Beware scams ... nothing is 'free'
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May 1, 2013 |
By Dave McClelland
Boundary County Sheriff’s Detective
Fraud -- it’s a word that doesn’t even sound
good. In the computer-driven world we live in,
there are a huge amount of scammers that I
generally identify as “parasites.”
Now everyone who knows me knows without a doubt
that computers hate me and will stop working
when I get within three feet of them. Believe
me, the feelings of contempt are mutual.
When I’m able to get a computer to work with me,
I see many examples of fraud in both my work and
my personal email. Luckily, most end up as spam
and the ones that do slip through I immediately
block as spam.
Lack of privacy of personal information is the
constant norm and every effort must be made to
protect yours. The parasites are out there
trying to get your personal information, trying
their best to relieve you of your money, and
don’t really care what the consequences are to
your well-being.
The best thing I can tell you is that there’s
absolutely no one out there wanting to give you
“free” money or valuables. If your common sense
tells you “it’s too good to be true," it is!
The examples are varied, but if someone sends
you an email, snail mail, or gives you a phone
call telling you that you’ve won a car or money
-- especially if you never entered any kind of
contest -- it’s a scam.
The car scam works like this.
Someone will call to tell you that you’ve won a
new car and all you have to do is to send them
the documentation fees, taxes or whatever they
request. It may not seem like a lot of money,
but the clincher is, once you send them your
money, it’s gone.
Most of the scams will actually have an
individual call you and set up a delivery time
for your “new car," or get a bank routing number
and possibly your bank account number or a
credit card number so they can verify that
you’re a real person -- ya right.
They actually have the nerve to tell you that
fraud is so prevalent that they’re just trying
to make sure they don’t get scammed!
They will want your personal information, such
as full name, date of birth, social security
number and address.
Even just a few of these items of information
will allow them to put the pieces together and
come up with all of your information they have
acquired from different sources.
They will sound very convincing, and as they are
professional liars and cheats, and they know
just the right words and phrases to win your
confidence.
Believe it or not, many of your friends and
neighbors have fallen for the money/car scam.
Another scam that keeps rearing its ugly head is
the, “I’m Sergeant Donuthole with the Podunk
Sheriff’s Office and your grandson has been
arrested. Unless we’re sent his bail and fine
money, you won’t see your grandson for at least
a year, as he’s being sent to a work farm
because he can’t post his bail or fines.”
Generally, you, the potential victim, will only
be talking to an individual who identifies
him/herself as someone in authority, who will
attempt to bully you into sending a money via
Money Gram, or something similar. They even take
credit cards over the phone!
Another oldie but goody is the eBay scam, where
someone will put something on eBay and make it
look real, such as a car in a showroom to make
it look like a legitimate dealership.
The first clue that the offer is fraudulent is
that the price is absurdly low, e.g., $5000 for
a $10,000 truck, delivered for free from Texas.
They will require that you either pay for the
truck or item in full, or pay a sizable down
payment thru Money Gram, Western Union, or a
credit card before they will deliver.
You will never see that vehicle or your money.
Check out Craigslist for their hints on avoiding
scams. Remember, the parasite you’re talking to
probably isn’t even in the country, so tracking
down and prosecuting them is next to impossible.
These parasites prey upon the elderly and those
on fixed incomes, knowing they can appeal to
people who may be having a hard time with life
and the economy, and are desperately trying to
find a way out of their situation.
The way these punks get their information is
through the many pay internet sites that will
give you people’s personal information. Not only
does your personal information show up on these
sites, but your relatives,' friends’ and
neighbors,’ along with their phone numbers, etc.
It’s a very cheap investment for potentially
huge profits.
Fall prey and the worst part is, not only did
you just lose some or all of your hard earned
cash, but you most likely helped fund terrorism,
both international and narcotics.
As soon as you send off that Money Gram or some
other means of payment, it’s gone. Even if it’s
sent to a legitimate sounding address, it will
never get there due to mail forwarding or a
private mailbox service.
Credit card payments are even worse.
As soon as you hit the send key, your money is
out of the country, potentially funding
terrorism, and they now have more of your
personal information.
The only way these scams are investigated is
through Federal law enforcement.
The FBI has a website geared solely for the
above type of scams. It’s a site that is for
self-reporting the attempt at victimization, or
if you have already been scammed.
The website is self-explanatory and very
effective:
www.ic3.gov.
Be safe out there and remember, parasitical
scammers are just as bad as burglars and
thieves, nothing more than blood sucking bottom
feeders, who care nothing about ruining your
future. |
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