Tech Crunch's Michael Arrington believes that Facebook is looking the other way because it doesn't want to lose the revenue. He points out popular game Farmville: "it took me about 10 seconds to find really scammy ads."

Of course Facebook is adamant that it's doing everything it can to stop scams. In an email exchange with Newsweek, Facebook spokesman David Swain stated "We have, and will continue to, move aggressively to stop any activities that threaten or damage our users' experience. Any assertion to the contrary is false." Policing and curtailing scam containing ads will be a challenge for Facebook as it grows, though it would be a good idea to tackle the problem now while it's still manageable.

I can't wait to see how this plays out in the Facebook movie. [Newsweek]
Photo by TechCrunch

The project's name reflects how much faster Nigeria is able to deal with the problem now. Previously, officials would use cyber raids and petitions (seriously? Like a "Sign here if you want to see this guy busted for identity theft" petition?) to deal with the problem. Now they're implementing a drop-kick shut down procedure that, according to officials, could take up to 5,000 fraudulent emails offline per month.

The Nigerian Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has been working closely with Microsoft to develop a solution that should be fully operational by 2010. [Ars Technica, image of Nigerian scammer via Fox News]

The man is suspected of trying to charge $100 for what appeared to be a 37-inch flat screen television. He had even stuffed electronic cables and a manual in the back.

San Leandro police Lt. Pete Ballew called it a variation on the old "rocks in a box" scam, in which a box is presented as containing new, expensive electronics for sale but is actually full of rocks.

Most of us would spot the scam a mile away, but it does make you wonder if anyone would fall for it. I certainly know a couple of people (including my Dad) who might. [The Oakland Tribune via Gear Diary via Slashgear]

The gang, made up of six men and three women, included one DJ who created the music. They then listed it on iTunes and Amazon and negotiated a pretty plush 40% commission for themselves before using stolen credit cards to purchase $750,000 worth of their music.

British police stated, "We will not know why they did what they did until we have conducted all the interviews," which confirms my suspicion that there is no crime, and possibly not even formal currency, in England. The scheme managed to inflate their almost certainly fragile musical egos and net a pretty penny at the same time, and the British police won't know why they did it until they ask them?

Unfortunately, the artist name they used hasn't been released, so I can't make fun of whatever clanging noise they passed off as music. Apple and Amazon helped the police track down the culprits, who are currently being held in jail. [Times UK]

Many an unwitting shopper can be lured into a store with an enormous "50% OFF!" sign strung across the storefront. Even more so when the closure of a chain of stores is highly publicized like the recent closure of Circuit City. Unfortunately, the entire process of liquidating the stock of a store is rather deceptive. Walking past the "Everything must go!" signs and picking up a box marked 50% off could actually mean paying full retail.

First, a brief summary of what liquidation is. When a company is facing dire straits or has already hit the wall of bankruptcy they will— either voluntarily or by legal order—try to convert as much of their assets into cold hard cash as possible to pay off debts and hopefully return some money to their stockholders. The process is usually handled by an external company whose sole goal is to turn the pile of assets into profit—and minimize their risk in the process.

What does this mean to you, the consumer? It means that for the first portion of a liquidation sale you'll likely be ripped off. Let's use an HDTV from a fictitious company to illustrate how you're not actually getting the deep discount you think you are.

Last year SuperPow television company released the SuperPow H9000 HDTV. The manufacturer suggested retail price (MSRP) was $2500. It was sold at HappyBox electronics stores for $2200 when it first came out and as newer models arrived it was eventually sold for $1250. HappyBox has a bad run and ends up filing for bankruptcy. Their inventory is now controlled by a liquidation company. The company responsible for the liquidation advertises that products in the store are deeply discounted, some things are even 50% off already! You walk in to check on the SuperPow H9000 and see that the price is $1250. You remember the TV was really expensive and that seems like a great deal for a nice TV, after all it's 50% off! The only problem is that you're getting 50% off the MSRP, which nobody paid even when the TV was the hottest model on the market. It may be a month or two into a large liquidation before that TV is actually marked down 50% from the actual street value to a wallet-friendly $625—and most likely someone not realizing they aren't getting a very good deal would have bought it well before that. Photo by mobil'homme.

How can you make sure you're not the sucker that the liquidators count on to reap their profit? With a little knowledge and some handy tools, you'll get the most for your money.

