The Art of Online Scamming. What you need to know for protecting yourself and friends!

The Art of Online Scamming.  What you need to know for protecting yourself and friends!

Author: Aaron L Meileiac 

Let's all face it here, we are currently in the Age of Information and online scamming is at its prime.  In early years the "caliber" of scamming was minute and lackluster in creativity.  Some of the older scams that were trendy were as such:

Old School Scams that we fell for:

- Winners International Sweepstakes

- government grant scam.

- Tech Support offer free “security” scans

-  refund scam 

And let's just face it the list does in-fact go on and on.

New School Scams that we should not fall for:

#1. Tech Support Scams

It's rare that any technician from a PC manufacturer or tech support company would cold call non-client computer users and tell them that there's an immediate threat to their computers and that the company needs remote access to fix the problem. Yet, many people fall for this scam.

Operating usually out of India, scammers call victims and allege that they're with a big name tech company. Victims are told that their computers are either already infected or about to become infected with malware that can cause significant damage, such as operating system corruption or identity theft. The “technicians” then urge users to allow them to have remote access to troubleshoot and fix related issues. 

Scammers use these opportunities to infect systems with malware or perform other damage; or send users to third-party websites that cause damage. All of these actions are focused on the singular goal of giving scammers access to computers so they can cause errors and then charge for unnecessary repair services.

We have added Tech support Scams in the New School Scams criteria for the fact we are still falling for it.  This is why its listed as number #1.  -Meileiac 

#2. Fake/Counterfeit Merchandise Scams

Operating predominantly out of China, scammers set up generic online stores that sell name brand items or mimic the websites of big name brand companies. 

On these sites, scammers sell fake or counterfeit products at significantly reduced prices designed to attract buyers looking for big deals on name brand merchandise. 

The over-reaching goal of these scammers is to gain access to the credit card numbers of their victims and then use the numbers to fraudulently make purchases, or make a buck with the information on the black market.

#3. Pets-for-Sale Scams

Pets-for-sale scammers create fake websites that claim to be associated with pet adoption or animal nurseries. 

On these sites, they offer a wide selection of pets for adoption or sale at prices significantly below the norm. 

Some sites even offer puppies for free to attract victims. With this scam, victims are told that they must pay for at least the insurance, shipping and other services associated with processing and delivering the pets. 

Victims are then required to make their purchases and/or pay their fees with non-returnable, cash-like forms of payment, including but not limited to: Moneygram, Western Union, Vanilla prepaid cards or wire transfer to a foreign bank account.

#4. Grant Scams

Representatives of the United States government don't call American citizens with offers to sell them grant money. 

Operating usually out of India and Pakistan, scammers who deal in selling grants purchase consumer information from legitimate companies that run payday loan affiliate websites. The companies usually have no idea that they're dealing with scammers. Instead, they believe that the scammers can offer some of their payday loan applicants financial assistance. 

Scammers also acquire consumer personal details from unsuspecting advertising agencies who run lead generation campaigns targeting consumers in need of loans. The scammers then contact the people from these lists and claim they represent the United States government. They advise victims that they can provide access to grant money for a "processing fee". As with the Pets-for-Sale scenarios, scammers require victims to pay via non-returnable payment methods that act like cash.

The processing fee is merely the beginning of the crime. Grant scam artists then use the banking information of their victims to gain access to additional funds or sell the information to the highest bidder on the black market.

Grant Scams like the Tech Support Scams sadly makes the New School Scams list as well. - Meileiac 

#5. Dating and Relationship Scams

Personal data, including social security numbers and residential addresses of over 100 million consumers has been stolen this year in the United States alone. 

Scammers trade information through black markets to use in future identity theft operations.

#11. Fraudulent/Fake Check Scams

One of the most popular scams involves scammers convincing unwitting victims to accept fraudulent/fake checks.

Victims with banks accounts in the United States receive checks for whatever reason at much higher amounts than expected. Scammers then use a variety of creative, clever stories to explain any compensation discrepancies and convince victim to send back overpayment via cash-like payment methods or wire transfer. 

When these checks bounce, the victim discover that they have been fleeced. Over the years, this scam has been used with a variety of consumer actions, including purchase of vehicles and renting property.

#12 Money Laundering Scams

If you are approached with this scam, you will be asked to transfer money for somebody using your own bank account or a bank account that you set up for this purpose. 

The approach could come in a number of ways—by a letter similar to the Nigerian scams, by an offer that sounds like a work from home opportunity or in any other way which means you have to hand over bank account details to a stranger. 

The scams often offer you a commission simply for receiving money into your bank account and then transferring it out again. The commission can be as high as 15 per cent or more of the amount transferred.

"Money laundering has now reached a new peak.  The degree of who these criminal individuals will portray there self as has went very far indeed.  In recent experience there was a individual who tried this with me. I would like to share it as a example of what not to fall for no matter who they claim to be, this case the individual claimed to be a "General".  This was his "Pitch"- Meileiac
Propaganda 1                                                                            Propaganda2

Conclusion:

"For some of us that have recently come to the Age of Information.  Let us beware that some un-thoughtful ones have been in the Age of Information every age.  If our best "Intent" was held in "interest" we would not be dealing with these current circumstances on ship "Earth".  

Keep your senses about you and always ask what is the true "Intent" when dealing with a unexpected contact from a so called person here to "Help".  - Meileiac

Sources used in this Article:
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news/old-school-scams-still-going-strong-072313.html

https://www.missionvalleybank.com/news/your-online-safety/new-scam-done-old-school-ongaurdonline-gov/

https://www.scamguard.com/list-of-scams/

http://www.scamwatch.gov.au/content/index.phtml/tag/TransferringMoneyForSomeoneElse