Eliminate Scammers
This time of year, inboxes become loaded with gift guides, deals and coupons. Phones are buzzing with holiday promotions, and we’re being robo-called around the clock. A select few of these promotions might be wanted, but the majority are flagrant spam. How did they get your email address and phone number in the first place?
The most likely answer is data brokers. These companies make big money collecting personal information and selling it in bulk. They are using and selling your personal data, including your home address, Social Security number, phone number — and a lot more.
Now the good news: You can do something about it. Before Black Friday spam madness hits, try Incogni for $6.50 a month. I did, and it took me three minutes to go through the process. Now, my info is totally wiped out of 74 different people-search databases and counting. That would have taken me hours to do on my own. Don’t wait! Use code KIM60 today to get an exclusive 60 percent discount, from $77.88 to $46.73 for a whole year!
Google’s new price search tricks
Google says 23 percent of people procrastinate on gift-giving because it’s difficult to find deals (no kidding). Try this:
• Go to Google and type in shop deals (or just click that link).
• A different type of search page will pop up with categories you can explore.
• Look for nifty lil’ tags that say “43 percent off,” “Low price” or “Usually $500” to give you an idea of what’s a good deal.
If you know you’re getting your nephew a Chromebook for college, type “shop deals Chromebook” and Google will show results focused on Chromebooks. It’s not a perfect system, but it’s sweet when you’re first looking for a specific product.
I use the app Honey for anything I buy online. To get started, download the Honey extension in your browser. After you install it, choose an item you want Honey to watch for and go to the product page on the merchant’s site. To add an item to your Drop list, click on Honey’s “h” icon. Scroll down in the Honey Tips window and click Add to Drop list. If an item has multiple options (size, colors, condition, etc.), pick one. Then click Save Item, and Honey will track that product. I give Honey a high hive!
Try Camelcamelcamel for Amazon deals
What a name, right? Camelcamelcamel exists solely to track Amazon deals. Signup for a free account, and you can follow the price and get alerts for any product on Amazon.
Fraud with Personal Checks
Checks are old school, but these fraudsters are sophisticated. Criminals get into U.S. postal boxes and pick up envelopes that look like they contain checks or bill payments. Through check washing, a crook then alters the payee’s name so they can cash it for themselves. Some criminals take things a step further and use data from checks to find more information on their victims. They create fake identities, open credit lines, or even start bogus businesses. If you need to write a check, use a security pen, aka a special check-washing pen. The uniball 207 series pens use formulated ink that bonds to paper, making it difficult for criminals to wash or erase it from checks. This is the only pen I use when writing checks (amazon 4-pack $10).
Definition of the day
Scamming is the use of some dishonest means to deprive someone of their money, property or legal rights.

Janis Weber, B.A., owner of Ohio Computer Training & Support, is a professional computer adjunct instructor. E-mail any specific questions or comments to JwPCtutor@Gmail.com or contact her for assistance at 419-290-3570. Private tutoring and repairs are just a phone call, text, or email away. New computers and printer issues are her specialty. Check her out on The Sylvania Advantage Website, titled Computer 101 for past articles.