Scams

The difference between hoaxes and scams is that a scam is trying to get money from you.

Like hoaxes their are thousands of different scams on the internet. What you need to remember if it sounds to good to be true most of the time it is.

Scams rely heavily on GREED. We, as a people, are always looking for the short cut to riches and if we see a way to get it we jump.

The link we have included goes over scams that can be received both by e-mail and regular mail.

The Internet has become the latest means for people to misrepresent the truth, create fantastic offers, and spread falsehoods. The most important difference between the Internet and more traditional scam methods is the speed with which would be scam artists can spread the information to those they prey upon.

Scams are becoming more common on the Internet as time passes, with the criminals behind them constantly devising new ways to part you from your money. Below we provide you with some basic ways to identify a scam and some tip to prevent you from being caught in one.

We have provided below a list of indicators. They are guides only and, as always, should be tempered with common sense.

Big Promises
Claims such as "Make money in your spare time," "Earn thousands per week!" or "guaranteed income" are almost always sure signs of a scam. Excellent opportunities sell themselves, they don't need to be sold to you through big time pressure and promises of riches.
High Pressure Tactics
For example, "sign up now or the price will increase." Again, a legitimate deal probably isn't going to move as fast as your money. Don't let yourself be pressured, think things through. It's no different than dealing with door to door salespeople.
Prizes
Promises of prizes and money almost always come with catches, or are blatant lies. Watch in particular for "prizes" where you have to pay something up front to claim it (that includes postage fees).
Requests for financial information.
There are only a few real reasons anyone could need your credit card number, the main one being that you are making an online purchase. If so, ensure it is a reputable merchant and that the information is being encrypted. Some sites claim to need credit card numbers as proof of age. A credit card number is not proof of age, and credit card theft on the Internet using these tactics is skyrocketing. Do not give your number out if you don't know exactly who you are giving it to and have a means of recourse if something goes wrong. NO BANK IS GOING TO ASK YOU TO VERIFY YOUR ACCOUNT INFORMATION BY E-MAIL SO DON'T DO IT. For more about bank scams use the link below.
Fraud - Bank Scams
Fraud Prevention, Information and News about Fraud Online
The word "FREE."
When you see the word Free, you should expect a catch, if not outright lying. Always view this word warily, especially when it shows up in Spam and on disreputable websites. Some sites will offer you access to content for "free" if you provide a credit card number as proof of age. As stated above, a credit card number is not proof of age and what the number could be used for once you give it up is probably NOT worth the risk.
Having to send money before receiving a product
This is particularly the case with Online Auctions. Take extreme caution when participating in Internet Auctions, and be sure to use an escrow service. Auctions comprise the most commonly reported method of Internet fraud. For an excellent brief on other methods of Fraud and signs to look for, visit the Federal Trade Commission's consumer protection pages.

Again, the single most important factors in preventing financial loss are using common sense and always erring on the side of caution. With that in mind, we have provided a basic list of preventative tips below.

Combat Spam
Since many online Scams are propagated through Spam - reducing Spam is a good step. We will include a spam prevention page in the next few months when we are sure the information is correct.
Shop Online Safely
When Shopping Online, be sure to follow all the safety precautions to take before giving out credit card information.
Trust Your Feelings
Follow your instincts when you feel something is "fishy" or not quite right. Gut feelings often have good reasons behind them, and generally you have more to lose than to gain.
Report Fraud
If you find yourself suspicious that an offer is fraudulent, be sure to visit the FTC online fraud complaint form in the United States or the RCMP scam page in Canada. Do not delay in reporting fraud to your local/national authorities as jurisdiction applies. You may wish to contact your local Better Business Bureau or National, Provincial or State Government.

New Credit Card scam that is fooling almost everyone

Current scams
Below we have provided links to current scams being monitored by the US Federal Trade Commission and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

Federal Trade Commission top ten scams.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police latest scams and alerts.

How Not to Get Hooked by a ‘Phishing’ Scam

“We suspect an unauthorized transaction on your account. To ensure that your account is not compromised, please click the link below and confirm your identity.”

