The Most Common Scams

I'm the judgment matchmaking expert that that often. As my e-mail address has remained the same for at least twenty years, and I show my email address as plain ASCII text on my website, I have gotten emailed almost every scam out there. One could be scammed by phone, mail, fax, Skype, etc.; although most rip-offs seem to come by e-mail. This article has e-mail examples, however rip-offs may come in any form.

One more rotten part about scams, is most often no one can help you. And, getting your money returned, even using a court, is almost impossible. Most rip-off artists do not use their actual names, and the majority of of the addresses end up being fake or PO boxes. Even if one finds that right person to sue to serve your lawsuit on, and then win your judgment; there will usually not be any assets which can be seized to repay the judgment.

Alternatives on pre-payment scams remain really prevalent. A warning indication can be if you get sent way too much money, and then the scammer asks you to then refund them; after cashing the scammer's money order or check. Usually, they ask you to then wire them the amount you were overpaid. Banks might take too long to find and report a returned deposit; and wire transfers come with no refund available. There are several alternatives to this scam, including these six:

1) The internet purchase scam. You discover a really great price on something and the scammer asks you to prepay using a wire transfer or a prepaid money card. The rip-off is you never get your item.

2) The mystery shopping scam: They send you a big check to cash, so you are able to purchase things. The scammer asks you to then wire them the amount that is not spent, after purchasing the things. Some time later, their check is returned by your bank, and what was wired to the fraud is gone.

3) The sales tax savings scam. You're asked to prepay them, using a bank wire transfer or money-card to "avoid sales tax", and you do not ever will hear from them after they are paid.

4) The fake loan scam. You are instructed to prepay something upfront by pre-paid money-card or wire transfer, and then the fraud vanish.

5) The advertising scam. These days, most ad dollars are a total waste. Even worse is if you're asked to prepay some money up-front by money card or wire transfer, and do not receive anything back.

6) I think one of the first scams is the sweepstakes or lottery scam. You're mailed an impressive-looking notice telling you that you have won some cash, perhaps with a fake check. To redeem your valuable prize, you need to deposit their check, and then wire the scammer money to cover processing fees and taxes. The scammer's check might include a billing agreement on the backs, or much more likely, will bounce. If you do not remember entering this kind of contest, do not fall for such rip-offs. Real lotteries and sweepstakes never ask for cash.

The discovering love online rip-off. Anyone that is met only online might actually be some software, a con artist, or some kind of dog. Internet-only love connections usually ask you for cash. Do not ever waste your emotions or cash on somebody that you do not know, unless you consider your payments as no-strings-attached donations.

The disaster rip-off can occur when you are asked to donate money because of some recent local disaster such as a flood, fire, storm, etc. The problem can be that some companies are crooked or fake, usually with names that sound very official. Donate only to the oldest well-known companies, or do an internet search for that new organization name, with the word "rip-off" following their name; on all new companies that solicit you.

The friend (or relative) in trouble rip-off. One variation can be if you're called by a person pretending to be a (most often distant) family member or relative, for example a grandchild; that claims they are in serious trouble. Another way this goes is someone calls you and says they're a police officer or an attorney, and tells you the individual is having trouble, and money is required to bail that person out of jail, or for urgent medical procedures, etc.

Even if you know that person they're pleading about, when they cannot put the individual to the phone; ask for their telephone number, and tell the caller you'll phone them back in a little while. If you know the person, try to contact/call them. If they are home, you can verify that fraud attempt. When you can't contact them, there's a chance it is not a scam, however it usually is. A problem these days, especially for Windows PCs, is email contact lists can get hacked, and hackers will e-mail everyone in your contact list; saying you are overseas and require a money wire, etc.

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