BBB Offers Advise to Protect College Students from ID Theft on Campus

Article from BBB eBridge (http://www.enewsbuilder.net/stlouisbbbnews/e_article002182100.cfm?x=bjQDrgQ,bbpnTWW3,w)

August 12, 2011 7 Tips To Guard Against ID Theft On Campus As college students prepare to head back to campus in the next few weeks, fighting fraud may not be at the top of their list of priorities. College students are susceptible to identity theft, however, and the BBB recommends that they take seven simple steps to protect themselves on campus. “Identity thieves don’t care if you’re a struggling student and don’t have a penny to your name,” said Michelle L. Corey, BBB President and CEO. “Sometimes all they want is to exploit your clean credit record. By establishing good habits for monitoring and detecting fraud, students can lay a path for healthy financial practices for the rest of their lives.” Last year, 8.1 million American adults became victims of ID theft, with losses totaling $37 billion, according to a report from Javelin Strategy and Research. Young adults aged 18-24 are among the last to detect identity theft when compared to other age groups. It took them 132 days on average to spot it, and their average loss was roughly five times more than the amount lost by other age groups. The BBB recommends that college-bound students take the following seven steps to fight identity theft on campus: Send sensitive mail to your parents’ home or a post office box. School mailboxes are not always secure and often can be accessed easily in a dorm or apartment. Important documents should be stored under lock and key. This includes your Social Security card, passport and bank and credit card statements. Shred credit card offers and any paper documents that have sensitive financial information rather than just tossing them out. Never lend your credit or debit card to anyone. Just say no if your friend wants to borrow your card or asks you to co-sign for a loan or financing for items like a TV. Make sure your computer has up-to-date antivirus and anti-spyware software. Always install any updates and patches to your computer’s operating system or browser software, which help keep your computer safe from any new advances by identity thieves online. Always check your credit or debit card statements closely for any suspicious activity. The sooner you identify any potential fraud, the less you’ll suffer in the long run. Check out unfamiliar websites with the BBB. Look for the BBB Accredited Business seal along with other trust seals; click on the seals to confirm that they are legitimate. Check your credit report at least once a year. You are entitled to one free report a year from each of the three reporting bureaus: TransUnion, Experian and Equifax. Look for any suspicious activity or inaccuracies. You can do this for free by visiting www.annualcreditreport.com. For more advice on fighting fraud and managing personal finances, visit www.bbb.org or call 314-645-3300.

Published by Better Business Bureau Copyright © 2011 BBB Serving Eastern Missouri and Southern Illinois. All rights reserved.

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FTC Charges Marketers with Tricking People Who Applied for Payday Loans

FTC Charges Marketers with Tricking People Who Applied for Payday Loans; Used Bank Account Information to Charge Consumers for Unwanted Programs

At the request of the Federal Trade Commission, a federal court has halted an online operation that allegedly debited consumers’ bank accounts without their consent when consumers visited the defendants’ websites seeking payday loans. The court also froze the defendants’ assets, pending further court proceedings. As part of its continuing efforts to protect financially strapped consumers during the economic downturn, the FTC seeks to permanently stop the illegal practices and make the defendants refund consumers’ money.

According to the FTC’s complaint, the defendants’ websites, such as mypaydayangel.com and juniperloans.com, asked for consumers’ personal and financial information, such as social security, driver license, and bank account numbers. Near the end of the application form, the defendants offered unrelated “Direct Benefits” and “Voice Net” programs for food, travel and merchandise discounts, or for long distance calling and Internet access. Many consumers who clicked to “submit” a payday loan application were enrolled unwittingly into the programs, which initially charged their bank accounts up to $59.90 per month, and later charged up to $99.90 per year. Consumers often did not notice the program offers, and some people who declined the offers were charged for the programs anyway, the FTC alleged.

As alleged in the complaint, the defendants sent consumers’ bank account information to Landmark Clearing Inc. and other payment processors to electronically generate remotely created payment orders that debited consumers’ bank accounts. Consumers typically discovered the problem when an unexpected debit appeared on their bank statement, or when their bank told them their account was overdrawn. They learned that Direct Benefits or Voice Net received the payments only after they contacted their bank or saw an online copy of the payment order. Consumers who called the defendants for a refund often got the run-around. Many consumers had to dispute the transaction or close their bank accounts to get a refund or stop the defendants from debiting their accounts.

