10 New Money Rip-Offs
December 15, 2006 by Karen Weideman
Filed under Top 10 lists, financial matters, odds and ends
Reader’s Digest has listed 10 money rip-offs that you should be aware of. It is unfortunate that there are people that try to take advantage of us. Here is the list:
1. Child Identity Theft – Yes, there are actually people out there so greedy that they will steal a child’s SSN and use it for their own good.
2. The Latest Work-At-Home Swindle – These are people that want to wire money to your account and have you keep a commission. Most likely, anything that says “money transfer” is usually a phony.
3. Fake Jury Duty Con – This is a sneaky one. They call you and claim that you’re going to be arrested for not showing up for jury duty. Then they get you to give them your SSN so that they can fix the situation. Very sneaky indeed.
4. Medicare Fraud – The new Medicare prescription drug plan is confusing and has attracted a lot of cons. Be aware of anyone that asks for your personal information as part of their marketing.
5. Pretexting – Never give your personal information over the phone. Beware of people calling with surveys or someone saying they’re from a bank. If you get a call like this, then tell them you’re not interested. If they say they’re from your bank then hang up and call your bank. You can never be too careful.
6. “IRS” Phishing Scam – Someone tried to pull this one on us a few weeks ago. My husband received an email from a person claiming to be the IRS. It is also very common to get emails that seem like they are from eBay, Paypal, your bank, etc.
7. Pharming – Pharming criminals hack into your computer and implant software. Then when you log onto your bank or other website, they send you to another look alike site. There they steal your information. It’s scary, isn’t it?!? Keep your anti-virus protection up to date!
8. Internet Telephony Trickery – These people call you trying to sell you internet phone software in order to save you money. Somehow they are able to disguise their location. It may appear that they are calling you from a company within the U.S., but really they could be calling you from Costa Rica.
9. High Tech ATM Snooping – This is done with digital cameras that are hooked up near ATMs. They may appear like they’re installed by the bank. Be cautious of any devices hooked up to the front of ATMs or keypads missing their Braille markings.
10. Scholarship and Government Grant Flimflams – This scam claims that you or your child has won a scholarship or grant. You just have to pay a processing fee or give them your SSN.
Well, well, well. All this is enough to make a person paranoid, isn’t it? This is scary for sure.
Thanks to Max Alexander from Reader’s Digest for reporting on all this information. Be sure and check out the actual article. It contains much more information than these points than I have highlighted to you.
