Scam Detection

Scam Detection
By Michael Molloy

The internet has revolutionized the way we purchase products. No longer do we need to leave our homes to go shopping. We can surf the net and shop from the convenience of our homes. But with this has come some risks.

There are so many great opportunities available on the internet today, and even more corrupt individuals out there trying to scam you out of your hard earned money. Chances are that if you have been buying products on the internet for any length of time you have been scammed. I'm not too proud to admit that I too have been scammed.

Scammers are preying on the unsuspecting and the suspecting alike. In the information age we do all that we can to protect ourselves and then still we can fall victim to a scam. Here are some ways to prevent scammers from getting to you.

Number one: Protect yourself and your computer with some antivirus and antispywire software. There are quality products available to purchase online and offline. Arm yourself with a reputable product and you will be well on your way to protecting yourself. You can also find products that are available to download for free, just be cautious with downloading something you haven't looked into.

Number two: Try to minimize the places and sites that you give out your credit card numbers too. I try to use places that accept paypal because I know then that I will not have to type in another credit card number that someone could be watching and steal.

Number three: When you are buying a product do some research before buying, especially if you have never heard of the product or of the seller before. Do a search online for the product and the seller. Visit a reputable forum and ask questions about the product or seller.

These are just a few of the ways that you can protect yourself from scams. If you think you are being scammed be cautious, check with the Better Business Bureau and seek out advice from people who have experience with the type of scam you are dealing with.

About the Author: Michael Molloy can show you how. To learn more visit: http://www.steps2victory.com Claim your free ebooks at: http://www.steps2victory.com/optin.html
Source: http://www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=148584&ca=Internet

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Classic Scam

Classic Scam
By Samuel Stambler

Some time ago I registered at some (very popular) forum and a day after I received a letter from a forum member with a "business offer". I think this "offer" is a classical scam. But judge for yourself.

In the letter it was written:

“Good day Dear One, Greetings and How are you today, I am Michael D* I would like you to permit me to apply through this medium for your co-operation and to secure an opportunity to invest and do joint relationship and business with you in your country. I have a substantial capital I honorably inherited from my late father…”. And so on…

In short, the Sender wrote:

He has money.
The money is legitimately made.
There is a war in his country and he wants to escape (with the money).
Because of the urgency, he is ready to generously pay for helping him.

What he did not write was why he selected me to make “an offer I could not refuse”? But I think the Sender needs not to bother himself with this question: the ego and greediness of a potential victim will make him believe that he is the right person to get a lot of money for doing absolutely nothing.

If the victim swallows the bait, usually, he is asked to provide blank forms and invoices to the company that will transfer money to him. These documents may be used by the scammers as an invitation to get a visa and also to deceive other victims.

After that, the victim is told that some clerk makes problems with funds transferring, and that it is necessary to bribe this clerk with a sum of money that is only a small part of the future “income”. After the victim transfers the first amount of money, he will continue hearing endless stories about “unexpected” (but always the “very last”) fees, bribes and taxes. The victim can’t stop paying all this “fees” since he already gave an essential amount of money and hopes that this is indeed the “last fee” and the “treasure chest” is on the way.

But at some moment, the victim refuses to pay the next fee: either because he can not raise more money, or because he realized that he failed.

What will happen after that?

First option: the criminals disappear in their country. I think this is the Happy Ending!

Second possibility: the victim is invited to the country to see for himself that “there are almost no obstacles to money transfer”. And this is a very dangerous scenario: if the victim decides to accept the invitation he will surely pay a lot of money and may even be killed by the criminals.

About the Author: Samuel Stambler. Owner of http://www.readerspot.com and
http://webmarketnotes.blogspot.com/
Source: http://www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=76953&ca=Internet

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How Do You Spot A Scam?

How Do You Spot A Scam?
By Stephanie Foster

It’s not always easy to spot a scam. Many times, checking with the BBB and other resources simply is not sufficient because the scam is too new. But when you are looking for a work at home opportunity of any kind, it helps to know what red flags to be aware of, whether in a job or business opportunity.

The first rule of thumb is can you follow the money? That is, can you figure out how the company will be earning money from your efforts? If you’re offering lifetime free services to someone and earning a large commission every time someone signs up, where does the money come from? It’s easy to tell yourself it can’t be a scam because no money is being spent, but you need to consider more possibilities. What information are you giving them? What about your customers? Can that be used against you? Do you have to download anything at any point? Spyware and/or affiliate commission theft could be the goal.

Second, is the pay commensurate with the effort you are putting forth? If they are offering 2-3 times the going rate for a job, but you have to pay for training, it’s probably a scam. They’re relying on your need to earn money and desire to earn lots of it with little effort to cloud your judgement. Similarly, if you are earning commissions for your efforts, does it look like the company you will be representing can possibly be making a profit? This is very similar to point #1 above, but worth considering on its own.

Next, what kinds of promises are being made to you and to the customer? Are they even remotely possible? This can be either a bad case of exaggeration, which may concern the FTC, or a sign of a scam. In either case you do not want to be involved.

In the case of home business, I am always wary of pre-launch hype from marketers I have never heard of. If they don’t have a name in the business, how do I know their product will be any good? It could just be a way to get information, get you to
download something, etc., rather than the introduction of a real, quality product. Pre-launch marketing does get used by reputable marketers too, but not very often. After all, if you’re offering a quality product do you really need to get people excited about it before they can see it. It might be fun, but not all that necessary. Pre-launch hype also has a way of annoying potential customers, as they wade through months of excessive advertising and spam about the product. It generally makes much more sense for a company to launch a product when ready, rather than give a buyer time to change his or her mind because they’re tired of the hype.

There is no guarantee, however, that a given opportunity is a scam just because it looks like one. It is possible to misjudge, but you have to decide if you would rather miss an opportunity that could hurt you financially or destroy your reputation if it is a scam than take a chance on it. If too many warning flags go up, it is probably not worth it in my opinion, but you have to decide for yourself.

About the Author: Stephanie Foster is the owner of Home with the Kids, a resource for stay at home and work at home parents. For more advice on work at home scams, visit http://www.homewiththekids.com/scams/
Source: http://www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=46874&ca=Internet

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BLOCK YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE

BLOCK YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE -

This is really scary - and true. You'll probably want to block yours. I did.


BLOCK YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE

This is upsetting, thought I should pass it along. Check your drivers license...

Now you can see anyone's Driver's License on the Internet, including your own!

I just searched for mine and there it was...picture and all!

Thanks Homeland Security!

Privacy, where Is our right to it?

I definitely removed mine, I suggest you all do the same.....

Go to the website and check it out.

Just enter your name, City and state to see if yours is on file.

After your license comes on the screen, click the box marked "Please Remove".

This will remove it from public viewing, but not from law enforcement.

CLICK HERE FOR WEBSITE


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