Most Used Internet Scams

Ikran Egal
 1.Phishing Scams
• The setup: You receive an e-mail that looks like it came from your
bank, warning you about identity theft and asking that you log in and
verify your account information. The message says that if you don't
take action immediately, your account will be terminated.

• What actually happens: Even though the e-mail looks like the real
deal, complete with authentic logos and working Web links, it's a
clever fake. The Web site where you're told to enter your account
information is also bogus. In some instances, really smart phishes
direct you to the genuine Web site, then pop up a window over the
site that captures your personal information.

• The risk: Your account information will be sold to criminals, who'll use
it to ruin your credit and drain your account. According to Gartner,
phishing scammers took consumers (and their banks, who had to
cover the charges) for $1.2 billion in 2003.

• The question you should ask yourself is : If this matter is so

urgent, why isn't my bank calling me instead of sending e-mail?
 2.Auction Fraud
• The setup: Online auction fraud accounts for three-quarters of all
complaints registered with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center
(formerly the Internet Fraud Complaint Center). There are many types
of eBay chicanery, but the most common one is where you send in
your money and get nothing but grief in return.
• What actually happens: You never get the product promised, or the
promises don't match the product. The descriptions may be vague,
incomplete, or completely fake. One scammer accepted bids for
Louis Vuitton bags that she didn't own, and then scoured the Internet
looking for cheap knockoffs that cost less than the winning bid. She
managed to collect at least $18,000 from bidders before she got
nailed. A buyer thought he'd purchased a portable DVD player for
$100, but what he got instead was a Web address for a site where he
could buy a player for a $200 discount. The stories are virtually
endless.
• The risk: You get ripped off, losing time and money. If you spill the
beans about the scam, the seller may retaliate by posting negative
eBay reports about you using phony names.
• the question you should ask yourself is : Who in their right mind
would sell a $200 bag for $20?
 3. Nigerian 419 Letter
• The setup: You receive an e-mail, usually written in screaming capital letters,
that starts out like this:
• "DEAR SIR/MADAM: I REPRESENT THE RECENTLY DEPOSED MINISTER
OF AGRICULTURE FOR NODAMBIZIA, WHO HAS EMBEZZLED 30 MILLION
DOLLARS FROM HIS STARVING COUNTRYMEN AND NOW NEEDS TO GET
IT OUT OF THE COUNTRY..."
• The letter says the scammers are seeking an accomplice who will transfer the
funds into their account for a cut of the total--usually around 30 percent. You'll be
asked to travel overseas to meet with the scammers and complete the
necessary paperwork. But before the transaction can be finalized, you must pay
thousands of dollars in "taxes," "attorney costs," "bribes," or other advance fees.
• What actually happens: There's no minister and no money--except for the
money you put up in advance. Victims who travel overseas may find themselves
physically threatened and not allowed to leave until they cough up the cash.
(FYI, "419" is named for the section of Nigeria's penal code that the scam
violates.)
• The risk: Serious financial loss--or worse. Victims of Nigerian letter fraud lose
$3000 on average, according to the FBI. Several victims have been killed or
gone missing while chasing a 419 scheme.
• The question you should ask yourself: Of all the people in the world, why
would a corrupt African bureaucrat pick me to be his accomplice?
 4. "Congratulations, You've Won an Xbox
(IPod, plasma TV, etc.)"
• "Congratulations, You've Won an Xbox (IPod, plasma TV, etc.)"
• The setup: You get an e-mail telling you that you've won something
cool--usually the hot gadget du jour, such as an Xbox or an IPod. All
you need to do is visit a Web site and provide your debit card number
and PIN to cover "shipping and handling" costs.
• What actually happens: The item never arrives. A few months later,
mystery charges start showing up on your bank account. The only
thing that gets shipped and handled is your identity. (A more benign
variation on this scam drives you to a site where you're asked to
cough up your contact info and agree to receive spam from
advertisers until unwanted e-mail is coming out of your ears.)
• The risk: Identity theft, as well as lost money if you don't dispute the
charges.
• The question you should ask yourself: When did I enter a contest
to win an Xbox (iPod, plasma TV, etc.)?
 5.Postal Forwarding/Reshipping
Scam
• Postal Forwarding/Reshipping Scam
• The setup: You answer an online ad looking for a "correspondence
manager." An offshore corporation that lacks a U.S. address or bank
account needs someone to take goods sent to their address and
reship them overseas. You may also be asked to accept wire
transfers into your bank account, then transfer the money to your new
boss's account. In each case, you collect a percentage of the goods
or amount transferred.
• What actually happens: Products are purchased online using stolen
credit cards--often with identities that have been purloined by
phishers--and shipped to your address. You then reship them to the
thieves, who will fence them overseas. Or you're transferring stolen
funds from one account to another to obscure the money trail.
• The risk: Sure, you can make big bucks for a while. But after a few
months, you're going to look inside your bank account and find it
cleaned out. Worse, when the feds come looking for the scammers,
you're the one they're going to nail.
• The question you should ask yourself: Why can't these people
receive their own darn mail?
 6.Medical Emergency Scam
• The setup - Another scam comes along with a the title a medical scam . It
is when your online dating partner and is injured and is send to you email.
This often happens when you maybe dating someone online, the scam will
say that your partner is seriously injured and can’t afford the surgery and
need’s it right away. It say that the hospital needs your credit card number
and information. In some cases you will get phone call.

• What is actually done- they will given you various type of medical problems
he has like a brain tumor and will need to send your information

• Risk – if you don’t try to get in contact with your partner and follow and
believable this scam you can seriously loss some cash

• The question you should ask your self- why would my partner need me to
pay for his medical problems when I barely know him/her or when did I go
into online dating
 7.Fake Police Scam
• The Setup: Being a victim is bad enough but being a victim
of victim of a police scam changes your whole mind about if
your safe or not. It all begins when you have already been a
victim of a scam and you seek assistance from the police it
can already be another scam. The scammer plays the role
as the police.
• What actually happens? Well as you already know the
scammer plays along. He asks you some personal
questions. After that he or she will say ok we will look for
him and we’ll contact you. When they find him they’ll call
you and say we have found the scammer. But before we
arrest him we need money.
• The risks: The risks are you giving all your money away as
well as your personal information.
 8.Lottery scam
• The setup and what actually happens -
have you receive and email or even an
actually letter telling you won an larger
amount of money in a lottery you never
heard about , or entered a lottery
• Risk – send your information and the you
putting yourself up to fraud and identity
theft
• The question you should ask yourself-
when did I enter this lottery and does this
lottery even known
 9. Business investment scam
• The setup and what really happens- this
scam real attracts potential victims around
the world. This scam works through email
or by letter.
• The risk – the person can be easily tract
down , and the victim loses his/her hard
earn money.
• The question you should ask your self-
do I really want to give my earned money to
a business I really trust them
 10. Disaster Relief Scam
• The Setup-