These types of scams may also begin by a phone call claiming you have "won a foreign lottery". They may even send what appears to be a real check that you try to deposit. (This check may get entered into bank records but that does not mean there are real dollars being transferred in to cover that check.) Then there will be a second call saying there are taxes to be paid so please mail them back a smaller check in return. The unfortunate person will discover they haven't won anything. The foreign check will turn out to be no good. But in the meantime, someone was tricked out of parting with his or her own money instead.

The scenario changes but the basics are the same. "Help us by taking our money and we will give you money. By the way, what is your social security number and bank account number? May we have a credit card number?" Not much is for free anymore. And no one is going to pay you great sums of money just to "Help us out by letting us use your bank account".

Further, if you attempt to sell something over the Internet and someone sends you a check for more than your asking price, beware. They are going to ask you to send back the extra money. It will turn out the check the buyer sent was no good. But in the meantime you may well be out the "refund" you sent back to them.

Please do not fall for these scams. These are all tactics to get money, or to gain access to checking account numbers. If you want further clarification, have any questions or are receiving such emails and would like to know what to do, please feel free to contact the Chamber. Email us at director@uppervalleychamber.com. Thank you.

MEMBER'S SHOWCASE:

NHVT Classified and Rentals by Owners, LLC, is an Internet company in the Upper Valley with free internet classifed advertising (free for all items other than real estate for sale or rent). You may also advertise your rental properties or real estate. It is easy to use and cost effective. Advertise residential properties for $25 for 4 weeks and commercial & vacation rentals are free. Check out the web site at www.nhvtclassified.com, www.uppervalleyrentals.com or www.rentalsbyowners.net. Please contact us with any questions or comments at 603-448-2110. Visit us at our new office location in Lebanon at 45 Hanover St.

NHVT Computer Services, LLC is a new company in the Upper Valley offering a wide array of computer and web services. Services include: Computer repair, custom-built computers, networking, security, software installation, upgrading and web site services. For more details, see our web site at www.nhvtcomputers.com. Please contact us at 603-448-2110. Visit us at our new office location in Lebanon at 45 Hanover St.

GIBSON HOUSE BED & BREAKFAST
Susie Klein and Marty Cohen assumed ownership of the Gibson House Bed and Breakfast in the spring of 2005. The property was originally developed as a gallery and bed and breakfast in 1996, and embellished with murals and imaginative decor. In keeping with this aesthetic vision, the new owners plan to host weddings, reunions, and creative retreats with local artisans. The physical plant has been enhanced to make this possible. The entire first floor of this 1850 stagecoach inn is open to guests, as are the porches and formal gardens with dramatic views of the Connecticut River Valley. The new owners look forward to establishing ties with the Upper Valley business community. You can learn more about Gibson House at www.gibsonhousenh.com.

SPECIAL EVENTS: ANNOUNCING ChaD'S 2006 ONLINE AUCTION!
CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL at DARTMOUTH (CHAD) is now holding their online auction. Bidding ends May 14, Mother's Day. The web site is now open for item viewing. With 200 + items to bid on, go to www.chad.cmarket.com. You can also donate an item at that same site. Or contact Toby Trudel at 603-629-1862 or toby@hitchcock.org.

MANY BENEFITS OF JOINING the Upper Valley Bi-State Regional Chamber of Commerce
We are here to serve your promotional, networking, referral and benefits needs. Take advantage of our reduced fee insurance program with prescription plan coverage and dental insurance. We also make available Long Term Care and Disability Insurance, Employee Retention benefits, "Supplemental Membership" programs, and a complementary insurance consultation to help you determine your needs.

As a chamber member, your business is listed at three different locations on the Upper Valley Regional Chamber web site. AND our web site receives a high volume of visitors daily with almost 59,000 visitors thus far! With that much exposure, you may even want to consider upgrading your web promotion to a Sponsorship Hot Button or Business Card advertisement. To learn more about promotional opportunities on the Upper Valley Regional Chamber web site, contact our office at 802-295-6200 or visit us at www.uppervalleychamber.com to learn more about benefits of membership.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT PLACING YOUR BUSINESS AD IN THE UPPER VALLEY CHAMBER NEWS LETTER, contact the chamber office at 802-295-6200 or email us at director@uppervalleychamber.com.

NOTICE TO MEMBERS - We want to assure you that ONLY MEMBERS of the Upper Valley Chamber are promoted. This means Upper Valley Chamber only directs inquiries to its membership. Even if contacted about a specific business that is not a member, no contact information is provided for the other business. We redirect those inquires to our members. We only direct business leads to MEMBERS. That is one of the major benefits of joining the Upper Valley Regional Chamber. That is what we mean when we say WE PROVIDE OUR MEMBERS REFERRALS, NETWORKING AND PROMOTIONAL EXPOSURE.

