CLICKFIRST

As 2007 draws to a finish, a review of recent consumer fraud shows that unethical businesses and outright scammers have had an active as well as a lucrative year. Targeting the most vulnerable citizens and using increasingly sophisticated tools, most of these fraudulent sources have been able to easily avoid both civil and criminal enforcement efforts as they pick their victims' pockets, sometimes robbing them of their life savings.

Americans are cheated out of an estimated $40 billion a year in telemarketing fraud alone with an additional $4 billion in mail scams. The victims in many cases are senior consumers who are approached with fraudulent offers, con jobs, scams and ripoffs on a consistent basis. One can find unethical behavior when buying a car, purchasing insurance, using a credit card, shopping at the mall, making purchases online, or taking out a loan.

Some scams are easy to identify and avoid yet others are harder to spot. You need to be able to identify all of them before it's too late. Failing to detect a single scam can cost you thousands of dollars. For example, telephone-number "spoofing" technology, available through certain providers on the Internet, bypasses one popular consumer safeguard, caller ID, to make you believe a scammer is actually your bank or a government agency. How does one protect themselves from even the most sophisticated of business or consumer cons?

Jim Merrick, who was himself the victim of a complex financial scam, founded Click First Services (www.clickfirst.com), a breakthrough in consumer protection which provides detailed background information on businesses who participate. Companies who have nothing to hide, that are seeking to provide the best possible service and supply flawless customer support are streaming to the Clickfirst.com and registering as members of The Consumer Advocate Network. “I know that knowledge is the key to real consumer safety,” states Merrick at his Florida headquarters. “I wish I had this type of site to go to before a suffered a devastating financial blow when trying to fund another company.”

The use of background checks in human resource offices is now a common practice, saving companies hundreds or even thousands of hours of grief from avoiding bad hires.

Clickfirst.com is now the first place any consumer should go to properly check the background of companies from which one is planning to purchase products or services. “All of the companies who become members of The Consumer Advocate Network are businesses who are taking that extra step to provide consumer confidence and trust,” says Merrick. “This is at the core of Click First Services. We want you to know you are dealing with a ‘stand up’ business.”

Consumer fraud has many faces. One of the more devious types of fraud involves a caller with insider investment advice who has mistakenly dialed a "wrong number" -- yours. They spill their guts about something that is confidential that they let slip accidentally. The scammer ultimately hopes that their calling mistake triggers future buying by the unsuspecting victim. 

Con artists even buy mail listings of names and contact information of people that market-research companies have determined are gullible or desperate to get rich quick because of illness. There is even a scam for cheating people who have already been victimized: So-called recovery-room operators buy lists of people who lost money in worthless investment schemes, then call to "help" recover their losses -- for up-front fees.

With more people using Internet research as their first line of consumer knowledge and defense, Clickfirst is growing in popularity. Companies who are registering at Clickfirst.com will see large spikes in their sales because of their presence on the site. As more companies find out about and then become members of The Consumer Advocate Network, consumers will increasingly rely on the site as the first place to go before making a buying decision. They will click first before they purchase or invest.  That is one way to foil the attempts of unethical companies and scammers looking to make a clean get away with consumer payments.

Bob Cefail
Editor In Chief
Press Direct International

TAMPA BAY, Fla. (April 12, 2008) – What you don’t know can hurt you, especially in the pocketbook. In our fast-paced society, there is no quicker way to lose money than by making a bad choice – whether it’s by purchasing a faulty product or choosing a disreputable vendor.

How do you prevent this from happening? Knowledge! A knowledgeable consumer is the best defense from fraud and deception and the best way to prevent losing money.  If we, as consumers, condition ourselves to think before we act, trust our own judgment and use the self-education tools at that are at our disposal – before we purchase or invest – our risk will be greatly diminished.

So where do you start? First, define your objectives. What are you looking for? What do you want to accomplish? How much do you want to spend? Once you have set these types of objectives, determine the best way to reach them.
 
