What's New in Scams?
Here's the current round-up of nine scams in the news, although these scams are occurring in specific places, each of them can happen anywhere (so you aren't safe just because you don't live in Sioux Falls, SD, or New Zealand, etc.) And, just because a scam is on CraigsList, doesn't mean it can't or won't happen on other sites.1. Say No to *72
The scam: A terrible phone call to a Sioux Falls, SD, man tells him of a death in the family, asks him to call another number for details and to begin his cell phone call with the code *72. What this actually does is transfer all calls sent to the cell phone to the number the caller has given the scammer's own number.The scammer then gives your number to his buddies anywhere in the world and they can phone him via your cell, with you picking up the charges and knowing nothing about it until you get your bill.
The solution: Don't use the *72 or any other forwarding code to forward calls to a number you don't know or recognize. You can enter *73 to clear call forwarding. (We're not sure if *72 and *73 are the forwarding codes for all cell phones. Check your cell phone manual or talk to your carrier.)
2. The Not Guilty Juror
The scam: A new warning where individuals get calls telling them they failed to turn up for jury duty and asking for personal details so the court can cancel an arrest warrant. Meanwhile, in Winston County, MS, scammers claim they are calling from the courts merely to confirm personal details for possible future jury duty.The solution: Don't give personal details like credit card or Social Security numbers courts never seek them over the phone. If in doubt, contact the court directly. And report the incident to the police.3. Don't Pay The Hitman
The scam: A rash of death-threat emails has victims trembling in their shoes. The messages warn of a $650,000 contract killing and you're the target. Unless you pay the hitman $15,000. They say you're being watched (so you can't contact the police) and give you 24 hours to make contact.The solution: Let's be serious. Are you really worth $650,000 dead? And if you are, why would the hitman take $15,0000 instead of collecting his fee? Tell the police.
4. Pure Water Pressure
The scam: A couple of swindlers posing as water company officials invite themselves into private homes to check out the water supply and fixtures. They tell victims they need to buy water purifiers, which the scammers, of course, just happen to have in stock, and then press for an instant purchase.The solution: Water company officials carry photo ID check it out carefully and use only official vehicles. If in doubt, phone the water company. And don't let people pressure you into making purchases with high pressure sales tactics.
5. Hooked By the Text Phishers
The scam: Instead of sending you a phishing email, scammers send you a cell phone text message, supposedly from your bank, asking you to visit a website whose address looks genuine. It isn't, and once keyed in, takes you to a bogus site that asks for personal details so the bank can "unlock" or "verify" your account. Currently making the rounds in Columbia, MO.Solution: As with phishing emails, never follow a link, even one you have to manually key in, that you don't know for sure. And never provide confidential information unless you know the site is secure with an "s" in the "https" part of the address line and/or a padlock icon in the message area of your browser.
6. Cashing In On Tragedy
The scam: A sad story and a timely warning from the ever-popular classified ad site CraigsList. A guy raising money for a terminally ill parent tries to sell furniture and gets a reply offering to buy.The "buyer" later says she's sent a check but it was for too much money so would the seller mind cashing it and sending back the difference? A wicked variation on the overpayment scam.
Solution: Never accept a check for more than the asking price and then give a refund. The original check usually bounces and you end up holding the bag.
7. Getting Tourists in a Flap
The scam: Traders in London offer "rare" parrots for sale to tourists and locals, charging up to 170 British pounds ($350 USD) a time and often claiming the "parrots" can talk.The birds are also advertised for sale in newspapers. They are actually parakeets that live wild in the English capital's city parks.
Apart from the sheer cruelty of capturing them, they're worth next to nothing there's an estimated 65,000 of them! They can't talk either and, sadly, most of them die a short while after being caged.
The solution: Never accept people's claims about items they're selling without proof. And always beware of scammers in tourist locations they know all the tricks in the book.
8. Scam and Scam Again
The scam: New Zealand victims of an earlier scam in which they were sold virtually worthless stocks get a phone call from someone saying they have a potential buyer or offering to swap them for more valuable stocks. Inevitably, the caller then asks for an advance commission, transaction or other registration fee.A variation is that the caller claims to be an attorney who knows your case and wants to help you recover your money again for an upfront fee.
The solution: Never buy shares over the phone (or promoted in emails) from someone you don't know. If you already have, don't believe anyone who says they can get your money back unless it's (really) the police! And, beware of "hot" stock tips.
9. Busted!
John Heath, 81, recently got 28 years in jail for a scam that netted an estimated $190 million. Heath was one of a trio who ran a Ponzi investment scheme a pyramid system where newly invested cash goes to pay off longer-standing investors, keeping them sweet, while a chunk drops into the scammers' pockets.California prosecutors said the scheme covered about half of the US and caught about 1,800 victims. Some money has been returned but only about 22 cents on the dollar.
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