Below are a few tips that might help you figure out if an email is an hoax.
- What Does the Subject Say? If the email title includes the statements, “Forward this to everyone” or “This Is Not A Hoax” you might want to be hesitant.
- Who Sent It? Even though a good friend might have forwarded the email along it doesn’t mean that you should trust it. Your friend might have fallen victim to a hoax, but you could be more aware.
- Copied and Pasted? Is this an email that has been copied and pasted by hundreds of people?
The best way to see if the email is a hoax is to visit one of many different online sits that document hoaxes.
Just this year there an incident that somewhat mimicked the Nigerian scam, but hit closer to home.
A woman in Los Angeles went to her computer and saw an email from her dear friend that she had known for years. The email was titled, “I Need Your Help” and the friend mentioned that she was abroad and lost her wallet. She needed $2,000 to get home.
The innocent victim didn’t think twice since the email came from her friend’s normal address. She wired the money not even contemplating if this was a cyber criminal.
Unfortunately, it was.
Love can be a risky investment for many, but love can be even riskier when you start a relationship online. No, I am not referring to one of the many dating sites.
Another Nigerian email scam emerged that played on a victim’s need to love another. This scam is started with an online posting involving a picture that the scammer believes will catch a victim’s attention.
Once a relationship is started, the scammer will send numerous promising emails or even gifts to the victim. Then, the scammer might ask his “partner” for money. Any reason can be used. After the scammer has the money in his hands the relationship is ended.
It’s sad to know that people can harm our hearts as well as our bank accounts.
Of course you have! Yet, if you are one of the few that have not, the 419 Nigerian Scam was named after a section in the Nigerian criminal code. Basically, for several years now, countless people in Nigeria have been trying to scam people around the globe.
Most of these scammers are based out of Lagos, Nigeria. These scammers use glorified stories to try to gain money from innocent victims.
Often these scammers will use a story that involves their government, the tragic death of a loved one, or even claim that you won a lottery. Next, they will ask you for all of your personal information or even request that you send a money order so you can receive a greater sum in return.
No matter what the case you didn’t win the lottery and you shouldn’t send money around the globe to an unknown source. Please beware.
Online forums and people around the states are already spreading word on the iPad scam. Could this even be true?
Those iPad owners that operate on a Windows computer are at risk. New iPad users are prompted to update their iPad software. Once they agree a link will appear that looks like a normal iTunes software download page that Mac users are used to seeing and operating. Unfortunately, this page is malware. It has been said that the malware program steals passwords and information linked to Windows applications, but does not damage the iPad. It’s possible that an iPad is infected and the owner has no idea. The best way to check your iPad is to review the file name you downloaded when you agreed to the update.
Several years ago it started with the scam on Bank of America customers. After that scammers went and tried to attach Facebook users. What is next on the list of scams asking you to reset your password?
The scam is simple in theory and something that you should be aware of now and in the future. If you receive an email from a company that asks you to click on a link to change your password… beware. It is not common practice for companies to send such an email and with a simple click you could put your personal information and your computer system in jeopardy.
Have you ever received an email asking you to forward it on to help raise money? Here is the hoax… If the creator can have the email forwarded a specific number of times then they can raise enough money for whatever their cause. For example, the last one I receive asked me to forward the email so they could build 500 forwards. Once the 500 forwards were completed a major chain was going to pay for a child’s hospital bills that was suffering from cancer.
It came from a reliable source so I immediately sent it along to every email address I had. Several minutes after I hit send a dear friend call me and informed me that I just passed along of the latest hoax.
There are hundreds of lottery email scams that have popped up all over the world. One of my favorite versions informs you via a letter that your email address was linked to the winning lottery number in some country abroad. Of course, they also like to mention that the lottery was very small, but you as the lucky winner can receive 50 million.
Oh, if it was that simple! The scammer will ask you to file a claim that includes all of your personal information and then email back to the “lottery coordinator.” The premise is simple and unfortunately there are people out there that have fallen for it. We all would love to receive an email telling us that we are now millionaires, but don’t fall for this obvious scam.
On the FBI website there is a new email warning for individuals posting rental properties and other real estate postings online.
The victim in this case is the one advertising the listing. The scammer acts like a potential tenant, agrees to a rental price, and then sends a check. The check could either be in excess of the agreed upon amount or just for the amount they agreed upon. Next, the scammer either can back out of the agreement or ask for the excess amount back. In either case, the victim could refund funds before the scammer’s check has cleared. The victim would lose money and not even be aware.
You never know where the next scam will emerge.
My friend, and fellow Gmail account holder, has informed me of a potential scam that is new to the scene. Supposedly, your Gmail accounts sends you an email stating that you need to update your information.
Apparently, it asks for more information than it needs to and it is not from Gmail. I haven’t received this one myself, but it’s better to be aware than in the dark.
