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To: GVTucker who wrote (147469)	11/15/1999 6:57:00 PM
From: KeepItSimple	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 176387

You guys think Gateway has skill at cooking books, try looking at "ad swapping" for the ENTIRE FRIGGIN INTERNET INDUSTRY SPACE. The entire revenue count for everyone, from Yahoo to AOL, is a big fat lie. This is perhaps the scam that will finally attract the SEC's attention. Lycos just reported they met the estimate of 1 cent a share, but their "revenues" almost doubled. But if you will look through their balance sheet carefully, you will see that their expenses didn't increase any. So how could their revenue double and profits not soar? Simple. All of that extra "revenue" was gained through bogus "ad swaps" with other net companies. No money changed hands. Company A calls up company B and says "we'll give you a $100,000 monthly ad banner space on our site, if you promise to charge us $100,000 for an ad banner on your site. Since the amounts are equal, we'll cancel them out on the books. In fact, while we are at it, let's make it $500,000. After all, this money doesnt exist, so we can make up any number we want!" I'm thinking of doing a detailed study to try and figure out how much of the "revenue" at most web companies is actually bogus ad swaps. Using Lycos as an example, it's hovering close to 50 percent. God bless america! Now these stocks are going up based on imaginary revenues as well as the previous imaginary profits!