Internet Scams, Fraud and Schemes
There should be a big warning sign with every computer. This sign should say, "Beware! When you surf the Internet and read email, you will be constantly subjected to offers that are nothing more than attempts to defraud you."
That may sound too ominous but it is true, users are constantly besieged with fraudulent offers.
If you receive an offer or hear of something that sounds really good, a good place to check it out is Fraud Watch International. However, if it isn't listed does NOT mean the offer is legit.
The biggest scam in your email could be the Nigerian letter scam. I am getting at least one a day in my inbox. They just keep coming & coming. They would be funny except for the fact that folks still fall for this scam and are being defrauded of their hard earned money. Some times the emails claim to be from other countries, but the pitch is always the same, they will give you a lot of money to help them get their money to a safe place. Don't fall for it! A new twist on the Nigerian letter scam is an email that claims to be from a military person in Baghdad. Still a scam!
Have you ever heard of phishing? (Pronounced fishing) This ugly starts by coming into your inbox. It purports to be from PayPal, Citibank or some other reputable company. It could say they are updating their database and need some more information from you, or it could say that they need to verify information about your account. There is a link in the email where you can go and update your information. Wait a minute, think! Do you even have an account with these folks? If you do have an account, they already have your information! If you do click on the link and go to their site, look at the web address! Chances are it won't even resemble the company's real web address! Some of them are very clever though, and get a domain that 'almost' looks like the real thing. Best thing to do with these emails is notify the customer service of this company so they can investigate and take down the site. For more information, read this article on ZDNet, 'When crooks go a-phishing, don't bite'. Phishing is getting worse! Here is another article from ZDNet about phishing 'How to Protect Yourself from Email Scams'.
Another scam is an email leading you to believe you have won something. Now unless you entered a chance to win, do you think you really could win? Just read this and keep your Delete button handy!
So many bad emails! Here are some Examples of Bad Email Messages
“Check Overpayment” Scams This can really cost you money! Don't bite, just say 'No!"
African Puppy Scam This scam targets dog lovers.
Buyer Beware!
I recently made a bid on an item on eBay, but quit bidding when the bid got to more than I wanted to pay. A day later I received an email from someone who said that I could buy the item from them direct. Whoa, Nellie! eBay is relatively safe, but no way am I going to send money to somebody through email!
Nearly everyone I know would like to make some extra money. We read about how someone is really cleaning up with some money-making scheme on the Internet and think "I want to do that too!"
Think again. I am not saying you can't make money on the Internet, but the old adage 'If it sounds too good to be true it usually is' bears listening to. Just about everything I've ever seen requires you to sell something that everyone else has already been signed up to sell. You have to have a web site and you have to promote the product big time. So you spend a lot of money on various schemes to promote your product. The only folks making any money are the folks selling you the products. So unless you have an established business or a truly unique product or service, it is very unlikely you are going to make a fortune on the Internet.
I could go on and on about scams and schemes you need to be aware of, but there is a very complete site already listing just about everything there is on this subject. If you want to learn more or if you have been a victim, go to Crimes of Persuasion and read up! This site is so big you can't possibly read it all in one session, so bookmark it!
Get IPNetInfo to read those email headers and report scams!
There are so many scams out there it is impossible to name them all! The best advice for those offers that 'look too good to be true', is to leave it alone, as more than likely that 'offer' is another scam to defraud folks of their hard earned money.
I get a great newsletter called TechTrax. it is a very superior newsletter and it is read on the web. I just get a notice in my email whenever there is a new issue. The author of this newsletter has written a superb article about the evils targeting innocents, 'I'm Mad as Hell!'. Most of the newsletter is about productivity using Microsoft Office and other programs, but there are some excellent articles about other stuff as well. Sign up for the TechTrax Ezine on MouseTrax.