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Thursday, November 19, 2009

330-338Lynn Edgington, founder-president of Eagle Research Associates (949-837-6078, eagleresearchassociates.org) warns people about the latest scams, cons and rip offs. 
When someone sees a red flag, they know it means to either stop or use caution as danger lies ahead. The same holds true for investments. Red Flags in dealing with investments should be treated more like the flashing red lights and bells ringing at railroad crossing gates. It not only means danger lies ahead, it means stop cold and don't go any further. In investments, there are many issues that can be considered a red flag. Whether or not it is just one, several or all of them, you should stop and not invest. If you ignore them, you have a 100% chance of losing your money. So what are the red flags of investments? Here is a listing of the most serious ones:
A company says that because they are an Internet company the standard rules of being licensed and registered does not apply to them.
The company is basically anonymous as they use free website hosting, free E-mail services (yahoo, Google, hotmail, gmail, etc.) instead of paying for a secure website or having an E-mail address with the company's name in the address.
Your contact person only has a first name and is using a free E-mail address, not one using the company name.
The company has no physical address, phone number, or contact information of any kind.
The company is saying the returns are high yield, but there is little or no risk.
They say your principal (amount you give them) investment is "guaranteed," or they promise a "guaranteed" rate of return.
They say they need to stay below the radar of law enforcement agencies.
They say the investment is special, that has only been available to the rich or wealthy until now.
They say the program is only available to a select few.
They say the program is a private investment and does not require to be licensed or registered.
Failure to provide financial statements, a prospectus, or details of the investment.
Any investment that requires only a small administrative fee, but promises a large return, i.e.: a $30 administrative fee, but will pay you $50,000.
The program is promoted as finally allowing the little guy to obtain the same financial products that until now were only available to the rich or super wealthy.
They claim the program is registered offshore (outside the United States), and therefore is not subject to the SEC Rules and Regulations. If they solicit U.S. Citizens (even if just one) they are subject to the SEC Rules and Regulations. See our Alerts & Hot Topics link Myths of Offshore Corporations for full details.
Some simple ways to help protect yourself against Identity Theft
1.  The next time you order checks, have only your initials (instead of first name) and last name put on them. If someone steals your checkbook, they will not know if you sign your name with your initials or your first name. Your bank will know how you sign your name, but a thief will not take the chance of trying to guess. Also a good idea for your personal credit cards.
2.  Do not sign the back of your credit cards. Instead put: "PHOTO ID REQUIRED."
3.  When you are writing checks to pay on your credit card account, DO NOT put the complete account number on the "FOR" line. Instead just put the last four digits of your card number. The credit card company knows the other numbers to your card.
4.  Put your work phone number on your checks instead of your home phone number. Never have your social security number printed on your checks.
5.  Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine, and make copies of both sides of your license, credit cards, etc.. You will know what you had in your wallet and all of the account numbers and phone numbers to call and cancel. Keep these in a safe place, but obviously not in your wallet. Also keep a copy of your Passport as well.
6.  When you check out of a hotel that uses cards for keys (most do today), do not turn the keys in or just leave in your hotel room. Take them with you and destroy them. These card keys contain all the information you gave the hotel when you registered including your address, credit card number and expiration date, as well as your credit card 3 digit security code number. Someone with a card reader, or employee of the hotel can access all your information with no problem whatsoever.
7.  Do not remove your credit card/debit card from your wallet while you are standing in line waiting to check out. Anyone near you with a cell phone can take a picture of your card information. Wait until you are at the register before removing it from your wallet or purse.
8.  Do not toss your sales receipt in the nearest trash cans. Instead keep them until you get home. Besides if you have to return an item, you will need the receipt for the refund. If you no longer need the receipt, tear it up in multiple pieces and put it in your trash can.
9.  Burn or shred, with a cross shredder, any mail or financial papers with your personal information on it. Never recycle them.
10.  Ask credit card companies to stop sending pre-approved credit card applications to your house. They are ticking identity theft time bombs.
11.  Ask your credit card firm to cease delivery of "convenience checks."
12.  You are entitled to one free credit report each year. Get it as soon as possible. Order a credit report a month or more before you make a big purchase or apply for credit. This will help ensure there are no surprises in your credit history.
13.  Limit the number of credit cards you hold, and religiously inspect your financial statements each month. Consumer rights quickly fade over time; the sooner you discover an identity theft incident, the better.
14.  Just hang up on telemarketers, particularly ones who seem to be fishing for personal information, like your birthday.
15.  It's impossible to tell what's real and what's fake, online. Just delete any e-mail that asks for personal information.
What to do if you have your credit cards, wallet or purse stolen
1.  File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where you wallet, purse or credit cards were stolen. It proves to creditors you were diligent, and this is the first step towards an investigation.
2.  Call the three credit card reporting agencies immediately to report the theft of your cards, and to have a fraud alert placed on all your cards and Social Security number. Keep these numbers with you, but not in your wallet or purse. You might want to consider a 3x5 card in your glove box, center console with these numbers, or on your cell phone contacts:  Equifax: 800-525-6285; Experian: 888-397-3742; Trans Union: 800-680-7289; and Social Security Administration (Fraud Line): 800-269-0271.
3.  Of course call your credit card companies and report the theft. You can go online to the credit card company's website to obtain the number to call to report a stolen credit card.
If you take these simple steps, you can help protect yourself against Identity Theft. You can never protect yourself 100%, but these tips help reduce the ability for your identity to be stolen. By doing the 3 most important steps after you have had your wallet, purse or credit cards stolen can help minimize the damage caused by this theft.
Since many people do online banking today, including paying bills, money transfers, credit card payments, purchasing goods and services, we expose ourselves to a much greater chance of identity theft. Always look for a retailer's security stamp indicating you are on a secure server. This just simply means you have greater protection against identity theft by this retailer, credit card company, bank, or whomever you are dealing with in which you are giving out your personal data.

