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With international governments increasing their "big brother" act since 9/11, perhaps there really is a need to make yourself an aluminum foil deflector beanie.

A few weeks back I took a look at the Nigerian scamsters and the fun so many people had enjoyed by leading them on. Well here's one I missed

Here's some breakthrough information that could change your life -- forever! Yes, a web-page that gives you hints on how to live forever.

Danger, Danger Will Robinson: Scam Alert!
For some reasons, Kiwi Net users seem to feature quite highly amongst the ranks of those who fall for online scams.

You'll recall recently I reported how local "poet" Ruth Harris got roped into the infamous "poetry scam", as did those who paid for her to fly to the USA and collect her "award".

Way back in 2000 I highlighted the unscrupulous pyramid system operated by SkyBiz 2000 and how kiwis were getting caught up in it. The rest of the media caught up a month later when the Commerce Commission got involved.

The company was eventually sued by several consumer protection agencies in various countries around the world.

Readers Say (updated irregularly) From Yesterday... Win2K security evaluation... - Andy Whoa!... - Scott Windows 2000... - LTY Have Your Say

Well get ready for a repeat performance folks.

A new shonky-looking scheme has hit the web, and will doubtless attract at least a few stupid Kiwis into its ranks.

A slick looking front page obviously tries to lend credibility to the GMT! website -- but as soon as you click on to the next page it just screams "we're a bunch of spamming scamsters" by way of a very amateurish layout, plethora of different fonts and sizes, plus a liberal abuse of clashing colours.

Of course there are a long list of anonymous testimonials -- you know, the type that Microsoft uses, along with bold claims that you can earn tens of thousands of dollars for an outlay of just $199.

The word "pyramid" (which would be a dead give-away) has been carefully avoided by using the term "matrix" -- but stupid people won't notice will they?

In order to earn all this cash and improve your position in "the matrix" you don't have to spam -- but you do have to send out at least a hundred emails per month. Clearly spam is a different type of meat in GMT!'s world.

This scheme has already been touted on a local newsgroup nz.general and I expect a growing number of people will start receiving spam from those who have signed up and are looking to recruit new fools (oops- I meant to say "new matrix members").

Please tell everyone you know about this scam and advise them to avoid it at all costs. And, just in case you're thinking that nobody you know would be silly enough to fall for this -- just look at how many Kiwis (including a former CityBank manager) have been caught out by the Nigerian scam.

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