The defendants are charged with violating the FTC Act by obtaining consumers’ bank account information and debiting their accounts without their consent, and failing to adequately disclose that, in addition to using consumers’ financial information for a payday loan application, they would use it to charge consumers for enrollment in unrelated programs and services.

The FTC complaint names Direct Benefits Group LLC, also doing business as Direct Benefits Online and Unified Savings; Voice Net Global LLC, also doing business as Thrifty Dial; Solid Core Solutions Inc.; WKMS Inc.; Kyle Wood; and Mark Berry.

The Commission vote authorizing the staff to file the complaint was 5-0. The complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida.

NOTE: The Commission files a complaint when it has “reason to believe” that the law has been or is being violated, and it appears to the Commission that a proceeding is in the public interest. The complaint is not a finding or ruling that the defendant has actually violated the law. The case will be decided by the court.

The Federal Trade Commission works for consumers to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them.

Give Your Children the Building Blocks to Home Ownership

Give Your Children the Building Blocks to Home Ownership
7 Steps to a Solid Beginning
By Elizabeth Rose, CMPS, Speaker, Coach and Trainer



Owning a home is not only the American Dream, it is considered the strategic piece of a personal financial portfolio. According to the Federal Reserve Bank VIP Forum, people who own homes have greater net worth than those who rent.

As they grow older, kids often assume they will own a home without giving it much consideration. Sometimes they imagine they will own a home just like Mom and Dad's, not realizing it took their parents many years of hard work and financial discipline to become homeowners.

Homeownership requires discipline, effort, commitment, responsibility, and accountability, and yet our educational system does not always provide our children with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the process, much less lay the groundwork in advance so they are mortgage-ready when the time comes. This begs the question: What can we, as parents, do to help our kids avoid some of our own mistakes and prepare them for the largest financial transaction in their adult life?

The Latin derivative of the word "education" means "to bring forth from within," which is predicated on the idea that we all have it within us to learn and grow. But where do we start helping our children learn and grow in the area of homeownership? What exactly do our children need to know now, especially as teenagers and college students, so they'll be prepared and financially-able when they want to buy a home?

The following suggestions will help you start a dialogue with your children, and provide them with the tools they need to get a jump-start on the path to "mortgage-readiness."

1. Think about the timing. Tell your children to really be sure about when they want to own a home, and then advise them to work toward it. If they're not intentional about getting there someday, they won't. Simple as that.
   
   
2. Get a job. Tell your children to consider getting a job during school, even a part-time job. They will need money to buy a house, but they also need a steady employment history, so they should start building up their resume as soon as possible. This will also be helpful when the time comes to secure a permanent position in their field of study. FHA loans, in many circumstances, will accept a college transcript as a component of employment history. However, your children will need the "ability to repay" which comes from steady fulltime employment.
   
   
3. Create a budget. And stick to it! Explain that their budget should be detailed enough to account for all the income and outflow each month...even the Friday night date or pizza night with friends. Also, remind them to be careful with the debit card and don't forget to record the entries into their log. The challenge with using a debit card is that we feel good since we are paying with "cash." However the convenience of the plastic cash leads to temptation to spend money you might not otherwise spend. Last, tell them to include an emergency cash fund in their budget for unforeseen expenses. Many people fail to do this and it is a great practice to begin early in adult life. The key here is for your children to be conscious of their spending.
   
   
4. Build up your credit score. Suggest that your child get a credit card or two, but no more than that, and stick to a Visa or Mastercard. Also suggest that they avoid department store cards as they can be hazardous! They often carry higher interest rates and tempt people to buy things they don't really need. Your children should routinely charge small transactions on their Visa or Mastercard to keep the account reporting as "active." However, stress to them the importance of paying off the balance monthly when possible, and being cautious in carrying a balance over an extended period of time. Other advice to pass on: Strive to keep your balances below 18% of the credit limit at all times. Maintain tight control over your spending and your accounts. When you make your payments, be sure they are on time as a late payment can hurt you. Ignoring your financial obligations will always get you into trouble and will lower your credit score. The purpose of the cards is not to build up debt–that's the opposite of what you want. Your goal is to create a history that will indicate to creditors your degree of responsibility in managing your debt. Responsible use of the cards over time will provide you with a healthy credit score, which is critical if you plan to purchase a home.
   
