7 of the Most Successful Internet Scams

home title Posted by admin on Nov 10th, 2011 | 3 comments home title

When it comes to Internet scams, just a little curiosity or a moment’s inattention is all it takes to send you down the path toward financial ruin. Smart people fall for them all the time.

The FBI estimated the cost of Internet fraud at about $560 million in 2009. From the craziest scheme to elaborate frauds, criminals continue to use their wily ways to get their grubby hands on your money.

Be on the alert for these highly successful Internet scams.

1. Phony Government Agents

A popular scam involves thieves posing as FBI agents or other representatives of government. One devious plot involves emails that appear to come straight from FBI Director Robert Mueller. A close look at the sender’s email address usually uncovers the con.

A scheme involving recorded phone calls from someone sounding like President Obama directs listeners to a website where they can sign up for economic “stimulus” money. Visitors are prompted to enter personal information and pay a $28 fee. There is no stimulus money to be had and victims lose their $28, their private data, and their dignity. In reality, government agencies are very unlikely to contact you via email.

2. Secret Admirers and Online Dating Traps

A lot of us are suckers for love, and that’s probably why so many people get caught up in this trap. Love-based cons are the easiest to perpetrate. Why? Because love always involves a leap of faith — trusting something you can’t see or touch.

Ever receive an email from a secret admirer or someone who claims to have seen your profile online? It’s probably a ruse.

Some cons spend months grooming their marks, waiting until after several “I love you” before asking for $1000 to be wired to the passport office in America to help clear up a paperwork mess so he can come to London for a visit.

3. Online Social Networking Scams

If you’ve got a Facebook account, chances are that you’ve received friend requests from virtual strangers, or friends of friends. Scammers can creep into your world in a friend-of-a-friend kind of way.

Beware of third-party Facebook apps that ask to access your account information. When con artists hack into your account, they can easily reset the password and lock you out. Scammers use your name to send messages to your contacts, usually involving a sob story and a plea for emergency funds.

Facebook is not the only social network that criminals use to perpetrate fraud. MySpace, LinkedIn, Google+ and virtually all social networks should be used with the understanding that the bad guys are trying to exploit you. Experts advise that you change your passwords often, using upper and lower case letters, numbers, and symbols.

4. Bogus Websites and False News Stories

We’ve all seen them – the work-at-home dream jobs, the magic pills that melt body fat, “testimonials” about the cure for whatever ails you. Fake. Fake. Fake. Before laying down your hard-earned money on anything that sounds too good to be true, do a little research. Check for verifiable information as well as complaints against the company.

6. Hijacking Your Computer To Do the Dirty Work

Do you know what your computer is up to? Sounds like science fiction, but cyber thieves can hijack your computer and use it to send spam to millions of people without your knowledge. Make sure your security software is up-to-date and keep an eye out for strange files on your computer.

7. E-Mail Trojans and Phishing Scams

A lot of crazy emails end up in your spam bucket, but many make it to your email inbox.  Unsolicited emails with promotional offers, links, and attachments may include Trojans that record keystrokes in order to steal sensitive information.

Other emails, seemingly from legitimate organizations, inform you of a security breach, prompting you to input your information. It’s a tried and true scam, but it is highly unlikely that your financial institution or major organizations would contact you in this way.

Always check your email headers to see where an email originates. When clicking on links, pay attention to the web address in your browser. If you have the slightest doubt, call the company directly to verify.

7. The Fake Computer Virus

You’re surfing the web and you get a pop-up screen warning that your computer is infected with a virus. To fix the problem, you simply have to click a button. This slick scheme has gotten so good that the pop-ups increasingly look like authentic antivirus software prompts, causing even intelligent people to click away. Most of these pop-ups are nothing more than ads quoting hefty fees for protection, but some are sophisticated enough to disable your computer if you don’t pay.

Experts advise that you keep your security software up-to-date and keep copies of important data on removable disks or on a second computer. When in doubt, don’t click.

The Scams Never End

Taking advantage of tough economic times, some common hoaxes include promises of financial assistance in the form of loans, debt consolidation, foreclosure rescue, or help with your credit rating. They all require an upfront fee and they’re all phony.

New scams are being dreamed up every day, so keep your wits about you, and let’s be careful out there.

Marcus Evans is leading the fight against online scams, abuse and fraud prevention. Below is a list of links on websites that highlight the increasing problem of online scams and fraud attempts. These scam prevention sites also include seminars that may be of interest to attend. Marcus Evans produce conferences based on scam prevention and actively encourage the promotion of other companies whom have organised events that support and inform web users of the increasing dangers of scams and web based fraud.

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