I send this information for iCop members so you'll know what you can - and can't - do. I send it for those subscribers who are simply online consumers to protect you - so you'll know what to look for!

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has recently published guidelines regarding “Negative Option” enrollment programs and is taking a very aggressive position against merchants using this business practice.

"Negative option" means: if you don't do something to stop them, the merchant will continue to charge you on a regular basis. This usually, but not always, goes along with a free trial and/or "pay shipping only."

Recommendations taken from the FTC's website are included in the following article:

tinyurl.com/yjpuu85

I don't mean to be redundant but, if you're an online business owner, you're also an online consumer. Please be sure you check websites to be sure they're in compliance with the FTC guidelines - BEFORE you buy!

That's a good start. You see, I have faith that “internet marketers” are more creative than the FTC. I don't doubt they'll find other ways to take advantage of people.

The latest little scam I've seen popped up again last week. I went to a site that displays four phony “trust” seals.

They read: Privacy Confirmed - Business Confirmed - Identity Confirmed - Security Confirmed.

Yeah? Confirmed by whom? Well, it claims to be by “Honest Online” with a bullet between those two words. So, it isn't the company you might assume!

The website is entitled "The Google Traffic Pump System." Aside from those seals - that link to no where - there's no contact information and no privacy statement. It only has one of those silly, "We hate spam as much as you do" lines.

It took me five - count 'em FIVE - clicks to get off the damn page. Now, there's a website I would avoid!

But, I'm also beginning to have faith the FTC will continue to add to their “guidelines” (which are really regulations) as needed. After about 15 years, it's about time, don't you think?

By the way, it isn't too late to get your own website legal documents brought up to date. Every iCop member should have this package:

www.i-Cop.org/awlp.htm