   
5. Minimize student loan borrowing, if possible. If it is necessary for your children to obtain student loans for their education, borrow the smallest amount you can get by with. Paying back student loans can help build their credit as well, but the monthly payments (which are initially deferred) will come due when they graduate. The monthly payments will be calculated as liabilities when qualifying for a mortgage, which will reduce their purchasing power. Also, remind your children not to use their loan money to buy a laptop, new phone, or pizza. They should keep themselves financially lightweight.
   
   
6. Learn about home finance and real estate. Obtaining a mortgage and purchasing a home are not simple things and can be emotional and stressful. There's a lot to learn and many questions will arise, such as: What is involved in qualifying for a mortgage? What kind of down payment is required? What other money is needed for the transaction? How long should I keep the house before I sell it? Are property values increasing or decreasing in my area? Tell your children to learn about the process and the lingo. You could even suggest they talk to your mortgage professional to learn some great things they can do now so they're in a good position when they are ready to buy a home. You could even work with your children to stay up-to-date on the industry, and consider reading a book or two on the subject together. It will help them immensely down the road.
   
   
7. Learn basic maintenance. One of the costs associated with homeownership is maintenance. Keeping a home well maintained is vital to keeping expenses down in the long term and will make it easier to sell later. Help your children learn how to make minor home repairs, which will save them a hefty amount of money as a homeowner.

And last but not least...tell your children to save, save, save! Whether they buy used books, drive an older car, or skip spring break, they should save a percentage of what they earn (for instance, save one out of every three dollars). Also, be sure to model that savings behavior for your children, as kids often mimic what they see rather than just do what they're told.

A great guideline for saving can be found in one of the greatest financial books of all time, The Richest Man in Babylon. Author George S. Clason says, "Gold cometh gladly and in increasing quantity to any man who will put by not less than one-tenth of his earnings to create an estate for his future and that of his family." This timeless classic reminds us to pay ourselves first and sock away ten percent of our earnings for the future.

The bottom line is that the American Dream is still alive and well. There is no secret recipe. It's a matter of spending and saving wisely and learning the necessary steps to mortgage readiness. If you have any questions about your personal situation, contact the professional who supplied you with this month's issue of YOU Magazine. Take the first step now to set your children on the path to home ownership.

Elizabeth Rose is a Certified Mortgage Planning Specialist and self-proclaimed economic enthusiast. As a national speaker, she provides training and mentoring to mortgage professionals across the U.S.

Choosing the Perfect Preschool for Your Infant

Yikes, Is It Time to Go Back to Work Already?
Choosing the Perfect Preschool for Your Infant
By Blythe Lipman, Author, Help! My Baby Came Without Instructions



Finding the perfect preschool for your infant can be really scary. How can you possibly trust another person with your precious bundle? You will be looking for a school where the infant care is the best, the school the cleanest, and the teachers experienced, warm and fuzzy.

Does this really exist? And how will you know when you've found that perfect place? A place that makes you feel totally comfortable as you drop off your baby each morning. A school that will provide your baby with the love, nurturing and care she needs. That will be the perfect substitute when you can't be with her.

The following checklist should help make your decision a little easier. Print it out and take it with you. And don't be afraid to ask any question. Nothing is off limits when it concerns your baby.

