We originally ran this article in OutlookPower Magazine back in 2005, after Hurricane Katrina hit and everyone was in a more giving mood. However, given our current economic times, the scammers are back in full-force and it's perhaps even more relevant today. It's interesting, and sad, that a publication like OutlookPower has to spend so much time talking about scams and how to protect yourself. But email is a mass communication tool and with anything that has mass effect, you have people doing good and people doing not so good. Email certainly has provided enormous benefits to vast numbers of people, but it also creates risks. In this time of holiday celebration, many of us share goodwill, while others seek to tap into that goodwill for nefarious gain. So, before you start thinking about giving, make sure you watch your back.
<A HREF="http://www.computingunplugged.com/issues/issue200812/00002297001.html">Read this Computing Unplugged article.</A>