CASHIER CHECK SCAM

Another version of the sale scam is about a seller defrauded by buyer who paid the item with cashier check in the amount more than the agreed-upon purchase price. The excess amount is to be sent to a third party. The seller advertised the item he want to sell in the internet.

The unsuspecting seller is contacted by an-email by prospective buyer. The buyer agrees to the price without any question and look for immediate assurance that the item will not be sold to anyone except him only. He informed the seller that someone or his authorized representative will pick-up the item personally in sellers place of origin once the sale is completed. He assured the seller that he alone will shoulder all charges associated with the transaction of sale.

He issued a cashier check more than the agreed price. The excess should be withdrawn and sent to 3rd party in other country where he owes money. He asked the seller to cash the check, keep the right amount and send what is left to the 3rd party.

He withdrawn the deposit as followed what the buyer told him. Two weeks later, the bank informed the seller that the check is forged. The seller is now out of the amount he wired to someone else.

No matter how sweet is the deal, don't get involve in any transaction with inflated amount and refund the overage. If you happened to received a check, let it clear first by the bank in 3 weeks time. Hold the shipment until the check is cleared and the money is now in your position. In case it was a forgery, then the item is still in your position. Don't send any extra money as instructed unless the check is cleared by the bank. This is your only assurance not to become a victim on this kind of fraud.

SALE OVERPAYMENT SCAM

This time you are the seller and he is the buyer, a person you don't know personally. All transaction to sell an item is done in internet without seeing or knowing him more because of the rush to dispose an item you no longer need. He is very interested to buy. He seen your ads in the net and intend to buy it more than its original value. Your communication with him were completed in an e-mail sealing the transaction to finality.

You asked him why buy the item more than its price. He told you that such an amount is to be used by you in shipping the item because there will be an international fees involve in shipping the item to him.

He sent you a money order indicating the amount you agreed. You did not give much thought of suspicion because the check is very real in your eyes. After you receive the payment, you deposited it to the bank. You paid the shipping fee using your own money.

The next day, you withdraw the amount of your deposit because it is your money now from the sale of the item. But after several weeks of rest, you realize that something went wrong when the bank informed you about the authenticity of the check. They told you that the check is fake and they are demanding you to pay back the total amount they give you. What they did is to deduct it to your savings in the bank as sort of reimbursement. It become your problem now especially the item were already shipped.

Scam artist are very professional in forgery. They were very expert to this field with excellent craftsmanship.

PHONE FRAUD NO. 1

A scam artist posed as bank official, government official, lottery agent, representative of popular organization used a telephone to begin his trick. He used sweet talk as his convincing power to win your trust and ask financial information while in communication with you.

You were billed by the telephone company for a charge (with higher rates) compared to the rate of your regular phone company about a call that is not yours. If you will not scrutinize it clearly who made the fraudulent charges then he will continue making money from you.

This bill from telephone company is in exchange of doing service for you. For your protection, it is proper for you to review your statement of account, the series of calls, the originating number, the number he called. This is to determine if the call is legitimate from the person you know making a call for you. It may be an outside call (local or international).

It is important that you have to study your phone bills carefully. Don't pay immediately. Question the charges for a call you did not make. You are paying an expense that is not yours.

Crooks are always devising new ways to continue their trade. How it is being done?

-when you are being trick in telling you to switch to another long distance company.
-If you filled up a contest entry.
-by charging the authorized long distance company to unauthorized telephone carrier (other).

What will you do?

-Don't change any long distance provider (primary) without your written authorization.

-Review your phone bills every month and note any irregularities.

-Don't do a contest entries that authorizes you to switch in tiny print (telemarketers) who will record people saying "yes" as consent to an innocent question. This will be their valid proof that the customer they were notified approve the transfer to a new carrier.

-To play safe, ask your local phone company not to make any changes on your account without your written consent.

WEB CRAMMING FRAUD

A kind of fraud about unauthorized charges in phone bill. It is a fact that the telephone company sometimes added additional charges to your account aside from the normal monthly charges. There maybe an additional charges for long distance call.

If the owner of an account has no knowledge about the appropriate charges added to his phone bill then the act is called web cramming.

This act are common to those who intended to have a website. There are many companies in the net offering opportunity to a certain users to own a website for free. This companies hid their true intention of offering it for free. Most small businesses are the common target. If they apply for a website, they have to fill up personal information for purpose of identification. The companies then ask all information before they can register and own a website. They will give them all-out support without any additional obligation in website building.

How they do it?