Pre-School Interview Checklist
When you call for an appointment, does the director speak to you?	Yes ____	No ____
What is the director's policy for having you visit the school?	Yes ____	No ____
Does the director keep you waiting more than a few minutes when you arrive?	Yes ____	No ____
Does the director give you all the time you need to talk about the program and answer all your questions?	Yes ____	No ____
Does the director show you the school's Mission Statement?	Yes ____	No ____
Does the director give you a booklet containing information about the school?	Yes ____	No ____
Will the director supply you with references?	Yes ____	No ____
At first glance, does the preschool look clean?	Yes ____	No ____
Does it smell clean?	Yes ____	No ____
Is the preschool licensed by the state?	Yes ____	No ____
If no, why not? _________________________________________________________
Does the school do a background check before hiring a teacher?	Yes ____	No ____
What kind of experience do the teachers have? ________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________
The Infant Room
Is the infant room clean?	Yes ____	No ____
Are the electric outlets covered?	Yes ____	No ____
Do the cabinets have childproof locks on them?	Yes ____	No ____
Do you see any cleaning spray bottles sitting on the counters?	Yes ____	No ____
Do you see anything that would be dangerous lying around in a baby's reach?	Yes ____	No ____
Are the counters clean and uncluttered?	Yes ____	No ____
Are the diaper changing tables clean?	Yes ____	No ____
Are there gloves available for diaper changing?	Yes ____	No ____
Is there a crib for each baby?	Yes ____	No ____
Are the cribs in good condition? (Test to see that they are not wobbly or have any loose screws.)	Yes ____	No ____
Are there enough high chairs or a feeding table for mealtimes?	Yes ____	No ____
Are there enough swings, ExerSaucers, bouncy seats, teething toys, strollers, etc. available for the babies?	Yes ____	No ____
Is the above equipment in good condition?	Yes ____	No ____
Are the toys and equipment age appropriate?	Yes ____	No ____
Are the toys and equipment cleaned with bleach water each day?	Yes ____	No ____
Is there a bin to put dirty toys that get used during the day? (For dropped toys, or toys that other babies chew on.)	Yes ____	No ____
Is there happy music playing in the room or lullabies if it is naptime?	Yes ____	No ____
Is there a fire exit door with a sign posted above it?	Yes ____	No ____
Does the room look like a place that your baby could have fun, explore and blossom?	Yes ____	No ____
Do you have an overall good feeling about the room?	Yes ____	No ____
_____________________________________________________________________
Staff
Is there one child care provider for every four babies?	Yes ____	No ____
Do the same caregivers take care of the babies each day?	Yes ____	No ____
Do different teachers come in for the late shift (3:00-6:00pm)?	Yes ____	No ____
Do they have CPR and First Aid Certification?	Yes ____	No ____
Are the caregivers friendly and eager to tell you about themselves and the program?	Yes ____	No ____
Do the caregivers act in a professional manner?	Yes ____	No ____
Do the caregivers look clean and neat and are they dressed appropriately?	Yes ____	No ____
Are the caregivers warm and responsive to your baby when you visit?	Yes ____	No ____
Do the caregivers know what to do if a baby is choking?	Yes ____	No ____
Do the caregivers tell you about the daily activities?	Yes ____	No ____
Does the school do a background check before hiring a teacher?	Yes ____	No ____
Do the caregivers take the babies outside, play music, do tummy time, etc.?	Yes ____	No ____
Do the caregivers have specialists that come in for music, movement, etc.?	Yes ____	No ____
Do the caregivers send home daily reports?	Yes ____	No ____
Do the caregivers want to know your baby's schedule at home?	Yes ____	No ____
Do they want to know how you soothe your baby when she is irritable or crying?	Yes ____	No ____
What is their illness policy?	Yes ____	No ____
Are there conferences or just daily check-ins?	Yes ____	No ____
Are you allowed to talk directly with the teacher by phone or just the director if you need to call? ____________________________________________________________________
What are their rules for visiting your baby at school? ____________________________________________________________________
What is the policy for drop-off and pick-up? ____________________________________________________________________
If someone else needs to pick up your baby, do they need a special card, password, driver's license, etc.? ____________________________________________________________________
Do they use the same substitutes all the time? (So they know the babies and their schedules.) ____________________________________________________________________
Do you have an overall good feeling about the caregivers and the infant room?	Yes ____	No ____
____________________________________________________________________

Blythe's Final Thoughts:

If you like the preschool, drop in unannounced.

Before you make a decision, call with any questions.

If you get the cold shoulder or you feel like they are too busy and you are unimportant...
FIND ANOTHER PRESCHOOL

Once your child is enrolled, if you are told you can't visit anytime...
FIND ANOTHER PRESCHOOL

If the facility looks, smells or feels dirty...
FIND ANOTHER PRESCHOOL

If the caregivers are dressed inappropriately...
FIND ANOTHER PRESCHOOL

If the staff seems unhappy and not having fun...
FIND ANOTHER PRESCHOOL

Would you feel good leaving your baby at this preschool each day?
Yes___ No___

If you feel great about the preschool then sign the papers. But if something feels amiss, even if you can't figure out what it is, go with your intuition, it's usually right!

