Credit Card Fraud Scams – Protect Yourself
True the Internet has made it a lot easier to spend money online but with that credit card frauds, scams have been evolving left and right. So bear in mind that Internet shoppers do know that it is a lot more secure to give you credit card number to a trusted site where they can process your order. However, it is actually less safe to give your credit card to a waiter or waitress at a restaurant. People are dishonest in today’s world and who’s to say that the waiter or waitress doesn’t jot it down and use it elsewhere.
Statistics have actually shown that you have a better chance of someone using your credit card if you give it them over the phone rather than on the Internet.
We have included three tips to help you keep you safe so that you are not a victim of credit card fraud:
1. Never ever use your credit card online if a site is unsecured. You are just asking for trouble if you use your card at an unsecured site.
2. Don’t ever respond to an email that ask for your credit card information. This is the number one way in which scammers get your credit card information. These are called phishing scams and people are getting ripped off for millions of dollars each and every single year.
3. If you write your credit card number down make sure you write it in reverse order, my mom talk me this one. Thanks mom!
Just use your judgement when doing things online. If you lose your credit card call the bank immediately and most of them have a 24/7 hotline you can call to help you avoid credit card fraud. Also, did you know by law you are not liable for a credit card that is lost for more than $50. In fact, a lot of banks actually waive this fee if you have a good reputation with them.
Car Scams Online – Do NOT Ship Your Car
Today I want to talk about these scams you commonly see on eBay (please see eBay scams) or Craigslist (please see Craigslist Scams). Maybe you have seen it in your local classified ads to when buying or selling a car. I don’t know, maybe it is just me, but I am not a fan of buying and selling cars online (well, what I mean is sending someone money to ship a car.) A car/truck is a big investment and people are getting ripped off like crazy with this scam.
Not saying you can use the Internet to look at cars that are local and then go look at them in person. That is ok, and recommended.
These scammers are persistent because it is high payoff for them. Basically, they will approach you and try to send you more money with a cashiers check in order to get you interested. (please see overpayment scams) They want you to ship the car because they are out of town, too far away, or one of the million other reasons they will give you. They don’t mind emailing you back and fourth in order to make several thousands of dollars at a time.
Lets say they even want to pay you through Paypal which they are now doing. This is secure right? Well, if you have been reading my other post recently you might think twice about it again. Seems like, I have been covering a lot material on Paypal and eBay lately. But really chargebacks (please see chargeback scams) are a way people are getting away with several thousand dollars scams. Even worse is the seller will then lose their car. Talk about getting screwed over!
The moral of the story is just don’t send someone a car/truck if they pay you PayPal or want to send you a check (even bank check.) 99.9% of these fake and you will get burned really bad! Just use your head, too.
Free Trial Scams – Fight Back With Paypal
Looking to defeat these “trial offer scams”? It can be a major thorn in your side to pay a couple dollars for something only to find out that your credit card has been billed a hundred dollars every month until you stop it. Even worse trying to get the bank to reverse it! There has got to be a solution for stopping this troublesome scam. Well, there is and here is how you do it:
First and foremost, just read the fine print. 90% of the time they put it in their fine print just to cover their ass. Yeah it is a dirty game, and if you are cheat it is even a dirtier game. So here is how to fight back with Paypal:
PayPal (Ways to fight back)
If you are going to take a chance with a free trial use a single secure credit card. It will not be linked with your checking or savings account. However, do please remember to save your receipts for the transactions, though. This is a card that does not carry money on it. Also, if you are having trouble finding a way to use it, you will have to download a plug-in for PayPal.
If you simply decide that this free trial is just not for you close the secure single use credit card. You are doing nothing illegal and these people that do these scams will not get anymore money from you. Thus, you have not violated any fine print or anything offered by this “free trial” site. You simply don’t have the money and they will not allow you access anymore. Big deal right!
Good luck with this and stop getting these surprise bills that I know you all hate so much.
Negative Feedback eBay – All Buyer No Seller
Similar to Paypal sellers on eBay really don’t have any protection. Case and point, lets say you sell someone something it, and they just don’t like or something really silly that you don’t have any control over. They would be inclined to leave you a negative feedback. This hurts your record, whether you are business or just use it for personal reasons. Do you know what I mean?
More often than not, people have left sellers negative feebacks and the seller can do nothing about it. You then, can reply to this, but it is still on the seller feedback, not the buyers. You do not even have the option to leave the buyer a negative feedback. The only options you have are to leave a positive feedback or leave one later? Any problems with this?
What is the deal with this? Just like Paypal if you are not happy with something you get a refund no questions asked? This really upsets me as a seller and I am tired of people being able to leave a negative feedback only to hurt my reputation and I can’t do a damn thing about it.
