Beware these 5 holiday scams

MSN Money Article on 5 Holiday Scams
 We have actually been given several stars....bit of a bummer to read this.
Naming a star
"What better gift could you give someone than the symbol of the first Christmas -- a star? Various companies claim they can sell you a star -- for a fee. This year, one company is charging $54. These companies will send you a certificate with the name and location of "your star" and promise that your star's name will be in a star registry.Looking for a loan?
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Here's the problem: Stars are named by the International Astronomical Union -- and they aren't selling. Names for stars (and most are given numbers) are assigned according to the internationally accepted rules of the IAU. Anyone else who claims to be able to name stars has no more legal standing than your neighbor's Rottweiler. When they say your star is going into a "registry," they mean whatever registry they made up -- not the official catalog that is kept by the IAU and used by all astronomers.

According to the IAU's Web site, "such 'names' have no formal or official validity whatever. Like true love and many of the other best things in human life, the beauty of the night sky is not for sale, but is free for all to enjoy.""
Fake charities
Spam solicitations
Online auction scams
The high-pressure sale

-Matatora Courage is the price that life extracts for granting peace Most of the change we think we see in life is due to truths being in and out of favor.

David S. Atlas

GG(GIA), ASG, Sr. Mbr. NAJA

www.datlas.com