Since the doomers are now carrying huge wads of extra cash on hand, I thought I'd better pass this on:

Scam #1: Perfume Ploy. This is one where you are targetted in a parking lot and offered to buy a bottle of perfume or cologne at a greatly reduced price. Don't take a whiff! When you awaken from your ether-induced stupor, you may find yourself penniless.

Scam #2: Punching 90#. If you are called by a "repair technician" and asked to enter "90#" as a "test", you are giving free access to the scammer to use your line to rack up substantial long distance charges.

-- Zach Anderson (z@figure.8m.com), December 01, 1999

Answers

Sorry, one urban legend for sure and a possible urban legend.

The "9,0,#" urban legend is documented at:

http://www.snopes.com/spoons/faxlore/jailcall.htm

Details on the 'dangerous perfume' urban legend can be found at:

http://www.sn opes.com/horrors/robbery/perfume.htm

(Actually was based on a single real report from a Mobile, Alabama woman)

Urban legends aside, many scams ARE real and being skeptical of unusual requests is the best policy. Christmas time is prime hunting season for such scoundrels.

-- Arnie Rimmer (Arnie_Rimmer@usa.net), December 01, 1999.

The 90# attack is on business lines requiring the dialing of "9" for an outside line. I'm sure there are a few business owners on the forum that have fallen victim. Any stories?

The perfume story originated in Alabama about 3 weeks ago. I'm curious as to just how long it takes for criminals to spread the word. No, I don't think we'll see a huge wave of "perfume artists" hitting the streets.. If we do, I'm sure Oprah wll be the first to sound the alarm . .   ;)

By the way, if I don't get the chance later: Have a merry Christmas and a happy-face New Year!

-- Zach Anderson (z@figure.8m.com), December 01, 1999.

Zach, what is the best prophecy site you've discovered on the Internet?

-- dinosaur (dinosaur@williams-net.com), December 01, 1999.

dino,

I still like the PC site. Can't agree 100%, of course, but they seem to do a pretty thorough job of screening their pieces. Most amazing is that many of the recent dreams and visions they have documented are being carefully considered by our [US] military cheifly because the visions have revealed "secret stuff".

Here is a listing of their online newsletters dating back a few years. Check them out and see how ell they've been able to square with reality.

Since we're OT anyway, anybody else have any decent prophecy-related material to share?

-- Zach Anderson (z@figure.8m.com), December 02, 1999.