There needs to be something done about this. eBay and Paypal both do not give the seller any protection at all. What is wrong with this picture? I guess if you are a buyer you can do whatever the hell you want.
Furthermore, I believe we should start a list of buyers that are unreasonable, and do not give the sellers the option to make things right before lashing out at them. Please feel free to leave you comments of buyers that have left you negative feedbacks for your items/services on eBay. Something needs to be done about this!
6 Ways To Prevent Identity Theft
6 Ways To Prevent Identity Theft
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Gary_Gresham]Gary Gresham
These six ways to prevent identity theft offer you valuable tips against the fastest growing crime in America today. In 2004, more than 9.9 million Americans fell victim to many types of identity theft scams, costing them nearly $5 billion.
Their finances were severely hurt because they never thought it would happen to them. Hopefully, this article will help many of you so you won’t become a new victim of this terrible crime.
Here are six ways to prevent identity theft.
1. Shred any documents you receive that contain any personal information. This includes credit card receipts and pre-approved credit applications. This important tip alone can offer you more protection against identity theft than any other suggestion here.
2. Never give personal information to people over the phone, on the Internet or through the mail. Identity thieves will claim to be from the government, your bank or even law enforcement. Keeping your personal information private is one of the best ways to prevent identity theft.
3. Check your credit reports from all three major credit bureaus at least once a year and look to see that everything is accurate. If you find an error, dispute it immediately for protection against identity theft.
4. Be aware when your bills usually arrive every month and check them over carefully. Thieves can steal your credit card statements and this popular type of identity theft has been around for decades.
5. Don’t use common numbers like your birthdate or the last four digits of your Social Security number for your ATM password. If you have done this change it immediately. This is a common mistake people make and one of the quickest ways to prevent Identity theft.
6. Never give out your Social Security number unless it is absolutely necessary. Your employer, financial institution and doctor need it for identification and tax reporting. But if someone else asks for your Social Security number, always question why they need it and be cautious when giving it to anyone.
For maximum protection against identity theft keep any personal information about you as private as possible. Use these 6 ways to prevent identity theft and you will have a much better chance of avoiding this nightmare.
Copyright © 2005 Spyware Information.com All Rights Reserved.
This article is provided by http://www.spyware-information.com where you will find free spyware cleaners, downloads, removal software, valuable tips and updated articles about adware and spyware that show you how protect yourself from identity theft. For other informative spyware and identity protection articles go to http://spyware-information.com/articles_1.html
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?6-Ways-To-Prevent-Identity-Theft&id=45951] 6 Ways To Prevent Identity Theft
Highly Recommend reading our LifeLock Review.
Google Easy Street Scam
This SCAM has several names, BEWARE, Google Easy Street, Income Easy Street, Creative Search Training, Creative Synergy Training.
They lure you in with what appears to be a news site, with Google, CNN, Forbes, MSN Money, etc. logos, like they are endorsing this.
Get Google Home Cash, only pay the $1.95 for shipping. (The shipping cost allows them to screen for serious people). The next thing you know, you are billed $129.95.
In the Terms and Conditions in fine print at the very bottom of the page (you have to click on the link to open it up) which I over looked, as well as many other have, it says:
By submitting this form you are ordering Creative Search Training and the trial membership for $1.95 Instant Access. If you do not cancel within the 3-day trial period, you will be charged a one-time amount of $129.95. In addition, you will be provided access to an online Learning Center which will bill at $39.98, unless you cancel, 30-days from the date of enrollment and you will be re-billed every 30 days at $39.98 per month until canceled. To cancel call 888-753-4203 M-F, 7am-5pm, MST within 3 days of the date you ordered.
You will also receive a Risk Free 14-day Trial membership to HomeSource. You may cancel anytime during the trial period by calling 1-800-537-0984 M-F, 8am to 5pm, MST. If membership is continued you will automatically be charged $29.95 a month.
I made this mistake on a Thursday evening. I was getting this information for my daughter, so I put in her information, I paid for the transaction. Her computer crashed Friday morning. Sunday morning I got a text message from my bank, saying I had a $129.95 transaction pending, logged into my account to try to figure out what it was. It posted differently than what my conformation said that it would, but I finally figured it could have only been from this site. Tried to log onto their site, it kept saying invalid user name and password.
Tried to call them, but of course the office was closed until Monday. On Monday, they told me it was in the terms and conditions…. 3 days…, well they charged my account ON the morning of day 3. They refused a refund.
They have only had this site up since July, and have already had over 130 complaints filed with the BBB. There should have been many more. Since this happened to me, I’ve read hundreds of posts where people have had the very same problem with these people.
