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Non-Tech : Auric Goldfinger's Short List -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Sir Auric Goldfinger who wrote (1462)	2/8/1999 3:57:00 PM
From: StockDung	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 19428

February 8, 1999 Sponsored by WallStreet Guru COSMOZ.com Inc. (OTC BB: CMOZ) is the latest incarnation of a company which, a few short months ago, announced a $16 million funding to develop and market franchise "concepts." Among them: pretzel kiosks and automotive specialty stores. But that was August. A mere five months later, the former company, MIS International, changed its name to COSMOZ.com and, presto change-o, is now an Internet company. Hardly. But that didn't stop its stock from running up from $0.20 to $5 in less than two weeks. Before hiring a pubic relations firm last week, COSMOZ generated its own hype, comparing itself to Internet giants like Yahoo! It pushed that image even further when it announced its acquisition of the obscure Investorsguru.com, a financial website with an alarmingly high ratio of traditionally dicey mining, gas and oil stocks on its research lists. COSMOZ aligned this mystery site with the likes of Silicon Investor and MotleyFool, both marquee names in Internet finance. But such empty hype is not surprising when the company has nothing else to offer. Although it is an Internet-based company, it doesn't have a site - at least not a working site (it's under construction). Nor does it have a product, sales or financial statements for investors to consider. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- American Quantum Cycles Inc. (OTC BB: AMQC) is a poster child for the evils of spam. Imagine an unwitting investor coming across this enticement before their first cup of coffee: "Company News Too Good to Ignore - AMQC Stocks Set to Soar 1100%". The time stamp on the email was 3:59 A.M. The reason for the spammer's email is a little vague, making reference to forthcoming hype from "one of the world's largest promotional companies." Are they referring to Stock Plaza, an online promoter that recently featured American Quantum Cycles, and was paid 600,000 options exercisable at $0.50/share expiring in 2003? Now this anonymous charlatan says that hype alone won't drive the stock (he must not pay attention to the Bulletin Board), but alludes to other vague factors to back up his prediction of a 1100 percent climb "the AMQC promotion combines outstanding company news AND phenomenal exposure to stock investors. With such a combination, it doesn't take a genuis (sic) to see there's virtually no chance AMQC stock won't rise again." American Quantum Cycles said they became aware of the spam after it went out, but are not responsible for it, nor do they condone it. Even without the spam, this company warrants caution. Although it files with the SEC (always a good sign), American Quantum Cycles hasn't made a dime and its share price has been on some wild rides since it started trading in August 1997. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- IGN Internet Global Network Inc. (OTC BB: IGNIF) is another company hitching itself to the online gambling bandwagon, although its future in the US is not clear. Through a handsomely paid tout sheet, Wall Street Daily, investors recently learned that IGN took in $2 million in wagers for the quarter ended Dec. 31. Wall Street Daily was paid $200,000 to promote IGN. Unaudited financial statements prepared by the company's management are available at IGN's website. According to these beauties, the company's got a $9 million deficit, did $82,000 in sales for the quarter ended last September, at which time it had less than $150,000 in the bank. That's compared to more than $4.7 million cash on hand at the end of September 1997. The company's stock chart looks similar to its bank balance, with steep peaks and valleys. The company's rocky financial picture aside, investors should be wary of online gambling stocks in general. Most are run offshore, with gambling licenses from foreign countries, and several have been the subject of U.S. Justice Department prosecutions. Gambling in the U.S. - online or otherwise, is legal only where it is regulated by the government. And even in the capital of legalized gambling, Nevada, online gambling has been outlawed. Add to this a growing movement among credit card companies to consider whether they will do business in this field and the industry's foundation looks a little less sound. As always, tread lightly……………………