Giving Charitable Gifts As an Informed Donor

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November 2003

When the calendar turns to November, 'tis the season for appeals for charitable gifts. Between November 1 and the end of the year, the typical American home will receive dozens of mail, phone, and even door-to-door solicitations for gifts. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) notes that more than 700,000 federally recognized charities exist. And each year individuals contribute more than 80% of all money raised by charitable causes. Wise donors want to make sure that their charitable gift dollars are used wisely and responsibly. They also want to avoid those scam artists and phony charities that prey on people's generosity.

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Keeping Your Computer Secure and Your Personal Information Safe

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October 2003

The news has been full lately of the latest threats to your computer. The Blaster and Sobig worms have caused havoc with computer systems around the world. Maybe one of these or another has already hit your machine. Frustrating, isn't it? And these problems will likely get worse not better.

Worms and viruses, for instance, are not the only things to be wary of. Other potential dangers include spyware, browser hijackers, background advertising programs, to name just a few. These may come cloaked in file-sharing programs, toolbars, or other files. While many articles and even a few books have been written on this subject, this brief article will give you an overview of what steps you can take to secure your computer and the personal information on it. For more information, check out the resources listed below.

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Beware of Consumer Traps in Credit Card Offers

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September 2003

They arrive in the mail three or four times a week—enticing credit card offers: 0% for 6 months! 2.9% till July 2004! No fee for balance transfers!

Don't such offers sound too good to resist? That's exactly what the card issuers hope you'll think—and act on! But before you grab a pen to fill in the application, consider all the following consumer traps lurking within the tiny print of most credit card offers. After a little study of these gimmicks, the smart consumer will rip up the great majority of the offers and toss them.

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What's the Truth About "No Interest...No Payment" Retail Financing Offers?

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August 2003

"No interest until ...next year!"

"No payments until ...2006!"

"180 days or 6 months same as cash"

Furniture, appliance and electronics retailers, in particular, love to throw out these teasers, hoping to entice you into buying something big. Or just to get you into the store where you may at least buy something. But before you jump off the couch and head to the store, you need to ask, "What's the catch?" Because there's always a catch. Behind the headlines are the asterisks and the small print with the real deal. Here are the most common "catches" with these offers:

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ARE YOU AT RISK OF IDENTITY THEFT?

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July 2003, updated March 2007

How big a problem is identity theft? It's an epidemic. The Javelin Strategy and Research/Better Business Bureau 2006 Identity Fraud Survey Report indicates there were 8.9 million adult victims in the U.S. in 2005 and that the total one year fraud amount was $56.6 billion.

Having one's personal identity stolen can be costly and frustrating. Taking steps to learn about the dangers of ID theft and to prevent becoming a victim makes smart sense. This brief report shares the basics of what you need to know and provides links to other excellent resources.

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