These are some of this scams other web addresses.
googleeasystreet.com, wowclickmoney.com, creativesearchtraining.com, internetrichgurus/103109/?su…
Paypal Chargeback Scams
Have you ever sold something on eBay? Paypal is safe right? Think again! I have been selling stuff on eBay for about 8 years. They do offer “buyer protection”, which is just what it says, it is for the buyer…not the seller. Case and point, let’s say you are selling an item for 2,000 and everything is good. Well, the buyer has 60 days to decide if they are like it. What? Keep reading!
There is a thing called chargebacks and guess what with your American Express card you get three of them a year. No questions asked, just do a charge back and you screw the seller out of their money. If there was no conformation on the product your money is in the hands of complete stranger…sounds fair right!
Here is a solution, why don’t you at Paypal start monitoring these chargebacks. Say someone is always doing them, you think they might be a con-artist? I am really getting sick and tired of my money being at the hands of Paypal. They offer ZERO protection for the seller. None whatsoever!
I would highly recommend that you not use Paypal because they really don’t offer any protection for the seller. I have been screwed over time and time again by this and paypal really needs to address this issue. Use Escrow because they are so much better than Paypal. For more Paypal horror stories I highly recommend you check out this site: http://www.paypalwarning.com
5 Warnings to Identify a Con Artist on the Internet
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Jyotsna_T_Ramani]Jyotsna T Ramani
Cheats these days, sneak into all sorts of websites. While selling on Craigslist you might also come across a few fraudsters. How do you identify a con artist? Read on to find out.
They are non-natives
People from outside the country can’t just come over to buy a cheap electrical item or fabric or even an appliance through Craigslist. Even if they are willing to pay you for shipment it would be expensive. Think! Wouldn’t it be simpler if they bought something from their own country instead?
They tell you that they have accidentally overpaid
Some cheats send a mail to tell you that they have accidentally credited more dollars than the cost of the item, and ask you to return the excess by mail. These people are usually con artists who actually haven’t credited your account at all and if you pay the change they run away with it.
They have horrible language skills
Not all people in this country are native speakers of English. But there’s only so much mistake a local person can make. If you find unusual spellings for simple words and queer grammar or sentence format, then you are dealing with a con artist living in another country.
They are too polite
You are lulled into believing that they are very, very polite buyers, when in truth they are cheats. A few foreigners tend to be more polite, however not all of them are cheats. You have to suspect only if someone is not willing to meet you in person to procure their purchase.
They hassle you
When con artists lose a deal, they try to hassle you and create unnecessary trouble. They do not go away easily with an ‘It’s okay.’ So be careful.
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Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?5-Warnings-to-Identify-a-Con-Artist-on-the-Internet&id=3027935] 5 Warnings to Identify a Con Artist on the Internet
Craigslist Scam – Have You Been Approached Yet?
Ok, I recently tried to sell my “Weider 9640 Pro Home Gym – $500 (Independence)”, you would not believe the responses I got from scammers:
Hello,
I saw that you posted an ad on Craigslist on 12/12/2009.
First, let me start off by saying that I hope that you had good luck with your “Weider 9640 Pro Home Gym – $500 (Independence)” post. I love using Craigslist to sell my stuff, as it almost always sells so fast, and usually for around my asking price. Although, gosh, I sure do meet some of the most, ummm, interesting people sometimes.
Anyway, the reason that I am emailing you is because I know of a website that is wanting to work with people in or around kansascity, that are interested in starting their own internet business. You can do this either part-time or full-time – it’s entirely up to you.
This is perfect for you if you have absolutely no experience whatsoever with working online; no educational or special skills are required, as all training is provided for you.
This is perfect for us Craigslist users, because we obviously already know how the basics of how to use a computer, and we pretty much know our way around the internet.
I don’t want to rush you into making a decision, but this same offer is going out to all people who posted an ad on Craigslist in kansascity, and I wouldn’t want you to miss out on your chance to be taught everything you need to know, completely free, to start making money online.
So, if this sounds like something you might be interested in, you can check out their website right here, and I hope that you choose to apply.
Thanks for your time,
IBIAB Research
====================================
“You are not here merely to make a living. You are here in order to enable the world to live more amply, with greater vision, with a finer spirit of hope and achievement. You are here to enrich the world, and you impoverish yourself if you forget the errand. – Woodrow Wilson”
To unsubscribe, click here.
or write to:
7979 NW 21st St, #SJO22697
Doral, FL 33122
—————-
Thanks for getting back to me. I’m currently in UK and want to ship the item over here. There won’t be any problem with the shipment ‘cos my shipping broker will handle all necessary things,I will like to know the current condition and will appreciate it if you can send me some recent pictures Let me know.