Above all, you want to be able to enjoy watching your baby blossom and grow in her new environment knowing you made the right decision.

Blythe Lipman is the president of Baby Instructions. She is passionate about babies, toddlers and their parents. After working in the field for over twenty-five years, she wrote her third award-winning book, Help! My Baby Came Without Instructions, which is available at www.babyinstructions.com. You can hear Blythe's weekly radio show on Wednesdays, 11:00 a.m. EST at www.toginet.com. Blythe is available for in-home, video and telephone consultations. © Blythe Lipman 2011.

Making the Most of the Summer Harvest

You Say Tomato...
Making the Most of the Summer Harvest
By Kirk Leins



For tomato lovers everywhere, the summer months mark the time of year when this wonderful fruit is at its absolute tastiest. Whether a summertime tomato is harvested from a backyard garden or purchased from a quality purveyor, it is simply one of the finest fresh ingredients available to nearly every home chef.

What is a Tomato?
Scientifically speaking, a tomato is a fruit and not a vegetable. This is because a true fruit is developed from the ovary in the base of the plant's flower and contains the edible seeds of the plant. Carrots, broccoli, and lettuce develop differently as they do not have seeds within the part we eat and are therefore considered vegetables.

Within the plant world, tomatoes are members of the nightshade family (Solanaceae). While the nightshade family is responsible for other healthy offerings – such as potatoes, eggplant, and peppers – it also includes some very toxic plants like the deadly nightshade (belladonna). It's a high concentration of alkaloids that makes belladonna, as well as the green foliage of most nightshade plants, so dangerous.

The irony here is that the production of alkaloids is a normal biochemical activity for most plants. Alkaloids contain nitrogen and actually help protect plants from being completely devoured by insects. The good news is when it comes to the food produced by nightshades, the alkaloid level is relatively low. However, these low levels do explain some people's aversion to the aforementioned nightshade foods.

If you are sensitive to these types of foods, I recommend eating them in smaller doses and only when they are ripe. Ripening, along with cooking, dramatically reduces these already low alkaline levels. This probably explains why some people could never eat a raw green bell pepper but have no problem when a red bell pepper (a more ripened version) is sautéed in olive oil or fire-roasted over a hot grill.

Types of Tomatoes
There are literally thousands of different cultivars of tomatoes. Not to digress but the word "cultivar" is actually a portmanteau, or combination of the words "cultivated" and "variety." In plain English, cultivar simply refers to one variety of any cultivated plant.

Like many other plants, each tomato cultivar grows better in specific climates as well as during specific times of the year. As opposed to attempting to break down every cultivar, I thought I'd take a few moments to talk about a few broader tomato classifications.

Cherry and Grape Tomatoes
At one end of the size spectrum, we have cherry tomatoes and their diminutive cousin, the grape tomato. Averaging 2 to 3 centimeters in diameter, these tomatoes are widely available and extremely underrated. Many versions are actually sold still on the vine. They generally have an outstanding sweet, tomato taste and are perfect for many different salads. I'll show you one of my favorite salads later in the article.

Beefsteak Tomatoes
On the other end of the spectrum are beefsteak tomatoes that exceed 10 centimeters in diameter. These tomatoes, along with various smaller classifications, are also widely available but oftentimes lackluster in quality. The reason for this mediocrity has to do with modern technology.

Tomatoes in general go from perfectly ripe to rotten very quickly. So quickly, in fact, that it is very hard for large growers to transport their tomatoes without the fruit going south. For many, the solution is to pick the tomatoes while they're still green and then ripen them artificially in an ethylene bath. This practice may make the tomatoes travel better but it results in the purchase of a virtually unripe piece of fruit.

My personal solution is to buy these larger tomatoes from either quality markets where they are sold still on the vine, or from vendors who set up stands by the roadside or inside of farmer's markets. Tomatoes sold by these purveyors are not only vine-ripened, but they are also brought to market on a more regular basis and intended for quicker consumption. They are well worth any extra money they cost. But it's important to know that when it comes to great taste at a low price, nothing beats a tomato that's grown in a backyard garden.

