Internet Scams and How to Avoid Being a Victim

It is sad that today we can not trust anyone or anything we do any more.Scams are happening all around us and we don't know untill it is to late.To top it off we give up and say oh well we will never see the money again.Why bother?

Craigslist is one of the leading web sites that these scams are being run through.It has the highest reported scams for 2007.Most of the people that are pulling these scams are not even here in the United States.Many of us have gotton those emails saying that someone has passed on and and the need someone willing to claim the money.

Or even the emails that say they need someone to handle the U.S side of the bussiness and all you have to do is go to the mail box.Pick up your mail and open up the checks.You than cash and send 70% to them and you get to keep 30%.Sounds like a great job.Easy not heard work and you are making a great deal of money.Except these cheacks and maoney orders are fake.You have taken them to the bank and put cashed and so now you are apart of the crime.These checks and money orders will clear.They are called phantom checks they are copied very carefully to look just like the normal check but it is made out to you instead of the real company that was on the check.

How do they get away with this.Well they take your mail and find a bill that you are paying.Say your water bill.They copy your check and make it out someone elese who is willing to fall into the scam.That person now is cashing a check that should have been going to pay your water.By the time you find out it is too late.They have already taken your maoney and guess what your water bill is still not paid.

One famous scam on craigslist is under the auto section.They pick people who have a car or truck up for sale.They ask you to send in all your info because they want to buy your car.Great news for you.They tell you they have a shipper for the car and somone who will come pick it up.They will send you a cashier check or money order of your choice.Now this is great news your car is selling...Than oops all of the sudden you have a outstanding credit card that you have never recieved.

Now the best one on craigslist is the new FBI scam.Yes you heard me right FBI.You have a item on there for sale and they want to buy it from you.As you look at the top of your email you will see Federal Bureau of Investigations on the top and your thinking okay this is a safe sale.Guess again guys the Fbi do not do the shopping on craigslist.Below I have put a copy of a email recieved that is saying the FBI want to buy some things from me.

From:Federal bureau of Investigations ... [Add to Address Book]

To: sale-504011188@craigslist.org

Subject: microwave

Date: Dec 20, 2007 8:28 PM

** CRAIGSLIST ADVISORY --- AVOID SCAMS BY DEALING LOCALLY
** Avoid: wiring money, cross-border deals, work-at-home
** Beware: cashier checks, money orders, escrow, shipping
** More Info: http://www.craigslist.org/about/scams.html

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Share life as it happens with the new Windows Live. Share now!
this message was remailed to you via: sale-504011188@craigslist.org

Now this looks real good but after contacting the FBI to find out if this was real.I was told that this is a fake and this person does not work for the FBI.Needless to say I didn't send them any info.Here is also a copy of another scams to look for.

From:"MR. MAVIS JONES" [Add to Address Book]

To:

Subject: Greetings!

Date: Dec 19, 2007 3:07 AM

Greetings!
I have been waiting for you to contact me for your Confirmable Bank Draft
of $800.000.00 United States Dollars but I did not hear from you since
that time.
Then I went and deposited the Draft with FEDEX COURIER SERVICE West Africa
I travelled out of the country for a 3 Months Course and I will not come
back till end of December. What you have to do now is to contact the FEDEX
COURIER SERVICE as soon as possible to know when they will deliver your
package to you because of the expiring date. For your information I have
paid for the delivering Charge Insurance premium and Clearance Certificate
Fee of  the Cheque showing that it is not a Drug Money or meant to sponsor
Terrorist attack in your Country.
The only money you will send to the FEDEX COURIER SERVICE to deliver  your
Draft direct to your postal Address in your country is $150.00 US Dollars
only being Security Keeping Fee of the Courier Company so far.3D20 Again
don't be deceived by anybody to pay any other money except $150.00US
Dollars. I would have paid that but they said no because they don't know
when you will contact them and in case of demurrage.You have to contact
the FEDEX COURIER  SERVICE now for the delivery of your Draft with this
information bellow:
Contact Person: Mr. Thompmas Green
Email Address: thompmasg211@hotmail.com
Telephone: + 234 80-899-87-774
Finally make sure that you reconfirm your Postal address and Directt
Telephone number to them again to avoid any mistake on the Delivery and
ask them to give you the tracking number to enable you track your package
over there and know when it will get to your address. Let me repeat again
try to contact them as soon as you receive this mail to avoid any further
delay and remember to pay them their Security Keeping fee of $150.00 US
Dollars for their immediate
action.
You can also send the money now via western union to this informations
below.
Receivers Name: Anthony Okoh
Receiver Address: #10 Old Obasanjo Road, Abuja Nigeria
Sender's Name:...........................................
Sender's Address:..........................................
Amount To be Sent: $150
Text Question to be used: What Colour?
Text Answer: Blue.
Money Transfer Control Number(M.T.C.N).
You are to send the payment informations to the fedex courier e-mail
address.
You should also let me know through email as soon as you receive your Draft.
Yours Faithfully
MR. MAVIS JONES
Now you can send them the money but come on guys we know that we didn'y hit the lotto that easy.Now how do you protect yourself from being the next victim.
After speaking to the FBI office.They said that it is very easy to be taken.There are ways to keep yourself safe and not fall for any scams.Always ask for 
all their contact info first before giving them yours.Check to see if the Info matches up.Even if you have to call them.Never send any money out to anyone 
untill you have checked into that person and never give out full infomation.Always keep copys of all emails.They can use this to track down the scammers.
Never ever give out your banking info to anyone.If at anytime you feel that it might be a scam then go with you gut it is always right.
Don't be afraid to report anything that might sound fishy this helps keep the scammers under control.The FBI has a website that you can go to and you can 
report anything that sounds like you won the lotto the easy way.
Good luck and always remember that it only takes a small amount of info to steal your life away.The bad news is that only 32% of victims will get their money 
back so please take the time and double check.