Here is a listing of 10 urban legends. This actually came from the MSN Money website and I am stunned that people would actually believe any of these, but I have seen people try to convince each other of some pretty outrageous things before.
� Myth No. 1: You can float a check longer if you write in red ink. The theory is that a bank’s equipment can’t scan red ink, so it takes longer to process the check.
� Myth No. 2: You don’t have to pay income tax — it’s illegal. Only foreign income is subject to Uncle Sam’s cut, the story runs, and there’s a form you can file to exempt yourself. But no one will tell you about it.
� Myth No. 3: I’m under 18, so I can’t be held accountable for a debt. (Variation: Credit-card debts are wiped out when you turn 19.) Spring-breakers love to use this one to justify running up a cruise or resort-hotel bill on their credit cards.
� Myth No. 4: My hotel key card has my credit-card information. The ramification is that you’d better clutch it tightly or a con will decode it and rack up a big bill.
� Myth No. 5: Boycotting a few gasoline brands brings gas prices down. Poor Exxon and Mobil. They often show up as the bad guys in a mass e-mail urging Americans to avoid their pumps on a particular day.
� Myth No. 6: It’s better if you don’t sign the back of your credit card. Some well-meaning pigeon decided one day this would protect him from identify theft.
� Myth No. 7: You can make a pile of dough by helping a foreigner solve his money problems. “Hello, my name is unpronounceable, and I need to get money out of my country. Will you let me use your bank account?” is the gist of this e-mail plea.
� Myth No. 8: You can now opt out of having credit bureaus give your information to anyone who asks. Just call (888) 567-8688 and give them the Social Security numbers of everyone in the household in a single call, says the message. But hurry — you only have 60 days to take advantage of this ability.
� Myth No. 9: You can buy your way out of points on a speeding ticket. If you pay a bit more than your fine actually is, the state will send you a refund check for the difference.
� Myth No. 10: Hotel Bibles often have $100 bills tucked into them. Heard the one that Gideons leave $100 bills in their hotel Bibles to reward folks who turn to the Good Book?
Okay, bottom line. If you wrote the color of the ink does not matter. A check is a check. You have to pay income tax if you had an income. If you incurred the debt it is your responsibility. Boycotting gas doesn�t accomplish much. There is not a lot of difference between a signed credit card and an unsigned credit card. By now everyone should know that if give money to people from Nigeria to get their money out of the country, the only one that is going to be out is you. Basically, if it sounds too good or too far fetched to be true, it probably is.