An individual with small business was contacted by a telemarketer. His sales pitch is offering the victim to design a website and do the hosting for free. But the free website has additional advertisement, a caption stated as "free 30-days trial".
Actually it is not completely free, only on a certain period of time to see if the customer is satisfied with the service.

Contacting the possible client in relation to the offering, design and hosting of the site is the beginning of the billing fraud. All communications by phone initiated by the hosting company charged all their calls to the client's account without his knowledge.

The hosting company will start billing the client after the 30-days free period even if he refused or cancel the said trial with a notice before the specified deadline, the scam artist still do the billing of charges.

GUARANTEED LOAN SCAM

You have seen the tricks in the internet telling people for an easy opportunity to apply for a loan without any hassle and it can be approved immediately once applied. Beautiful and wonderful offers, unique in its contents. Ask yourself, why should the bank take the risk to let you have a loan when they did not even know you personally about your credentials and credit standing as borrower? Very suspicious, isn't it? Once you take the bait, you have to pay the upfront fee.

Many people closed their eyes, take the bait and put them in a situation not easy to get out. The end of the line is.... regret.

They are the victims of the so-called loan scam due to lack of information. They become vulnerable. This shady companies will offer an unsecured fly-by-night loan with easy processing and approval. Traditional financial companies offering loan will give many requirements before a loan application is approved. They will assess an applicant of his capability to pay.

A legitimate financial institution will not take advantage to an applicant with lack of experience about the delicate transaction required to have a loan. They will educate the applicant first about his role and obligation to the company in case his loan is being considered.

Scam artist can easily defraud a person with money if he divulge all his personal and banking information including credit card information during his application.

If someone called you personally offering you a loan in a rush going to different channels, then be wary. Any unsolicited e-mails or even a call has a price. If they ask you about advance fee for processing, insurance or application, disregard them. This is the starting point to victimize you. A legitimate lending company never ask unauthorized information just to release the loan. The more you fall into their trap, the more they are eager to find ways to have your money.

The sign of fraud: They are not interested of your credit standing. The bank are more familiar about your credit worthiness. Any upfront fee is not disclosed to you properly. A lender who uses the name of reputable institution to be more credible is a sign of scam. Lender are required to register in the state where they were doing business in lending. If they are not registered then it is a malicious scam.

Why not go to the bank directly or to other financial institution to obtain a loan?

Do not make a loan without fully investigating the background of the lender and its authenticity. Ask them to send you in writing all the details of their offer. If they are illegitimate, they will not send you anything.

Most of the scam artist victimizes consumers with credit difficulties who are desperate enough to throw themselves to the fire without looking back.

They offered the following: business, personal, investment and mortgage with no collateral, fast and easy, no paper works, immediately deposit the amount to your bank account, and with very low interest.

Blogger Buzz: Blogger integrates with Amazon Associates

Blogger Buzz: Blogger integrates with Amazon Associates

MULTI-LEVEL MARKETING SCAM

You bought into a MLM plan and found your only customers are other distributors and not the general public. Most of the so-called Multi-Level Marketing were not honest to what their program can offer. They were claiming to offer the best deal that can make you rich overnight. Most of this offers are shams and a bland riff-off. What they offered was just an empty selling.

The site used an exaggerated claim and hype phrases to convince you to try his program to earn a passive residual income in a short period of time for only a small amount for the cost of the program. It is impossible to have a big profit in just a few minutes. This will be tremendous feat if it is true. With this promise, many users will now in their own mansion as they became rich earning with less effort.

They posted a bold, big italic sign of dollars to their site to assure you that there is really a money you can have if you buy the program. They indicated a long line of explanations about the mechanic of earning fast in a red font. Reading it will trigger your interest. It has the convincing power for you to try. All this actions were just a drama episode to consider you as the next victim if you agree to their offer.

If you are convince, they will give you the cost of the program. You can buy it through the use of credit card. If your option is to send the money by on-line transfer, then they will jack-up the price to include the shipping and handling of the program to be send to you once they will receive your payment. Why should you pay the handling and shipping? They were the seller, it is their obligation to send the item without too much obligation to the buyer. This part of the price is not a separate fee.

Other technique is to ask you the payment of the handling and shipping ahead of the item. You send the upfront fee to cover the cost of shipping then waited a long time expecting but it did not arrive.

Other technique is for you to pay the cost of the program when you receive it. They will send you the program ahead of your payment to have a 30-days trial. If you are satisfied, then you can pay. If not, you may cancel your order. But the problem is, there's no program inside the package sent. You already send the upfront fee for the shipping and handling but the program mentioned cannot be found in the box they sent you. It loses your upfront fee. It is just a sales pitch with empty promise.