“During our regular verification of accounts, we couldn’t verify your information. Please click here to update and verify your information.”

Have you received email with a similar message? It’s a scam called “phishing” — and it involves Internet fraudsters who send spam or pop-up messages to lure personal information (credit card numbers, bank account information, Social Security number, passwords, or other sensitive information) from unsuspecting victims.

According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation’s consumer protection agency, phishers send an email or pop-up message that claims to be from a business or organization that you may deal with — for example, an Internet service provider (ISP), bank, online payment service, or even a government agency. The message may ask you to “update,” “validate,” or “confirm” your account information. Some phishing emails threaten a dire consequence if you don’t respond. The messages direct you to a website that looks just like a legitimate organization’s site. But it isn’t. It’s a bogus site whose sole purpose is to trick you into divulging your personal information so the operators can steal your identity and run up bills or commit crimes in your name.

The FTC suggests these tips to help you avoid getting hooked by a phishing scam:

If you get an email or pop-up message that asks for personal or financial information, do not reply. And don’t click on the link in the message, either. Legitimate companies don’t ask for this information via email. If you are concerned about your account, contact the organization mentioned in the email using a telephone number you know to be genuine, or open a new Internet browser session and type in the company’s correct Web address yourself. In any case, don’t cut and paste the link from the message into your Internet browser — phishers can make links look like they go to one place, but that actually send you to a different site.

Area codes can mislead. Some scammers send an email that appears to be from a legitimate business and ask you to call a phone number to update your account or access a “refund.” Because they use Voice Over Internet Protocol technology, the area code you call does not reflect where the scammers really are. If you need to reach an organization you do business with, call the number on your financial statements or on the back of your credit card. In any case, delete random emails that ask you to confirm or divulge your financial information.

Use anti-virus and anti-Spyware software, as well as a firewall, and update them all regularly. Some phishing emails contain software that can harm your computer or track your activities on the Internet without your knowledge.

Anti-virus software and a firewall can protect you from inadvertently accepting such unwanted files. Anti-virus software scans incoming communications for troublesome files. Look for antivirus software that recognizes current viruses as well as older ones; that can effectively reverse the damage; and that updates automatically.

A firewall helps make you invisible on the Internet and blocks all communications from unauthorized sources. It’s especially important to run a firewall if you have a broadband connection. Operating systems (like Windows or Linux) or browsers (like Internet Explorer or Netscape) also may offer free software “patches” to close holes in the system that hackers or phishers could exploit.

Don’t email personal or financial information. Email is not a secure method of transmitting personal information. If you initiate a transaction and want to provide your personal or financial information through an organization’s website, look for indicators that the site is secure, like a lock icon on the browser’s status bar or a URL for a website that begins “https:” (the “s” stands for “secure”). Unfortunately, no indicator is foolproof; some phishers have forged security icons.

Review credit card and bank account statements as soon as you receive them to check for unauthorized charges. If your statement is late by more than a couple of days, call your credit card company or bank to confirm your billing address and account balances.

Be cautious about opening any attachment or downloading any files from emails you may receive, regardless of who sent them. These files can contain viruses or other software that can weaken your computer’s security.

Forward spam that is phishing for information to spam@uce.gov and to the company, bank, or organization impersonated in the phishing email. Most organizations have information on their websites about where to report problems.

If you believe you’ve been scammed, file your complaint at ftc.gov, and then visit the FTC’s Identity Theft website at www.consumer.gov/idtheft. Victims of phishing can become victims of identity theft. While you can’t entirely control whether you will become a victim of identity theft, you can take some steps to minimize your risk. If an identity thief is opening credit accounts in your name, these new accounts are likely to show up on your credit report. You may catch an incident early if you order a free copy of your credit report periodically from any of the three major credit bureaus. See www.annualcreditreport.com for details on ordering a free annual credit report.

You can learn other ways to avoid email scams and deal with deceptive spam at ftc.gov/spam.

The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumer’s spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint or to get free information on consumer issues, visit www.ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft, and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.