Speaking of great taste, one classification of tomato that is turning up everywhere is known as an Heirloom. While they do vary in size and color, tomatoes tagged as Heirlooms share a few common traits. First and foremost, they must be naturally pollinated and have received no artificial genetic modifications. After that, however, there is much dispute over which tomatoes qualify. Most of the debate is either over how long the strain has been in existence, or the method in which the seeds were handed down. Regardless, if you can get your hands on Heirloom Tomatoes, I recommend doing so.

For any of these larger tomato varieties, I love slicing them thinly and using them on any burger or sandwich. My second recipe this month will be one of my favorite sandwiches featuring the tomato.

Plum Tomatoes
Tomatoes that are elongated (7-9 centimeters long and 4-5 centimeters wide) are known as plum tomatoes. These are also known as Roma tomatoes as they are popular throughout the Mediterranean. While they are tasty when allowed to vine-ripen, many stores receive their plum tomatoes on the unripe side.

Unless I can procure a high quality, fresh plum tomato, my personal preference is to buy them canned. If you want to do the same, you should look for plum tomatoes that are grown and packed in the San Marzano region of Italy, as these are some of the sweetest available. They are great for sauces, stews, and even quick blender salsas.

For the most part, when I cook with tomatoes as part of a dish, I prefer using canned rather than fresh as they produce a more consistent result. The only exception I'll make is when I have an abundance of summertime tomatoes on hand and desperately need to use them up. My last recipe will show you how to do just that.

Cherry Tomato and Cucumber Salad (Serves 3 to 4)

• 15-20 cherry or grape tomatoes, split in half lengthwise
• 1 English (hothouse) cucumber, split in half lengthwise, seeded with a spoon and cut into 1/4-inch slices
• Hand-torn basil leaves
• Crumbled goat cheese

For the dressing:

• 2 tbsp sherry vinegar
• 4 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 small shallot, minced fine or grated
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

In a large bowl, mix together all the dressing ingredients. Add cucumber slices, tomato halves, and basil leaves, and toss to combine. Taste and adjust seasonings if necessary. Allow the salad to sit at room temperature for at least one hour. Liberally scatter crumbled goat cheese on top of salad and serve.

Note: While the salad can be made ahead of time, it is at its best when eaten on the day it's made.

The Ultimate B.L.T.A. (Makes 2 sandwiches)

• 4 slices of quality bread, very lightly toasted
• 4-6 slices of quality smoked bacon, fried crisp but not overcooked
• 4-6 thick slices of heirloom tomato
• 1 ripe Haas avocado, skinned and seeded
• 2 tsp fresh lemon juice
• 2-4 whole leaves of Butterleaf lettuce
• Real mayonnaise
• Kosher Salt and freshly ground black pepper

In a bowl, combine avocado and lemon juice. Season the ingredients with salt and pepper, and mash well with a fork. Spread equal portions of avocado mixture on two slices of bread. Spread the remaining two slices of bread with mayonnaise. On the slices with the avocado, layer an equal number of tomato slices and season with salt and pepper. Top with an equal number of bacon slices, lettuce, and remaining slices of bread. Cut in half on the diagonal and serve.

Roasted Tomatoes with Shrimp and Tarragon (Serves 2 to 4)

• 1.5 lbs. medium-sized shrimp, peeled and de-veined
• 3 to 4 cups very ripe tomatoes, chopped
• 1/2 cup onion, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, chopped
• 1/4 cup Italian parsley, finely chopped (plus more for garnish)
• 1/4 cup fresh tarragon, finely chopped
• 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• A large pinch of crushed red pepper
• Salt and pepper to taste

Preheat your oven's broiler to its lowest setting. Combine all of the ingredients, except shrimp, in a gratin dish or small casserole dish. Toss to fully combine and roast for 10 minutes. Remove dish from broiler, add shrimp, and toss again. Return dish to the broiler and roast until shrimp are pinkish and opaque, approximately 4 to 5 minutes. Remove from broiler, garnish with remaining parsley, and serve along with crusty bread.

Good luck and happy tomato season!

