Friday, September 11, 2009
All of these scams have been around for ages, yet they are still sent out. This can only mean that people are still falling for them. Learn how to recognize these bogus email offers. Discover why most of these are trying to steal your identity. Get out your red flag and prepare to wave it at any of the following six email scams!
1. The Nigeria scam:
You will receive a long letter from some high-ranking "official" from an African country. Usually they will be from Nigeria, but other African countries are now represented. Invariably, the letter is written in sub-standard English, obviously produced by someone to whom English is a second language. They will tell you that they must somehow get money out of their country into the United States. Surpisingly, they will trust a perfect stranger(you!) to set up a bank account for them to transfer their "money". They will offer you a piece of the action if you will just open an account in YOUR NAME. Now why would they trust you to do this? The bank account would be in your name! What do they get out of it? How about your identity and other personal information?
It does sound good, doesn't it? Can you just set up a phony account with a different name? You can, but here's the catch: they will ask you for money to cover transfer fees, attorney fees, and anything else they can think up. There will be unexplained delays. Don't send them anything! You'll never see a dollar of the proposed money. Once they have run out of "fees" to charge you, they will simply disappear.
If you do establish an account using your true name and personal information, they will simply steal your identity. So even if you send them nothing, you can still lose if you are naive enough to open an account with your personal information, which may include your social security number. If you receive any emails like this, simply block the entire domain with your email client. Then delete the message. I might also suggest that you pay for a secure email address like safe-mail. You'll still get junk, but at least with safe-mail, you can block domains so you don't have to hear from them again.
2. Unsolicited offers from free email clients:
You will see unsolicited offers from free throw away email clients such as yahoo, hotmail, gmail, and many others. Someone is usually trying to sell you Viagra or some "tool" that will help your online business receive "massive" hits. Most of the services sold from free email addresses are scams. As far as products are concerned, you have to be careful who you are buying from. Something like Viagra is an actual product, but are you sure that little blue pill is actually Viagra and not a placebo? Many of these types of sites will tell you that you don't need a doctor's prescription. This makes it easier for you to fall for a fake pill. Also, even if a prescription is required, what kind of doctor is actually approving your prescription? Do you really think they pay a real doctor to approve thousands of Viagra prescriptions? Highly unlikely. If you need a prescription, I'd try your physician first. Now you can be certain that you will actually get what you ordered. These days, there is no need to be embarrassed if you think you need something like Viagra.
You can block all free email domains as long as you don't have a friend with a free email address. If you do, encourage him to use a more secure email. If they balk at having to pay for it, tell them about the security features they will enjoy.
3. You've won a prize from a contest you never entered:
I'll bet you've seen this one. It's similar to the Nigeria scam. You'll read that you have won an enormous amount of money, say $500,000. You'll notice right away that the letter is written in sub-standard English or from someone to whom English is a second language. It is always from a foreign country and has something to do with their national lottery. I just received one from Spain.
All you have to do to claim your prize is to give them your full name, address, country of origin, all telephone numbers and occupation via email. They say they need this information to process your lottery "winning". I'm surprised they don't ask for your social security number. Now why would they need to know your occupation? More than likely, they will ask you exactly where you work and in what location, hoping to look you up by name so they can grab any other identifying information, such as your social.
Again, this is simple identity theft, just like the Nigerian scam. Just block the entire domain, so you don't hear from them again.
4. Any offer from online casinos, encouraging you to play:
Online casinos are still illegal in the United States. Why do you think that all online casinos originate in the Caribbean, Canada, or the United Kingdom?
Don't get me wrong, online casinos can be fun if you play with play money. But you will notice a big difference in the game rules when you start to play with real money. All of a sudden, the Blackjack rules will be much more favorable for the house! Too bad, Blackjack is the only worthwhile game to play in any casino, as long as the odds are at least slightly in your favor.
The thing about online casinos is this: how do you know that the other "players" are not casino employees? How do you know they can't see your cards and bet accordingly? How do you know if the deck is truly shuffled? Have you ever experienced this: you win for awhile and then get that false confidence going and bet more. This is when you start to lose. All of a sudden, your "luck" is gone. You can't throw a seven to save your life. If you are playing Blackjack, you are suddenly getting nothing but "stiff" hands like 13, 14, 15, or 16. And the dealer always seems to have an ace or face card showing! This can happen in a real offline casino too, but at least you know you are not being cheated. The other players are usually just other casino patrons.
Take it from someone who has played online casinos before: you have no control. It's like driving blindfolded. You will never make any real money unless you are an online casino employee. But here's the acid test: trying to collect your winnings! There will always be some delay, with many rules designed so you can withdraw minimal amounts only over long time periods. If there is a lot of fine print for withdrawing your funds, stay far away!
