One thing I've noticed is that all of these scamsters love to sell out-dated W.G. Hill books and push privacy tactics that are no longer viable in a post-9/11 world. If you want true privacy' you're better off sticking with HTBI tactics and reading J.J.'s books instead of landing yourself in jail.

Submitted Link #1: http://www.quatloos.com/groups/m-harris.htm...

... Here's an even better suggestion, George. With the exception of Canada (discussed in the e-book "Invisible Money"), do not even think of opening an offshore account, much less going through a third party to do it!

The prices have droped significantly from 5 years ago. Iridium and Globalstar have plans that lower the price below a dollar a minute. I think for ordinary people seeking privacy from regular civilian snoops they provide a reasonable good level of privacy; very hard to intercept.

Please feel free to contact me on Sat Comm matters if you like. If I don't know I will use my contacts in the Industry to get you an answer. Thanks for providing this excellent website.

... Note to readers thinking about a sat phone: The per-minute charges are also for incoming calls, so take care who you give the number to. Mention "brevity."

I'm planning a move to (very) rural Nevada. Given the amount of driving I do, a satellite phone appears to be a necessary future expenditure for me. But what about the privacy angle? Since you presumably skip the whole cell tower layer with a satellite phone, are sat phones any harder to track?

... You do not hear much about sat phones because of the high cost per minute. I was at Bell II Lodge last fall, on the Cassiar Highway (en route to the Yukon). Because of the remote area, the lodge used sat phones. They charged four dollars a minute.

These phones can be tracked but my understanding is that it is difficult. (Perhaps some reader has more information on this?) Also, if a PI were investigating you, I suspect that it might not occur to him that you were using such a phone.

The dealer is full of it and just trying to sell you another car. Any competent professional installer can disable or remove the setup. The easiest way is to either disconnect the antenna wire or remove the antenna.

Personally I would just have them disconnect the antenna wire and power to the unit if possible, so it can be reconnected if you ever sell the vehicle or trade it in. This would be the cheapest method without changing the outward appearance of the car (i.e. by removing the antenna or wrapping it in foil, which I don't think would work as todays systems are pretty powerful so they can operate in locations with many obstructions). You might also draw unwanted attention to the vehicle by the police if the antenna is removed, as they may think the vehicle is possibly stolen and pull you over the investigate further. According to my friends may car thieves will break the antenna off the car when stealing it so it can't be located.

The key is finding a "competent" professional that knows what they are doing and won't damage your car. Ask around at different car audio shops in your area as well as with Lo-Jack if there is an office in your area. Lo-Jack installers are used to doing difficult installs because they have to hide the unit and related wiring so well, and they also know about the details of GPS systems that the average stereo installer probably won't know about unless they work on them all the time. Hope this helps.

Chad, did whomever called you give you a a MAIN number to the Secret Service FIELD office in your state where you can call them back? (See the site below to find the FIELD office in your state. Next time they call, get their name, ID number, and location (city and state) and tell them you'll call back. Don't tell them you know the number. Just say you'll call them back and if they insist you speak with them right then, gently and calmly but firmly tell them you won't until you call them back THEN HANG UP. REAL Secret Service agents won't be offended! They understand you don't believe them.

Call the main number for the Secret Service FIELD office in your area and ask for that officer by name and give the ID if asked (if you get it, that is). If you don't get a name, ID/badge number and location, that likely means it's a NEW IDENTITY THEFT SCAM of some kind. Someone wants to scare you into revealing personal information about yourself in order to steal your identity. BE CAREFUL. If this seems like a scam, report it to your local Secret Service office.

HOWEVER, know that the Secret Service's original mission and ongoing investigative purpose is related to counterfeit cash and cash instruments like checks, money orders, coins, etc. and since 1984 "includes crimes that involve financial institution fraud, computer and telecommunications fraud, false identification documents, access device fraud, advance fee fraud, electronic funds transfers and money laundering as it relates to the agency's core violations." ARE YOU OR ANYONE YOU KNOW INVOLVED IN SUCH CRIMINAL ACTIVITY? If so, well, you know something they may be calling you about.

If that's the case, call a criminal attorney, FAST, because you have a right to one.

If not, do what I first said above and that may solve your problem.

Submitted Link #1: http://www.secretservice.gov/field_offices.shtml...

... Wendy e-mailed me an additional comment, which makes sense:

". . . they'd usually show up at your door if it was that bad, not call you and give you a heads up so you can run."

A friend of mine met, in January, with the Committee on Homeland Security to share evidence on the ineffectiveness of facial biometrics to date. Industry claims 90+% effectiveness at recognition. Facts support 30-45%, if all things are at their best. Add a 5 O'clock shadow for men and it drops below 20%.

For women, let your hair cover your face. For both, smile (it causes big problems), and wear sunglasses (shadows cause big problems, hold up something to the lights; shade part of face, not all). With those tips and today's technology your facial recognition is near impossible.

Now, that is automated facial recognition, remember that a live person may recognize you; but many places are relying on the computer to do the first match. Good luck.