As you open your email these days you find it filled with on-line scam opportunities. The rule I tell my clients is, ..."that if it seems too good, it probably is not". Some other tips to defeat the scammers is just common sense. The IRS never sends e-mails. You will get a plain white envelope with your name on it from the real IRS. Many people have been stung by fake Credit Card e-mails. First, never click on a link or fill out forms asking for your personal or banking information. They have that already. If they can find you with the monthly bill that is all they need. A lot of these emails look real. Graphics are slick and they even may use a link with the name of the CC company in it. But if you hit the view source button on your browser and check the real name of the link, you will find it does not go to the CC company! Confused or have questions, just call the 800 number on the back of your credit card. My favorite scam is the old Nigerian bank scam. Somebody died in Africa and left their poor widow $400 million dollars US. With your help she needs to move it, and you will get a percentage for your time. NOT! This same scam has been rewritten this year from England, Ireland and even the US. Do not send anyone your  phone or fax or name. Matter of fact do not click on links, on these types of messages, just delete them. Clicking on links from unknown sources can have consequences and not all are good. Getting paranoid? Don't be. Just be careful. Use common sense and good e-mail anti-virus scanner. Remember nothing is free. (Good Spam Scanner here: http://www.cloudmark.com/en/home.html)