DISCOUNTS TO MEMBERS and Their Employees- CHECK OUT THE MEMBER DISCOUNTS THAT ARE BEING OFFERED VIA THE CHAMBER WEB SITE. www.uppervalleychamber.com. The Discount Program offerings also extend to employees of members. If you want to enroll your business in the program and offer a discount to fellow members and their employees please contact the office at 802-295-6200 or send an email to director@uppervalleychamber.com.

A SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS participating in the "HOT BUTTON" Program:
ALLE'CHANTE BAKERY-CAFÉ', Norwich, VT
AMERICAN FINANCIAL SERVICES, White River Junction, VT
CHELSEA GREEN PUBLISHING, White River Junction, VT
FARM-WAY INC., Bradford, VT
FOUNTAIN of YOUTH, White River Junction, VT
HP ROOFING, LLC, White River Junction, VT
HOME PARTNERS, White River Junction, VT
LAKE MOREY INN, Fairlee, VT
MAYO REAL ESTATE, White River Junction, VT
MASCOMA SAVINGS BANK, Lebanon, NH
MCLAUGHRY ASSOCIATES, Norwich, VT
MVP HEALTH CARE, Essex Junction, VT
NORTHEAST WASTE SERVICES, Hartford, VT
NHVT COMPUTER SERVICES, Lebanon, NH
REAL LOG HOMES, Hartland, VT
SIMON PEARCE, Windsor, VT
SOVERNET, Bellows Falls, VT
RAMEL INSURANCE, White River Junction, VT
ROUND BARN SHOPPE, Piermont, NH
SCOTT HAWKINS COMMUNICATIONS, W. Lebanon, NH
SHAPES FITNESS CENTER, White River Junction, VT
UPPER VALLEY RENTALS, Lebanon, NH
VERIZON, S. Burlington, VT
WCVR, Randolph, VT
WYKR, Wells River, VT

GOLD CLUB MEMBERS:
Alle'Chante Bakery-Café, Norwich, VT
Carriage Shed, White River Junction, VT
Chelsea Green Publishing, White River Junction, VT
Fountain of Youth, White River Junction, VT
Home Partners, White River Junction, VT
HP Roofing, LLC, White River Junction, VT
Kinney-Pike Insurance, Hartford, VT
Lake Morey Resort, Fairlee, VT
Mascoma Savings Bank, Lebanon, NH
Mayo Real Estate, White River Junction, VT
McLaughry Associates, Norwich, VT
MVP Health Care, Essex Junction, VT
North Chapman Builders, Post Mills, VT
Northeast Waste Services, White River Junction, VT
Northwoods Excavating Inc., Thetford Center, VT
Peter French Fine Woodwork, Norwich, VT
Plainfield Physical Therapy, Plainfield, NH
Ramel Insurance, White River Junction, VT
Round Barn Shoppe, Piermont, NH
Roundtree Enterprise IT Solutions, W. Lebanon, NH
Scott Hawkins Communications, W. Lebanon, NH
Simon Pearce, Windsor, VT
SoverNet, Inc., Bellows Falls, VT
Upper Valley Waldorf School, Quechee, VT
Verizon, S. Burlington, VT
Winslow Printing, White River Junction, VT
Worksite Solutions, Burlington, VT

NEW MEMBERS: A. Jackson - Nytech Supply Co., Hartford, VT
Advantage Group, Inc., Chelsea, VT
Albee Construction, Inc., S. Strafford, VT
Cleaveland/Hunt Resource Management, Norwich, VT
Corken Gardens, S. Strafford, VT
Festive Sounds Music, White River Junction, VT
Four Fine Hands Massage, Norwich, VT
Gherardi Consulting, White River Junction, VT
Gibson House B & B, Haverhill, NH
J.B. Woodwork Inc., Fairlee, VT
Jacqueline La Fleur Consultant, Lebanon, NH
L.C. Assoc. Custom Homes, Bradford, VT
Loomis Custom Design Carpentry, S. Strafford, VT
Mayo Real Estate, White River Junction, VT
Merchand Brothers, White River Junction, VT
MWP Painting, Barnard, VT
Northwoods Excavating, Thetford Center, VT
Peregrinations & Persiflage, Norwich, VT
Peter French Fine Woodwork, Norwich, VT
Plainfield Physical Therapy, Plainfield, NH
Roundtree Enterprise IT Solutions, W. Lebanon, NH
TMCI, Norwich, VT
Trumbull House B & B, Hanover, NH
Vermont Wooden Box, Norwich, VT
VT Public Transportation, White River Junction, VT
Wolstenholme Logging/Trucking, E. Thetford, VT

We wish to thank all our members for their continued support and participation in our many promotional and benefit programs. We serve you. Thank You from the Board of Directors and the Executive Director of the Upper Valley Bi-State Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Past Newsletters: