In the Wake of Michael Jackson's Death: Beware of Online Scams!

Whenever a big name celebrity dies, Internet swindlers see an opportunity for financial gain. And the bigger the name of the celebrity ... the bigger the opportunity. Well, celebrity names don't get much bigger than Michael Jackson. These online scammers know that -- so they have begun to unleash a tsunami of spam emails - all with the purpose of capitalizing on the high demand for information concerning Michael Jackson. One of these messages promises a YouTube video showing EXCLUSIVE "last work of Michael Jackson." Instead of the video, computer uses receive a virus that steals there passwords and other personal information. Another scam promises unpublished photos of the King of Pop if you click on a certain link. It then takes the user to a site that will attempt to steal the computer user's passwords. So .... in the wake of Michael Jackson's death: BEWARE of online scams!

Scams are successful (for the scammer that is!) for a number of reasons. First, there is the lack of caution on the part of many Internet users. People are so intent on finding the info they want, they "throw caution to the wind." Second, scams are often very deceptive. Appearing legitimate, people think they are legitimate (makes sense, right?). But we must keep in mind that just because something might look legit ... does not make it so. We must learn to DISCERN (now there is a word that I believe you rarely hear!). And what is true for the world of the Internet ... is also true of the spiritual world. The Apostle Paul said that even "Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light" (2 Corinthians 11:14). So we must always be on the alert. Sifting everything through the filter of God's Truth. If it lines up with Scripture - great! Grab it and run with it. If it does not - then ditch it! Don't allow the Great Deceiver to pull one over on you!

Thanks for stopping by . . .

pj