BOSTON -- In Friday's Buyer Beware Extra, NewsCenter 5's Susan Wornick offers advice on some good information for free, a bad deal with a fee, and an e-mail you may see.

Word Of Mouth

An ominous message says someone is researching your background. It certainly gets your attention, telling you to click onto a Web site for more information.

When you do, you discover no one is checking you out. They want you to sign up for a service called wordofmouthconnection.com.

It claims to be a research tool to help you investigate anything from a business to a personal reputation, but it doesn't say what it costs. You have to register first, and there's no guarantee.

They don't even care if you're satisfied with their service. They tell you, up front, that wordofmouthconnection.com offers no guarantees and doesn't give refunds.

Scams

Do you know what to do with notification that you won an international lottery? How about an offer for a free trip? Do you know what to say if a caller asks to verify your credit card information?

Nothing. You say or do nothing because they are scams. It's sometimes hard to protect yourself, but now there's help.

The Attorney General's office has put out a calendar for 2004 with important consumer information . It's designed to avoid elder fraud, but it's good information for all of us. To get a copy call (617) 727-8400 or click here.

Simon Mall Gift Cards

There's more news about the Simon Mall gift cards. As NewsCenter 5's been reporting for months, they appear to break state law charging fees for service and diminishing in value. Even the Attorney General's office agreed and investigated, but they've been big-footed by the federal government.

The Attorney General asked the Comptroller of the Currency, which regulates these kinds of things, to look into it. The comptroller ruled that the cards may be against state law, but they're not against federal law.

According to the office of the comptroller, ultimately federal laws apply, and there's nothing a local Attorney General's office can do.

State law says gift cards should be good at full value for seven years. The Simon Mall cards are not, so you might want to think about a gift certificate to an individual store instead or give cash. You shouldn't have to pay a fee for agreeing to shop somewhere.

For more information about the gift cards, click here.