Scotland Adds iPods to Menu

Nowhere is this happening as much as the Internet, but caveat victor. Reporter Romeo Cantu at television station KGBT-4 in Harlingen, Texas produced a story that says most free electronic product offers on the Web require strict adherence to Byzantine fine print.

Working with Dolores Salinas of South Texas chapter of the Better Business Bureau, Cantu tried to accept some free iPod offers: "The Web sites started off asking some personal information, so work address and e-mail were used. Next, the online questionnaire asked to fill out so-called short surveys, which wasn't always the case. '(The surveys) took us 25 minutes. And we never got anything free,' Salinas said. 'They're having you jump through different hoops, so to speak. At some point they're going to ask you for personal information, including a credit card number.' And that's exactly what happened. After filing out all the surveys, the online questionnaire asked that two offers needed to be completed to get a free Apple iPod. The offers were for all kinds of stuff, such as credit cards, stamps, music and DVD services and from some big companies, like Blockbuster Video and Circuit City."

Also from Cantu: "Since signing the e-mail address with the company, the only thing received for free were hundreds of spam e-mails, most of which were offering, what else, but more free stuff."

Jeff Tyler, a reporter for the public radio show Marketplace, said that companies offering free prizes make their money by getting interested Web surfers to sign up for trial memberships to AOL, Blockbuster and other online subscription services. By persuading them to sign up for more and more of these along the circuitous path to the prize, many people often give up. Thus, the company keeps the prize and gets paid for snagging new subscribers. One of these companies, Gratis Network, raked in $20 million this way in 2004, Tyler said.

Yankee Group analyst Patrick Mahoney told the Boston Herald's Jennifer Heldt Powell that such schemes are not necessarily illegal, but that doesn't mean it makes any sense to hang around: "If you don't know much about the site, it's probably not wise to fill it out," Mahoney said. "You're 60 clicks deep, they've been gathering way more information than you want them to know and, in the end, if you opt to pay them, then they also have your credit card." For another firsthand account, see Hiawatha Bray's column in the Boston Globe from way back in February.

Where are you seeing iPod drawings? The bank? The mall? Anywhere really unusual? Let me know and we'll use your stories in an upcoming edition.

The Spy Who Wore Me

If the free iPod offer proves irresistible, and suddenly your computer is acting funny, it might be because your passionate lapse of reason resulted in a social disease -- of the digital variety. Fortunately, Congress cares. The U.S. House of Representatives approved two bills last night designed to curb spyware, a general term for software that some companies install on your computer without your knowledge when you download free software and other programs. According to washingtonpost.com's David McGuire, the bills still require approval from the U.S. Senate. That proved a stumbling block the last time these bills came up, yesterday's resolution to the filibuster fracas ought to leave the runway wide open for more Senate action, that is... if they're not busy on more pressing topics. But what could be more important than spyware?

On a related note, see Security Fix, the blog run by my colleague Brian Krebs, on a new hacker extortion technique. The idea is simple and evil, and as with most simple/evil plans, it's devastating: The hackers scramble your text files, then demand payment to decode them. I'd say that the best solution is to buy some stamps and send a letter, but then you wouldn't be able to read my column.

Finally, check out these interesting stories: The Texas legislature approved a bill that would criminalize phishing, the practice that hackers use to make you think that you are handing your personal data over to a legitimate Web site when you're actually giving it away to thieves. Also, the Maine legislature is moving a bill that would give people more control of their credit reports after falling victim to identity theft.

Only a Pawnbroker in Their Game

California, Florida and other states are deciding whether to regulate stores that offer to sell people's items on eBay as pawnbrokers, the New York Times reported today. Ebay, which is lobbying against the proposal in California, depends on drop-off companies as a big revenue source though they have no corporate connection. Lawmakers, meanwhile, say the measure is necessary because it would require the stores to keep transaction records. That, they say, could prevent the use of eBay as a virtual bazaar for stolen goods.

Here's one eBay item that went through the chop shop: Former Bridgeport, Conn., City Councilman Joel Gonzalez is selling the guillotine and hammer that he used to sever his fingertip in 1994 as part of a protest on the steps of the state Capitol in Hartford. Gonzalez was protesting the gun lobby's attempt to gut anti-firearms laws, the Connecticut Post reported.

"Gonzalez said he is selling the items to raise money so he can continue his activism in issues like bringing prayer back into the schools; finding funding for schools; abolishing the death penalty and, of course, strengthening gun control laws," the paper wrote. "If he gets a $50,000 bid or more, he said half will go to Beardsley Zoo."

While the Post said bidding started at $50,000, the auction site shows an opening bid request of $10,000. So far, no one has raised their hands though plenty have fingered the site.

Send links and comments to robertDOTmacmillanATwashingtonpost.com.