Fw: Attorney General's News Briefs

----- Original Message -----
From: "AGNews" <AGNews@oag.state.fl.us>
To: "AGNews" <AGNews@oag.state.fl.us>
Sent: Friday, December 09, 2005 12:33 PM
Subject: Attorney General's News Briefs

>
>
>
>
> This week's edition of the Attorney General's newsletter News Briefs is
> now available for subscribers.
>
> Please click the web address below to view the current issue.
> December 9, 2005 - Volume 3, Issue 49:
> http://myfloridalegal.com/NewsBrie.nsf/OL/JPEK-6JTKHE
>
> Please do not hit Reply to send a message to Attorney General
> Crist or the Attorney General's Office. This email address cannot
> receive incoming messages. If you wish to contact the Attorney
> General's Office, please go to
> http://myfloridalegal.com/contact.nsf/contact?Open&Section=News_Letter&Subject=NB
>
> and use the convenient Contact Form provided there. Thank you.
>
> The text version of the e-Newsletter is below.
>
>
> Message from Attorney General Charlie Crist
>
>
> One year ago, I hosted Florida’s first-ever Identity Theft Summit, a
> forum for leaders in commerce, law enforcement and government to come
> together to develop new strategies dealing with our state’s foremost
> emerging crime.
>
> With the holiday shopping season upon us - a time when both malls and
> cyberspace become target-rich environments for ID thieves - we
> convened the second annual summit this week to chart our progress and
> continue formulating new approaches. As this year’s gathering made
> clear, the past year has been filled with developments both hopeful
> and worrisome.
>
> Floridians should be pleased about a recent ID theft law that provides
> tougher penalties for those who fraudulently use another's personal
> identification information. A new law also requires businesses to
> provide notice whenever they experience breaches of system security,
> if they maintain computerized data that includes personal information.
>
> Florida also fell from fifth to sixth in the nation in the number of
> ID theft victims per 100,000 residents, according to the most recent
> statistics. However, the actual number of Florida ID theft victims
> who filed complaints with the federal government last year climbed
> almost 14 percent, to 16,062.
>
> Just like with shoplifting, we all pay a price for identity theft -
> even if you are not a victim, you are sure to pay more for everything
> you buy because of the money businesses lose to ID thieves.
> Individuals who are the targets of these thieves are actually
> victimized twice - by having their money or resources stolen, and also
> through the theft of their good name.
>
> That’s why it is vitally important the Florida consumers take the
> necessary steps to keep themselves from becoming the next victim of
> identity theft, particularly during the holiday shopping season.
>
> Among the steps you can take to protect yourself and your personal
> information:
>
> - In stores, don't take out credit cards until you get to the register,
> to keep observers from copying down the numbers on your card.
>
> - Don’t leave your credit card exposed to someone who appears to be
> using a cell phone. Many newer cells phones are capable of taking
> pictures, and some ID thieves use this technique to capture images of
> credit cards or other personal information.
>
> - Carry only the credit or debit cards your plan to use for holiday
> purchases. If your wallet or purse is stolen, fewer accounts will be
> affected.
>
> - When buying online, make purchases only through secure websites from
> companies you trust.
>
> - Do NOT provide your account information to anyone who calls, even if
> the person claims to be a representative of your bank, the credit card
> company or some other familiar business. This is probably not a
> legitimate request for information but is instead a scam called
> "phishing" - legitimate banks and businesses already have that
> information and don’t need to ask you for it.
>
> - Be sure to take your receipts so no one else picks them up. If you
> throw away your receipts, tear them up first.
>
> If you think you have been the victim of identity theft, call our
> Fraud Hotline at 1-866-966-7226 (1-866-9-NO-SCAM). Since we launched
> the hotline almost three years ago, it has received some 3,400 calls
> concerning identity theft. You may also visit our website at
> http://myfloridalegal.com for more information on avoiding identity
> theft
>
> At this time of year, Floridians should be free to focus on
> celebrating the season or finding the perfect gift for special friends
> and loved ones - not dealing with the aftermath of identity theft. I
> urge each of you to do your part to keep this holiday season a safe
> and happy one.
>
>
> Charlie Crist
>
>
>
>
> OTHER NEWS
>
>
> SPAM OPERATORS SHUT DOWN - The Attorney General’s Office obtained an
> important victory in the battle against illegal computer activity,
> effectively shutting down the operations of two Tampa residents. With
> a judge's entry of a consent judgment and permanent injunction, the
> first case brought under Florida's 2004 Anti-Spam statute reached a
> successful conclusion. The defendants were accused of running a bogus
> email and internet operation responsible for more than 65,000 illegal
> emails linking recipients to more than 75 different websites engaged
> in fraudulent or illegal business activities. The judgment bars the
> men from engaging in any further deceptive email and internet
> activities that violate Florida's 2004 anti-spam law, the federal
> CAN-SPAM Act or Florida's Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act.
> They will be subject to a potential $1.1-million penalty if they do
> not comply with the terms of the consent judgment.
>
> ACQUISITION OF CABLE GIANT - Attorney General Crist issued subpoenas
> to three of the nation's largest cable television companies, in order
> to obtain copies of documents related to the effort by Comcast and
> Time Warner to acquire customers now served by competitor Adelphia
> Communications Corp. The potential purchase of Adelphia by the two
> companies could affect at least a half-million Florida consumers.
> Adelphia, the fifth-largest cable provider in the United States, is
> looking to sell its cable systems and assets to Comcast Corporation
> and Time Warner Inc. for a total of $12.7 billion. The civil
> investigative demands issued by the Attorney General's Office ask the
> three companies to provide copies of all documents that have been or
> will be submitted to the federal government related to the Adelphia
> acquisition.
>
> CABINET COMPANY SUED - The Attorney General's Office sued two Palm
> Beach County men for unfair and deceptive trade practices stemming
> from allegations that their cabinet and countertop business took
> customers' deposits but failed to provide the requested items. The
> complaint alleges that the two owners of Counter Tops & Cabinets
> Direct, Inc., never delivered the promised services, and affidavits
> from consumers reflect that victims were cheated out of more than
> $175,000 in deposits. The Attorney General's Office launched an
> investigation into the company in August after receiving numerous
> complaints from consumers, many of whom had waited more than seven
> months and never received their cabinets or counter tops.
>
>
>
>
> NEWS RELEASES
>
>
> Consumer Alert - Crist Cautions Holiday Shoppers to Prevent ID Theft
>
> Attorney General Convenes 2nd Annual Identity Theft Conference
>
> Crist Issues Civil Subpoenas in Adelphia Cable TV Sale
>
> Crist: Judgment Ends Duo’s Illegal Spam, Internet Operations
>
> Attorney General Sues Cabinet Company for $175,000 Fraud
>
>
>
>
> NEWS CLIPS OF INTEREST
>
>
> Business, government leaders tackle identity theft issues at summit
>
> Crist subpoenas 3 companies about Adelphia deal
>
> Two Tampa men fined under state's antispam law
>
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> http://myfloridalegal.com/NewsBrie.nsf/Subscriber
>
> Thank you.

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