Listed below are some of the most popular and common scams:

1. Nigerian Card Scam:

This one has been around for many years, but it continues to flourish. Many of these emails claim to be from a person in Africa, usually Nigeria. The writer claims to have access to millions of dollars, either from a family member or from knowledge of a dormant account. A percentage of this money is promised to the victim if he allows the money to be processed through his personal bank account. The victim is instructed to keep his share and send the remaining money to the scammer.

The check given to the victims is fraudulent. The victim is then liable to the bank for the check she wrote to the scammer.

This is what will happen when you give strangers your bank account information: They will take your money. Period.

2. Phishing scams:

“Phishing” is a high-tech scam that uses spam or pop-up messages to trick you into revealing your credit card numbers, bank account information, Social Security number, passwords, or other sensitive information.

Phishers send an email or pop-up message claiming to be from a company or organization you deal with, for example, your Internet Service Provider (ISP), bank, online payment service, or even a government agency. The message usually says that you need to “update” or “validate” your account information.

Recent phishing victims include Yahoo, Citibank, eBay, Best Buy, and Bank of America, among others.

If you receive spam that is phishing for information, please forward it to [email protected].

3. String of letters:

In this classic scam, you are asked to send a small amount of money (usually $5.00) to each of several names on a list and then forward the letter that includes your name at the top of the list, via mass email. . Many of these letters claim to be legal. They even include a section of the US Zip Code on illegal schemes. Do not be fooled. They are not legal. And if you participate, you’ll not only be breaking the law, but you’ll also lose your money.

4. Work at home scams and business opportunities:

These scams tempt victims with ads that say “no experience necessary,” promise big profits, and claim insider information. Scammers typically require victims to pay anywhere from $35 to several hundred dollars or more for information, kits, or materials that do not deliver the promised results.

Often these schemes involve crafting, envelope stuffing, medical billing, or saying, “Use your home PC for a quick buck in your spare time!”

In the craft making or envelope stuffing scam, after paying the fees and completing the assembly of the products, the victims are told that their work is of low quality and does not deserve compensation.

Medical billing scams require victims to purchase supplies and lists from doctors who, inevitably, do not exist or are not interested in the service.

5. Mass Email Scams:

These solicitations offer to sell you bulk email addresses (spam software) or services to send spam on your behalf. Example: “Reach 100 million websites, $39.95”! The software is usually of poor quality. It is spam and a scam. do not do it

6. Auction and Retail Scams:

These schemes often offer high-value items such as Cartier watches, Beanie Babies, and computers, hoping to attract a lot of consumers. What happens is that the victim wins the offer, sends the money and receives nothing or products of much lower quality than advertised.

7. Secured Loans or Credit Scams:

This scam comes in a variety of flavors: home equity loans that require no equity in your home, personal loans regardless of credit history, etc. After paying the application fees, you receive a letter saying that your loan application was denied. It usually never comes from these companies again.

8. Credit repair scams:

These scams promise to erase accurate, negative information from your credit file so you can qualify for unsecured loans, mortgages, credit cards, etc. doesn’t work. Not only that. If you follow their advice and lie on loan or credit applications, misrepresent your Social Security number, or obtain an Employer Identification Number from the Internal Revenue Service under false pretenses, you are committing fraud and violating federal law. Another variation on this scam is the promise of a new credit file. do not do it

9. Holiday Sweepstakes and Prize Giving Scams:

In these scams you receive a notification congratulating you because you have won a fabulous vacation, a car or some other prize. All you have to do to collect your prize is pay a small fee (usually several hundred dollars). In return, what you end up getting is a toy car (I kid you not) or a vacation certificate to the Bahamas or some other exotic vacation spot. It’s really a lousy deal. You have to pay for your own plane ticket, and the accommodation they arrange is usually in run-down hotels. Let the buyer beware!

10. Employment scams:

Job scammers take advantage of job applicants. They claim to offer employment services, insider information, or inside contacts for jobs. After paying a fee, victims learn that they only provide advice, help writing a resume, or less. Some fraudulent employment services simply sell employer listings they have obtained from public directories. They generally haven’t contacted those companies directly and don’t know if there are actually any job openings.

11. Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) or Network Marketing Scams:

I know I’m going to get a little messy on this, so let me just say right now that all network marketing or MLM companies are not scams. Obviously, there are some good, reputable companies out there. However, there are so many bad guys that I am forced to include the entire industry on this list. Before you get involved with any network marketing or MLM company, do your research, do your research, and then do some more research. Don’t get caught up in the hype. And here is a fact that no MLM or network marketing company will tell you, not even the legitimate ones: Unless you have outstanding sales and/or interpersonal skills, it is extremely difficult to make money in MLM or network marketing. .

Here are some other things to keep in mind: Make sure the website you’re visiting contains all three of the following:

1. The name of a real person (not just the name of a company or business)
2. a phone number
3. A street address (not just a PO Box)

If the above three are not present, withdraw from the offer.

Before you buy anything, you should always check first if the company has filed any complaints against you. The following websites post complaints and/or scams:

• http://www.scamwatch.com

• http://www.worldwidescam.com

• http://www.bbb.org

If you get scammed, report it immediately to the aforementioned websites. You probably won’t be able to get your money back. Few people do. But at least by reporting the crime and making it public, you make it harder for that company to scam anyone else.

In closing, always carefully research any trading opportunity and remember: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!