The Federal Trade Commission reports that "check overpayment" scams are the fourth most common scam on the internet today. Typically, the person you are doing business with sends you a check for the price of a horse advertised online that is more than the amount they owe you. They tell you to deposit the check, keep part of the amount for your own compensation, and then wire the rest to a shipper. The results are the same: the check eventually bounces and you are stuck, responsible for the full amount, including what you wired to the scammer. The FTC offers the following tips for avoiding the check overpayment scam:

• Know who you are dealing with-independently confirm your buyer's name, street address, and telephone number.
• If you are selling something over the Internet, say "no" to a check for more than your selling price, no matter how tempting the plea or convincing the story.
• There is no legitimate reason for someone who is giving you money to ask you to wire money back.

More advice about how to be on guard against Internet fraud is available at OnGuardOnline.gov. Consumers are asked to report check overpayment scams to their state Attorney General, the National Fraud Information Center/Internet Fraud Watch, a service of the National Consumers League at www.fraud.org or 1-800-876-7060, or the FTC at www.ftc.gov or 1-877-FTC-HELP.

"We already have over $14,000 in vet bills," said Kelly Graham from the Human Society of South Carolina, referring to the care needed for the horses (mostly Arabians) seized from a pasture in Eastover, S.C. If you would like to contribute to the care of the seized horses donate to the South Carolina Humane Society online by clicking here or contact Kelly Graham kgraham@humanesc.org directly to make sure your donation goes directly to the Arabians seized. To read more about the seizure, click here.

Tamas Rombauer, one time Director of the Hungarian Arabian State Stud of Babolna, announces his withdrawal from his position as Director and shares his fears that the Arabian horses in the breeding program will be disbanded. To read Rombauer's letter to the Arabian community, click here.

Get the new AHA/Bank of America® credit card and get your 2009 AHA membership-free! When you apply and are approved for your AHA/Bank of America credit card, Bank of America will pay your 2009 AHA membership! Click here for more information.

Are you in the market for a new vehicle? CardinaleWay Automall is here to help you find that vehicle that fits all your needs from hauling horses to running errands. Just click here for the best prices ever.

This fun, relaxing event set in the majestic mountains of Central California is coming up soon on April 9-13! The ranch ride promises to be an unforgettable experience with scenic trails, clinics with Sheila Varian, cattle sorting and new for this year-a "Cowboy Skills Challenge!" Sign up and bring all your friends-horse rentals are available and all breeds are welcome!

UPDATE: For those who cannot make the full event, we are now offering a three day option! Please visit ArabianHorses.org/TrailRide for more information and to sign up.

The 21st Annual Darley Awards ceremony was held on February 23, 2008 in Scottsdale, Ariz., honoring the best in Arabian Racing. The prestigious event recognizes the top horses, owner, trainer, breeder and more. For a complete list of results, visit www.arabianracingcup.com.

The Texas Arabian Breeders Association is preparing to host the second leg of the 2008 Arabian Triple Crown races at Sam Houston Race Park, in Houston, Tex. at the end of March. For further information, visit www.texasarabianbreeders.com.

Arabian Community Shows (ACS) is the only amateur-only AHA show venue that recognizes horses and exhibitors on the national level. All points for horses are recorded in Arabian Horse DataSource, and all exhibitors accumulate points for Milestone and Year-end Awards. If you have not hosted an ACS yet, get on board! We are bringing a whole new circle of enthusiasts together. Hurry, the top 50 incentive gifts for show hosts are almost gone. Click here to sign up as a host!

Deadline for the April/May issue of Modern Arabian Horse is coming up! This issue is the perfect time to promote your Scottsdale winners by advertising their success. With extensive coverage of the 2007 racing season and Darley Awards, the April/May issue of Modern Arabian Horse provides the best and most cost-effective way to market your racing stallions, contenders and Darley winners. Also, with mares still needing to be booked for the 2008 breeding season, Modern Arabian Horse is the perfect choice to push your stallion one last time to get his book Full & Closed. And trainers don't miss out on reaching the largest audience in the industry by promoting your services and accomplishments. Contact Jim Sullivan at (303) 696-4584 or at advertising@arabianhorses.org. The advertising reservation deadline for the April/May issue of Modern Arabian Horse is Friday, March 21, 2008.

Looking for a good Arabian or Half-Arabian to buy or sell? How about a stallion to improve your breeding program or one that needs an extra push to increase his book? Then check out the Modern Arabian Horse Marketplace. This advertising section has a bright new look which means more eyes on the pages where your horse will stand out. With more than 40,000 subscribers your horse or stallion will be seen by more people - meaning more bookings or a higher sales price for you. Plus the magazine is distributed throughout dozens of locations nationwide including the upcoming Equine Affaire in Columbus, Ohio and the Midwest Horse Fair in Madison, Wisconsin. For more information or to place an ad, contact Jim Sullivan at (303) 696-4584 or at advertising@arabianhorses.org.
Reservation deadline for the upcoming April/May issue is Friday, March 21, 2008.

AHA recently paid almost 5,000 of its members 2.2 million dollars in prize money earned during 2007. The largest payout came from the Allocated Payout Program which paid $995,836, followed by the Points Payout Program that paid $971,256. Other payouts included categories from the Breeders Incentive Program like the Nominated Sire Payout that paid $74,572, the Allocated Nominated Sire Payout, which paid $42,664 and the Breeder Nominator Payout that paid $164,764. To read more click here.

Get paid annually for your placing in Sweepstakes designated classes by enrolling in the Point Program prior to the start of an event. For more information, contact Maggie Harrison, Maggie.Harrison@arabianhorses.org.

March 31 is the deadline to renominate Halter Futurity horses with an additional $100 late fee per horse, per country. After March 31 your horse will be dropped from the program, only to be reinstated by buying back into the program-so get those horses renominated! For more information, contact info@arabianhorses.org.