The Better Business Bureau (BBB) recently released their top scams for 2011. You know I just had to share some of them with you. Knowledge is power when it's implemented so here goes:
Job Scam
Online job application scams have been out there for a number of years. You see an add online for a job and you submit your resume. The recruiter then emails you to schedule a phone interview. Maybe a few days or so later you receive a job offer. To start the job, you are asked to provide your banking information for direct deposit of your paycheck. They may even ask for your Social Insurance Number. All this information is just to obtain your personal data, so they can steal your identity.
Lottery Scam
I am sure you received a lottery scam call. This is where you're at home enjoying your favorite TV show when your phone rings and the person on the other end of the phone is so excited because you just won A LOT of money. But the catch is in order to claim the money you have to send them some money first. Really! This has scam written all over it! But it's amazing how many people fall for this.
Sweepstakes Scam
I don't know if you remember this one, but there was an email that went around claiming that Mark Zukerberg (Facebook founder) was giving away $1 million. If you got the email, you were the winner, apparently the email was said to be from Mark himself. These types of scams typically will use famous names to make the offer seem more real. Remember if it sounds to good to be true, IT IS!
Identity Theft Scam
So you're on vacation in your nice hotel, you decide to call it a night when at 3:00am the phone rings. You answer the phone with your eyes still closed wondering who the heck is waking you up at 3:00am. It's someone claiming to be the front desk clerk. She apologizes profusely for waking you up and then proceeds to explain that the hotel computer has crashed, and they need your credit card number again or to make it sound more believable, they'll tell you the number they have must be wrong because it won't go through. By this time you just want to get off the phone and go back to bed. You give them your credit card number and go back to sleep. By the time you wake up in the morning, the crook has probably charged a trip to Australia on your dime.
Cheque Cashing Scam
This one is stooping pretty low, but then again all these scams take a certain type of loser to follow through. You post an ad on Craig's list because you're trying to get rid of your grandmothers old treasure chest. Someone actually sees it and wants to buy it. They send you a bad cheque for more than the chest is worth, and ask you to Western Union them the difference. When you deposit a cheque it takes a few days to clear, unlike wired money which is done right away. So now you've sent a stranger your hard earned money and you're still stuck with your grandmothers chest.
I hope you have never been a victim of any of these scams. If you haven't please be aware. If you would like more information on other scams, please visit The Better Business Bureau Scam Source
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