Know The Market

Don't go shopping blind. If you're heading to a going-out-of-business sale, take a few minutes to do some cursory research on whatever it is you're looking to buy. Compare prices with price comparison engines like BeatMyPrice and make sure to check out deal-tracking forums like SlickDeals and FatWallet—both were reader favorites for finding the best deals online. You may not even know the exact model you're going to find at the store, but checking deal sites like FatWallet will give you an idea what the general price ranges are for things and what deals can be had on them. A 40" HDTV "marked down" to $1500 won't look so appealing when you know that similar models are going for half that thanks to a little research. Photo by Refracted Moments.

Use Your Phone as a Price Checker

If you have an internet-enabled phone with you, it's easy to compare prices right in the store. The quickest, if least specific, method is to plug the product name or model number into the mobile version of Google Product Search. If you're without internet access but you can text message, you can take advantage of the Amazon/eBay price-comparison mashup provided by MobSaver. Text the ISBN or UPC code of an item to save@mobsaver.com and it sends you back the current prices on Amazon and eBay. When you're really in a bind you can use—as I've often done—the most analog method and call a friend to run a quick price search online for you. A few minutes pecking on your phone or making a call can save you hundreds. Photo by gabofr.

It's never a good sign when companies are shuttering their windows—for the economy or for the displaced workers—but that doesn't mean you should pay extra for their bad luck. Armed with the tips above you'll never be the sucker paying MSRP for 2007's castoffs. If you have your own learned lessons about liquidation sales, sound off in the comments below and help save your fellow readers some cash.

The app, created by a developer named Peter Liu to optimize the handset's memory, was also responsible for random memory wipes and email account spamming.

At the Android forums, users who had downloaded the app and suffered the consequences were, understandably, up in arms and warning others to not download the app.

User “kr33p1n” (via Geek.com) said, “Doesn’t work at all erased my phone numbers and froze my phone.” User "Mark" added, “Do not download. Destroyed my memory card/system delete. Then my email was spammed. TMobile can’t stop you from downloading this! So don’t!”

Other victims claimed their SD cards were wiped clean; others still said their email accounts were spammed and adware was installed on the handset.

What's really mind-boggling is that, as of this writing, 10,000-50,000 downloads had taken place, with around 932 ratings logged (mostly negative, one star, see pic). We really can't understand how such an app got there in the first place.

The sad thing is that, as noted by many Android forum dwellers, Java cleans up memory on its own as required, no outside help necessary.

Editor's Note: I did not link to the MemoryUp web page because it had obnoxious pop up ads. [Geek.com - Thanks, Chris!]

The scam as described by the FTC:

According to the FTC’s complaint, the defendants used an elaborate ruse that duped Internet advertising networks and popular Web sites into carrying their advertisements. The defendants falsely claimed that they were placing Internet advertisements on behalf of legitimate companies and organizations. But due to hidden programming code that the defendants inserted into the advertisements, consumers who visited Web sites where these ads were placed did not receive them. Instead, consumers received exploitive advertisements that took them to one of the defendants’ Web sites. These sites would then claim to scan the consumers’ computers for security and privacy issues. The “scans” would find a host of purported problems with the consumers’ computers and urge them to buy the defendants’ computer security products for $39.95 or more. However, the scans were entirely false.

The products behind the scam are as follows: WinFixer, WinAntivirus, DriveCleaner, ErrorSafe, and XP Antivirus. Apparently, over a million people have been duped by the companies behind these products, and if you happen to be one of them, I highly suggest getting yourself a good, reliable program like the ones listed by Lifehacker. [FTC via Consumerist]

The headphones in question are the Dr. Dre Beats headphones, a nice pair of over-the-ear cans with noise cancellation and a cellphone mic built in.

Now, Monster and some guy names Ron Herman are offering up white versions of the Beats in a limited edition run. The price for the new paintjob is $699. That is the only difference between the two sets of headphones: the color.

Seriously Monster, I know you like money, but good lord, at least try to disguise your unquenchable greed a little bit. [CrunchGear]

They've released five different sprays for five different types of devices: a camera spray, a cell phone spray, an iPhone spray (Buchanan posits that this one is made of pure angel tears), a GPS spray and a laptop spray. Yes, Monster wants you to think that your GPS and your cellphone need separate sprays, lest your phone is destroyed by the magical chemicals that can only clean a surface that displays driving directions. While yes, perhaps laptop screens need a different spray than the glass iPhone, this is a bit beyond overkill.

