No this is not an article written by Thomas Paine. His pamphlet, Common Sense (January, 1776), was one of the memorable writings of the day and helped the cause of American independence. We are talking about using common sense when surfing the net.

People in cyberspace may not always be what they seem. Someone who is sharing a "friendly" tip about a money-making scheme or great bargain in a chat room or on a bulletin board, may have an ulterior motive. Sometimes those friendly people turn out to be crooks!

Don't judge reliability by how nice or flashy a website may seem. Anyone can create and promote a website. One can be created with relatively little effort and expense in just a day or so. Once they have exhausted their particular scam, they can disappear just as quickly.

Many times, when visiting a web site, you will be given the option of downloading a program to see pictures, hear music or get other features from their website. You should never download programs like this from websites you're not familiar with. You could unwittingly download a virus that wipes out your computer files or even hijacks your Internet service, reconnecting you to the Net through an international phone number, resulting in enormous phone charges.

Unsolicited e-mail not only violates computer etiquette, it is often used by con artists. Reporting "spamming," as unsolicited e-mail is called, to their online or Internet service provider was once a viable defense. However, today it is less effective. Many con artists use fraudulent e-mail addresses and attempt to get you to respond via "snail mail" or to call their toll free number. If you are tempted by their offer, reply to their e-mail and if it is returned as undeliverable, walk away.

Don't provide your bank account numbers, credit card numbers, social security number or other personal information unless you know the company is legitimate and the information is necessary for the transaction. Even with partial information, con artists can make unauthorized charges, deduct money from your account, and impersonate you to get credit in your name.

Do business with companies you know and trust. Be sure you know who the company is and where it is physically located. If they will not provide this information, you should be leery.

Above all, use common sense. Perform "due diligence" with those offers that just seem "to good to be true" as they most likely are

Bob publishes the "Your Business" email newsletter and offers a wide range of business support services including web design and hosting, telemarketing, and valuable advertising options.
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