A scam site is a site that will re-direct you to another web-address instead of the address that you are typing in the computer.There were many sites that appeared in your e-mail address with different web-addresses offering you another programs to be downloaded to your computer with different system for you to try with the same intention to get you rich more.

Don't believe too much what they said. Look before you leap. It is better to be more careful then say regret at the end. Keep your eyes open.

INTERNATIONAL MODEM DIALING FRAUD

There is a system in the computer that you can connect to the internet by using International Modem Dialing. There are internet sites that exposed adult content. In order to trick you to visit the site, he uses and international dialing system.

In order to make you interested to visit the site, they advertised that such contents are free to view without any charges on your part. But before you can see the free adult content, you have to download a dialer or viewer.

Once you downloaded the program, automatically it disconnect the computer from the internet without your knowledge. The computer will then start to dial an international number as part of the downloading program visible on the screen. It started to charge a long distance rate without doing anything in the keys of the computer. It become automatic. As you enjoyed the continues viewing of the adult content, the owner of the program also continue surfing the net while connected to the international dialing. While still connected, the crook has still time to use your connection.

What will be your prevention for these:

-One effective control is to have an appropriate virus and firewall software to your computer.

-Do not download any dialer program just to see a certain show.

-In connecting to the internet, see the number your computer is dialing.

-The downloaded dialer program is a virus whose purpose is to change the normal system of internet connection. An anti-virus program can correct this problem.

-While surfing in the internet, always be cautious of the word FREE. It may mean differently.

-Always keep tract of your phone bills of any irregularities in all the calls indicated in the statement. Know the number you are not familiar and report it to your telephone company for verification and ask for assistance.

OUTSIDE LINE SCAM

Another similar kind of fraud but different only the way it was being done.

An employee of a corporation was called by a telephone company. This corporation had many telephone lines connecting to each of their department. A technician of the telephone company called someone in that corporation that they are conducting line testing to inter-connectivity adjustment they are making as part of their monthly service to client members. He asked the employee of the corporation to dial 6 numbers as dictated and then hang-up. The purpose is to test the performance of their main switchboard. The said employee did what she was told. The action of dialing gives the caller instant access to an outside line making it an operator-assisted call for the purpose of charging the call to the corporation being called.

Such mistake put the corporation in a difficult situation to settle the bill charges without delay as not to hamper their normal operation. Although the amount they paid is only minimal but such experience put their company in a risk position for another scam. The company immediately done a precautionary measures to avoid repetition of the same error.i

What you can do to avoid them?

-If someone called you introducing himself as an employee of your telephone carrier and requested you to dial a number not known to you, never allow and don't heed their instruction.

-Questioned him why asking an outline just to make a line test. Ask his name, his number and the number he used to call. If it is a fraud, he will not give his name or the number he used. If he give it to you, call you telephone carrier about the call you received, the name of the person if is an employee to their telephone company. Ask them if there is a line testing made by their men in the field. Don't delay. Investigate immediately.

IDENTITY THEFT CALL FRAUD

A telephone company called you requesting to pay overdue bill on telephone call. You were shocked upon knowing the amount to be paid. The telephone number of the person that called you came from other country. How on earth do you have such a bill when you don't even have a conversation to someone in that country to a telephone number not known to you.

Most of this type of fraud happened when someone got a phone number in her name and her personal information that enabled him to open an account in her name.

How can you avoid this kind of fraud?

-Be extra careful in handling all your personal and bank information. Once it will be in the hands of the crooks, it can change you overnight.

-Any confidential information should not be placed anywhere. It should be stored in your safe deposit box. Never put your financial information and bank information in your office table. Leave it at home. Or, put it in a place more secured under lock and key.

-Don't write any of this information in a piece of paper and then throw away in your waste basket. Tear it up or burn them.

-Don't inform anyone of any of your confidential information. Make it a point to be more secretive.

-If you are being charge with an unreasonable amount not of your own making, report it to the nearest fraud watchdog and let it be recorded for future reference of the same incident.

MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTION SCAM

Did you receive a call from someone dealing with a prepaid free magazine subscription for whole year? This is another kind of fraud enticing you to subscribe to a low price cost of the magazine containing health issues or business articles or global news that you are very fond of reading. If you are an impulsive buyer, you can easily convince by them to subscribe by just thinking what the cost this magazines if sold in regular subscription rate in the news stand those popular magazine you are craving to buy.

What you did not realized is that there are many persons out there who introduced themselves as employees of a book company who want to dispose the bargain books in their inventory in a very low price. That if you are interested to buy, you will receive another kind of magazine for free. This crooks trick you to subscribe. Even if the cost of one magazine is less every month, it still run high if you committed to subscribe for several years.

