| > | | | | money down theroad if they (a) go public or (b) get |
| Fraud is rampant on the internet. It is everywhere that | | | | lots of people signed up or whatever. |
| you look. When youare lurking in newsgroups you will | | | | Beware - you are taking a risk to never get anything. |
| find hundreds of messages inviting you tospend | | | | Credit card fraud - be very careful with your credit |
| money here, there and everywhere. You'll get email | | | | card number on the web. |
| demanding yourtime, attention, and, of course, money | | | | DO NOT EVER send it in email or post it in a |
| for something. Surfing the web willturn up many sites | | | | newsgroup. And DO NOT USE YOUR |
| with some incredible offers which, of course, just | | | | DEBIT CARD FOR ANYTHING ON THE WEB. That |
| happento require your credit card number - but don't | | | | comes directly out of your checkingaccount - you may |
| worry, they "just need it tovalidate your age" (or | | | | get it back from the bank if you can prove fraud, but |
| whatever) - DON'T GIVE THEM YOUR CREDIT | | | | atleast with a normal credit card you are risking the |
| CARD NUMBER | | | | banks money and not yourown. |
| UNLESS YOU ABSOLUTELY KNOW IT'S SAFE. | | | | Multi-Level Marking (MLM) - I'm sure there are good |
| The web is a media of communication. It allows | | | | MLM companies out there,but they really only tend to |
| everyone to communicate withanyone for the price of | | | | benefit those who get in early. Those on thebottom |
| a computer, phone line and internet service - andeven | | | | wind up supporting those on top, then the whole thing |
| most of that can be gotten for free if you try. This is | | | | loses steam andfalls apart. Of course, those who do |
| perhaps themost wonderful invention in the history of | | | | get in early make a lot of money. |
| man to date for it's sheer powerof getting us all just to | | | | Pay-To-whatever - There are some |
| talk to each other, but there are dangers. | | | | pay-to-do-something companies that arelegitimate. My |
| In a way, it's just like any other part of life. However, | | | | experience is that the vast majority of these have |
| what the internetdoes is to allow you to communicate | | | | minimalfinancing, an exceptionally poor business model |
| (and be communicated with) exceptionallyfast. Where | | | | and little, if any,likelihood of actually paying anything to |
| else could you surf a hundred sites, receive 200 emails | | | | anyone. Usually there is notfraudulent intent - just a lot |
| andexamine 250 newsgroup messages all in one | | | | of silliness and idiocy. |
| evening? | | | | Cons - There are some unbelievable cons out there |
| Some of the schemes that you will need to be on the | | | | on the internet and in thereal world. The Nigerian scam |
| lookout for include: | | | | is a particularly nasty example. In this scam,you receive |
| Pyramid schemes galore. These are the things that | | | | a letter or email which tries to get you involved in |
| say "send a dollar to abunch of people with your name | | | | "helping"some ex-Nigerian official by giving him your |
| and address". They are all illegal (in spiteof what they | | | | bank account number. Getinvolved and you will lose |
| claim) and unethical. You will get ripped off and if | | | | money and perhaps more than that. |
| youpartake you are breaking the law. | | | | Identify Theft - Perhaps the most significant threat on |
| Startup companies which offer stock or "points" - | | | | the internet isidentify theft. This is simply the stealing of |
| these are not frauds, persay, but the vast majority of | | | | your social security number |
| these will never pay anything to anyone. Forexample, | | | | (and other identifying information) with the intention of |
| many pay-to-surf programs at their beginning will not | | | | using it to obtaincredit. Give out your information to the |
| pay anything. | | | | wrong person and you could findyour credit rating is |
| Instead, you will get points or stock, with the promise of | | | | destroyed. |