5. Any offer wanting to help you "build your downline":
It's the old "do what I do" pyramid scheme again. There is no real product. All you do is sign other people up in your "downline" and hope that they can also sign people up under them. I've tried these before, they simply don't work, product or no product.
You will be told something like this:
Just sign up two people. Then if they sign up two people each, you will have six in your downline already. Then if each of those four people signs up two people, you will have 16 in your downline! Then they will claim that your downline can increase geometrically from there. You will often hear the term "matrix" to refer to downlines. Believe me, your downline will never increase geometrically.
What happens is that most people will not get two other people to sign up under them without a lot of paid advertising. The average person will be very lucky to have one person under them a month later. By then, you may have paid $100 in advertising costs, just so you could make $5! It just isn't worth your time.
The only people who make any money with downlines are the founders of the scam. Don't fall for it. Simply block the entire domain with your email client.
6. Any envelope-stuffing or assembling or typing jobs:
These three are very old scams, way before the internet. You pay an advance "processing fee". They usually ask for it in cash. You will never stuff any envelopes with anything. It's simply a "do what I do" pyramid scam. I've never assembled anything, but most of these types of companies will refuse to pay you, saying what you assembled is sub-standard or of low quality. And typing jobs? You will pay another advance fee and be sent to a site where you can put in a want ad offering your typing services(for another fee of course!). Do you really think people are going to be banging down your door, demanding that you type something for them?
Think about it: why would anyone need you to stuff envelopes, assemble keychains or type for them? They could simply hire someone locally for much less. Why should they trust you, who they can't even see? Most reputable companies will use machines to stuff envelopes with advertising material and to assemble any items. And if someone needs typing done, they can just hire someone from a temporary agency. Why would they need you? Just block any domains that send you this garbage.
Conclusions:
The above are just six bogus email offers. There are many variations on the same themes, some very subtle. Just remember, if it sounds too easy or too good to be true, IT IS!
Be especially careful if you have been unemployed for awhile and you are getting desperate for money. Remember, you are vulnerable! If you go to any business opportunity sites, they may somehow get your email address or download adware to see where you go on the internet. Then they will start sending you offers that have something to do with your internet habits.
Be very careful. No reputable business that has a real product will ever ask you for money in advance. Get out your large red flag for any email scams that want either your personal information or your money. If you need to make money online, try Clickbank, Commission Junction, or even Ebay, assuming you have products to sell.
John J. Soares
23 Ways To Recognize A Phony Online BusOpp
How To Protect Yourself From Identity Theft
1. The Nigeria scam:
You will receive a long letter from some high-ranking "official" from an African country. Usually they will be from Nigeria, but other African countries are now represented. Invariably, the letter is written in sub-standard English, obviously produced by someone to whom English is a second language. They will tell you that they must somehow get money out of their country into the United States. Surpisingly, they will trust a perfect stranger(you!) to set up a bank account for them to transfer their "money". They will offer you a piece of the action if you will just open an account in YOUR NAME. Now why would they trust you to do this? The bank account would be in your name! What do they get out of it? How about your identity and other personal information?
It does sound good, doesn't it? Can you just set up a phony account with a different name? You can, but here's the catch: they will ask you for money to cover transfer fees, attorney fees, and anything else they can think up. There will be unexplained delays. Don't send them anything! You'll never see a dollar of the proposed money. Once they have run out of "fees" to charge you, they will simply disappear.
If you do establish an account using your true name and personal information, they will simply steal your identity. So even if you send them nothing, you can still lose if you are naive enough to open an account with your personal information, which may include your social security number. If you receive any emails like this, simply block the entire domain with your email client. Then delete the message. I might also suggest that you pay for a secure email address like safe-mail. You'll still get junk, but at least with safe-mail, you can block domains so you don't have to hear from them again.
2. Unsolicited offers from free email clients:
You will see unsolicited offers from free throw away email clients such as yahoo, hotmail, gmail, and many others. Someone is usually trying to sell you Viagra or some "tool" that will help your online business receive "massive" hits. Most of the services sold from free email addresses are scams. As far as products are concerned, you have to be careful who you are buying from. Something like Viagra is an actual product, but are you sure that little blue pill is actually Viagra and not a placebo? Many of these types of sites will tell you that you don't need a doctor's prescription. This makes it easier for you to fall for a fake pill. Also, even if a prescription is required, what kind of doctor is actually approving your prescription? Do you really think they pay a real doctor to approve thousands of Viagra prescriptions? Highly unlikely. If you need a prescription, I'd try your physician first. Now you can be certain that you will actually get what you ordered. These days, there is no need to be embarrassed if you think you need something like Viagra.
You can block all free email domains as long as you don't have a friend with a free email address. If you do, encourage him to use a more secure email. If they balk at having to pay for it, tell them about the security features they will enjoy.
