com pioneered UFO Insurance, a
concept the company remains committed to, but one that has caused
trouble for landscapers at the headquarters campus in Mayfield
Village, Ohio.com through the Progressive Direct(SM) brand.S. And,
for the first time, phishing appeared on the top Internet and telemarketing
scams lists gathered by the National Consumers League in 2004. Following the
instructions , you enter your personal information on the Web site --
and into the hands of identity thieves .

misconceptions piltdown

The Common Shares of the Progressive Corporation, the holding
company, are publicly traded at NYSE:PGR." The rest, as they say, is history.
"Computer users can stop phishers by not responding to an e-mail or pop-up
that asks for personal information," said Lydia Parnes of the FTC's Bureau of
Consumer Protection."
"The Internet has revolutionized the way we communicate, transact business
and educate ourselves," said Aaron Kornblum, Internet Safety Enforcement
attorney at Microsoft. "We must work together to stop these con artists from
misusing the Internet as a tool for fraud.

nonexistent hoaxed

. Alfred said: "Coverage for those silver disks turned
out to be in such demand, our parking lots were overrun.
New this year, one of the premier Elvis Impersonators in the country and a
FAB Beatles Tribute Band, both directly from Las Vegas, will perform at the
New Beetle gathering .C."
Kornblum announced that Microsoft is filing 117 lawsuits against alleged
phishers as part of its commitment to protecting consumers against phishing
and other cybercrime.S.nclnet.

forgeries motives

For more information visit: http://www.roswell2k., Lydia Parnes,
acting director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection, Susan Grant,
director of the National Consumers League's National Fraud Information Center
and Internet Fraud Watch program, and Jacqueline Beauchere and Aaron Kornblum
of Microsoft urged Internet users to exercise the same caution when doing
business online as they would in the physical world and called for increased
consumer awareness of phishing.

bitten misconceptions

Business Editors

MAYFIELD VILLAGE, Ohio----

In Another Industry First, Progressive Direct Offers Chance
to Bid On That Vintage, Hard-To-Find Policy

Who can forget the way the policy for that '76 Gremlin smelled?
How about those deductibles from that Merkur policy? Sure, they don 't
make the car any longer, but that's what makes the policy valuable!
And a 1957 Ford Fairlane policy still in the envelope? What a find! If
you are among the tens of millions who have never thought of auto
insurance policies as collectibles, prepare yourself. Today -- and today only -- progressive .M. It may take you to a phony Web site that looks just like
the Web site of the real company or government agency.

shouldered hoaxes

fooled bitten

com, celebrates the 423rd anniversary of April
Fool's Day by poking a little fun at itself and the very serious
subject of car insurance. You've got to check out the incredible
listing for an old policy, a grocery list and a gas station receipt. Federal Trade Commission (FTC ), National Consumers
League and Microsoft Corp. If you don't have the telephone number, get it from
the phone book, the Internet or directory assistance.

motives bitten

No matter
what a person's level of devotion to the car, one thing is for certain: The
6th Annual Roswell2K gathering on June 17-19 is the place for New Beetle
owners and enthusiasts to show off their rides and hobnob with other fanatics
from all over the world. To strike a blow against criminals who prey on
Internet users , the U.S.
NCL runs the National Fraud Information Center, which was created in 1992,
and the Internet Fraud Watch, which was created in 1996, operating in tandem
with the NFIC.

hoaxed nonexistent

The auto insurance products and services of the Progressive Direct
Group of Insurance Companies are marketed directly to consumers by
phone at 1-800-PROGRESSIVE (1-800-776-4737) and online at
progressive. Progressive
Direct offers consumers conveniences that help to make car insurance
easier, including comparison rates of other leading insurance
companies and the ability to shop for, buy and manage their policies
by phone or online, 24/7., Owning a New Volkswagen Beetle is
novel for some and hinges on a spiritual experience for others.org.m.fraud.

shouldered hoaxed

In 1999, given Roswell's reputation as the site of an alleged UFO
crash in the 1940s, the event was firmly set following the airing of a New
Beetle commercial stating (tongue firmly in cheek) that the car was
"reverse-engineered by UFOs.
(Photo: NewsCom: http://www.
Internet users should follow these simple steps to avoid phishing scams:

-- Be suspicious if someone contacts you unexpectedly and asks for your
personal information . EST, or fill out the
online form to file a complaint. For more information visit http://www.

toft hoaxes

To be on the safe side, ask for the person's
name, the name of the agency or company, the telephone number, and the
address.

shouldered mothman

com
will feature online auctioning of slightly used auto insurance
policies .com.

Appearing at the National Press Club in Washington, D.
District Court for the Western District of Washington in Seattle against John
Doe defendants.
-- Don 't click on a link in an e-mail message that asks for your personal
information.

NOTE: Microsoft is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corp.

