A free iPhone is hard to pass on - especially an iPhone 5.

Chances are if you are reading this blog then you already know the obvious giveaway. There is no iPhone 5. But folks snared by online phishing scams are typically not so technically savvy.

PCWorld reports scammers posing as market researchers are again targeting gullible dreamers with promises of the mythical device.

The iPad is also commonly used as bait, and as we head into the holiday season, expect even more scam spam with other gadgets like Amazon's new Kindle Fire tablet.

Yes common sense should prevail, and the age old adage if it is too good to be true generally holds. PCWorld shares a number of clues to help. Share them with friends and family who may be susceptible.
 

State Attorney General Roy Cooper issued a warning to North Carolina consumers regarding a phishing scam that has drained $100,000 from victims.

Scammers send potential victims a text claiming their card has been deactivated. Cooper warns, "If you get one of these phony texts, don’t respond."

Victims report the texts say, "GATEWAY BANK ALERT: Your CARD starting with 4138** has been DEACTIVATED."

The message includes a phone number to call. Victims who call the number are asked to provide their debit card number, expiration date and PIN. This information makes it possible for scammers to make new debit cards.

As many as 10 different telephone numbers have been used in the phishing scam. Some include area codes from N.C and Virginia.

Debit card holders who have responded to the texts should contact Gateway Bank immediately at 1-800-523-4175 to block their cards.

You can read the full statement from the NCDOJ.

Documents:

A Raleigh company is among the worst offenders on the Better Business Bureau's list of driveway paving companies.

Allwright Asphalt has failed to respond to complaints from four consumers, and is currently rated F by the BBB. On one occassion, an attempt to contact the company by mail resulted in the letter being returned to the BBB by the post office.

Other North Carolina businesses that the BBB highlighted as having unresolved complaints include Tommy's Paving of Plymouth and Lee County Asphalt of Sanford.

In the past 36 months, the BBB has received 10,424 complaints about asphalt and paving companies. To find a paving company accreddited with the BBB, you can find a list here.

Medicare recipients need to be on the alert for a new telephone scam designed to get their personal financial information.

About 20 North Carolinians have complained to the N.C. Attorney General's office in recent weeks of getting calls that claim to come from Medicare, asking for personal financial information such as their checking account number.

Warning time: More Internet work-at-home schemes are popping up to take advantage of people who are trying to earn extra money for the holidays.

The Better Business Bureau of Eastern North Carolina warns of a Raleigh company that is using Google’s name to lure people. The Eco Venture Group is using several different Web sites including Google Profits Kit, MyBloggingNews.com and YourBlogProfits.com, according to the BBB.

"The Google name leads consumers to believe they are getting a job with Google that will provide huge money-making opportunities,” said Beverly Baskin, president of the BBB.