Ed's Bandwagon assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of the linked content. The end user is solely responsible for the interpretation and use of the information and should consult with additional parties as required.

Fraud Division
http://www.usdoj.gov/criminal/fraud/
Description: Oversees federal law enforcement's
fight against fraud and white collar crime. Conducts
grand jury investigations and prosecutions if necessary.

Scam Spam Reporting Page
http://www.junkemail.org/scamspam
Description: Help stop Scam Spammers! Have you lost
money to a scam that was transmitted through unsolicited
e-mail or off-topic newsgroup postings? If so, we are
interested in hearing from you. If you have ...

Internet offering was scam, authorities say
http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?z32192489&z=507

Government Guide - Fraud
http://www.governmentguide.com/consumer_services/
how_to_safe/fraud.adp?id=16101585
Description:- Find federal, state and local government
resources covering consumer fraud. Topics include: credit
card fraud, health claims, identity theft, investment scams,
postal fraud and telemarketing fraud.

Nigerian Scam -- Promise of Funds but Intent is to Rob
http://www.greaterthings.com/News/NigerianScam/
Description: Millions of dollars offered for holding millions
more in your bank account, disappear with advance fee.
First-hand experience, documentation, Bible Code commentary.

Russian Scam - dating and marriage frauds protection site
http://www.russian-scam.org/
Description: Dedicated to protection against of Russian scammers
from dating industry - list of reliable agencies, anti-scam manual,
fraud reports

Scam
http://www1.overture.com/d/sr?xargs=00u3hs9yoajkUOSzDC
RAzTT22umgfRZvOFBOEgXIKqiVTQJvuWONNYSI3eveb8%2BZ
1gHYrOPcivn5JOSxz7LdfKvex2dLUiZoJA0r9ghru8cBi5g4HZE5u
PxWCAq0iOfuS5VPeyeYmOCuE5I5I9FvJE2xuJvvhprLkCAcADvN0
mAX%2Brejw0
Description: Purchase first-hand reports on various business opportunities and affiliate programs including Virtualis, Sitesell, Kwikmed, Amazon, Quick100 and Sell Your Brains Out. All online scams?

National Fraud Info Center
http://www.fraud.org/
Description:1701 K St. NW, Suite 1200, Washington, DC

Scholarship Scams
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/scholarship/
Description: warnings about scholarship fraud from the Federal Trade Commission.

FinAid | Scholarships | Scholarship Scams
http://www.finaid.org/finaid/scams.html
Description: Scholarship Scams If you have to pay money to get money, it's probably a scam. Every year, several hundred thousand students and parents are defrauded by scholarship scams. The victims of these scams lose more than $100...

World Wide Scam Network
http://www.worldwidescam.com/
Description: Parodies of and information about the multi-level marketing scams, frauds, and rip-offs.

SCAM.com
http://www.scam.com/
Description: Is It Time To Swap? • Now Playing Jane, Stuart, Sarah and Roger have known each other a long time — but have they truly known each other? In other words...

Home Business Opportunities + Resources
http://www.scamfreezone.com/
Description: Get advice on finding home-based business opportunities or work-at-home ideas. Read articles and legal disclaimers.

ScamWatch
http://www.scamwatch.com/
Description: Delivers Internet fraud protection services. Read alerts and lists of scam-free sites.

A free award winning e-zine: Internet ScamBusters
http://www.scambusters.org/
Description: Internet ScamBusters is an award winning free electronic newsletter (e-zine) to help people protect themselves from Internet scams, misinformation and hype that are costing entrepreneurs a fortune.

Scam Spam Reporting Page
http://www.junkemail.org/scamspam/
Description: Help stop Scam Spammers! Have you lost money to a scam that was transmitted through unsolicited e-mail or off-topic newsgroup postings? If so, we are interested in hearing from you.

Institute of Global Prosperity Group Scam
http://global-prosperity.robinlionheart.com/
Description:- Edited and reformatted mirror of Global Prosperity Group Scam site.

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