Many of us have either been the target of some kind of fraud or know someone who has. As technology evolves and it becomes more difficult to fool potential victims, fraudsters are turning to increasingly clever tactics to scam Americans out of billions of dollars each year. To keep this kind of crime from happening to you, check out these common scams and how to avoid them:
The “Nigerian scam” and other emails from abroad:
One common email scam comes from a person claiming to be a prince or well-to-do figure in Nigeria; this approach is also known as a type of “419” fraud. This email comes with the promise of millions of dollars from a self-proclaimed foreign government official, as long as you pay money up front to cover taxes and fees and provide personal information like your social security and bank account numbers.
This type of scam can take many forms, and millions of dollars in losses are caused by these schemes each year. Variations include emails claiming you are the beneficiary in a will or requesting donations to aid urgent causes abroad. Another type of fraud can occur if you find yourself receiving strange emails after you list an item for sale online; alleged buyers from abroad offer a cashier check or money order higher than the asking price (their reasons vary, and usually involve shipping fees) and then request the difference wired back. The checks are counterfeit, but often victims don’t realize this until they wire an amount to the scammer.
Be aware of these common email scams and when in any doubt, disregard and delete without any reply.
Advertisements for health care and weight loss products:
Another scam preys on those looking to improve their health or lose weight — in other words, a large number of people. Often through web advertisements, scammers claim miracle solutions for everything from varying ailments to dramatic weight loss, sometimes even attaching fake testimonials and recommendations from doctors or celebrities. This is usually a complete hoax and ends up taking your money without ever delivering the “miracle” supplement. Avoid clicking these links, and certainly don’t enter in any credit card or personal information to anyone advertising these miracle products, even if they offer a “free” trial.
Solicitations for charities and disaster relief:
After disasters and tragedies hit, among the good Samaritans that organize ways to contribute and donate to victims or recovery are the scammers that take advantage of the crisis for personal gain. If you receive a questionable email or happen along a website requesting donations, your best bet is to call the charitable organization directly and verify first. Watch out for links on social networks like Facebook as well, where photos and stories are shared that pull on your heartstring. These posts are sometimes fabricated in an attempt to get personal info, “likes” or money.
Lottery-related scams:
Targeting those who dream of winning the lottery (again, a large audience to go after), this hoax informs you that you have won a huge cash prize, sometimes in the form of an email and other times in a letter in your mailbox. According to the letter, all you need to do is call a number to claim your prize, or mail in a money order to cover administrative fees. The phone number will be a premium-rate, leading to a large phone bill, and the money order will be cashed with no further sign of prize money. Don’t fall for these hoaxes, and if you do want to take your chance at the lottery, do so responsibly and purchase a ticket from a legitimate vendor.
Phishing emails:
One of the most common Internet scams today comes in the form of phishing emails. These emails will claim to be a legitimate company and will include a link urging you to confirm your identity and enter in log in credentials. If you click the link, the website might look real, but it’s not, and once you hand over your information, the scammers can access your accounts and take your money. Don’t click any links, and if you are questioning an email, contact the site where you have an account directly by typing in the URL of the website or by calling customer service.
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5 Common Money Scams to Avoid originally appeared on usnews.com