Learning the Art of Compromising

It's My Way or the Highway
Learning the Art of Compromising
By Trevor Kerrick



Compromise is something we all face at one point in our lives. The government has been facing such a situation recently, discussing whether or not to raise the debt ceiling. While the compromises you'll approach may not be as far-reaching as the one Washington has been facing, that doesn't mean you shouldn't be prepared.

Ludwig Erhard, a German politician and the Chancellor of West Germany from 1963 through 1966, once noted that, "A compromise is the art of dividing a cake in such a way that everyone believes he has the biggest piece." Here are a few suggestions to help you learn the art of compromising.

Invite a third party to attend
Having someone else in the room to monitor the conversation can avoid some of the traction an intimate conversation brings. A neutral person doesn't give a side an unnatural advantage or outnumber the other. Think of this person as a referee, someone to make sure everything goes smoothly. Encourage this person to give you his or her thoughts–it's always helpful to get a fresh perspective on a situation you're familiar with.

Listen to the other side's argument completely
Just because you're there to present your views doesn't mean you can't listen to what the other side has to say. Perhaps they have another approach you weren't aware of, or they see a flaw in your plan that you didn't see. Recognize their concern and points before listing yours so that first, it proves you're willing to listen and conduct this compromise in a civil manner and second, that you aren't there to attack or discredit their argument. Show them the courtesy and respect of acknowledging their argument and they should respond in kind.

Don't go in expecting to win
Unless you have specific data that proves that their solution will not work, do not walk in expecting to win. If you walk in to the meeting thinking you've already won, then why go? There is a difference between confidence and arrogance, and your opponent can tell which attitude you have.

If you do have this data, simply present it without malice–don't rub it in. Remember, you're not there to attack them. Give every opportunity to show that you can conduct the conversation in a civil manner, and future conversations will go smoothly.

Don't get defensive
It's important that you take the emotion out of the meeting in order to stay impartial. Just because your position isn't as attractive as the other option does not mean you lost. When presenting your position, honestly list out the pros and cons to your solution–think big picture. If you can't accept your way, flaws and all, your opposition won't either.

Set goals and a deadline for the meeting
The last thing anyone wants is to have something like this dragged out or delayed indefinitely. Set a timetable for this issue to be solved or "Plan B" goes into effect. It's reasonable to think that both parties would like to avoid Plan B, so as long as they are aware of when the negotiations stop taking place they can reach a solution before the deadline.

Hopefully your future compromises will go smoothly with these tips. Remember it's not your way or the highway–there's more than one path to a destination!
Trevor Kerrick earned his degree in Technical Communication, with a minor in Mass Communications, from Texas Tech University. He researches and writes about communication and new media.

Advance Fee Loan Scams

Advance fee loan fraud takes advantage of the most vulnerable members of our society. These leeches often promise large unsecured loans to people who are unable to have a loan approved through traditional financial institutions, or take advantage of trusting souls with little financial experience. Armed with a smooth-as-silk sales routine and a complete lack of conscience, these scam artists often steal amounts that range from hundreds to thousands of dollars from unsuspecting consumers. Adding insult to injury, these losers often gather enough personal information from their victims to make them candidates for identity theft. Don't become a victim! Please review and share the tips below.

Loan fraud warning signs:

1.                 Be especially wary of unsolicited calls, e-mails or letters offering you a loan,

2.                 Calls about a delinquent debt from unknown numbers, claiming to represent a collection agency or cash advance company (especially if you know you have no such delinquency).

3.                 Requests for money to be sent in advance to cover "processing", "application", "insurance", or the "first month's payment" are a red flag of loan scams. Legitimate lenders NEVER ask for these things to be paid before a loan is disbursed.

4.                 Once you fall for a loan scam, the greedy thieves may ask for even more money by telling that the original amount was erroneous, insufficient upon a second look at your credit, or that you will need to send payment for a second company to complete the loan process.

5.                 Requests that you "wire" or "send" money, as soon as possible to a large U.S. city or to another country, such as Canada, England, or Nigeria, by Western Union, Moneygram, or similar means.

Have you have been scammed? Report It to:

1.                 The FTC

2.                 The FBI

3.                 Your local police (but don't automatically assume the company name and address on your documents are legitimate. Remember, the scammers use fake addresses, those of REAL companies, or random residential addresses far away, in order to hide their operation)

4.                 File fraud alerts with each of the three credit bureaus. This is necessary because the scammers typically obtain your sensitive information, such as your Social Security Number and information on your driver's license. They can use this to obtain credit in your name.

