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From / Date: |
Question / Answer: |
| 834. |
John
Odessa, TX
Age: 39
Oct 19, 2006
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Overzealous Cop
Mr. Luna,
Ed's October 17th post regarding overzealous cops brought to mind a 46 minute video on youtube titled, "BUSTED - The Citizen's Guide to Surviving Police Encounters" Unless educated regarding the rights provided by the founding fathers, those rights can and usually will be trampled.
Submitted Link #1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NmC5wHfCdM...
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I don't often set aside 46 minutes to watch a video on my computer, but THIS one was fascinating! It deals with police who stop you in the street, on the highway, or knock on your door. Priceless information!
... Although the video is for all ages, it is especially applicable to teens. If you have teens in your home, find the time to have them watch the video. You'll be glad you did.
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| 832. |
Mark
06903
Age: 32
Oct 19, 2006
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What lengths PIs will go to for info.
Just a comment.
The following link is is a fantastic article about what HP did to one reporter from the Wall Street Journal. (WSJ.com subscription required)
Had she read HTBI, they would never have gotton so much information. She wonders how they got her phone numbers, my guess is from her trash.
Submitted Link #1: http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB11612260005...
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| 831. |
Debbie
Key West, FL
Age: 47
Oct 19, 2006
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name change
[Edited for length] I need to re-new my passport (it expires in Nov) so that I can start using that as my ID and not my drivers liscense anymore.
I am wanting to get invisible & have contemplated using my deceased husbands last name. I would have to request my marriage certificate from NV to do this (we were married in 1988 and I never used his last name so it is not tied to me) Should I do this???
I'm just so freaked out because I googled my name, and my address & phone # was displayed. The phone has been diconnected as of last year & it still shows up. YES! I am in the process of moving because of this, but I will make sure I don't mess up and leave a trail this time.............hence, the careful study of your book now!
I will be living & running my business out of my RV with ghost addresses as I travel. Currently I am setting up a few LLC's to hold my personal assets & looking for a lawyer or CPA to set up my business in a corperation or LLC as well.
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The name change sounds good but I cannot make this decision for you. You know your circumstances whereas I do not.
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| 830. |
Arthur
Wilmington, DE
Age: 35
Oct 19, 2006
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Bank account through nominee
I was reading the book. I have a large check (> $10k) of after tax money. I was considering depositing it in a new nominee bank account. My biggest concern is the tax implications. I imagine the nominee will have to pay taxes on it.
Is that the case? Is there another way to keep the money private and not pay tax?
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Do not put this money into any account that the nominee is already using. Open a new non-interest-bearing checking account. With no interest reported to the IRS, the account should not be any problem for the nominee. If you are in any doubt, however, check with a CPA or an enrolled agent.
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| 829. |
Tom
Albuquerque, NM
Age: 60
Oct 18, 2006
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Populating an LLC
Thanks for the great info in a great book. We are in process of setting up LLC's for our home, car, etc.
Once it is formed, how do we get money, titles and so on into the LLC?
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Normally you put future purchases of real estate and vehicles into an LLC. (Not money.) However, you can sell your cars or real estate to an LLC but there may be sales or other taxes payable just as with any other sale in your state.
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| 824. |
ed
Miami, FL
Age: 45
Oct 17, 2006
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NM LLC and an overzealous cop
I live in a city that has its' share of cops trying to generate their fair share of revenue. Since HTBI and its' principles have been around for quite a few years now. I am sure that more than one member of law enforcement has seen the book by now. So, given that my car is registered in NM to an LLC, the rookie cop who is now so close to my rear bumper we could talk without yelling, he runs my plate and discovers the NM LLC and bingo, he remembers the book and proceeds to pull me over to see my license and begin the search for something, anything he can pin on me that would result in A) populating his database with yet more of my private life, and/or B) discovering something that might warrant my contributing to the city's coffers. I would think that the cop might conclude that by seeing a NM LLC, that the perp has something to hide. Have any other readers been stopped, only to have the cop get too nosy?
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The key word is "rookie," and I suspect this is a one-time occurence. I have a lot of fans in police departments because they have the constant problem of trying to keep their home address hidden from the bad guys.
... One well-known detective gives talks up and down the west coast about privacy and always recommends my book. In fact, one of the biggest favors ever done for me, to keep my identity hidden from certain adversaries, was done by a big-city detective who has my book.