3. You've won a prize from a contest you never entered:
I'll bet you've seen this one. It's similar to the Nigeria scam. You'll read that you have won an enormous amount of money, say $500,000. You'll notice right away that the letter is written in sub-standard English or from someone to whom English is a second language. It is always from a foreign country and has something to do with their national lottery. I just received one from Spain.
All you have to do to claim your prize is to give them your full name, address, country of origin, all telephone numbers and occupation via email. They say they need this information to process your lottery "winning". I'm surprised they don't ask for your social security number. Now why would they need to know your occupation? More than likely, they will ask you exactly where you work and in what location, hoping to look you up by name so they can grab any other identifying information, such as your social.
Again, this is simple identity theft, just like the Nigerian scam. Just block the entire domain, so you don't hear from them again.
4. Any offer from online casinos, encouraging you to play:
Online casinos are still illegal in the United States. Why do you think that all online casinos originate in the Caribbean, Canada, or the United Kingdom?
Don't get me wrong, online casinos can be fun if you play with play money. But you will notice a big difference in the game rules when you start to play with real money. All of a sudden, the Blackjack rules will be much more favorable for the house! Too bad, Blackjack is the only worthwhile game to play in any casino, as long as the odds are at least slightly in your favor.
The thing about online casinos is this: how do you know that the other "players" are not casino employees? How do you know they can't see your cards and bet accordingly? How do you know if the deck is truly shuffled? Have you ever experienced this: you win for awhile and then get that false confidence going and bet more. This is when you start to lose. All of a sudden, your "luck" is gone. You can't throw a seven to save your life. If you are playing Blackjack, you are suddenly getting nothing but "stiff" hands like 13, 14, 15, or 16. And the dealer always seems to have an ace or face card showing! This can happen in a real offline casino too, but at least you know you are not being cheated. The other players are usually just other casino patrons.
Take it from someone who has played online casinos before: you have no control. It's like driving blindfolded. You will never make any real money unless you are an online casino employee. But here's the acid test: trying to collect your winnings! There will always be some delay, with many rules designed so you can withdraw minimal amounts only over long time periods. If there is a lot of fine print for withdrawing your funds, stay far away!
5. Any offer wanting to help you "build your downline":
It's the old "do what I do" pyramid scheme again. There is no real product. All you do is sign other people up in your "downline" and hope that they can also sign people up under them. I've tried these before, they simply don't work, product or no product.
You will be told something like this:
Just sign up two people. Then if they sign up two people each, you will have six in your downline already. Then if each of those four people signs up two people, you will have 16 in your downline! Then they will claim that your downline can increase geometrically from there. You will often hear the term "matrix" to refer to downlines. Believe me, your downline will never increase geometrically.
What happens is that most people will not get two other people to sign up under them without a lot of paid advertising. The average person will be very lucky to have one person under them a month later. By then, you may have paid $100 in advertising costs, just so you could make $5! It just isn't worth your time.
The only people who make any money with downlines are the founders of the scam. Don't fall for it. Simply block the entire domain with your email client.
6. Any envelope-stuffing or assembling or typing jobs:
These three are very old scams, way before the internet. You pay an advance "processing fee". They usually ask for it in cash. You will never stuff any envelopes with anything. It's simply a "do what I do" pyramid scam. I've never assembled anything, but most of these types of companies will refuse to pay you, saying what you assembled is sub-standard or of low quality. And typing jobs? You will pay another advance fee and be sent to a site where you can put in a want ad offering your typing services(for another fee of course!). Do you really think people are going to be banging down your door, demanding that you type something for them?
Think about it: why would anyone need you to stuff envelopes, assemble keychains or type for them? They could simply hire someone locally for much less. Why should they trust you, who they can't even see? Most reputable companies will use machines to stuff envelopes with advertising material and to assemble any items. And if someone needs typing done, they can just hire someone from a temporary agency. Why would they need you? Just block any domains that send you this garbage.
Conclusions:
The above are just six bogus email offers. There are many variations on the same themes, some very subtle. Just remember, if it sounds too easy or too good to be true, IT IS!
Be especially careful if you have been unemployed for awhile and you are getting desperate for money. Remember, you are vulnerable! If you go to any business opportunity sites, they may somehow get your email address or download adware to see where you go on the internet. Then they will start sending you offers that have something to do with your internet habits.
Be very careful. No reputable business that has a real product will ever ask you for money in advance. Get out your large red flag for any email scams that want either your personal information or your money. If you need to make money online, try Clickbank, Commission Junction, or even Ebay, assuming you have products to sell.
John J. Soares
23 Ways To Recognize A Phony Online BusOpp
How To Protect Yourself From Identity Theft
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