As expected, hundreds of people around the world have been scammed out of a lot of cash using fake Olympic ticket-selling Web sites. This sort of thing happens at every major news event, and will no doubt continue.

Two of the Web sites were www.beijing-tickets2008.com and www.beijingticketing.com They have been shut down by the International Olympic Committee, but look for them to pop up again elsewhere.

Purchasers gave their and passport information while buying the non-existent tickets. The fake sites were very slick and convincing.

As I have said many times before, when buying anything online or giving sensitive info, make sure you are on a site that begins with https://… Look in your browser address bar. Look also for that little gold padlock in the upper or lower part of your screen.

These two indicators mean you are on a secure site, although it is not foolproof. Use care and common sense as well, when making purchases online. Try to buy from well-known merchants.

The Beijing opens tomorrow, and runs for about two weeks.

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