You're applying to a job when you remember a feature story you saw on the news about how companies will often Google applicants to get extra details.

You type on your name and click "search," only to find a couple of links that might not look too good to a future employee, including that spread you did for Playgirl and your blog about how to get ahead at work, despite your apathy.

You contemplate your next move when you come across an ad promoting a business dedicated to fixing online reputations. That sounds like exactly what you need! You sign up, thinking your job prospects are sunny as can be.

Unfortunately, you get a call from your potential employee, telling you they chose somebody else. You do another search online for your name, only to find the promises in the ad have not been delivered on. Simply put, you've been scammed.

How to avoid: contact the source of the link and get in touch with their webmaster, explaining the situation. There are so many scammers in this business. On the other hand, if you want your reputation fixed, you can also ask your friends to untag you from incriminating photos.