Can't be bothered going to work? Rather be plonked in front of the telly catching up on Brooke and Ridge's relationship developments? Remember how easy it was when you were a kid, when all you needed to do was secretly spin around a thousand time till you turned white, then run to your parents to cough out the words, ‘I'm too sick to go to school'?

It seems an adult equivalent exists: buying fake doctors' certificates from the net. At $40 a pop they're affordable in most wage-brackets; so why not?

Well, because it's fraud.

The site www.doctorsnotestore.com (which also administers fake receipts and club memberships) has doctors up in arms. The website offers delivery of the fake certificates within four working days and a two-for-one offer - an illegal service that, says Australian Medical Association lawyer and GP Dr Wayne Herdy, is damaging to doctors' reputations.

The dodgy website isn't alone. There are others that offer tips on how best to throw a sickie (one well thought out piece of advice being ‘Break your arm'), and how to follow up on the lie.

Then there are the ‘Too sick to work excuses' sites. Usually lame, but perhaps the most convincing, don't argue excuse is, ‘If it is all the same to you, I won't be coming in to work. The voices told me to clean all my guns today.'

Once upon a time taking a sickie here and there was akin to a national pastime in Australia. These days it is just as likely to attract a call from the boss. What used to be fun is now a risky business. And no, 'An elephant ate my uncle' won't get you out of anything.

Find out how to reduce sick leave here.