If you receive an unbeatable offer – one that can never be repeated, check the facts before you part with your credit card.

Almost all of the unsolicited e-mails you’ll receive are scams of one kind or another. They’re designed to separate you from your hard-earned cash and may not deliver what they promise. If an offer sounds too good to be true, then it is.

You’ve probably heard of some of the scams and frauds perpetrated over the internet. Before the internet and e-mail there were chain letters begging you to add money and pass on. These offers would arrive anonymously and encourage you to select a handful of people (using the telephone directory) to receive your bucketload of tax-free dollars. Stories of people becoming rich could not be collaborated, but people still parted with their money.

The internet has made all kinds of scams and tricks so easy. Just send out a mass e-mail to thousands of people and its likely that someone will bite.

The Australian Government, through its Scamwatch website, is a good resource for finding out about the various scams, phoney alerts, miracle cures, lottery wins, and the one we come in contact with several times a month – domain name renewal scams.

If it looks hooky, then it probably is hooky. If you receive an offer to renew your domain, make sure its with the people from whom you originally purchased or transferred. As a service to our clients we protect their address by registering our PO box as the contact address. These letters go into the shredder.

© 2010 David W James