INSIDE THIS ISSUE Scam Alert Don't Fall For Free Gift Card Scams Join Us For Our Open House October 12 Two To View A Couple Of Amazing Videos You Don't Want To Miss This Month's FAQ How Do I Make Sure My Firewall Is On? Sites Of The Month Great Sites To Check Out In October Short Tutorial Tips For Successfully Uploading A Video On YouTube |
Hello West Central Internet Subscribers Halloween brings all kinds of costumed characters to our front doors. And while guessing which child is behind each mask is fun, trying to identify scammers dressed up as credible organizations can be challenging. To help you, this October issue begins with a warning about gift card scams masquerading as free offers from major retailers. Speaking of costumes, the Great Sites list includes one with lots of easy-to-make costume ideas for Halloween. You'll also want to check out the sites for resources on fall recipes, credit management, and more. Take a minute to learn about firewalls and make sure yours is turned on, and review the tips we've shared about uploading videos to YouTube. Don't miss this month's videos featuring a joyful flash mob and a wheelchair-bound ocean explorer. The goal of each of our eNewsletters is to keep our subscribers informed regarding their Internet connection and to improve their Internet experience. We think you'll find this information interesting. To see what's inside this issue, simply scroll down the eNewsletter or click on the links within the index to the left. Thanks for reading! - West Central Internet Services Team |
Scam Alert – Don't Fall For Free Gift Card Scams
The Better Business Bureau is the latest established brand to be used by scammers to promote fake gift cards online. (Others have included Wal-Mart, Target, Starbucks, and Best Buy.) As tempting as these offers appear, especially with the holiday shopping season approaching, don't bother trying to redeem them. They're just tricks to collect consumer data; you won't receive the free gift card promised.
It works like this: The recipient receives an email, claiming to be from the established brand, stating that he/she has been issued a gift card worth a certain dollar amount. To receive this gift card free of charge, the recipient is told to immediately go to a website and provide information such as age, street address, email address, and phone number. Don't fall for it. You would be giving out personal information and receiving nothing but more spam in return. In addition, experts warn that used, counterfeit, and fraudulent gift cards are frequently being sold on auction websites. For this reason, don't buy gift cards from auction websites; it's not worth the risk of ending up with a worthless piece of plastic. Only buy gift card directly from the store or from a secure retailer's website.
Join Us For Our Open House – October 12
Two To View – A Couple Of Amazing Videos You Don't Want To Miss
This Month's FAQ – How Do I Make Sure My Firewall Is On?
Question: When reading about computer security, I often see the advice to "make sure your firewall is on." What exactly is a firewall and how do I make sure mine is on?
Answer: A firewall is the primary method for keeping a computer secure from intruders. It allows or blocks traffic into and out of a private network or the user's computer. A personal firewall typically comes with, or is installed in, computers. To check the status of your firewall and turn it on if needed, follow these steps: For Windows
For Mac OS X 10.6 and later
Sites Of The Month – Great Sites To Check Out In October
Boo-tiful Halloween Costumes
spoonful.com – If you need some "scary good" ideas for Halloween costumes, check out this resource. From Rapunzel to a Washing Machine, you're sure to find a costume that fits your child's personality (and your crafting abilities). There are even last-minute outfits that can be thrown together fast. Fall Recipes You'll Fall For simplyrecipes.com – The leaves are changing and so should your recipes in order to take advantage of foods that celebrate the fall season. Browse through this recipe collection for dishes including Apple Cranberry Pie, Butternut Squash Risotto, and Spicy Pumpkin Soup. Free Credit Score And More www.creditkarma.com – Credit Karma provides truly free credit scores to consumers, along with related tools. Learn how you measure up to national averages and get advice on how to raise your credit score. You can also access offers that could save you money on your credit cards, auto loan, and more. Yesterday's Technology retronaut.co – This site's slogan is, "The past is a foreign country. This is your passport." Take a trip back in time to see technological tidbits such as a 1949 radio hat, a 1984 Macintosh computer ad, and a 1969 film predicting what telecommunications would be like in the 1990s.
Short Tutorial – Tips For Successfully Uploading A Video On YouTube
Perhaps you're now a pro at uploading photos on Facebook but haven't yet ventured into the realm of posting videos on YouTube. It's pretty easy to do and well worth the effort. After all, if a picture is worth a thousand words, then a moving video must be worth at least a million. So capture those precious moments at the next family gathering and then review the basic tips below. You can get more detailed instructions on uploading by clicking here:
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Thanks for your business! Best regards The WCTA Communications Team Internet Specialists WCTA Sebeka 308 Frontage Road Box 304 Sebeka, MN 56477 1-218-837-5151 or toll free at 1-800-945-2163 Trademarks: All brand names and product names used in this eNewsletter are trade names, service marks, trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. |