Tips on How to Not Fall Victim to a Con

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Here are a few of the most widespread cons currently in use:

First, the Scam of the Nigerian Letters:

This one has been around for a while but is still strong. Often, the sender of these emails may state that they are from Africa, namely Nigeria. The author asserts that he or she can access millions of dollars through a family member or knowledge of an inactive account. If the victim agrees to have the transaction executed through their personal bank account, they will get a portion of the funds as a reward. The fraudster tells the victim to keep some money and return the rest to them.

The victims were given a counterfeit check. The victim must then pay the bank for the fraudulent review.

What will happen if you give your banking details to random people: They’ll gladly take your cash. Period.

Secondly, Phishing Scams:

The term “phishing” refers to online fraud in which the victim is tricked into giving out personal information such as financial details, login credentials, and personal identification information.

A phisher sends you an email or pop-up message pretending to be your Internet service provider (ISP), bank, online payment service, or government body. “Update” or “validate” your account information is typically the wording of the notification.

Yahoo, Citibank, eBay, Best Buy, and Bank of America are just some recent phishing targets.

Emails requesting personal information (phishing) should be sent to spam@uce.gov.

Mailing Lists:

This time-honored con aims to get you to give a few dollars to a bunch of people by email chain letter, with your name at the top of the chain. A large percentage of these letters make legal claims. The U.S. Postal Service has even dedicated an entire chapter to illicit activities. Don’t fall for that! They are illegal and should be avoided. Also, if you participate, you’ll be breaking the law and losing money.

Business opportunity and work-from-home scams

their order to lure their victims, con artists will use phrases like “no experience necessary,” “high earnings,” and “inside information” in their advertisements. Scammers often ask for payments ranging from $35 to several hundred dollars or more, failing to deliver the promised information, kits, or supplies.

Many of these schemes encourage you to “use your home PC to make money fast in your spare time!” or have you manufacture crafts, stuff envelopes, or bill patients online.

After victims pay fees and complete the assembly of the products in the craft-making or envelope-stuffing scam, they are told their work is of poor quality and will not be spent.

To fall for medical billing scams, victims must pay for materials and names of doctors who, in most cases, do not exist or are not interested in the service.

5. Scams via mass email:

These spam messages are trying to sell you spam software or spam-sending services. Such as: “Reach 100 Million Websites, $39.95” The program quality is typically low. Spam and a con all in one. Please don’t.

Cons at stores and online auctions:

These schemes frequently feature high-priced gifts like Cartier watches, Beanie Babies, and computers to draw in as many people as possible. The victim wins the auction, sends money, and either doesn’t get anything back or gets something far lower quality than was represented.

7. Credit Scams and Guaranteed Loans:

This con occurs in many forms, such as no-collateral home-equity loans, no-credit-check personal loans, etc. You will receive written notification if your loan application is declined after you pay the application fee. These businesses typically disappear without ever contacting you again.

Scams Posing as Credit Repair

Loans, mortgages, unsecured credit cards, etc., are all within reach if you fall for these scammers’ promises to remove accurate negative information from your credit report. It’s useless. Plus, there’s this. If you follow their advice and provide false information when applying for a loan or line of credit, using a fake SSN, or obtaining a fake EIN from the IRS, you will be breaking the law. The promise of a new credit report is used in yet another version of this fraud. Please don’t.

Prize, Vacation, and Sweepstakes Award Fraud:

In these frauds, you’re told you’ve won a fantastic trip, a brand-new automobile, or another prize. A nominal charge (often a few hundred dollars) is all between you and your glory. In exchange, you receive a toy automobile (no joke) or a vacation certificate to the Bahamas or some other far-flung locale. This is a terrible bargain. You’ll have to foot the bill for your airfare, and the lodgings they book for you are likely to be less than stellar. The buyer should beware!

Employment Scams, Number Ten

Job-seekers are easy targets for employment scammers. They say they can help you get a job or give you access to people who know about openings. Victims pay a premium just to find out they get essential services like resume critiques and feedback. Some phony HR consulting firms peddle nothing more than stolen company contact data. In most cases, they have not had direct contact with the companies in question and are unaware of any actual employment openings.

11) Network marketing and multi-level marketing frauds

First, not all multi-level marketing (MLM) or network marketing (NM) organizations are fraudulent. Of course, there are trustworthy businesses operating today. But there are so many poor ones that I feel the need to lump the whole sector into one category. Do your homework before joining any multi-level marketing (MLM) or network marketing (NM) company. Don’t believe all the press. And here’s something that no multi-level marketing or network marketing organization, legal or otherwise, would ever tell you: Making money in a multi-level marketing (MLM) or network marketing is exceedingly challenging unless you have exceptional sales talent and people skills.

Here are a few more things to keep an eye out for: You should check for the following on any website you visit:

A genuine name (not just the name of a business)
A contact number
A physical location rather than a Post Office box.
Don’t commit to anything unless you’ve confirmed the above three conditions.

You should always research a company’s complaint history before purchasing from them. Complaints and scams can be found on the following websites:

Don’t hesitate to contact any of the above services if you fall victim to fraud. It’s doubtful that you’ll get your money back. Almost nobody ever does. By filing a police report, you reduce the likelihood that this business will trick anyone else.

Finally, before jumping into any business deal, research and remember that if it seems too good to be true, it generally is.

Dean Phillips is a successful entrepreneur, author, and publisher specializing in online marketing. Inquiries or feedback? Email Dean at dean@lets-make-money.net.

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