1) Write a horse racing system (doesn’t matter that it doesn’t work).

2) Make up a list of “winners” at impressive prices and at a high strike rate. Add a promise of profits amounting to £1000’s every week for little or no work.

3) Create a website that has a picture of a horse, a book with the name of your system printed on it plus a scattering of DVD’s/CD’s.

4) Set the price at £97 but emphasise that the price will be increasing at midnight and/or there is a limit on the number of copies for sale.

5) Persuade members of the “Affiliate Brigade” to push your system with a “genuine” and unbiased endorsement.

6) Sit back and let the profits roll in. Warning: do not on any account answer any e-mails from disgruntled purchasers who are asking for the “guaranteed” refund.

Cynical? Absolutely!! But this is what is happening large scale on the internet – type in “Horse Racing System” into Google and you will get about 151,000 hits. And how about this for a conspiracy theory – Systems are written and promoted by bookmakers in order to entice punters to back any old rubbish!! Well, maybe or maybe not. But the point is that both established punters and those attracted as “newbies” are parting with their hard earned cash in the belief that the latest must-have system will be the answer to their financial dreams.

At least you have me on your side to sort the good from the bad!