Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!news.media.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!usa-post Newsgroups: usa-today.trends From: usa-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: usa-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: trends Mon, Jun 15 1992 Date: Mon, 15 Jun 92 05:41:48 EDT Message-ID: 05-16 0000 DECISIONLINE: Trends & Marketing USA TODAY Update June 15, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network TAX-FILING SCAMS ON RAMPAGE: Electronic tax-filing scams are raging in southern California. The Los Angeles office of the IRS now spends more time on that than on narcotics, money laundering or insurance fraud. Jerome Hearne, a former promoter for women's professional wrestling, swindled the IRS of about $1 million in what is the biggest case of electronic filing fraud in southern California. (For more, see special Filing package below.) ADVERTISERS LOOK TO GAY MAGS: The premiere issue of Out magazine, on newsstands Monday, contains 20 pages of ads, including 18 from such national advertisers as Benetton. That's not especially noteworthy - except that Out is a magazine for homosexuals. Until recently the juxtaposition of those ads with those articles would be all but impossible to imagine. But the advertising is beginning. GAYS ARE `LOYAL' TO ADVERTISERS: Year-old Genre, a magazine for gay men, is seeing increased interest from advertisers. Ad revenue is increasing 5% to 10% with each bimonthly issue, says Publisher Richard Settles. The primary reason for the ad increase in gay magazines is advertisers' self-interest, says journalist Mark Schoofs. "The gay population is relatively affluent (and) very loyal to" its advertisers, he says. FTC EYES WEIGHT-LOSS PLANS: Weight-loss programs are increasingly getting a close look by the government. Last fall, the Federal Trade Commission said makers of liquid diets Optifast, Medifast and Ultrafast would have to stop advertising about safety and long-term success without proof. Now commercial weight-loss programs like Weight Watchers could be on the verge of facing similar standards, says the FTC's Barry Cutler. CATS SHOWN WITH POODLE CUTS: Making their debut at Madison Square Garden's International Cat Show in March, strategically shorn cats also grabbed attention at Sunday's sixth annual show in Anaheim, Calif. The Lion Cut has long been a poodle fashion statement. Now it's popular for cats to sport the cut, "a real art form," says show producer Peter Markstein. One groomer says she does 25 a week, up from three. FUTURE OF OFFICES LOOKS GREEN: The future of office development and property management may be tied to the green movement, portfolio manager Philip Hoffer reports in the June issue of Real Estate Today. Tenants have growing concerns about the environment, both indoors and out. To improve indoor air quality, for instance, developers working with architects may design and build lobbies as atriums. MORE DEFEND THE HOMELESS: A case beginning Monday in Miami on behalf of 7,000 homeless is an indication of a nationwide movement. While crackdowns against the homeless are increasing, legal challenges on their behalf are on the rise. In New Jersey, a judge ruled last year that a library could not kick homeless out. In San Francisco last year, an anti-begging law was ruled unconstitutional. ANOTHER CASE CONSOLIDATED: U.S. District Judge Jack Weinstein of New York has consolidated 44 lawsuits against AT&T, IBM and other technology companies in a centralized investigation of carpal-tunnel syndrome and related injuries. It's the latest in a string of corporate-liability cases; similar legal juggernauts were formed in cases involving asbestos and the Dalkon Shield. Manufacturers were found at fault in those. PRICE OF GAS KEEPS CLIMBING: The average price of a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline has risen 9.5% since prices stopped falling at the end of March, according to the American Automobile Association. Prices averaged $1.17 on June 9, up 7 cents from $1.107 May 4. They were as low as $1.049 on March 24. SPECIAL PACKAGE ON FILING: TAX FRAUD HAS TAKEN ROOT: Since the IRS introduced electronic filing in 1986 as a fast and easy way to file tax returns, electronic tax fraud has taken root in several major cities. Filing electronically brings a refund check in three weeks, vs. six to eight for filing by mail. With a bank loan, it takes just three days at most to get a refund check; 85% of all taxpayers who file returns electronically get loans. MOST RETURNS ELECTRONIC: According to the IRS, crooks have found a way to claim $17.6 million in phony electronic refund claims this year. Through April, electronic returns accounted for two-thirds of all questionable returns filed this year, vs. one-third for the same period last year. But although cheaters get the refund more quickly, they also "get caught faster," says IRS spokesman Don Roberts. MORE FAKE CLAIMS NABBED: Last year, 25% of all fraudulent electronic refund claims were intercepted before the IRS sent out refund checks. This year, the agency has squelched 76% of phony electronic claims before refund checks were mailed. Tax preparers have become more watchful for signs. Some now have checks built into computer software to spot handwritten W-2 forms, claims for huge refunds and other clues. (End of package.) CORRECTION: The June 12 item on prostate cancer should have given the increase in death rates from 1980 to 1988 as 7.5% among white men, 5.9% among black men. Trends & Marketing Editor: Beth Mann. (1-919-855-3491) Making copies of USA TODAY Update (Copyright, 1992) for further distribution violates federal law. This article is copyright 1992 Gannett News Service. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM