How to Avoid Internet Dating Scams
Over the past few days the media has been dominated by reports of the sharp increase in internet dating scam victims and the financial and emotional cost it brings. This article looks at how to spot the signs of an internet dating scam, how to protect yourself from internet dating scams and most importantly, how to avoid internet dating scams.
With recent government figures saying that some 40,000 people have been victims of online dating scams, Insight Investigations can confirm that this is now becoming a major problem as our increasing client list proves. Insight have taken many such cases and, on occasions, have been able to reunite the client with some or all of their money, but sadly on other occasions the fraudsters have been long gone along with the clients money.
Joining a Dating website is as old as the Internet and most remain a wholly useful tool to meet your future partner, but increasingly those sites are being targeted by gangs whos only interest is to fleece the unsuspecting. Most Dating sites operate strict controls in an attempt to vet their members but as they increasingly get more savvy these experienced thieves regularly pass the vetting procedures and begin to trawl the site in search of the unwary.
Lets not beat about the bush here, these are highly organised gangs working out of a factory like set up usually based, but not always, in the likes of Nigeria and the Ivory Coast where they invent a variety of persona and ply their trade online. They will tell their target any number of stories to prove their credentials and on some occasions the stories can be incredibly in depth with some checkable facts. Most recently US and UK military identities have been used on many occasions with the fraudster saying he is deployed in Afghanistan or Iraq. Once the target is hooked there will begin a pattern of requests for cash amounts usually increasing until they have emptied the targets bank account, drained them of their savings, or they have been found out. Once this happens they will fade away never to be heard from again.
Irrespective of where they are based the fraudsters have accomplices around the world to facilitate the collection of monies.
Legally, this is known as an Advance Fee Fraud or a 419 Scam and was first recorded in 1992. The 419 is taken from the Nigerian Penal Code number that relates to such Fraud.
How do you avoid it happening to you?
There are several checks that can be made and things that can be done to ensure that the person whom you have become attached to on-line is genuine. Some of the main tells are listed below but as the invented profiles vary so much it is not possible to give all the various scenarios here but we will happily give you a discreet free consultation on the phone should you have any doubts whatsoever.
Have you ever spoken to them, or do they give excuses why they cannot talk? This usually runs between the cannot speak today I am on operations excuse, to the my phone has been confiscated as I am on active service and many other excuses in between.
Their grammar. Is the syntax of their written conversation of a standard that you would expect, given the background they have told you or does it sound foreign?
Does their home address check out? Are they, or have they ever been, registered at the address? The fraudsters will trawl the Internet for an address and can obtain sufficient information about it to make you believe its genuine
The photographs they have sent you, are they genuine? Can the uniform or background be identified? They will use US or UK military ranks and obtain photographs, again from the Internet, and these will be real people.
Have they asked you for cash ? This regularly takes the form of requiring an amount for them to be released from their duties in order to fly and see you, a childs birthday, a major car repair or a sick relative that requires an operation. The excuses are wide and varied and will be tailored to what would effectively push YOUR buttons
Have they asked for a cash payment to be made via Western Union, MoneyGram etc in a name, usually not the one you know? This is the fraudsters mainline of income where the cash can be collected anywhere in the world once a the required reference numbers are given. This is where the fraudsters accomplice comes in. Occasionally, money is requested to be paid direct into a legitimate Bank Account, which is then immediately withdrawn.
The Global Laws on Money Laundering have enabled the Money Transfer Companies to become aware of their abuse, and they have been recently known to refuse to accept monies lodged in some names, they cannot be aware of all the various identities and accomplices scattered throughout the world however so this fraud will continue.
Gary Kay writes for Insight Investigations, http://www.investigate.co.uk, a leading resource and solution provider on the issue of how to avoid internet dating scams.
How to Prevent Personal Identity Theft
Since the launch of the world wide web and global impact of the internet as a whole, there has been a huge increase in identity theft year on year from many different sources. This type of crime can have unimaginable consequences for the victim, often leaving them financially striken, unable to obtain credit and generally in a state of mayhem all because of someones desire to make money or disrupt your day to day life by assuming your name and details and leaving you to pick up the pieces.
The issue and measures to take of how to prevent identity theft are extremely important and could protect you personally, your family, finances and future, this article looks into different ways indentity theft criminals can potentially get access to your sensitive information and how they can exploit it, perhaps more importantly this guide outlines simple steps on how to prevent identity theft and different aspects of identity theft protection.
It is shocking perhaps to many people that simple day to day actions such as putting the rubbish out can lead to your identity being stolen within minutes, what you deem as rubbish could give a criminal your personal details and allow them to obtain credit by taking advantage of your credit situation.
The most common type of mistake when putting rubbish in a bin is that people often include very personal and informative letters within bin bags that contain their name, address and date of birth, this is a criminals dream scenario as they could apply for credit cards, loans, car finance and any other financial offering that takes their fancy.