Each bottle of these precious fluids cost $10, which is a pretty sizable markup seeing that they just took a bunch of Windex, watered it down and put it into tiny bottles with different colored labels on it. [CrunchGear]

However, there are still plenty of pitfalls that the novice consumer needs to avoid before making the commitment to drop a serious amount of cash on a new HDTV. The list summary is as follows:

•Fake HD and Cable Satellite Channels: Did you know that a number of HD channels broadcast a lot of "fake HD?" Anyone who has ever watched some of TNT's HD broadcasts can attest to that.

•Dynamic Contrast Ratio Measurement Specification: The contrast ratio number is basically meaningless.

•Line Conditioners: They do nothing to improve the HDTV image.

•Deep Color: No deep color sources makes this a worthless feature.

•x.v.Color: Until Laser TVs and xv Color HD discs appear on the scene, this feature is not truly useful.

•1080p HDTVs below 42" (diagonal): If you own a HDTV under 42", chances are you won't recognize the quality difference over 720p—unless you are standing really close to the TV.

•Flat LCD HDTVs 26" and Smaller: The image quality of LCD HDTVs in the 26" inch range or lower is generally poor.

•120Hz HDMI Cables: As mentioned before, expensive HDMI cables are a huge ripoff. Case in point, decent HDMI cable for less than $2. I bought a few myself and they work fine.

•Off Brand Model HDTVs: No-name brands may cost you more down the line.

•HDMI: Horrible connector design can prove problematic. Always pretest your connections.

So there you have it. If you do your homework, you can save yourself a lot of problems (and money) down the line. For a full explanation on the items in this list, check out the HD Guru link. [HD Guru]

One thing's for certain: the Acu-Point Pen can't detect problems with your mind for buying such a thing. This looks to us like another device that's designed to separate the victims of various aches, pains and worries from their money. Just like traditional acupuncture, if you believe it works there's a 50% chance that it will, at least for a while. What's that? You think this will work? I have some $150 HDMI cables to sell you. – Charlie White

Acu-Point Pen [Gadget Universe]

Update From Cingular: "Just wanted to let you know that Cingular has been paying customers on rebates via VISA card for a long, long time now, it's nothing new. And on the rebate form HE filled out and HE sent in, it says cleanly that rebates are paid via VISA card (and has a picture of one for god's sake).

Just thought I'd let you know, as I work for the company, and feel you listing us as a 'scam' really isn't fair at all.

eBayer pays 470 for photo of Xbox 360 [The Register]

Read the email after the jump. Read from bottom to top. Note the items he's looking for.

Hello John Biggs, Thanks for the quotation,well i will like you to charge tbis credit card account for the payment of m y order including the shipping cost to nigeria:

CARD TYPE: MASTER CARD
CARD NUMBER: XXXXXXX
EXPIRY DATE: 05/07
CVV CODE: 565

Looking forward to hear the confirmation of my credit card account from
you ASAP today
Regards

On Oct 18, 2005, at 11:00 PM, freeman stone wrote:

Thanks for the mail, this are the product am willing to order from
your
store to my company store listed below,

##Mili-Moto: The HC700 - $100
##DAP Delights for October 18 - $8.99
##Griffin Releases Dock Connector Accessories - $99.99 plus tax
##JVC 6GB DAP for - $4000
##New RAZR and Other Motorola 3G Official - $440 or 20 UK pounds
##Sony Vaio VGN-FJ Series, Newness to the Max! - Your Mom's Vagina
##Airtime(Digital Chocolate,Cellphones) - $404

I will like the product to be 2pic each, waiting for the quotation
asap

Total will be $4402.33 with tax and delivery.

For extra fun, please read on to see a wonderful exchange with Isaac in Ghana who, because he uses relay, always ends his statements with "ga."

lkbruce hello ga

johnbiggsny
who are you?

lkbruce
12:45
i am isaac ga

johnbiggsny
12:45
why do you always write ga?

lkbruce
12:46
i am soory
12:46
so what do u have for me ?

johnbiggsny
12:46
why do you write it?

lkbruce
12:46
its jst a mistake ok

johnbiggsny
12:46
what does it mean?

lkbruce
12:46
its a mistake

johnbiggsny
12:46
no it isn't
12:46
you always write it

lkbruce
12:47
PLS LETS FORGET IT OK

johnbiggsny
12:48
what does it mean?

