Once your idea is out, be warned that there are all kinds of scammers and businesses that will try to capitalize on your patent or idea. They will send out all kinds of "assistance" - and it's likely you don't need any. You'll get offers to have your patent printed onto a lampshade. You'll get the most outrageous offers to do things with your patent or idea - don't fall victim to any that may not be legitimate. Also - before you have your patent engraved on something, see if your idea can sell and make money. If no one wants it, what good will it do to have it on all your lampshades?

If there is a cure-all supplement, talk to people who really have used it (and not just the person selling it who will say anything to get you to buy it) and had success. See if your situation may be similar or totally different from what a success story situation is. Being unique, people don't actually react the same way to certain products. Don't expect the same result as someone else. Also - always consult your doctor before trying a new treatment plan - you may have drug interactions if you are taking medications, or you might have a health problem that needs some other type of attention. Miracle cures often are not - and only after years of taking them, people can get serious health problems - such as the fen-phen era of weight loss supplements (these people have dire health problems now, many dying, and the lawsuits are not helping enough).

I called and was on hold for over 20 minutes. When I got a representative on the phone, I stated that I received a bill that I did not feel was correct for me. I said I was calling to find out if this bill is fraudulent. She quickly got on my case and got my "billing info" to find me.

She said it was a charge from having an old calling card, about 5 years ago, and whether I remembered such a card (I did not remember any such card, but from 5 years ago????). She asked if I wanted to cancel the service and get the bill canceled - I said "yes!"

She said they were sending these bills out to get people to call them if it was not correct. so they could cancel people off these dormant (but now reactivated) accounts. Well, this doesn't seem to be right - they should send a statement about doing this - most people would pay the small bill and not think anything of it, at least not for awhile. Since it would come month after month, some people might get suspicious. Some might think their phone service provider is responsible for the bill and call to get it consolidated into the phone bill, at which time they'd find out there is no relation.

A new email message came the other day in which the person was trying to help the relatives of – get this – MY MAIDEN NAME, and of their originating country, which was not mentioned. Yes, those were my parent's names, and yes, they immigrated to the U.S. when they were younger, but they are in no way part of some money laundering scheme that some murdered person left funds to be used. Not only that, but my mother is no longer alive, and the appeal does not make sense in the way it was written.

The scary thing about these contacts is that the scammers are looking up business and personal information in order to "hook" us into believing the story. They are preying on our emotions and occupations. It's one new trick after another. No longer is it limited to Nigeria – it involves other countries, as well. It dives into your specific and close to the heart situations and business. You need to beware of these tricks – do not believe them, even if you "know" the players. Watch out!

Of course, there are certain exceptions, like when a pension is sold – a re-direction must take place prior to the funds being dispersed, since the re-direction takes place solely at the applicant's responsibility. It is not guaranteed that the funds will go to the pension funder, so that payment must go through first. There may be other cases like this, but you need a CONTRACT every time, stating exactly what both parties intend to do, and signed by both.