Consumer satisfaction can be generally described as a series of actions and events that ultimately leads to an acceptable conclusion. If you want to win the lottery, you must at least purchase a lottery ticket. If you want to purchase a house you think is “perfect” you had better take action to ensure it meets all the requirements of your definition of the word. (Not far from work; the roof isn’t collapsing; no one can build a chemical dump next door; etc.)  The more action you take to protect yourself, the more likely you will be satisfied with your purchase or investment.

The next step is to ask yourself some questions about the product or service, such as:
• Do you know anyone who has purchased it in the past?
• Do you personally know anyone who is selling it?
• Are you aware of any common scams or frauds that may be associated with it?
• Are their options or different variations of it?
• What are the differences between those provided by other businesses?
• Does the provider need/have a license to sell it?
• How long has the business been established and what is its background and relative experience?

It’s important to research vendors and listen to what industry experts have to say. You can do this by:
• Talking to the business’ representative and calling its references.
• Researching government and consumer guides related to the specific product or service.
• Contacting the local Better Business Bureau to see if the vendor has unresolved consumer complaints.

• Contacting the state licensing bureau to see if the business’ licensing is current or has complaints filed against it.
• Contacting the state department of consumer affairs and see if they have any registered complaints.
• Reading consumer testimonials related to the business and/or their product or service.

Most importantly, be alert and trust your gut instinct. If it doesn’t feel right … it probably isn’t. If it seems too good to be true ... it most likely is. Before making any purchase, gather as much information as you can, then ask yourself “Does this make sense?”

About the Author
Jim Merrick is the innovator of the comprehensive, first-of-its kind consumer fraud protection web portal, www.ClickFirst.com; which empowers purchasers of goods and services (free of charge) with the information they need to identify local, reputable businesses and avoid scams and other deceptive practices. For more information visit www.ClickFirst.com, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or call (727) 233-7389. 

Contact:
Jay McGee
Dutcher PR
(813) 287-2501, ext. 221
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

FIGHTING INTERNET AND BUSINESS SCAMS – THE 21ST CENTURY BACKGROUND CHECK

You would think that the internet scam artist would take a vacation from bilking unsuspecting victims during such recent natural disasters as hurricane Katrina, and the tsunami that killed over a quarter million people right after Christmas. “Not so.”, says Jim Merrick of Click First, a one stop online informational portal that provides background information about businesses and individuals (www.clickfirst.com). Merrick warns that some people have no mercy when it comes to fraud. “Just look at what happened recently after hurricane Katrina”, states Merrick, “internet scammers posing as the Red Cross have been collecting funds via unsolicited emails. Can you believe it? These guys just never give it a rest.”

More than half the donations to the Red Cross have come over the Internet, but a number of scam sites have cropped up that emulate the Red Cross Web page. In some cases, after users donate to a fraudulent outlet, the site instantly links to the official Red Cross page, so givers continue to think they've just given to the Red Cross. In other instances, e-mail messages asking for donations include a link to a phony charity.

Merrick also details what occurred after Christmas, several days after the tsunami caused by underwater shifts in the seabed ravaged the coastline of dozens of countries lining the Pacific and Indians oceans. “One group posed as a well known international aid group named Oxfam,” describes Merrick while sitting in the offices of Click First, “[the group] sent an email message that appeared to be from the disaster relief agency branch of Hong Kong which urges readers to deposit money into a bank account in Spain. Oxfam officials contacted police about the scam after finding out.”

Merrick goes on to say that people who are fooled into sending funds aren’t always the elderly, who are normally the prime candidates for being taken. “I started Click First because I was burned for over $70,000 by a complex business scheme”, laments Merrick. “What threw me off is that I actually did what I thought was a pretty thorough job of online detective work.” Merrick relied on his long time banker to advise him on sources of capitol for a new business he was starting up. The banker referred Merrick to a gentleman who had carefully concealed his true background through an identity theft committed years earlier. Even after Merrick had brought in a former law enforcement professional, who had access to government databases, he was still hoodwinked by the misguided talents of this experienced thief. “If that guy used half of his abilities, engaged in a legitimate profession, he would be a millionaire.” stated Merrick.