If you want to subscribe, that means you have to pay first (prepaid) the yearly amount. Once you agree, then you are bound to pay for the subscription. Think it over, how sure are you that you will receive the magazine they are offering once you pay the subscription? How sure are you that if you are not satisfied you can ask a refund? No, sir. Remember, they have all the option what to do.

There are other crooks that instead of letting you pay the subscription, they will give it to you for free. But you have to pay the processing fee first before they can send you the magazine every month considering that they have to incur expense in mailing it to your residence. Besides, it is a free item that will not cost you anything.

For your protection, do the following:

What will be your control measures to avoid them?

-Beware to those salesmen encouraging you in the phone to buy their products in a very low price.

-Don't believe those free products they offered. It is only a way to convince you to buy.

-If you want to buy books and magazines, go directly to the news stand. There are news stand or bookstore offering subscription of magazine. Don't be lured to those beautiful sales pitch. Most often, there is always a hidden agenda.

-Many bookstores were offering sale on secondhand books and magazines with much cheaper price about 50 to 70% reduced price.

-It will become your red flag if someone will not give his name, or the company he worked, the location of the magazine company when selling on phone.

-In talking to someone on the phone you did not know, don't entertain him. You should be careful in whatever you say in the phone. There are crooks who will record your conversation. There is a possibility that this will be used against you if you agree in subscribing even if you refused to buy it later. Don't give any commitment message for your protection. If he insist in calling you again, then hang-up.

-Any fraudulent telemarketing calls should be reported to law agency in your area for immediate attention and possible prosecution if known.

TOLL FRAUD - PHONE FRAUD #3

He will call you asking you to call a number with an area code of 809 for an important matters related to your account or whatever trick to lure you into making a return call even if you did not know the person calling you. Doing a return call is your gravest mistake. Its costly making an international call.

Toll fraud is about stealing time to make a call. What they did was to connect to your phone line asking you to call them in an expensive pay-per-use call. This is their trick to let you pay for the long distance especially if they placed a collect call to your phone.

Expensive call will run to thousand dollars that you have to pay if you are not careful of what you are doing. What will be your protection from this crooks?

-Don't entertain a call telling you that he is a phone company employee where you registered. He will request that it is a collect call where you are the one to pay because it was about your membership to their phone company regarding your account. Any future calls will be charge to you.

-If you don't know the person who called you then don't agree to any collect call or return call especially if the telephone number he used is not known to you.

-Don't ever call a number with a code 1-900. It will surely be charged to your phone bill. Don't agree if he tell you to call another phone number for the purpose of continuing the call. Such move will be forwarded to another phone line where the call has a charge.

-Don't listen to a pre-recorded voice messages where you are being told that such a call has a charge to be billed to your account.

-Look for the area code he used before doing your dialing. There are areas covered with very high long distance rate.

-Take caution about faxes, e-mails, voice messages or pager messages telling you to call or an unknown phone number not listed on the directory.

-Observe and report any person tapping your telephone line.

CRAMMING - PHONE FRAUD#2

Another kind of phone fraud in the making. It is called Cramming. One page of phone bill contains unfamiliar design or logo of a different company name billing an amount with notation that charges was for voice mail.

It works like these:

Other 3rd parties (another telephone company) add charges to your phone bill from services rendered. You did not make the call or you did not give any authorization of such services to occur. This calls did not originate from you. A local phone company is required to bill for other phone company indicating the charges to appear on the separate sheets of the local phone bill but with a logo of such company on top of the sheet. By scrutinizing clearly the mentioned charge amount, you will notice a discrepancy. Accepting a collect call from strangers on your phone or responding to an unrecognized and misleading voice mail during his call maybe the reason to this charges.

How to avoid it?

-Review your telephone bill. If there are irregularities of any charge from an authorized call from stranger, call the company that bill the charges and ask clarification. Question them why such charge was included in your billing.

-Inform your local telephone company regarding the disputed amount recorded in their bill charges, a call that you don't recognize. File a complaint to them.

-Don't fill out any contest entries (sweepstakes or raffle tickets).

-Have a record of all calls made to your number you accepted as legitimate calls, especially those pay for use or collect calls where this cramming act mostly occur.

SMISHING SCAM

It is a kind of scam centered into mobile phone by tricking the owner of the phone to reveal personal information. He will receive a text message asking him to register to an online dating service and at the same time put a virus into his mobile phone.

There are other messages whose only intention is to extract credit card number of mobile phone users. There are other techniques they employed by downloading a mobile spyware to the phone users to hear any conversation emanated from phone users and the person he called.

