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Consumer News & Alerts

February 6, 2006

THE OFFLINE WORLD'S NO PARADISE
There's a tendency to think the Internet is dangerous while the "real" world is safe and snug. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, a recent study finds that most identity theft still occurs "offline" and, increasingly, is discovered by alert consumers who check their online accounts frequently.

There are some identity theft risks you can't do much about -- like big companies that do dumb things with their customer data. The Boston Globe, for example, used its customer records to wrap newspaper bundles. A big hospital system lost hundreds of thousands of patient records on a stolen laptop. In California, enterprising crooks took pictures of customers tapping in their PIN numbers at gas pumps.

And then there are cell phones -- just about the least secure mode of communications yet devised. Not only can calls be easily intercepted by just about anybody, it's now possible to buy cell phone calling records on the Internet, so your enemies, employers, probation officers and so forth can see who you've been calling ... and who's been calling you.

This is all pretty scary stuff. We have some tips to help you stay secure in this week's cover story.

RISKS IN MURDOCHSPACE.COM
But don't take what we just said to mean there are no risks online. In fact, one of the more dangerous spots these days, many think, is MySpace.Com, Rupert Murdoch's playland for teens. Murdoch, of Fox TV and New York Post fame, has big plans for MySpace. He wants to take it worldwide. Meanwhile, many parents would like to take it out to the curb with the recycling. In Connecticut, police are investigating allegations that as many as seven teenage girls were sexually assaulted by men they met through MySpace.com.

Postage Due AOL and Yahoo are colluding to set the price they'll charge for mail, we understand. Their plan is to begin charging a penny or so for each piece of bulk mail they handle. The charge would be paid by the sender, not the recipient. This is being presented as an anti-spam measure but it sounds to us like an attempt to add a new revenue stream that drains much-needed sustenance from smaller publishers.

FORDS BURN AS FORD FIDDLES
It's swell seeing all the TV commercials with that nice Mr. Ford telling us how he's getting Grandpa's company back on track, huh? Too bad he can't take a few hundred million out of the ad budget and speed up the recall of those self-immolating F-150 trucks. Trucks are burning while Ford spins his yarn anew each day.

More Image Buffing Also playing catch-up is Mercedes-Benz, the legendary marque that's slipped a bit the last few years. MB's massive advertising campaign plays up its past triumphs. We're not quite sure what young Mr. Ford thinks he's doing. Talking about how much trouble you're in isn't always the best idea. Any poker player will tell you: Don't let them see you sweat.

GM Sharpens Its SUV Focus Face it: Some people need or just plain want a big vehicle but would like better fuel economy as well. GM is putting its bets on a new two-mode hybrid system that produces improved fuel economy at highway speeds, not just in stop-and-go driving.

Lexus GS Gets Top Rating in Side-Impact Test However, protection was marginal for rear-seat occupants in the latest Insurance Institute test of a large luxury sedan.

A WOMAN'S DISEASE
No, it's not breast cancer. That's the second-leading cause of cancer death in women. Lung cancer is #1. While you may associate lung cancer with hard-bitten miners and construction workers, truth is the incidence of lung cancer in men is falling while it increases steadily in women, our Dr. Henry Fishman reports. Why? One word. Cigarettes.

Stop Planning to Quiet Smoking Been planning to quit smoking? That's good but a recent study finds you're better off to forget the elaborate planning. Smokers who just plain quit did better in the study than those who constructed elaborate plans.

This is no surprise to anyone who's spent any time in Washington. Look at FEMA. It spends all its time and hundreds of millions of your dollars writing elaborate plans. You see how well that works.

Obesity Epidemic A new study reports a human virus has been shown to make chickens fat. Some scientists have concluded that finding suggests the virus could contribute to human obesity as well. Another factor, scientists say, is how fast obesity is spreading through the worldwide human population. The only thing that spreads as fast, they say, is an infectious disease.

A Little Exercise Goes a Long Way Many people avoid exercising because they just don't feel up to doing much of it. Well, here's some good news: Even a little bit of exercise is good for you. Even chewing gum burns calories and contributes to weight loss, a new study finds.

Turn It Down! Mothers, don't let your daughters grow up to be smokers (see above). And it might be a good idea to sabotage their iPod while you're at it. A consumer's lawsuit claims the iPod's headphones are unusually dangerous and hearing specialists are already saying they're seeing teens with hearing loss not normally seen til the 60s.

Of course, we remember hearing doctors saying the same thing about loud rock concerts back in the 60s and 70s. Haven't heard much since then, come to think of it.

SCAMS & OUTRAGES

• Foreclosure "Rescue" Business Missouri business engaged in deceptive and unfair trade practices, state charges.
• MyPerfectCredit Company claimed it could clean up consumers' credit records.
• MoneyGram Scam Phony cashier's check used in variation on "mystery shopper" scam.
• Avlimil, Rogisen Dietary Supplements "Free Trials" of Avlimil, Rogisen aren't free, complaint charges.
• Smut Spamming Judge orders Net Everyone and its owners to stop sending unsolicited pornographic e-mails.

KEEP THE CHEVY OFF THE LEVEE
Rental car companies are changing their liability rules. The new rule might be best summed up this way: If a tree falls in the forest ... be sure your rental's not beneath it. Any kind of damage to a rented vehicle, even if caused by something completely beyond the customer's control -- like, say, an earthquake -- will be taken out of the customer's hide. Moral: Be certain your personal insurance policy covers rental cars and be sure you understand what kind of coverage you may, or may not, get from your credit card issuer. Some offer special coverage but it may not be what you think, so read it carefully.

Tour Operators Promise Guaranteed Departures A travel consortium is trying to solve the problem of cancelled tours and disappointed travelers, travel editor Dan Schlossberg reports. Also on Dan's mind ...

• New Orleans' First Smokefree Hotel It's no longer the city that care forgot.
• Puerto Rico Tries to Decide Should it stay or should it go? Whichever it chooses, Puerto Rick will most likely remain a tourism hotspot.

RECALLS & INVESTIGATIONS

• DESA Propane Heaters They can flashback and start a fire.
• Four Seasons Sunroom Glass Sunlight reflecting onto cedar shakes can start a fire.
• Ace Han, Bike Pro, SunTome Baby Walkers The walkers are too narrow and will fit through a standard doorway.
• Cadillac Computer Glitch CTS and STS sedans may run out of fuel without warning.
• Honda Odyssey Front springs can break.
• Ford Taurus, Mercury Sable Suspension Failure Rear coil springs can collapse.
• Saturn L Series Failures can occur at highway speeds.

HOUSTON, WE HAVE A PROBLEM
Actually, we hope it's more of a solution. Radio stations around the country already carry our radio reports warning of consumer pitfalls. Now, we have a consumer headlines page stations can display on their Web sites as well. One of the early adopters is news-talk KTRH, Houston. See it at www.ktrh.com/pages/consumer.html

Speaking Our Mind Don't have time to check our site each day? Now you can load us up on your iPod. Our daily Podcast will give you a quick squirt of vinegar each morning. Be sure to keep the volume down.

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