... Also, I've been stopped now and again for being a bit over the speed limit. However, NEVER a problem due to the LLC!
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| 823. |
Roger
Milan, IL
Age: 43
Oct 17, 2006
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Encryption
TrueCrypt is highly recommended (Steve Gibson of grc.om for one) and its free.
USB sticks are highly portable, but can also be lost or accidentally broken.
See www.securstar.com for software to encrypt your entire hard drive, including the ability to hide an operating system.
Submitted Link #1: http://www.truecrypt.org/...
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| 822. |
Marc
Seattle, WA
Age: 49
Oct 17, 2006
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Jessica's insurance
What you are looking for is availible. It covers you in anything you drive. Not a lot of agents handle it. My policy is issued by Unitrin.
http://www.unitrinspecialty.com/Unitrin/Public/index.cfm
Submitted Link #1: http://www.unitrinspecialty.com/Unitrin/Public/ind...
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Thanks, Marc!
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| 821. |
Len
Patuxent River, MD
Age: 50
Oct 16, 2006
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Privacy
Came across this from the MSNBC site . . . It's part of a series from MSNBC.
Submitted Link #1: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15221095/...
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Len, that link was posted earlier by "Charles, Glen Ellyn, IL, 38." Copied below is an interesting comment from that website:
"Only a tiny fraction of Americans -- 7 percent, according to a recent survey by The Ponemon Institute -- change any behaviors in an effort to preserve their privacy. Few people turn down a discount at toll booths to avoid using the EZ-Pass system that can track automobile movements.
And few turn down supermarket loyalty cards. Carnegie Mellon privacy economist Alessandro Acquisti has run a series of tests that reveal people will surrender personal information like Social Security numbers just to get their hands on a measly 50-cents-off coupon."
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| 820. |
Susan
Indiana
Age: 41
Oct 16, 2006
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Jessica's car insurance
My son had a regular policy with 21st Auto and then sold his only vehicle. Rather than cancel the policy and have to start over when he purchased his next car, he talked to the customer service dept there and kept his policy *without a vehicle* for about 3 months while he saved up to buy the next one. In this instance, he was insured to drive anyone else's vehicle during those 3 months, in his own name, not as a secondary driver on someone else's policy. The cost of this coverage was actually $13 higher per 6 months than the state-minimum liability-only policy he had previously had on his older SUV. When he bought the next car, he just called and updated the info with no problems. The catch with this example is that he had a conventional policy on a vehicle titled in his own name FIRST and then dropped down to "driver-only" coverage rather than walking into an agency and getting driver-only coverage to start with. The company, 21st Auto, has been relatively easy to deal with, however. The initial rates were very competetive with other companies, especially considering his youthful age and driving record. He hasn't had to test out their claims department thankfully, so I have no personal experience to relate on that issue.
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| 819. |
Steve
New Boston, TX
Age: 43
Oct 16, 2006
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Secure PC
For John, 35 in Helena... Try Steganos Safe to encrypt files/directories on the PC; it's very secure and easy to use. Even better, buy a USB pocket flash drive, one with built-in encryption, and keep your important files there. Pocket flash drives are very portable and easy to hide, and all the necessary security software can reside only on the drive. Better still, encrypt several benign files on the PC as a decoy, and keep the real stuff on the flash drive.
Submitted Link #1: https://www.steganos.com/en/products/safe2007/...
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| 818. |
Jessica
Agra, KS
Age: 39
Oct 16, 2006
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Car Insurance
How do you get car insurance for a car or cars that are not in your name? I was previously insured to drive my friend's car but am no longer on a regular basis. The car I am now driving is not registered in my name, as I have a violent stalker. I tried to get insurance based solely on my license, as I was told it exists, but the insurance agent said there was no such thing.
Does anyone know if there is such a thing and if so, what's a good company?
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| 817. |
Kester
Essexville, MI
Age: 39
Oct 16, 2006
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LLC and trusts
For various reasons, my wife and I have been considering establishing a 'living' trust to hold assets. This provides a certain amount of 'invisibility,' but it's not the best.
Does your book, or do you, have any insight on how the LLC would work in concert with a trust, if that's even possible. The concern with strictly and LLC for asset ownership is management of gains and other taxes which is simplified with the trust.
