10 TRUE Urban Legends from Snopes.com

-- Special One Time Federal Excise Tax Credit on your 2006 Tax Return-rebates overpayment of excise tax on your phone bills. In preparing your taxes this year, make sure to pay attention to Line 71 on your 1040 and a similar line on your 1040A. Apparently an old law that charged an excise tax on our phone bills according to toll calls never should have applied to our flat rate/fee phone service because this service has nothing to do with distance. This one time credit for 2006 will range between $30-$60. TRUE

-- Jury Duty Scam. With the scam, you might receive a phone call stating you failed to report for jury duty. You are told a warrant for your arrest has been issued. They will then inquire about personal information such as social security number, date of birth, and credit card information or other 'identifying' personal information. The purpose of this jury scam is one of the latest in identity theft. Reports of this jury duty scam has been reported in Michigan, Ohio, Texas, Arizona, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Oregon, and Washington State. TRUE

-- Let's Say Thanks. Xerox provided a way to send free Thank You greeting cards to our US troops serving overseas. Go to the website http://www.letssaythanks.com/ and create a card. You pick the card, write out your sentiments and Xerox will print and send the cards once a month. Although you will not be able to designate the recipient of the card, it is a nice way to let our troops know we care about them. TRUE

-- License Plate Shift. It is reported that license plates are being stolen to be used in gas theft. The thief take the plates and use them to pump gas and run off without paying. Your plate will be reported as belonging to the one doing the stealing. Five years ago a tank of gas ran about $20. More recently it is not uncommon to pay from $40-$60 for that same tank of gas. TRUE

--Mystery Shopper Scams. Although there are bona fide ads for hiring Mystery Shoppers, there are many that are scams prepared to use you for fraud. It is difficult to tell these apart at times, but one basic thing to remember is you do not have to pay to get into the Mystery Shopper business. The shopping certification these fraudulent people offer you is worthless. Promises of recompense for money spent are not kept and phone calls are unreturned and avoided. Victims usually eat the losses of between $500-$6000. Remember:If they want you to pay to work for them, it is probably a scam. To find a legitimate job as a mystery shopper, contact the Better Business Bureau and inquire about them. TRUE