And guess what - this is true. Not only should you be able to accept credit cards, but also online checks. When a person decides to buy, you have a very narrow window of time for them to complete order. If you can allow them to make their purchase and pay for it online, you have a great chance of getting order. However, if they have to write a check and mail it to you, there is a "cooling off period" and you may not get order.

So we all agree that accepting credit cards is a good tactic for an online business. To do this, you must have a merchant account, and here is where some people get into trouble.

You receive an unsolicited email (spam) that says they will act as your agent, and will accept credit cards and checks on your behalf. They then go on to say they will deposit money in your account within two working days. If you join within next 48 hours, they will waive usual $695 set up fee and give it to you for only $39.95 - there will be no monthly fees and they'll only charge you 1.75% of sale - wow what a deal.

I had a call this week from someone who did just that. Now here is what happened. He didn't read "fine print" and when he signed agreement, he actually authorized them to charge his bank account for $295 security which was non-refundable if his account was cancelled, plus $39.95 set up fee.

Now plot thickens. He submitted about $1,500 in charges and money never showed up in his bank. In coversation with his bank representative, he then found out about $295 charge to his account. He called his supposed contact at credit card company, found out that they were an independant sales agent, and $39.95 was not a set up fee, but a referral fee. When asked about $295 charge, his contact pleaded ignorance, told him he would have to call Company direct, and was given their number.

Let's examine this a bit.

It starts off with an E-mail you receive promising huge returns for expenditure of a relatively small amount of money. Just think - for only $200 you can get your message out to a million people who are on general subscriber list of AOL members.

"Wow" - you think - "even if I only get one half of one percent, that will be 5,000 customers". Now they also offer a "targeted" list of one million for $400. Advertisers in know, say you can expect up to a 3 percent return from a targeted list - that's 30,000 customers.

They do mailing and you won't have problems with your ISP (Internet Service Provider) who will cancel your account for spamming. How do they do this? Simple - they do not list your address in copy they send out, and they use a "forged" address in header. Try responding to any offer you receive and, most of time it will be returned as undeliverable. These spammers usually provide a telephone number you can call, where you will get a pre-recorded bit of hype, and a message to send your money to their P.O. Box.