Many thanks for an interesting site,
K
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In general, the trust should be the sole owner of all your LLCs, which in turn hold all assets. As to your specific reuirements, I suggest you contact a tax attorney.
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| 816. |
John
Helena, MT
Age: 35
Oct 16, 2006
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Secure Encrypted Laptop
I am about to purchase a new laptop computer. I know that no encryption system is unbreakable but I want one that no one can access in any manner without paying big bucks. (If they are willing to send my machine to No-Such-Agency to read my address book then they are welcome to the data.)
What are some recomendations for hardware/software and distributers?
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It doesn't matter which laptop you buy, as long as the right software is installed. (I always install Evidence Eliminator as soon as a new one is purchased.)
... As for encryption, I have no recommendations, and do not use it myself. If I have something confidential, then it does not go into any computer in the first place! (However, see the recommendation by "Steve, New Boston"-- above.)
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| 815. |
Charles
Glen Ellyn, IL
Age: 38
Oct 16, 2006
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MSNBC Story on privacy
MSNBC is running a story called "Privacy under attack, but does anybody care?" that would be of interest to people here.
Submitted Link #1: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15221095/...
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| 814. |
Bill
Houston, TX
Age: 46
Oct 15, 2006
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Titling a car in Texas
This is a followup to my previous messages on 9-6 and 9-23, as well as to Mark, who provided some information on his experience on 9-26.
By speaking to two other car dealers I was able to confirm that there is no requirement from the Dept of Homeland (In)Security that a credit report be requested on all car buyers. The practice was a company policy only, which was misrepresented by the sales people. So I am now looking for a Toyota dealer who will sell me a car without a credit check.
Regarding the application for title, I have been having an email correspondence with a dedicated public servant at the Vehicle Titles and Registration Division of the Texas Dept of Transportation. He has told me that when a company without a federal tax ID titles a car in Texas, the item on the form requesting the tax ID can be left blank. He also said that Form VTR-171 should not be completed for a company, which contradicts the information Mark reported on 9-26.
I have asked the helpful fellow at TxDoT to send a letter to my LLC that summarizes what he has told me. I believe that will be more helpful when talking with auto dealers than printing out the email thread. The only obstacle that remains is possible ignorance and obstinance on the part of auto dealers, but I should be able to find one I can work with.
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| 813. |
Jack
Beverly Hills, CA
Age: 36
Oct 14, 2006
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To All Swiss Banking Fans
"Last month, Switzerland Finance Minister Hans-Rudolf Merz said giving the CIA access to the SWIFT information did not infringe Swiss sovereignty or the country's banking secrecy rules."
Submitted Link #1: http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/061013/switzerland_terrori...
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| 811. |
paul
Minneapolis, MN
Age: 51
Oct 13, 2006
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What car dealers chose to do, or have to do
Interesting blurb in a legal newsletter for car dealers, "Spot Delivery," which reports employees at California car dealerships arrested in an undercover sting where police posed as car buyers who provided fake SSNs to the dealership, and let the employees know they were fake. The sting involves the use of SSN on a credit application, but I think it's safe to say this kind of crackdown encourages dealers to go overboard with their requests for private info. The newsletter also has several other articles that reference security breaches and the use of the OFAC "do not sell" list.
Submitted Link #1: http://www.intravisiontech.com/lib/SPOTDeliveryMar...
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I've said and still say, never finance anything. Also, it's not only more private but saves you money when you buy a car from a private party. (A car with only 20 or 25 thousand miles on it is barely broken in.)
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| 810. |
john
Honolulu, HI
Age: 33
Oct 12, 2006
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car registration
Hello. I just started reading your book, good stuff. I was told in my state that with an llc my car registration would also require a home address, and full names of owners. Is this true? Thanks, John.
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Can any reader from Hawaii answer John's question?
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| 808. |
paul
Minneapolis, MN
Age: 51
Oct 12, 2006
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Cory Lidle, and his passport
Interesting note on the death of Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle in the NYC plane crash: He identified when his passport was found in the debris on the street below the apartment where the plane struck. Some people will wonder why he was carrying his passport, when he was flying around Manhattan, not planning to leave the country, and in fact, returning later to home in California. Readers of your books will know immediately why someone (and particularly a celebrity watching out for his privacy) might have that passport with him.
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Good point, Paul!
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