Once in a while I will get a request to conduct some research on someone in another country. Sometimes these requests are founded and other times they are not. The reason for these requests are often email scams. These scams are also referred to as Nigerian scams because many of them originate in Nigeria. The website http://www.419eater.com/ actually pro actively fights back against these scams. These email scams usually involve some type of inheritance scheme, million dollar bank transfer, sweep stakes contest, offer to be a company representative, and many other situations. The majority of these schemes prey on a person’s ignorance and greed. Some simply ask you to send money to help them. I have over 100 examples of these scam emails on my website. I doubt this article will help anyone, but if you know anyone who is new to the internet please do not assume that they will not fall for this scheme. Make sure you educate your friends and family. I read an article where someone committed suicide after falling for one of these schemes. They lost over $400,000 to the scheme. Also be weary of offers of employment from Asian based companies. No one just offers someone employment over the internet.
Another scam involves sending people money orders for more than they are supposed to then requesting the balance from the transaction be mailed to them. This might happen on a roommate site or auction site. They will make up a story about how they got the money order for a previous deal that someone else backed out of and request you send them the balance from the transaction. When you deposit the money order the bank credits your account. You write a check for the balance and mail it off. A couple weeks later the bank finds out the money order is a forgery. They take the money out of your account, but before that happen the scammer already cashed your check.
Bank scams are also very popular. No matter what never go to a website from an email claiming to be from your bank. Even if it is from your bank just don’t do it. These scams are a full-time job for someone. They are getting more and more sophisticated. They will even go so far as to look up profiles and emails by city and state. Then they spoof the website of a small local credit union or bank. When they are finished with that, they will send you an email that you have been locked out of your account. Don’t click on the link.
Where are the police in all of this? Well they will never really get to the bottom of who received what in most cases. It occurs on foreign shores. It is basically a waste of time for them.
By: John Leonard
All rights reserved. Do not copy, distribute, or reproduce without permission from VersaTek, LLC.
Posted by versatek 