My “new and improved” website works! It can be found at www.billbrooksconsumeradvocate.com. I’ve had to change my handle from The CDA Press Consumer Guy to Bill Brooks, Consumer Advocate. It turns out that some guy back east claims he trademarked “Consumer Guy.” Apparently he believes that his couple of readers might confuse CDA Press Consumer Guy with his alleged trademark “Consumer Guy.” Oh well, life goes on.

It makes me very happy when people I haven’t even talked with call me up and start like this: “Bill, my problem is...”

It’s true, I haven’t met all of you personally, but I do feel like we’re all in this together. Thanks. (P.S. — I’m still writing this column, thanks to The Coeur d’Alene Press!)

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DOMINO’S HAS SOME PRETTY GOOD PIZZA: But it turns out that credit card thieves have been “testing” credit card numbers and info that has been stolen. Once they find a card that isn’t rejected, they sell it or use it on large ticket items. According to news reports, they have been using the Domino’s smart phone app. Obviously the app isn’t as secure as it should be. MY ADVICE: If you have it on your smartphone, delete it. Order your pizza the good old fashioned way — over the telephone.

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LEAD BOXES AND TIN FOIL HATS: A consumer called me and asked if “the government” could listen to him through his cell phone. It turns out that one of his friends will not allow him to bring his cellphone into his house. Not only that, but he requires him to remove the battery from the phone and place the phone in a lead box outside of the house.

I do have some experience in this regard — I was a Voice Intercept Operator (Army MOS 98G) for the Army Security Agency in my younger days. The ASA worked directly for The National Security Agency (NSA). Believe me, unless you’re part of a terrorist plot, the government has absolutely NO interest in what you say over your cell phone — NONE! Just from a practical standpoint, it would take half of the population of this country to monitor the other half! If you really believe “they” are listening to you, you must be saying something really bad and really important. (I’ll be happy to make and sell you a tin foil hat that will protect you! LOL!) P.S. Watch out for those black helicopters!

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NOT ALL VA LENDERS ARE GOOD: The Veterans Administration has been cracking down on a large number of companies offering VA home loans. Many disreputable lenders are attempting to lure browsers in by offering ridiculously low mortgage rates and then adding outrageous fees and expenses. MY ADVICE: Use a bank you’ve been doing business with, preferably a local bank or lender where you can sit across from the lender, not deal with a different customer service “loan specialist” every time you call in.

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HOME DEPOT SELF-SERVE CHECKOUT: It was just reported that thieves have figured out a way to hack/use Home Depot’s Self-Serve checkout lines to steal approximately 55 MILLION credit card numbers. I always found the self-checkout lines convenient, but not anymore. I will choose to wait in line. The potential price of having my info purloined by a computer is way too high!

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GOVERNMENT DOES NOT ASK FOR GIFT CARDS: I’ve said this before, but I guess I need to say it again — any call pretending to be from ANY government agency, federal, state or local, that asks you to pay a fine or a fee in gift cards IS A FRAUD! No prepaid credit cards, no retail store gift cards, and certainly no iTunes cards! Hang up the phone. Don’t even talk with anyone trying to pull this one.

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HERE’S A SCARY ONE: Tech journals have reported that there are currently over 400 companies around the world that have the ability to record every key stroke on a computer connected to the internet. I don’t like it. Honestly, I don’t fully understand it. Fortunately I’m not typing anything on my computer that anyone would have any interest in — I don’t think???

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MORE CALLS ON COMPUTER POP-UPS: Microsoft DOES NOT send any pop-ups advising computer users to call them for technical support. It’s ALWAYS a scam. Here’s the high-tech solution to protect you. It’s difficult and complicated to follow these instructions carefully: 1. Don’t call the number in the pop-up and don’t click on the link in the pop-up: 2. Unplug your computer FROM THE WALL. Wait 15 minutes. 3. Plug your computer back into the wall and turn on the computer.

Your problem should be solved. If it continues to generate pop-ups, your computer probably is infected with a virus. Call me: (208) 699-0506.

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BE CAREFUL ABOUT NETFLIX: New scam out there where “Netflix” (someone posing as an employee of Netflix) calls to confirm your account information so that you don’t lose access to your favorite programs. One local lady “confirmed” her name, address, bank account and all her credit card information. Very quickly she noticed large charges popping up from the Orlando, Fla., area. Luckily she was paying attention to her credit card charges and made the credit card company aware of the fraudulent charges. They were deleted from her account, and she was issued a new credit card with a new number. She won’t fall for that one anymore. Don’t YOU!

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SHARE YOUR GOOD FORTUNE AND BLESSINGS: But don’t get taken in by scammers. If you have a question about a charity, call me. Local is always safer, and NEVER give money over the phone.

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I have many more tips and interesting cases that I’m working on. Call me at (208) 699-0506, or email me at BillBrooksAdvocate@gmail.com or fax me at (866) 362-9266. You can follow me at www.billbrooksconsumeradvocate.com. I am available to speak about consumerism to schools, and local and civic groups.

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Bill Brooks is a consumer advocate and the Broker and Owner of Bill Brooks Real Estate in Coeur d’Alene.