343-354 Lynn Edgington.

358-408 Bruce Wilkinson, (brucewilkinson.com) best-selling author of more than 60 books, including his huge hit The Prayer of Jabez, which remains the fastest selling book in history now with over 20 million copies in print, is out with his latest entitled You Were Born For This:  7 Keys to a Life of Predictable Miracles (youwerebornforthis.com).

413-423Bruce Wilkinson

428-437Charles Kesler is a senior fellow of the Claremont Institute, editor of the Claremont Review of Books (claremont.org) and professor of government at Claremont McKenna College (cmc.edu).  And, one of my favorite professors in grad school!
• The Claremont Institute's California Public Policy Conference will be hosting Governor Mitt Romney as their keynote speaker on December 5, 2009, at the Island Hotel in Newport Beach.  Former Secretary of Education Bill Bennett will also be there, along with best-selling author Joel Kotkin.  To view the agenda click here, for information and registration click here.

• Victor Davis Hanson (11/19/09) Circling Sharks Smell American Blood: America should keep quieter abroad — and try finding a bigger stick.

Just like the original 2,032-page, government-run health care plan from Speaker Nancy Pelosi's (D-CA), Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's (D-NV) massive, 2,074-page bill would levy a new "abortion premium" fee on Americans in the government-run plan.
Beginning on line 7, p. 118, section 1303 under "Voluntary Choice of Coverage of Abortion Services" the Health and Human Services Secretary is given the authority to determine when abortion is allowed under the government-run health plan.  Leader Reid's plan also requires that at least one insurance plan offered in the Exchange covers abortions (line 13, p. 120).
What is even more alarming is that a monthly abortion premium will be charged of all enrollees in the government-run health plan.  It's right there beginning on line 11, page 122, section 1303, under "Actuarial Value of Optional Service Coverage."  The premium will be paid into a U.S. Treasury account – and these federal funds will be used to pay for the abortion services.
Section 1303(a)(2)(C) describes the process in which the Health Benefits Commissioner is to assess the monthly premiums that will be used to pay for elective abortions under the government-run health plan and for those who are given an affordability credit to purchase insurance coverage that includes abortion through the Exchange.  The Commissioner must charge at a minimum $1 per enrollee per month.
• Andrew McCarthy (11/18/09) Holder's Testimony.
• Andrew McCarthy (11/18/09) As Usual, Holder Undone by Holder.

• CNSNews (11/19/09) HHS Secretary Says Never Mind Those New Breast Cancer Screening Guidelines Made By an HHS Advisory Panel.

443-452 Charles Kesler

458-508Pete McKenzie, he is a part of The Influencers (influencerswest.org), which is a Christian missions team focused on men to help them grow in their intimacy with Jesus Christ.  They have Prayer Warrior Team Gatherings every 3rd Sunday  of the month from 3:30-5:30pm at Light of Christ Lutheran Church in Irvine, near Sanburg and Culver.  Pete will be teaching at Operation Andrew on Friday, December 11th and Saturday, December 12th, in San Juan Capistrano.

512-523Pete McKenzie

TH 524 – [2:00] Don Rohde (818) 262-2092.  For the past 37 years, Don has been a sales manager at Galpin, the #1 volume Ford dealer in the world for the past 19 consecutive years.  Galpin has been family-owned and operated for the past 59 years, and 90% of their business is repeat or referral.  Galpin offers Ford, Lincoln-Mercury, Honda, Mazda, Saturn, Volvo, Jaguar, and Aston Martin.  Located in the heart of the San Fernando Valley at Roscoe and the 405.
528-538(2:36) Forgiveness (NBC News 4 Nashville @ 11/18/09) Jennifer Thompson has been forgiven for falsely accusing Ronald Cotton of rape and sending him to 11 years of prison.  The two have written a best-selling book together called "Picking Cotton."
• NBC News (11/18/09) Man Wrongly Imprisoned For Rape Forgives Accuser.  What's your forgiveness story?  What have you been forgiven of?  Ever falsely accuse an innocent person?  What's that guilt feel like when you found out?  Did you ever get their forgiveness?  The does the Bible teach us to "forgive and forget?"  Has the cancer of unforgiveness ever afflicted you?  Forgiveness is basically surrendering your right to retaliation or revenge, it is not restoration, nor is it reconciliation.
544-554 Calls
558-608Calls
612-623Calls
628-638Calls
644-652 – • NewsBusters (11/19/09) Fox-TV Mocks Fox News: Heartless Christian Dad on 'Glee' Is a Glenn Beck Fan.  Glee/TV Watchers: Are you upset about how Christians are portrayed on TV or do you think we deserve it?
• Guardian News (11/18/09) Canadian parents win legal battle against homework.  Calls from parents and teachers: Do you agree with these parents- is homework completely useless or counterproductive?


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