Popular Scams that People Keep Falling For

Everyday Scams and Swindles

Manda Spring
People fall for scams everyday, some are well known as scams or fraudulent activities but for many they are a shocking discovery. There are far too many to list here in this article but I can help you open your eyes to various scams that people keep falling for in hopes that you will avoid the pitfall.

In any situation the being cautious is key. If something sounds odd to you then run it by a friend or family member before you do the deed. It is okay to question something that doesn't seem quite right; in fact it is a natural reaction and defense mechanism that helps us avoid potential dangers.

Popular Scams: In Case You Didn't Know

Phone calls still ranks as one of the oldest scams in the book. For instance we all know about the 900 numbers right? Wrong. Still people get duped by this one. Or, how about the 800 number that redirects you to a 900 to learn 'important information' about a variety of subjects. The recording usually says something to the effect of: "... in order to claim your free vacation you need to access this extension using your touchtone phone." The scam is when you willingly push the extension into your keypad you are transported to a 900 number and are now paying for each and every minute you stay on the line.

Second Mortgages are still very popular. In these situations it is important to run the proposal by your banker or go to a lawyer and ask advice. It is so important to read the fine print in these cases. Usually, the person getting this type of loan will lose their home within a year or two and can not get out of it.

Lottery scams are rampant in today's society. From the United States Lottery to the Canadian Lottery and more. There is no such thing people! A person will get a call saying that they had entered and one a large amount of money but they have to "pay the taxes" on it before the check can be delivered. Some callers will even say that they work for the IRS and to collect the winnings you have to pay them the taxes on the money because the new law demands it. Don't be fooled!! These sleazy con artists have even tried to bully the elderly by telling them that they will go to prison or lose their home if they don't comply. These guys are real crooks.

Counterfeit lotto tickets are big right now too. A man or woman approaches you and tells you that they just won the mega jack pot, they show you the winning ticket and see that it does appear to be true. With a scratcher it will have the directions right on them and it is will be a 'clear' winner... on the lotto tickets they will show you that day's newspaper and the ticket which has every winning pick on it. The scammer then explains how he/she can not get the money because they are an illegal alien and agrees to split the money with you. You go to your bank with draw the money and give it to the felon only to discover that the ticket is a fake. And yes, there are some VERY believable imitations out there.

Credit card schemes are also very popular ways of pulling a fast scam on someone. Most people that obtain your card number to make fraudulent charges are those that you would not normal suspect. For instance the con artists can call or ask for it in a store. The normal story is that they need to 'verify that you are who you say you are' by checking "the name and numbers" on your card. Unfortunately when they right them down they use them as often as they can over then next 48 hours. Never give out your credit card numbers unless you trust the source! If someone wants to verify who you are hand them your driver's license!

Popular Scams: Watch Your Step!

It is so very important to be extra careful when something sounds 'too good' to be true. For every honest person in the world there are two dishonest. Scam artists are always looking for that new way to pull one over on a nice person but they also love the classics. So, be careful of who you trust.

Published by Manda Spring

Manda Spring is a published author of books, screenplays, advertisements, and articles (in print magazines and online).  View profile

  • People fall for scams everyday.
  • Lottery scams are rampant in today's society.
  • It is so very important to be extra careful when something sounds 'too good' to be true.

11 Comments

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  • james2/21/2011

    wow your cool

  • Publishing Scams: NEW GAIA "Rip Off"9/4/2010

    Publishing Scams: NEW GAIA "Rip Off" It's heartbreaking. You go to a local fair and there at the author's table is a row of smiling hopefuls, eager to sell their books. A few are beautiful books, either self-published or produced by traditional publishers. But so many are poorly written, poorly produced, with amateurish covers and cheap bindings. The author's smiles are wearing thin as they realize that the world isn't flocking to buy their books, and they're just beginning to wonder if there's something wrong with this picture. Score another for the vanity presses. The poor authors, with no knowledge of the business end of publishing, have been snookered out of hundreds or even thousands of dollars and now have cases of unmarketable books serving as very expensive doorstops. In these days of POD (publish-on-demand) technology, the vanity presses may promise to ship the books when they are ordered, which at least relieves the author of having to warehouse the books. But the vanities

  • Scammednomore7/22/2010

    We were scammed. Tony Gil and his wife Lori Deskins who resides at Meadowood Ct in Leesburg, VA is a major con man scam artist that befriends unsuspecting people and slowly builds up trust in them by taking them out to dinner and giving a false image of wealth as a jazz singer (tonygil.com). Once he feels he has your trust he approaches the victim with a fake business opportunity guaranteeing big returns in a short amount of time. He took law classes at William and Mary and knows how to compose fake agreements that appear legal but are really intended to give the victim a false sense of security and protect himself from losing any litigation in court. Once he has gotten the money from a victim he lies to them over and over and stalls them and then never returns a dime. Once a victim litigates him, they end up getting nothing back or a small settlement to go away quietly and not damage his reputation. Please check Loudoun Co, Arlington, Co, and Fairfax Co Civil and District Court websit

  • chnandler8/1/2007

    is adcar.com a scam

  • Christine Bude4/25/2007

    Interesting about the lottery scams.

  • Manda Spring4/20/2007

    Thanks everyone for your comments!! These are scary times and we need to protect everyone we can.

  • Blair Mathis4/9/2007

    What I hate are when these idiots scam the elderly out of their money, by either getting their hopes up for money they need, or scaring them into giving money they need away.

  • Charlotte Kuchinsky4/9/2007

    I won't even discuss the one my husband fell for. It cost us $5,000 to learn the lesson.

  • Sherri Granato4/9/2007

    Thanks for the eye opener. How very sad.

  • Renee Bodkin4/4/2007

    Good words of warning! Well written and easy to read!

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