Shredding your mail or storing sensitive information such as bank statements, utility bills and any other personal letters in a safe or locked cabinet are great ways to decrease the risk of indentity theft. It seems like a simple form of identity theft protection but it is without doubt extrmeely effective.
Keeping your bank cards safe and any other plastic cards with information on will ensure that criminals do not have direct information to your account number, sort code and name which could be used to make cash transfers by them simply making a phone call. When using your cards in shops and and on the internet the simplest forms of identity theft are that you allow other people to see the details or happily enter your details on sites and machines that are not secure.
To prevent online purchase indetity theft always check that the website you are buying from carries the url https on any shopping cart, checkout and payment section, this indicates that the website have what is known as an SSL Certificate and is a secure, safe checkout. Most banks and credit card companies will instantly refund any theft through sites that are deemed secure.
With technological advances and a demand to keep up with the latest technologies many people often discard what they deem as old property and non vital home appliances such as laptops, usb sticks, mobile phones and PCs. The biggest and most common mistake made when disposing of personal IT equipment and storage devices is that people leave their personal details without wiping the data fully. Again this is an easy way for criminals to exploit you and it has been known that goods that have either been sold on, disposed of at tips or given away have all been accessed to obtain personal details and commit identity theft.
When disposing of IT equipment or storage devices it is essential you clear the hard drive of any personal data and ensure any passwords and information cannot be obtained. Theft of such items also leaves people open to indentity theft, by simply speaking with the seller or manufacturer of the equipment you should be able to obtain secure encryption devices or technology that would strongly reduce the risk of a criminal from being able to access your details.
Social media websites have hugely increased the amount of cases of individual identity theft due to people giving away their details unwittingly without even realising that people they are openly interacting with could be criminals posing as friends to gain access to personal data. Websites such as Facebook as subscribers to provide their full name, date of birth, e-mail address, phone numbers, home address, occupation and just about every other avenue of information that could completely allow someone to repliacte you with ease.
It is a vitally important part of identity theft protection that you only provide sites such as Facebook with the real essential information such as your name, Facebook themselves take the issue of identity theft and security very seriously and will advise you to set personal security settings so that only trusted people or no one at all can actually view any details other than your name. Think about it would you really openly advertise all your personal details anywhere else? The answer should be no and if so you should not advertise them on social media sites for anybody to potentially manipulate.
Just following these simple indentity theft protection methods will significantly reduce the risks of your personal details being obtained and exploited without your knowledge, the issue of how to prevent indentity theft on a personal basis is one that needs constant attention.
Gary Kay of How2Media Ltd writes articles for Insight Investigations, http://www.investigate.co.uk, who are a leading global advisory on how to prevent personal identity theft and the issue of identity theft protection
Warning From Better Business Bureau
Here are the unlucky 7 scams to be alert for when you have an at home business. We often hear about consumer scam warnings, but people trying to make extra money from home should also be on alert for scams. The Better Business Bureau reports receiving thousands of complaints from small business owners who fell victim to an invoicing scam or were misled into paying for products and services they did not want.
If you have a side business to earn extra money or have interest in learning about these types of opportunities, there are sources for this information available through services who specialize in this area. Be careful about work at home programs that require you to pay a large up front fee or ongoing monthly fee; they may not be as good as they advertised.
Crooks Don’t Always Want Money
Scammers are not always trying to steal money from a business. Instead, they might be after your company’s financial data or your customer’s data. Crooks will try many kinds of high and low tech methods for getting at that data. Do you really have time to deal with cleaning up the mess from being scammed? Here are seven types of scams to be alert for:
1. Directory Scams
Usually the scammer will call the business claiming they just want to update your company’s entry in an online directory or the scammer may falsely claim that they are with the Yellow Pages.
Your business receives a bill for hundreds of dollars for listing services you never applied for or for advertising which never runs in the Yellow Pages.
2. Office Supply Scams
Some scammers prey on small business owners hoping they won’t notice a bill for office supplies like toner or paper which the company never ordered. If you have invoices processed by someone, you may want to approve new vendors before payments are issued.
3. Overpayment Scams
Be extremely cautious if a customer overpays using a check or credit card and then asks you to wire the extra money back to them or to a third party. Overpayment scams target any number of different companies including catering businesses, manufacturers, wholesalers and even sellers on sites like eBay and Craigslist.
4. Data Breaches
Whether it’s caused by hackers, negligence or a disgruntled employee, a data breach can have a severe impact on your business. Learn how to defend your company from a data breach for free with information on data security whic is available from the Better Business Bureau site.
5. Vanity Awards
Does it really make sense to pay money for an award? While it’s flattering to be recognized for your hard work, some awards are just money-making schemes and have no actual merit. If you are approached about receiving a business or leadership award, research the opportunity carefully and be wary if you’re asked to pay money.
6. Stolen Identity
Scammers often pretend to be a legitimate company for the purposes of ripping off consumers. When it comes to stolen identity, the company doesn’t necessarily lose money, but their reputation is potentially tarnished as angry customers who were ripped off by the scammers think the real company is responsible.
