Internet scams
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Regardless of the technological foundation of society in general, there are people who will seek to take advantage of others for their own gain. Methods differ greatly, from government schemes to the lone scammer working suckers from the other side of an internet connection. The latter are the subject of this entry.
Types of internet scams
- Advance Fee or 419
- You are informed that a large amount of money needs to be transfered, and that your help is needed to make the transaction. You only need to pay a small fee into a given account in order to initiate the transfer, of which you are promised a percentage. Once you have made the payment, however, the contact disappears. Email lottery schemes work in a similar manner, requiring a transfer fee before the winnings can be moved into your account.
- Ebay/retail/freight
- A potential customer/buyer contacts you regarding an item you are selling. The goal of the scammer is to receive the goods without recompense, and possibly to scam more money out of the 'mark'. The scammer will usually either set up a false escrow company, expecting no more than the item advertised, or will send a bogus check written out for much more than the sale price. After admitting their mistake, the scammer will demand the seller wire the difference back immediately, preferably before the mark realizes the check is bad.
- Sweetheart
- This one is usually aimed at lonely single men, enticing them with the prospect of romance with a young, attractive woman. The mark may be played for months, wasting money on anything the scammer can manage from him. Often the goal is a letter of invitation or a visa, and the scammer may manage to convince the mark to send funds for food, rent, etc. This is one of the worst, as a vulnerable mark will likely suffer much more than a loss of funds, and many have committed suicide upon realizing the true nature of the relationship.
There are many more types of scam, and not all require access to the internet. The best practice is to take anything from an unfamiliar source with a grain of salt, always check URLs, and remember: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
The Good News
Individuals and loose organizations have dedicated time and money to fight these corrupt scammers, many having a lot of fun in the process. Obviously there is some risk, but approached carefully, scambaiting can be a satisfying and rewarding pursuit.
