CALIFORNIA ATTORNEY GENERAL CREATES INTERNET FRAUD DIVISION

If you are a resident of California and have been ripped off on the Internet, you are in luck.  Attorney General Kamala Harris just announced that she's created a new "eCrime Unit."  Per the press release:

The eCrime Unit is tasked with investigating and prosecuting identity theft and technology crimes.  The primary mission of the eCrime Unit is to investigate and prosecute multi-jurisdictional criminal organizations, networks, and groups that perpetrate identity theft crimes, use an electronic device or network to facilitate a crime, or commit a crime targeting an electronic device, network or intellectual property.

Contact the eCrime Unit here: http://oag.ca.gov/ecrime/contact

No response? (Which is likely, since Kamala has a history of inaction.  Her tenure as the DA in SF was a disaster, and she basically emptied the jails).  Drop Kamala a note: kamala.harris@doj.ca.gov

Robert Morgester is a senior assistant attorney general with the eCrime Unit.  I'm sure he'd like to hear about how you were ripped off by Brooklyn-based criminals:  Robert.Morgester@doj.ca.gov

CameraPromo.com aka CameraPromo on Google Shopping: SCAM ALERT

Camerapromo.com is now appearing on Google shopping.  Their prices are unrealistically low.  347 area code is from Brooklyn.  Whois info is private.  I'm going to go ahead and call bait and switch right now.

Scam Alert: Compudeals2u

There is an indication that compudeals2u is the newest alias for the folks over at projectorsandelectronics.com.  The site is registered to Jack Sarwa, per Goddady.  He lists a phone number of 267-338-1440 and an address in Pennsylvania.  The only Jack Sarwa I could find is in Brooklyn.  It should be noted that a Victor Sarwa, also out of Brooklyn, is listed as one of the operators of some infamous Brooklyn websites.  Check out this link.  The PriceGrabber link doesn't work.

Looks like they are doing the "no battery" scam, per this link.   More stories here.  Check out their "privacy" page where they've buried some really onerous terms...7 day return policy, 15% restocking fee, etc.

Sloppy, sloppy website.  Note that they haven't replaced the "Company Name" and "Company Slogan" text.  They've also left the name Emicrox.com in.

I'd be very careful dealing with these guys.

Update: Okay, so I just confirmed that Compudeals2u is operated by the same people that run allstatecameras.com and projectorsandelectronics.com.  I've narrowed down the current bait and switch sites to just a few operations and I'm working on a detailed expose to finally rid the Internet of these criminals.

Google Search "Enhancements": A Huge Step Backwards

I've used Google for Internet searches since my days at Oracle in 1999.  In the last 12-18 months Google has made changes to its search format which have made conducting searches more difficult and the results less relevant.
The biggest change was doing away with a quick link to "cached" search results.  Now, you have to scroll over the individual search result, select the arrow, and then see if a cached result is even available.  Often, even when there is a cached result, the page is no longer available.  If you do extensive Internet research like I do, then you use the cached results to quickly find the information, which is highlighted, on the search result.  Without it, you have to either manually screen the document or search within the document.  The changes by Google are annoying and time consuming.
Another annoying "enhancement": they've removed the search box at the bottom of the page.  I have my search settings display 100 results per page. When I get to the bottom, if it's clear that I need to adjust the search, I previously was be able to simply use the search box at the bottom of the page.  Not anymore.  It's a strange change that makes no sense.
My guess is that Google is taking a page from Microsoft's playbook and simply making changes for change sake, with no apparent benefit.  I'll continue to use Google, but other search engines are quickly catching up and at some point I may make a switch.