7. Phishing E-mails
I get these almost everyday. Some phishing e-mails specifically target small business owners with the goal of hacking into your computer or network. Common examples include e-mails pretending to be from the IRS or your bank or phony e-mails from the Better Business Bureau, saying the company has received a complaint.
Rarely, if ever will you receive communication from institutions like these other than email; they rarely use postal mail or the telephone. Do not click on any links or open any attachments in these suspicious emails. Contact the agency or the Better Business Bureau directly to confirm the legitimacy of the e-mail.
Nathan Randall, editor, Daily Dollar Newsletter provides free daily advice on money matters plus coupons and discount codes. FYI…you can now access the Daily Dollar Newsletter via iTunes podcast, YouTube video, and on Facebook and Twitter too.
4 Signs Of A Sweepstakes Fraud
There are thousands of contests and sweepstakes taking place each day. The vast majority of them are legitimate and abide by laws and regulations. There are real winners, you can even request a winners list be mailed to you. How do you know if a sweepstakes or contest is a fraud?
Don’t be scared to participate in contests and sweepstakes but at the same time, be smart about it. Take time to read contest information carefully, including the rules in fine print. There are red flags that you can be alert for to detect a scam. What are the four signs of a scam?
1) You Are Already A Winner!
When you receive a notification in the mail, on the telephone or via email that you have already been declared a winner of a contest, it is probably a scam. Common examples of this scheme include email alerts that you have won the lottery and postcards that you have won a free resort vacation or cruise. If you did not enter a contest, how could you possibly be a winner? Ignore these communications.
2) Payment Required For Prize
Fraudulent contests will require you to pay a fee, usually disguised as a “handling fee” or “convenience charge”. It may be a small amount like $10 or $15 and you might not think twice about it, but watch out. This is just a trick to get you to give up your credit card information and once the crooks have it you will likely have more charges on your account within hours. Never pay money out of your pocket to claim a prize. Even popular sweepstakes like Publishers Clearing House clearly denotes in their mailers that no purchase is necessary to enter.
3) You Receive A Check
Most people can’t tell the difference between a real and counterfeit check. The scam works like this: The scam artist will contact you that they have won a cash prize in another country and offer to share the winnings with you if you agree to deposit the check in your account and then wire them their share of the winnings. After a few days the check will bounce, but the wire you sent is not reversible and you are left with nothing.
4) Bank Or Credit Card Info Required
Wouldn’t it be convenient to receive your contest winnings via direct deposit to your bank account? Con artists swindle people out of their private bank account information with this easy gag. Never give a stranger your banking or credit card information. Legitimate sweepstakes will pay out via check after you have signed legal paperwork agreeing to pay the taxes and all other details have been disclosed to you.
Nathan Randall, editor, Daily Dollar Newsletter provides free daily advice on money matters plus coupons and discount codes. FYI…you can now access the Daily Dollar Newsletter via iTunes podcast, YouTube video, and on Facebook and Twitter too.
Quibids or Beezid – My View on the World of Penny Auctions
The world of the auction has gotten more and more accessible throughout the last decade. First, auctions used to exist only in auction houses, places that were only welcoming to those people who had the time and funds to be present at an event where things of rarity were being sold.
Then, eBay sprang onto the scene in the nineties and brought the auction into our living rooms using the wonder of the internet. Anything from Jimmy Choo shoes to old used TV set were available to anyone, in any price range, as long as you had an email address and the use of internet.
Now the world of online auctions is changing again. Penny auctions are the new thing. Quibids.com, Beezid.com, SwipeAuctions.com- they all promise buying expensive, luxurious electronics for unbelievably low prices. Why are the prices so unbelievably low? Because they are a lie.
Well, ok, maybe lie is a bit harsh, but the prices are severely misrepresented. Saying that you can buy a two hundred dollar iPod for only twenty dollars sounds amazing. But the truth is that each bid you place in a penny auction – in increments of one penny – cost users anywhere between fifty cents and one dollar per bid.
Per bid. In one penny increments? So the twenty dollar iPod suddenly becomes an iPod that was bid on two thousand times. And if each of those two thousand times cost fifty cents each, the twenty dollar iPod which was originally a two hundred dollar iPod just cost the people bidding on it one thousand dollars. In my view, that is a scam.
Now, to be fair, people who win items on Quibids.com or Beezid.com certainly are not bidding the entire time by themselves, and probably not with only one or two other people either. And the person who wins the iPod probably ended up paying less than retail price for it. So that is nice for them.
But what about all the other people who bid? They may have spent up to eighty or one hundred dollars paying for a chance to win this iPod, and when the clock runs out and they are no longer able to bid, they are simply out their money.
That sounds more like a slot machine than an auction in my view. When you bid on eBay or at an auction house, if you lose the bidding war you keep your money. Not so at a penny auction. So if you think it is not a scam to pay eighty dollars simply for the chance of winning something, and then having nothing to show for it at the end, then maybe penny auctions are for you.
If you would like more info check out additional Quibids Scam and My View Scam reviews.