For those of you out there that are job searching, Craigslist.org can be a great tool! It can also be a great source for SPAM and fake posts. If get an email from an unknown sender and it looks fishy, try Google searching some lines of the message. If you're like me and replied to a ton of job postings, the source of these spam messages are damn near impossible to track down. That is unless the subject line was in the suspected spam email and you printed a pdf copy of the ad - Aha! Although the lure of a potential job may be tempting, be aware that some people (try to) make a living from scamming and spamming you!

Here's a message I got today from some random internet guy telling me about a job opportunity:

If you Google search that last bit: "Get back to me with your total cost for the service I await your urgent response" you'll find several websites with people asking if they just got a SPAM message. When in doubt, Google it!

To quote famous circus man P.T. Barnum "There's a sucker born every minute" Don't be a sucker. Research fishy emails to avoid phishing scams! Here's more useful info on Craiglist's About Spam page: http://www.craigslist.org/about/scams

On a funny side-note, Googling the name "Allen Jones" I discovered a sculptor that makes tables that look like look like pretty ladies. His work inspired the tables for the milk bar scenes in A Clockwork Orange.

A couple of weeks ago I witnessed the mass hysteria caused by an innocent email from a concerned person. Not like the world was coming to an end or anything. It was a forwarded message and it went something like this...

"The telemarketers are out to get you and there's nothing you can do about it. Your cell phone number is going to be released to the public unless you call this number and get your number put on the do-not-call list. It'll only be valid for 5 years once you register your number(s). Send this to all your friends NOW!"

Be advised that this Hoax Email has been debunked by Snopes.com Please read this article:
http://www.snopes.com/politics/business/cell411.asp

You can also visit https://donotcall.gov for more details on the real Do Not Call Registry set up by the Federal Trade Commission. Here are some more details from their site:

MORE INFORMATION

• The National Do Not Call Registry is managed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation's consumer protection agency. Click here to view more information from the FTC on the National Do Not Call Registry and how to avoid telemarketing fraud.
  
  
• Information for Consumers. Click here if you would like more information on how to register, what registration means for you, what calls are covered and more.
  
  
• Information for Businesses. Click here for answers to some common questions from telemarketers and sellers.
  
  
• Information for the Media. Click here for media materials related to the National Do Not Call Registry.