Date: 03 Oct 92 11:54:38 EDT
From: Gordon Meyer <72307.1502@COMPUSERVE.COM>
Subject: File 6--Cu News: Dept Store Fraud / "MY PC PAL"

 DEPARTMENT STORE COMPUTER FRAUD

 The US Attorney's Office in Sacramento, California has announced an
 indictment against a Fresno department store for using a 'special
 computer program' to alter its financial records. The store,
 Gottschalks, has pled guilty to three criminal counts and has agreed
 to pay 1.5 million dollars in fines for taking illegal tax deductions
 and violating securities exchange laws. The store reportedly
 developed the program to overstate sales, supposedly by nearly half a
 million dollars in one quarter, allowing it to claim a profit when it
 was really operating at a loss. (Information Week, August 3, 1992: 10).

 MY COMPUTER, MY FRIEND.

 Logitech, Inc recently completed a "PC's and People" survey in which
 98% of the 300 computer users surveyed indicated that they feel they
 have personal relationships with their machines. In addition, 13%
 said they ascribe personalities to their machines, while 9% admitted
 that they have named them. At least 50% said they consider their
 computers to be extensions of themselves. (CompuServe Magazine,
 October 1992: 8)

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