| The internet and email have made scams abound, | | | | leads you to believe you are holding a winning lottery |
| especially with email. People can set-up free email | | | | ticket and just need to call and collect your prize. This |
| accounts and basically blast millions of people, | | | | one is easy for me, since I don't buy lottery tickets. But, |
| practically for free. It is also amazingly cheap to set-up | | | | the only numbers I would call are on the back of the |
| your own domain and people are able to scam from | | | | ticket, posted on the official lotteries website, or the |
| here to eternity in anonymity. | | | | numbers that the store where I bought the ticket gives |
| Here are some common scams and how to avoid | | | | me. Calling any other number is looking for trouble. |
| them. First is the "Nigerian" chain letter and now email. | | | | They will claim to want your social security number, |
| This goes something like, "My late uncle was | | | | driver's license, etc. Next, they will ask you to hold on. |
| assassinated and left millions behind. We just need an | | | | At this point, they are in the process of stealing your |
| heir to come forward and claim the money. We are | | | | identity. With the info you've given them, they are now |
| looking for a trusted partner to help us. We'll wire you | | | | able to use your good credit to obtain credit cards, car |
| the funds and you get to keep 10%. We just need | | | | loans,etc. Of course, in about a week, it won't be your |
| your banking instructions." First, there is no late uncle. | | | | good credit anymore, but your trashed credit. |
| Second, you can't trust them and the only partner they | | | | This next one has almost gotten me a few times. |
| want is to "part" you from "ner" money. Finally, there is | | | | Basically, it appears to be from a trusted source such |
| no millions. It is a scam and so are all similar emails. You | | | | as Google, your bank, your car company, etc. The |
| might even get one from a "missionary" asking you to | | | | email alerts you that there are problems with your |
| be their angel. Just delete the email. | | | | account and it gives you a link to get it corrected. If |
| Another common scam is a company offering some | | | | you click the link, it will often take you to a website that |
| unbelievable rate of return (like 9%, 20%, 50%, 100%, | | | | has basically copied the look and feel of the real one. |
| etc.) These are very common with the FOREX | | | | But it is just looking to steal your login info. It is so |
| market. Although it can produce good rates of return, it | | | | convincing. However, there is almost always a clue in |
| also comes with huge risks. Sadly most of the offers | | | | the URL (web address) of the link. For instance, a |
| out there are just scams. Offshore CDs are another | | | | spoofed Google URL might add an extra "o" or drop |
| common one. One such bank, Millennium Bank, even | | | | the "e". The best thing to do is log-in or call directly. |
| paid for Google Ads to lure people in. They were | | | | Many official sites have an on-line chat feature or |
| recently shut-down and declared a Ponzi scheme. If | | | | once you are logged-in, alerts will give status updates |
| you are looking at offshore CDs you'd better go over | | | | of your account. Don't ever trust an email that asks for |
| the material with a fine, tooth comb. Personally, I think | | | | personal info, unless you requested that email such as |
| you'll be taking a bigger risk than putting your money | | | | a password reset email. |
| with AIG. | | | | Have fun, but surf the 'net safely and wisely. |
| "You've won the Lottery!" You receive an email that | | | | |