Regards
Terry
—————
I want you to consider it sold, Please do withdraw the advert from Craigslist to avoid disturbance. I don’t have time to come over because of my work but you don’t need to bother yourself with the pick up, I’ll take care of that by engaging the services of my mover, I’ll be sending a Certified check and it will be delivered to you via United Parcel Service (UPS),or FEDEX so I’ll need you to provide me with the following information to facilitate the mailing of the check.
Full name on the check.
Full Physical Address to post the check (NOT POST BOX)
City, State and Zip Code
Home or Cell Phone to contact you.
Thanks
—————
I thank you for your nice and quick reply.I’m cool and ok with the
price and the description you gave in the AD.Now i would want you to
kindly get back to me with the following details so as for me to go
ahead with the issuing of the check payment cos that is the only
convenient mode of payment for me.please bear with me cos am deaf
and bumb i can comminicate through my sprint fone
Your full name to be on the check.
Your postal address.
Your postal code
Your mobile phone number (For easier communications).
Regarding the shipment,it is my regular shipper that will come for the
pickup as soon as you notifies the clearance of my check into your
hands.Your fast and favorable reply will be appreciated.More so,i
would want you to kindly withdraw the advert from the craigslist i
will add $10 to your money if you can remove the advert, so as to
avoid further mails from buyers and i would want you to kindly
considered it sold to me
stay blessed
–
hello seller,
is the item still available for sale?please get back to me so that
we can plan for the mode of payment.
thanks
————-
Hi there
Ive seen your post on craigslist… Might thought ill drop you an email and help you..
Do you currently have job right now? cause I know its hard to get a job this days but me and my sister are doing this for 6 months now since i quit my day job..
It make my life really easy trust me. actually my aunt just recommend this to me.
and it really helps me alot actually i already quit my day job when i start doing this.
i like helping people but i want to help people who want to help themself.
ok so the thing that im talking about is called google kit
all i did is get the google kit and then when google send me the kit after that week
trust me im already making 200 to 800 a day..its not that hard i cant even believe it either. it really shock me
when i recieve my first check after a week I got the google kit..
thats why i want to help people without expecting in return.
it really change my life imagine not going to your day job every day?
and your earning more than your day job just following this easy steps?
anyway this is their page
http://mygoogleincome09.info
Like I told you it already make me up to 800 a day. it really change my life so its worth a try at least.
Just implement the steps as soon as you recieve your kit and you will achieve this success that everybodys looking for.
if you have questions just email me anytime..
Hope you have achieve this success like i did.
Have a good day.. And Hope you Success!
————-
All I got to say is wow! I tell them thanks a lot because your email goes straight to a site I run on you con-artist. Feel free to send me your Craigslist scams.
Christopher Donald Tay – Smooth Talking Con-Artist
Hi,
My name is Sandy, I’m 34 and live in New Zealand, I have been chatting with Christopher
Donald Tay also known as Chris tay, for over 3months now, we initial met on Tagged.com, and we
were in touch through yahoo chat id chrixtay and emails cctaytay@aol.com everyday since the
past 3 month.. in this time process i eventually fell in love with this person, and was gullible enough
to send him 12000 nz dollars through money transfer(western union)
Starting from last the western union payment done in the name for 1) Christopher Tay, London:
0745853715 – 615 pounds on 17/11/2009. 2) christopher Tay, London, UK : – 1285.81 pounds
on 12/11/2009 and the 3) Western Union Money transfer dated 28/10/2009 paid to Jolomi Awani,
London UK- 1027469404- 2581.14 pounds.
Christopher Tay claims he is from Holland, Dutch.. lives in USA, new Jersey.. and currently is in London, said he lived at the Radisson Edwardian Grafton Hotel..
Christopher Donald Tay or christopher tay has used www.tagged.com mostly to get in touch of his victims.. this is his profile address..http://www.tagged.com/profile.html?uid=5429746196 i have been in touch with him for 3months 25/09/09. i have all the chat archives n mails he has sent .. so if anything is required im willing to send.. but pls trace this man, cause he has already caused alot of hurt and pain to many women, n must have surely taken money off many ladies before me n
who i dont know off..
He owns 5 phone numbers or maybe even more which i came to know of when i accidently found out about his actual plans when he goofed up when joining a new dating site.. www.shtyle.fm where he has accidently sent invites to all the contacts on his address book, and i got in touch with most of the ladies.. thats how i came to know what he was up to ..
This person is a very very smooth person, with good vocabulary skills and speaks in an American accent.
Please please help in tracing this person and bringing justice before he messes up lifes of other unsuspecting and trusting women out here..