Senator Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr., chairman of the Consumer Protection Committee, is warning consumers about an online scam called "phishing.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, this high tech scam, also known as "brand spoofing" or "carding," uses spam to deceive consumers into disclosing their credit card numbers, bank account information, Social Security numbers, passwords and other sensitive information.

The scammers state in an e-mail message that the company needs this information to maintain the current status of the consumer's account. When the consumers reply and provide their vital financial information, the criminals gain access to important and private information, resulting in identity theft.

Even a wary consumer, who visits the web address that is usually linked with the e-mail, may be confused by the official look of the site. According to anti-phishing.org, since these e-mails and the corresponding websites appear official, as many as 20 percent of recipients reply to them.

To avoid getting scammed, the FTC offers the following tips:

* If you receive an e-mail that warns you, with little or no notice, that an account of yours will be shut down unless you reconfirm your billing information, do not reply or click on the link in the e-mail. Instead, contact the company cited in the e-mail using a telephone number or website address you know to be genuine.

* Avoid e-mailing personal and financial information. Before submitting financial information through a website, look for the "lock" icon on the browser's status bar. It signals that your information is secure during transmission.

* Review credit card and bank account statements as soon as you receive them to determine whether there are any unauthorized charges. If your statement is late by more than a couple of days, call your credit card company or bank to confirm your billing address and account balances.

* Report suspicious activity to the FTC. Send the actual spam to uce@ftc.gov. If you believe you've been scammed, file your complaint at www.ftc.gov, and then visit the FTC's Identity Theft Website (www.ftc.gov/idtheft) to learn how to minimize your risk of damage from identity theft.

"Every day we learn of new scams directed against consumers," stated Fuschillo. "I will continue to bring these scams to light, and educate people on how to avoid them."

Senator Fuschillo recently announced that he has successfully procured $7,500 in state funding for the Long Island Crisis Center. The grant will help the Center continue to provide services to individuals in need throughout Long Island.

"Senator Fuschillo has been a great friend of the Long Island Crisis Center for many years," stated Executive Director Linda Leonard. "His support will ensure that every time a resident turns to the Center for help, someone will be there to meet that need."

The Long Island Crisis Center is a nonprofit, community service organization based in Bellmore. It is Long Island's oldest 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week hotline service. The Center provides confidential counseling and referral services to residents of all ages, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, free of charge.

"It is important that individuals have a place to turn when the pressures of life become too difficult, and the Long Island Crisis Center ensures that help is always available," stated Fuschillo.

The programs offered by the Long Island Crisis Center address some of the most critical concerns of our society. To find out more information about the Center, you can view their website at http://www.longislandcrisiscenter.org

Senator Fuschillo announced that his office has 2004-05 financial aid information available for students who plan to attend college in the fall of 2004. The materials are available free of charge.

The New York State Department of Education estimates that 169,000 students will graduate from New York State high schools in 2004. As these students prepare to embark on their journey through higher education, they face a variety of choices and questions regarding financial aid that are often confusing and overwhelming. These materials inform prospective students and their families of the financial aid options that are available.

One of the available informational pieces is the 2004-05 Financial Aid Chart. This chart, prepared by the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC), provides information about the various types of financial assistance offered by New York State, the federal government, and individual colleges or universities. The criteria for each type of assistance is explained as well.

"A college degree is an invaluable resource that should be available to anyone who seeks it," said Fuschillo. "New York State is a leader in providing quality higher education, and I remain committed to ensuring that this opportunity exists for everyone."

You can obtain the 2004-05 Financial Aid Chart or other free information by contacting Senator Fuschillo at 546-4100 or by e-mail at fuschill@senate.state.ny.us. For additional information about financial aid, please visit Senator Fuschillo's website at www.senatorfuschillo.com and click on the "financial aid" link in "Senator Update" section.

Senator Fuschillo announced that the law he authored, which provides personal property-casualty line insurance holders extra protection from cancellation, is now in effect. The new law requires insurance companies to send written notice to both the policy holder and their authorized agent or broker that the policy will be terminated.

For a variety of reasons, some companies have recently ceased supplying this information to agents and have thereby denied many people the ability to maintain their policy coverage. The law requires the information to be passed on to the agent and the consumer. The cancellation notice must include the amount of premium owed to bring the account up to date. This gives personal lines insurance holders an additional opportunity to maintain their good financial standing and avoid a lapse in coverage.

"The intent of this legislation is to protect drivers from the numerous problems caused by a lapse in insurance coverage," stated Fuschillo. "This will promote coordination among the insurance companies, personal lines insurance agents and policy holders and ensure the continuation of coverage."

The new law will bring notification requirements for personal lines insurance policies in line with commercial lines polices, which already have this protection.