This forum is for the discussion of scientific hoaxes and the motives surrounding them.

hacks pickover

1 consumer complaint in 2004. But if you're contacted out of the blue and asked for your
personal information, it's a warning sign that something is "phishy . in the
United States and/or other countries.

paleontological hacks

The Web site of The Progressive Direct Group of Insurance
Companies, progressive. It's hard to tell whether something is legitimate
by looking at an e-mail or a Web site, or talking to someone on the
phone. Law enforcement agencies might also contact you if you've
been the victim of fraud. Fraud
reports from consumers are sent within minutes to over 200 appropriate law
enforcement agencies, including the Federal Trade Commission and state
attorneys general.

paleontological hoaxes

ROSWELL, N.

Don't Let April 1 Be April 'Phools ' Day: Federal Trade Commission National Consumers League and Microsoft Warn Internet Users of Phishing Scams

"In little over a year
it's become one of the top scams reported to our National Fraud Information
Center and Internet Fraud Watch program."
Most legitimate companies and agencies don't operate that way. Our mission is to protect and promote social and
economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad.

shouldered skeptical

"There are some companies that have achieved incredible success by
letting others auction personal belongings -- perhaps you've heard of
them?" said Toby Alfred, general manager responsible for online
customer experiences, Progressive Direct.
During the week preceding the event, six New Beetle caravans will launch
from starting points throughout the U. (Nasdaq: MSFT) today urged consumers to beware of
phishing schemes aimed at stealing their identities.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000822/MSFTLOGO )
Phishing is a high-tech twist on the all-too -common crime of identity
theft, where spam or pop-up messages are used to deceive recipients into
releasing personal or financial information into the hands of criminals.
-- If someone contacts you and says you've been a victim of fraud, verify
the person's identity before you provide any personal information.

toft nonexistent

. Their only
alternative was to make another swing around the universe, or park on
the grass. On June 17-19, hundreds of New
Beetle owners, and thousands of spectators , will descend on Roswell, New
Mexico for three days of fun, including a car show with trophies, displays
from New Beetle parts manufacturers, the Parade of Colors through town,
parties, rallies, and more.

motives perpetrator

and other things." Interestingly, since Progressive Direct began
tracking UFO accident frequency it, too, is down, just like car
accident frequency.

New Volkswagen Beetle Owners Prepare for Annual Pilgrimage to Roswell2K

The first
was an online frenzy generated by the car's official launch in 1998. Microsoft provides consumers with
the information and technology that will help protect all of us from this
pervasive and destructive threat, and has filed legal action today against
some of these individuals. The company is filing the lawsuits today in the U.org .

purging motives

More information can be
found at progressive. and Canada and make a cross-country
"B(eetle)line" for Roswell.newscom. Use a search
engine to find the official Web site.

hoaxed purging

Roswell2K organizers announced this week that the largest New Beetle only
car show in the universe is a go for 2005.
Legitimate credit card issuers and other companies may contact you if
there is an unusual pattern indicating that someone else might be using
one of your accounts.org . to 5 p.

hoaxes nonexistent

Wow. To check whether the message is
really from the company or agency, call it directly or go to the
company's Web site. Consumers from across the United States and Canada can call
800-876-7060, Monday through Friday, 9 a.

bitten skeptical

One Person's Slightly Used Auto Insurance Policy is Another Person's ... Treasure?

"Progressive Direct is all
about making things easier for consumers, so we thought 'why not make
it easier for people holding on to 30-year-old insurance contracts to
auction them so they can get exactly what they're worth?' I think we
may be on to something. While we are trying to convince the landscapers that crop
circles or, in our case, grass circles, are the hottest trend, they
don 't yet believe us."
"Phishing is more than a dirty trick played on unsuspecting consumers --
it 's a serious identity theft problem," said Grant.
Through today's sweep of John Doe lawsuits, Microsoft's legal team hopes
to establish connections between phishing scams worldwide and uncover the
largest-volume operators. But usually they only ask if you made particular
transactions; they don't request your account number or other personal
information.

About The National Consumer League
The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America's pioneer
consumer organization.

nonexistent purging

"
Last April Fool's Day, progressive.

Roswell2K grew out of two significant New Beetle occurrences. The
FTC reports that identity theft was the No. "Just delete it.

hacks forgeries

As new
cars left dealer showrooms for the open road, Volkswagen enthusiast websites
excitedly 'buzzed' with initial New Beetle 'sightings' from across the
country. NCL staff provides advice and tips on how to
spot possible telemarketing or Internet fraud and how to report it.

toft piltdown

On this April
Fools' Day, they just may be. No theories yet. Microsoft Announces Filing of 117 Lawsuits Against Phishing Site Operators

WASHINGTON, In sharp contrast to the
harmless pranks that will be played on April Fools' Day, deceptive phishing
schemes are no laughing matter. Then get the main number (see tip above) and call to find out
if the person is legitimate.
For more information , visit http://www.

About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software, services
and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential .
The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the
trademarks of their respective owners.