PC World recently released it’s Top 5 Online Scam list. Much like the Federal Trade Commission list released earlier, their number one online scam is Auction Fraud. For the entire article, click here.
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Here is a great story that shows the process that some of these online scammers go through to get money and information from people. The “puppy scam” has been around for a little while now, it’s where an ad is placed saying that due to a sudden move across country or out of the country someone has to get rid of their puppies. For a small fee to cover shipping of the puppies, you can adopt them yourself. As with all scams, what is promised is never delivered.
There is yet another online scam out there that tries to appear that it comes from the IRS. It works like this, you get an email confirming your tax refund is ready and all you have to do is click the link in the email. The link takes you to a site that looks like an IRS site and asks for you to confirm your “information” (name, address, phone, mother’s maiden name, social security number, and PIN number). You guessed it, it isn’t an official IRS site… it’s a scammer’s site and they’re trying to steal your identity. Always be on the lookout!
An Australian woman has been operating for 3-4 years selling items she doesn’t own to other moms online. Concert tickets, baby supplies, baby furniture, and more have all been reported to have been paid for but never delivered. Police are investigating right now.
Here is yet another scam that centers around the payment being sent to a foreign bank account, this one involving fake stock investments. The scammers will groom potential victims with promises of ground floor investments that are not available to the general public yet. They’ll provide them with all the fake paperwork and websites to show that it is a real opportunity. The eye opening red flag that should make everyone aware that it is a scam is when they ask for the payment to be sent to a foreign bank account.
Be very wary of any transaction where the person selling you the goods or services requires payment sent to a foreign bank account. Most legitimate businesses have no problem establishing bank accounts in countries that they do business in. Don’t let scammers separate you from your money.
There is a scam going on right now where a fraudulent company gets ahold of debit card numbers, issues a pending charge of $1 to verify that the number is good and in use, and then chargest anywhere from $400 to $800 under the name ID Theft or Identity Protect. If this happens to you, dispute the charge so the bank will refund the money and then see what other steps your bank will take to protect your account. Don’t let scammers get your money.
Australian Robert Kobis allegedly scammed over 1,000 people out of their hard earned money with the promised sale of holiday vacations. The transactions took place over Internet auction house eBay who has become involved in the investigation and in a rare step is also offering to reimburse everyone who was scammed by this criminal. The investigation is not complete, but appears to have been primarily targeted at Australian and New Zealand residents. Another reason to double check any online transaction you choose to make. Don’t let an online scammer separate you from your money.
Nigeria, home to many wonderful things, and unfortunately what seems to be the home country of a large percentage of online scams. Well, from this area of the world comes the latest online scam, detailed here, that targeted residents of The Cayman Islands. Basically, a job opening would appear in the classified section of the newspaper. When responded to, the “job” would be cashing counterfeit traveler’s checks and money orders, keeping 10% of the money and sending the rest to the “employer” located in, you guessed it… Nigeria.
If it sounds too good to be true, it most likely is.
There is a newer phone scam going on where the elderly are targeted by scammers using the identity of a family member. The caller informs “grandma” that they are in some kind of trouble (bus ticket, car repairs, etc) and on their way home to see them but need financial assistance in the form of money wired to them to help. Of course, once the money is wired then no visit takes place as this wasn’t the family member in the first place. Don’t fall victim to a scammer’s attempt to get your money. Always double check these situations out first. Remain skeptical until it is verified.