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Table of Contents

1. Editor's Musings
2. `Tis The Season by James Dimmitt
3. Recommended
4. Internet Sites Reviewed
5. Freebies and Other Good Deals
6. Joke of the Week

1. Editor's Musings

Happy Thanksgiving to our US neighbors.

In today's article, James Dimmitt gives us tips for safe holiday shopping. The article is timely. Yesterday a man notified me that his credit card had been used fraudulently to purchase items from my web site. Naturally, I refunded his money promptly, and he notified the credit card company to discontinue his card. Apparently the card company told him that the chances of catching the culprit are slim. The world is not short of scumbags so self protection is where its at.

As I mentioned last week, I'm leaving for a vacation to the Antarctica. I have just realized that I'll be flying out of two US airports on Thanksgiving Day - not the best of planning.

The next edition of The Roundup will definitely not be out on schedule. I'll do my best to publish it a week later on December 14. In the meantime, have a great and productive three weeks. I'll give your regards to the penguins.

2.Article: `Tis The Season by James Dimmitt

It's the number one complaint from consumers and it only takes a moment for you to become a victim. While you search for holiday bargains, identity thieves are searching for targets - unsuspecting consumers. Here are some tips to help you safeguard your identity and other valuables:

1) Protect your account numbers - Most stores only print the last four or five digits of the charge account on your receipt. However, some stores haven't caught up with technology. If the merchant makes an impression of your charge card, be sure to ask for any carbons that are part of the receipt. "Dumpster divers" can lift account numbers from discarded carbons to steal your identity and your account information.

2) Protect Your Social Security Number - If you are asked to provide a SSN when making a purchase, challenge the cashier as to why they need this information. Request that some other form of ID be used instead of your SSN. There is no valid reason for them to request this information. You provided it when you applied for your account so they should already have this on file.

However, if you've opened a new account, don't be surprised if the cashier asks to see some form of picture ID, such as a driver's license. Don't view this as an imposition, remember that the store is actually taking steps to protect you - making sure that you are the account holder.

3) Keep an eye on your charge cards and receipts - Don't let your charge card leave your sight. Most cashiers will keep your card so that they can verify the signature on the receipt. However, sometimes they simply swipe your card, then hand it back to you or put it on the counter for you to retrieve. Check that the card you've been given back is yours and not someone else's. Occasionally, mistakes can happen, especially when the store is busy.

Also, make sure that you take your receipts with you. You'll need them to verify your purchases when your bills come in January and February.

4) Watch for pickpockets - Professional pickpockets love the holiday shopping season. Open backpacks, large shopping bags and unstrapped purses are a pickpockets dream. "Be wary of the distractions around you, because that's what the pickpockets like. They usually work in teams," said Edward Gross, a Chicago police officer. "They usually work in teams. For example, one of the team members fakes a fall and when an innocent person tries to help that's when the other pickpocket lifts the victim's wallet."

5) Use a credit card and a secure site when shopping online - Paying by credit card is the safest way to pay online. It protects your legal right to dispute charges for goods or services never received, never ordered or misrepresented.

When you get to the merchant's payment page, the "http" at the beginning of the url address should change to "https" or "shttp". This is a sign that the site is encrypting or scrambling your credit card information as you send it to them. Many browsers will even alert you of this via a pop-up window. Whenever possible, print and keep a receipt of your online transaction in case you need it later.

Happy Holidays!

© 2004, www.yourfreecreditreportnow.com. Author: James H. Dimmitt. James is editor of "TO YOUR CREDIT", a weekly free newsletter to help you manage your personal finances. Subscribe to the newsletter by visiting www.yourfreecreditreportnow.com. He is also author of "Identity Theft - How to Avoid Becoming the Next Victim!" available at http://tinyurl.com/bc45

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4. Internet Sites -- reviewed by June Campbell

*** Worst Toy List for 2004
Make sure the toys you give this season are safe. The ones on this list are not.

*** Bandwidth Speed Test
Check your bandwidth speed at this site.

*** Google Scholar
Google's newest tool searches through scholarly documents, peered reviews papers, abstracts and theses.

*** Thanksgiving Site for Kits
Entertain the kids with this site of cool Thanksgiving games.

5. Freebies and Good Deals

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6. Joke of the Week: Biker Bar

A noticeably intoxicated man walks into a biker bar. He staggers up to a table of bikers, and facing the biggest, meanest one there, he leans over and says, "I went by your grandma's house today and I saw her in the hallway buck naked!"

The mean, vicious biker stares at him but doesn't say a word.

The drunk pushes his luck. He leans over again and says, "I had a lot of fun with your grandmother. What do you think of that?"

Still the biker says nothing. His buddies, however, are getting very agitated.

Obviously flirting with death, the drunk points his finger right in the biker's face and slurs, "An' I'll tell you won more thing. Your grandma begged me to stay there with her all night!"

The biker has finally had enough. Restraining his furious buddies, he stands up, takes the drunk by the shoulders, looks him square in the eyes and says:

"Grandpa - Go home. You're drunk!"

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