Comments from a number of readers have proven that I wasn’t clear in my last column about the Domino’s app. Many had the impression that the Dominos app exposed users to identity theft. IT DOES NOT! The app, as far as I know, is completely secure.

I downloaded and used the app last Wednesday night. It was simple to use and worked like a charm. The user has the option of entering payment information. The app was pretty amazing. It kept me informed, up to the minute, of the progress of my order. What time and who put it in the oven, what time it came out of the oven, and when it was on the way to my home! It even told me the name of the employee completing these tasks.

It’s simply amazing what technology is capable of. Not only that, it was delivered hot and was one of the best pizzas I’ve had in a long time. I’ll buy my next pizza from Domino’s — and use their app. Sorry for any confusion.

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NO VIRGINIA, IT’S NOT SANTA: Here’s a nasty one that parents and grandparents need to be especially careful of — “Letters to children from Santa.” It goes like this:

Adult sees splashy, feel good, nostalgic ads offering to send a child a beautiful letter, often on parchment-looking paper, in old time script, postmarked from the “North Pole.” The letter includes the child’s name and sometimes even a reference to a gift or two on the child’s Christmas wish list. Most of these websites are scams.

The sender, in an effort to personalize the letter, enters way too much private information. In order to pay for this “service,” the sender is required to enter their name, address, phone number, credit card numbers, expiration date and three-digit security identifier.

OUTCOME: As far as I can tell, no letter is ever sent to the kids, the parent or grandparent loses the $19.95 or whatever they paid per letter, and the scammers have ALL your personal financial information — just in time for their Christmas shopping spree — on your credit card!

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FAKE DELIVERY EMAIL NOTIFICATIONS: With Christmas just a week away, many people have packages arriving and often lose track of what they’ve ordered. Scammers know this, and send out emails that are carefully designed to look like they come from legitimate courier companies.

The emails ask recipients to click on a link. When they do, they download malware or are taken to a scam site.

QUICK TIP: Check the sender’s address to ensure it is a legitimate company and ONLY go to the company’s own website to track your orders. In the last week I’ve had about 20 calls from consumers receiving these bogus emails. Don’t be a victim. Call me if you have a question at (208) 699-0506.

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QUICK NOTE: Some of the topics that I cover from week to week have been, in various forms, covered before. The reason I touch on them again is because people keep asking me about these common scams. Some readers need to be reminded more than once.

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SPEED IS YOUR BEST DEFENSE: If you even suspect that you’ve been the victim of a scam, call your credit card company or bank IMMEDIATELY! Don’t wait a day or two — call immediately.

If you’ve paid for it with a credit card, remember this phrase: “I want to put that charge in contest.” It could save you thousands of dollars and hours and hours of grief. You may even need to ask the bank to cancel the credit card and issue you a new one with a completely new number. It’s a pain in the caboose but in the long term you’ll be happier.

I get calls from consumers with complaints that they’ve been taken by scammers, two and three months after the crime. At that point, there’s little that can be done to reverse any illicit charges.

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FEDS DON’T BOTHER CALLING: There are so many scam calls claiming to be from the federal government — IRS, Social Security, Treasury Department and so on. If you get a call from ANY government agency — HANG UP! If it’s important they will send you a letter — a letter you can check out. Government agencies do not ask for or give money over the phone — EVER!

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MANY GENEROUS SOULS: Especially at this time of year, many people want to share what they have with others who are less fortunate. The scum of the scammers use our charitable efforts to steal using the name of the needy — children, veterans, elderly and animals. They attempt to play your emotions like a golden harp.

Resist.

Your best defense is to simply tell them, you NEVER make donations over the phone — NEVER. Insist that they send you complete information through the mail — NOT OVER THE INTERNET! If they refuse,or try to give you some sob story about why you should give them your credit card number or bank account information, HANG UP! Remember, you can always check out legitimate charities at www.charitynavigator.org, or call me.

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NO, NOT EVER: Never buy gift cards, prepaid cards, or send payment in response to ANY phone call requesting money. Almost without exception, anyone requesting payment this way is a crook and a scammer.

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HUGS NOT GIFT CARDS: Christmas is a special time of year. Think about relationships with friends and family. Watch a movie together like “It’s a Wonderful Life.” In the rush, rush, high-speed world of today we forget the human touch that means more than any gift card or fruit basket.

We are lucky to have a number of wonderful, honest charities in our area. Union Gospel Mission, St. Vinny’s and The Coeur d’Alene Press “Christmas for All” are all great examples of what locals are doing for our less fortunate neighbors. For many it’s a time of darkness, cold, and loneliness. Ask yourself, “What can I do?” That’s the true message of Christmas.

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REMEMBER BILL BROOKS: “He’s On Your Side.”

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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 BillBrooks.us. 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.