lkbruce
12:48
PLS ITS NOTHINMG OK

johnbiggsny
12:48
no it isn't
12:49
you kept using it
12:49
explain it

lkbruce
12:49
OK
12:49
I ALWAYS USE RELAY SO I THOUGHT I AM ON THERE

johnbiggsny
12:49
why do you always use relay?

lkbruce
12:50
PLS ITS OK

johnbiggsny
12:50
why is it OK?

lkbruce
12:50
TO TALK TO PEOPLE

johnbiggsny
12:50
why do you talk to people?
12:50
if you always use ga?

lkbruce
12:51
PLS ITS OK

johnbiggsny
12:51
ok
12:51
ga
12:51
ga?

lkbruce
12:51
SPO PLS WHAT ARE U DOING NOW?

johnbiggsny
12:51
rocking out to some tunes, ga!

lkbruce
12:52
OK
12:52
WHAT WORK DO U DO?

johnbiggsny
12:52
i rock
12:52
what do you do?

lkbruce
12:53
ISTUDENT

johnbiggsny
12:53
why are you IMing me ga

lkbruce
12:55
NOTHING

johnbiggsny
12:55
ok
12:55
sounds good, ga

lkbruce
12:55
OK

johnbiggsny
12:56
so what's up, ga
12:56
what's the skinny?
12:56
you got the lowdown on the hoe down?

lkbruce
12:56
HOE DOWN

johnbiggsny
12:56
damn right
12:56
rock and roll is hear to stay, what does isaac have to say?

lkbruce
12:57
I COULDNT HERE UR QUESTION WELL

johnbiggsny
12:57
me neither
12:57
ga
12:57
what do you want?

lkbruce
12:57
ANYTHING

johnbiggsny
12:58
i got a R990 and a 4550
12:58
maybe a 554 if my mom gives it back to me
12:59
what do you have?
12:59
ga?
1:00
you there?
1:00
i also have an A909

lkbruce
1:00
NOTHING OK

johnbiggsny
1:00
and a bottle of steak sauce
1:01
1444 is cool, too
1:01
got 10 of those
1:01
with wings

lkbruce
1:01
OK THATS GREAT

johnbiggsny
1:01
how many you want?
1:01
where should I send them?
1:02
you got some pictures of your sister i can have?

lkbruce
1:03
PLS NOT YET

johnbiggsny
1:03
come on, man
1:03
what's your CC digitis
1:04
just send me some pix of your sister, man

lkbruce
1:04
?

johnbiggsny
1:04
which phones you want?
1:04
the nokia ARMORALL?
1:04
878s?
1:04
i got all that shit, toughguy
1:05
pounds, baby, pounds
1:05
you ready to deal?

lkbruce
1:05
I WILL LIKE NOKIA PHONES OK

johnbiggsny
1:05
ok ga

lkbruce
1:05
SO IF U CAN SEND IT

johnbiggsny
1:05
where do i send it?
1:05
how are you paying ga?
1:05
this shit don't come for free!
1:05
ga!

lkbruce
1:06
WHAT DO U WANT FOR PAYMENT

johnbiggsny
1:06
pix of your sister would be nice
1:06
and credit card

lkbruce
1:06
WHY NOT TAKING THE CARD FOR NOW AND THE PIX WILL COME LATTER

johnbiggsny
1:06
where are you, man?
1:06
where's your sister?

lkbruce
1:07
IN GHANA

johnbiggsny
1:07
so you got a credit card number or what?
1:07
i don't have time for this, yo
1:07
i got bills to pay
1:07
i got two babies
1:08
5 nokia 5445s for $100 each
1:08
comes to $600
1:08
lets deal, man
1:08
deal deal deal
1:08
come on, ga!

lkbruce
1:09
YEAH I AM EVER READY

johnbiggsny
1:09
i know, baby
1:09
you dig it the most!

lkbruce

1:09
HOW WILL THAT BE?
1:09
IF I COULD GET ABOUT 7 PHONES

johnbiggsny
1:09
7!
1:09
that'll be $400.
1:10
special ghana discount

lkbruce
1:10
OK

johnbiggsny
1:10
but you gotta send me a pic before I send you the phones
1:10
to prove you have a sister

lkbruce
1:10
PLS I HAVE OK
1:11
HOW CAN I LIE TO U

johnbiggsny
1:11
man, that's it
1:11
no deal