.
The key to avoiding auto buying heartache is to deal
with an honest company in the first place: No matter where you're
located, Manufacturer's Auto Leasing
delivers on that promise, and more. They've got the Dover Endorsement because they really are auto
experts you can trust. Check 'em out for yourself.....
Don't go broke this Valentine's Day: Here
are some gift ideas that'll stretch your love-budget a little further.....
IRS-related troubles hanging
over your head? Personal or business challenges aren't as hard
to work out as you might think, especially if you hire the right
representation to cut a deal with the world's most powerful debt collection
agency. Wanna read more about it?
Speaking of credit: Life happens and when it does,
money can get awfully tight. Don't make bad decision make a lousy situation
even worse.
Here's where you can get your hands on Ben's popular pull-no-punches books and fire the
debt collectors! Or maybe you need to
take legal actions and clear the slate in '04? Read more here.....
Did you get infected by the recent e-mail laden
virus attack? If so, you’re a dope. The only thing certain these days is that
only the most cyber-stupid are spreading viruses more freely than a hooker in
Haiti:
You’re not dumb enough to open e-mailed attachments...are
you? Here’s more info about the latest digital plague.....
But didja hear about the good news from the latest
cyberattack? It’s the unveiling of the National Cyber Alert System, another
service from our pals at the Department of Homeland Security:
Sign up for breaking news and a chance to see our tax dollars at work.....
C’mon! It’s easy to get the latest information about
the newest/most dangerous viruses running the Internet:
Even better–it’s free!
Click here and sign up.....
Since we're on the subject of keeping you informed
and in the loop, do you know what’s on your credit report? Here’s how
to get a free copy, right here/right now! Look Einstein, your credit
scores change every single hour–when was the
last time you saw a copy of yours?
Click here and get a look at your reports...
There’s no such thing as a free lunch: Just because they
position themselves as a source for a "free credit report," it doesn’t mean that
they’re really free. They’ll give you a free 30-day trial with the hope that you
won’t cancel and you’ll stick around for an entire year, but this service really
is free if you cancel before the 30-days is up, so
go for it.
Looking for a Dover-smart way to keep a handle on your family's spending? (Just in time
for Valentine's Day): Every time your wife or husband opens a new
(joint) credit card account or requests a credit line increase (on an
existing) joint account, you'll be instantly notified. This
type of information is invaluable to innocent spouses being rudely jolted into
the spending reality that's been going on behind their backs. If you think your
spouse might be less-than-faithful or even planning to divorce you in the near
future, credit report activity is always one of the earliest signs that's ignored or not
even recognized by soon-to-be-ex-spouses (or their attorneys). Cut 'em off at
the knees and start monitoring your credit reports immediately!
As you prepare to paper your tax-related trail, do
you know how long you need to keep your receipts? Dover’s Rule of (IRS)
Thumb* will help you clean out your filing cabinets:
– Tax-related documents: From charitable
receipt to the returns themselves: 3 years
– Real-estate investment paperwork: 1 year
after selling the property
– Major home repairs/improvements: Ditto
– Utility/phone/credit card bills: 1 year
* These are general guidelines: Don’t
come whining to me if you get audited and don’t have any proof. Like
anything/everything else, consult with a certified/qualified expert for the
final "keep-or-burn" decision. When you do start throwin’ stuff away, shred
it/burn it. Don’t just toss it, or the bad guys will find it and make your
life more miserable than a busload of IRS auditors.
Too late and already in the IRS cross-hairs?
Here's your
Dover-blessed solution: The Schlichting
Group.
In the market for some high-end
Valentine's Day-related baubles? The big day's only
11 days
away...more motivation to check out Ben's
diamond/jewelry buying tips...all
assembled in one easy-to-reference section.....
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