Nothing Is Really Free

We all love free offers. But we always have to remember two popular adages: If it sounds too good to be true, it is likely neither good nor true. Nothing is really free.

When a business offers something for “free”, what are they really offering? They want you to do business with them—to get you in the door. Maybe it’s really free, or it’s a sale, or a discount. But there generally is some motive.

There are some occasions that for personal reasons, something will be given for free. One could leave an inheritance when they die. One could make a gift to help a person or group or charitable purpose. But in these events, one would never have to pay money or give something in order to receive the gift or bequest.

We are all inundated with offers by mail, telephone, e-mail, and other types of contact. Every time we receive such a contact, we must be on alert. Why is the contact being made? Are we being asked to do something, or give some information? Sometimes, as with e-mail and Internet contacts, we will be asked to do something as seemingly innocuous as clicking on a hyperlink. That itself gives the contactor an open door to our private information, and maybe much worse. Often the sender looks like somebody you know, but it often is not.

Many of these false offers require recipients to send rather large amounts of money to recipients, in the U.S. or elsewhere. You may think it is ludicrous to think that one could be duped into doing so.

But I can assure you that I have seen many examples of intelligent, educated people doing just that, and sometimes doing it over and over again, each time expecting a better and different result. But in the end, these people have been duped, and nothing is coming.

Whenever you receive an offer, please safeguard your private information. Re-member, if it seems to be too good to be true, it is likely neither good nor true. Nothing is free. Hang up. Do not reply to the mail or e-mail. Do not click or open an attachment via e-mail unless you are absolutely certain it was really sent by somebody you know.

Attorney Michael A. Pyle, of Pyle, Dellinger & Duz, PLLC. 1655 North Clyde Morris Blvd., Ste. 1, Daytona Beach. Phone: 386.615.9007. E-mail: mikep@pylelegal. com or website: www.pylelegal.com