How Advance Fee Loan Scam Artists Find Their Victims

You may be on their list. If you have applied for loans lately, you can be assured that your need for financial assistance has been made known to others besides the company to which you have applied. Often, such consumer information is sold by the credit reporting agencies, passing into hands far and wide. This practice makes it easy for unscrupulous companies to find potential victims for scams like advance fee loans. Be wary of unsolicited offers promising guaranteed loan approval made by mail, phone, or email, especially if personal information is requested. Never give out any personal information, such as your social security or bank account numbers, unless it is to a trusted company with which you have initiated contact.

In other cases, the consumer may come across an advertisement that offers loans, often assuring the reader that poor credit or no credit is not a problem. Commonly appearing in classified sections of newspapers or posted on the Internet, these ads are often placed in very reputable publications or on respected web sites in an attempt to lend credibility to their claims. Others have used the names and logos of well-established financial institutions, counterfeiting their ads but inserting their own contact information, leading the consumer to believe they have placed a call to a legitimate lender.

The Typical Advance Fee Loan Scheme

There are many variations of the advance fee loan scam, but the basic steps remain the same in most of these schemes. First, the consumer is assured that they have qualified for an unsecured loan, usually for a large sum of money. Often, these consumers will be sent authentic looking documents and loan contracts to convince them that this is indeed a legitimate offer. Many times, these documents are embossed with fraudulent logos and names stolen from reputable lenders, helping to convince the consumer that this company can be trusted.

Correspondence from the scammers, including calls, emails, contracts, and letterhead, may seem very professional. This is meant to smooth away any suspicions the target of this scam may be feeling, part of the manipulation these predators practice so skillfully.

Next, the consumer is told that due to the amount of the loan or their questionable credit rating, a deposit is needed. This upfront payment is often explained away as a down payment, insurance premium, or processing fee and can range from several hundred dollars to several thousand. Generally, the scammers will then instruct the consumer to send the deposit through Western Union or Moneygram, and fax applications complete with personal and financial information to them, with the assurance that they will receive their loan very quickly after these steps are taken. Of course, the consumer receives nothing, while the scammer disappears with both the deposit and all the information needed for identity theft.

Some of these fraudulent advance fee loan companies will make repeated demands for money from their victims, convincing them that upon looking up a current credit report, their ratings require a larger deposit than was first quoted. Another common excuse is that the original lender has backed out, but for a larger fee, they can secure another loan for the consumer. With these tactics and others, scammers have often convinced consumers to send substantial sums of money three or four times before they realize they have been victimized.

Usually, by the time the consumer has given up on receiving the funds they expected, coming to the realization they have been scammed, the perpetrators have disappeared. The toll free numbers provided are disconnected or are answered by a recording or machine, the operation probably moved to a new location to stay one step ahead of the law and groom a new batch of potential victims.

No legitimate company will ask for funds in advance of a loan, nor will it ask for any fee to be wired to them directly by Western Union, Moneygram, or any other wire service. Fees incurred in a legitimate loan generally are deducted before the funds are dispersed. These requests should be a clear warning to the consumer, as should any loan company that is pressing you for an instant decision on their offer.

What to Do if You Have Fallen Prey to Advance Fee Loan Fraud

Reporting this crime is essential. Many are ashamed to admit that they have been conned by such schemes, failing to report the fraud due to embarrassment. Those that do not make these crimes known leave the door open for these predators to strike again. While reporting such crimes does not always assure that the scam artist is caught, it does raise awareness of these schemes, shrinking their pool of potential victims. Filing a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission can be done online in approximately ten minutes. This small investment of your time can help towards shutting these operations down before they victimize scores of other unsuspecting consumers.

If these criminals have collected your personal identifying information, identity theft is a serious risk. With access to information from your social security card, driver’s license, pay stubs, and bank statements, stealing your identity will be quite easy, allowing these scammers to use your credit for their own purposes. Thousands in debt could be run up in your name in a very short period. Checking your credit report every three months to monitor for fraudulent activity is a good idea under such circumstances. If there is a problem, file formal disputes with each credit bureau.