Internet scams and complex business fraud are fast becoming the leading type of non-violent crime in the country. Just days after Hurricane Katrina struck, the FBI's top cyber-crimes official, Chris Swecker, Assistant Director of the FBI's Criminal Investigative Division, said the FBI had already opened eight investigations into potentially fraudulent sites related to hurricane Katrina. Swecker declined to say exactly how many investigations are open at present.

Online scammers robbed Americans of more than $437 million in 2003, mostly using stolen identities, fake Internet auctions and fraudulent shop-at-home schemes according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). In its year-end Consumer Fraud and ID Theft Report, the FTC said it received more than half a million consumer complaints during 2003, a 40 percent jump over complaints in 2002. More than 40 percent of all complaints were related to identity theft and other Web-related scams.

Small businesses are more prone to fraud than large companies. Small businesses experience fraud losses at a rate 200 times that of the largest businesses, with more than 50 percent of frauds involving losses of less than $100,000, according to a 2002 survey from the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. Seventy-five percent of fraud is not detected or reported and costs the average business 0.5 percent to 2 percent of its gross revenue. The annual cost of fraud in the United States is $600 billion.

Merricks solution to this ever growing problem was to develop a turn key business and private individual background check portal that could achieve accurate results in just 3 clicks. “The problem that I encountered, when I was trying to protect myself and my colleagues, was that there was no all encompassing web site or source of information I could go to”, discusses Merrick, “there were several places I could retrieve information, but none were linked to the other, and the fellow that scammed our group new the weak points and took advantage of the system.” Using the Click First site you can, in three clicks or less, find information on any doctor, lawyer, accountant, contractor, or do a complete background check on those people that you are potentially going to deal with. The Click First site also has a special “Scam Watch” alert on the home page, which provides information about the most popular or current scams.

Billy Mays, a nationally known spokesman for name brand products, was drawn to Merrick’s project because of its consumer protection function. Mays stated bluntly that “You can’t afford not to know” the information that Click First provides. Mays is now actively involved in the development end of the business.

Unscrupulous individuals aren’t going to go away or take a hiatus when disasters affect the masses. The internet can either be the tool of the criminal element or the defensive shield protecting the vigilant. Jim Merrick decided that he didn’t need to make the same mistake twice, and in fact went a step further when he developed the 3 click fraud protection system designed for businesses or individuals. “Why let these cyber thugs take advantage of the honest guy?” proclaims Merrick. “The technology was there to stop them. I just stepped up and said enough was enough.” Let this being a warning to those who are planning new scams—a new sheriff is in town.

Bruce Prokopets
Executive Editor
Press Direct International
www.pressdirectinternational.org

Click First Services LLC is the innovator of a comprehensive, first-of-its kind consumer protection web portal, www.ClickFirst.com; which empowers purchasers of goods and services to avoid losing money through scams and other deceptive practices by directing users to pre-screened local vendors selling products and services. Additionally users are provided access to information that helps validate and verify consumer product, service and merchant information.

Based in Pinellas County, Fla, and founded in 2006, ClickFirst.com incorporates a user-friendly database of businesses associated with the Chamber of Commerce that consumers can browse via several methods, such as location or category (i.e., automotive, financial, travel, etc.).  Each of the of businesses in Click First’s network has been pre-screened and becomes part the website’s Consumer Advocate Network (C-A-N); a feature allowing consumers to instantly view the businesses Consumer Confidence Rating and then independently evaluate the businesses ability to service the customer. Members of The Consumer Advocate Network are able to give expert advice and provide online consumer tips relative to their business expertise. Consumers are in turn able to post comments about their experiences with vendors (similar to the social networking of eBay or TripAdvisor.com).

The consumer advice, tips, comments, product and service information and buying/investing tips from government and other industry experts’ aid consumers in choosing the business that’s right for their personal situation.  In addition, ClickFirst.com is continually updated with consumer protection information, including product recalls, fraud alerts, testimonials and victim assistance information.

ClickFirst.com was developed after co-founder, Jim Merrick, was victimized in a real estate scam by a now infamous Tampa Bay con-artist. Realizing a need for a one-stop resource for consumer fraud protection information, Merrick pooled together several local investors – including infomercial celebrity Billy Mays – to form the rapidly growing company.

For more information visit www.ClickFirst.com, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or call (727) 233-7389.