The Internet has made it extremely easy to distribute information to millions of people, including fraudulent business deals and email scams. Fraud and scams are lurking all over the Internet, waiting for innocent victims who will pay or give out their personal details for what they think might be a legitimate business deal. Being aware of what's true and what's not plays a large part in being a responsible citizen of the cyber world.
Types of Local and International Scams |
There are scams all over the world. Scams have no restrictions. You need to be careful and cautious with whom you deal with, especially those from the African region, as the tax and banking laws in African regions are very rigid.
We all find the offer of making quick and easy money very tempting, but they are not very reliable and you often become the victim of a common crime.
Both local and international scams are promoted in many difference ways, it could be an email, a job opportunity, work permits, work from home opportunities and lottery winnings. Anyone from a work from home mum, grandmother, retired person or a teenager can become prey to a scam. One doesn't often know they are in a scam, until it's too late. International scams Scam artists are from other countries use pre paid calling cards, mobile phone connections and email addresses to trick people. They usually call people from various parts of the world using a calling card or a mobile phone to inform a person that they are the lucky winner in a draw of some sort and that they need to send money via western union or any other mode of payment as insurance to cover their cash prize. Others use mobile phones to operate their international scam network and establish bogus company names, so when you call them back the recorded message is like when you would call any big company. There are various types of international scams, such as, Scams that offer huge returns on your investments. There is no such bak or private lender that can offer huge returns on your investment. Places and people who offer high interest rates can be easily identified as scams. The Nigerian scam is the most popular International scam, where scammers use the government as a scape-goat to appropriate money from people in other countries. The worst part of this scam is that you cannot report this scam since you are an accomplice to the crime as well. Work from home scams. Many of us will not know that sending money to register for a work from home position is a scam until we have actually made the payment. Subscriptions and registrations are paid for and the next thing you do is wait for your assignment to arrive but it never does or in some instances your work they say is not up to the mark. Credit-card wipe out scams. A few of us are gullible and would do anything to make our huge credit card expenditure disappear. There are many who fall for scams that offer credit card rebates and wipe outs. There is really no such thing as a credit card wipe out, you simply have to pay for what you purchase. Foreign lottery scams. Even though we have never registered or taken part in any foreign lottery, we all get an email some time or the other saying that we are a lucky winner. Foreign lotteries are illegal and therefore since you are not a citizen of that country you are on no way eligible to win. The best thing you can do is to hit the delete button on such emails. Local scams ATM scam - There are several scam artists who prey on ATM users quite regularly. These scam artists hang around the ATM or sit around in the car and observe you falling into their trap, which they setup before anyone uses the ATM. How do these scams operate?. The scammers insert a black film in the slot where the ATM card is inserted and a Camera just above it to trace your PIN number. When the distressed customer walks out to talk to the bank manager to report the card being swallowed up by the ATM machine, the scam artist has already recorded the PIN using the camera and pull the black film to pull out the ATM card. The scammer then takes the camera and ATM card/s to his or her car or uses it at another ATM to withdraw money from the account. Charity scams - Organizations and people pose as charities and collect money and other items which are then re-sold for profits. Beware that what you give as charity is being used to make profits and run a businesses. Bank account scams - There are several types of these scams but make sure that you don't fall for any of them. You may get a call saying that they are calling from the bank and that something is wrong with your account and needs your verification. They ask your personal details to verify the account. There are also scams where bogus websites are created in the name of some popular Banks and very confidential account information is being used to withdraw money. Astrology scams and fortune teller - Sums of money is requested to predict your future and good fortune through reading tarot cards. Identity scams- A person's personal information is stolen and used to access bank accounts, obtain discounts and special offer and access restricted areas and files. These scams exist in a work place as well. Never take anything for granted, especially if you feel that you have just been sent a email or was given a telephone call about an offer that is too good to be true http://www.bizymoms.com/scams/scams.html |