Other technique they employed is to send text messages to cellphone users pretending to come from a legitimate source like a bank or other financial institution. They will convince users to click on a link in the internet connection of the phone by calling a certain phone number. The purpose is to gather personal information using the bank's name where the user has an account. The link and the phone they mentioned are fraudulent and its connection lead to identity theft.

Once this personal information is taken from the users, he can no longer recover whatever money he lost in his account.

For you, how can you protect from this kind of fraud?

-Ignore any unsolicited request for your personal information especially your bank account that they send through a text message in your cellphone.Remember the words, "Confirm. Verify, Update". Once you erroneously take this words by answering, everything will goes wrong and you will be a loser.

-Do not believe that such information is coming from your bank about your account. It is best to visit your bank and ask them of the message you received to validate your suspicion. Banks never ask this information through text messages or telephone call. They may call to let you visit them but not for other reasons by asking sensitive information about your account.

-If they give you a link in your cellphone by a text message, beware! If you don't know the person who communicated to you, disregard him completely.

-For your added security, put a password on all your banking account. Check your bank statement of any irregularities of withdrawal. If it happened, request the bank to freeze your account from further unknown withdrawal. This is to give you time to open a new account and transfer whatever money left in your account.

SPOOFING SCAM

An attempt by scam artist to gain access to a secured website or secured information by posing as an authorized user. One way they are successful is by creating a website that mimic the existing website of the user where information can be shared within the site.

First, they will send an e-mail message that mimic as messages from a reputable, well-respected bank. This messages linked to a spoof site, a fraudulent site of the deceiver. Any communication from the user will come directly to the fake site without the users knowledge. And when they ask for personal information, the user gladly give it to them thinking that such update of information is needed by the bank. The user was phished giving risk to the following: identity theft, bank account information theft, computer virus infection. Most often, they are asking the following:

-SSS number
-credit card number
-ATM number
-Debit Card Number
-Pin Number
-Password Code/Number
-Bank Account Number
-Password Number on Online Banking when signing in

A legitimate bank will not ask all this information via e-mail. If it is necessary, they ask the user to go directly to the bank not on an online communication. Chances are very slim to verify and know the true origin of such an e-mail letter.

If you do an online transaction, don't give any information about yourself if they will not ask. Limit any valuable information if you are not sure if the person or entity that deals with you has honest intention for the sake of business transaction.

Any entered transaction should be done through a normal process not a shortcut. Protect your sign-in information of your account. You'll never know they are there hiding and waiting your single mistake to their advantage.

Don't be deceive by an original or authentic looking site resembling a legitimate one. Never answer any questionnaire for you to fill-up if you are not sure. This will be your greatest mistake if it will backfire to you. Such move will only lead to your downfall.

WIRELESS PHONE FRAUD

Using wireless telephone is also not safe from crooks. A man was billed by the wireless carrier of enormous amount of calls in different places of residence and other countries as long distance call. But he insisted that he did not placed a call those countries as indicated in the billing statement.

It was found out that the data in his phone was stolen by using scanning device for the purpose of cloning his data to another wireless phone. As his data already transferred to another wireless phone, the crooks started to call to their own discretion unhampered from one place to another charging all long distance call to someone they stolen with the data.

For you, how can you avoid it?

-Never leave your wireless phone anywhere even in the seat of your car. Always bring it with you. If not in use, put it in the place more secure out of anyone's sight. Always use the keypad lock code to prevent an unauthorized use of your wireless phone unnoticed by you.

-All important documents like the registration of your membership to a wireless carrier covered by customer service agreement including the electronic serial number of the phone should be stored in a safety box or other areas under lock and key in your house.

-To prevent unauthorized person using your wireless phone number, report to your wireless phone carrier if you receive any call saying wrong number or a hang-up call.

-Check your billing statement every month. It is even wise if you can ask a billing statement twice a month instead of end of the month so that you can immediately verify any irregularities in your statement about the frequency of calls not known to you, or any unusual call activity not your own. By so doing, you can make the necessary measures before it become serious.

-Ask your phone carrier to set a limit on your international call. That any call in excess to established limit will no longer be entertain by the phone carrier. It is your prevention for those unauthorized calls. This is also to protect your own phone data if someone steal your wireless phone.

-Don't allow your phone hanging up most of the time. If not in use, turn it off. The sensitive numbers in your phone cannot be stolen by someone trying access to your phone.

-Ask assistance from your wireless phone carrier how to protect your phone from phone fraud. This is an added security to avoid tampering your sensitive information in your wireless phone.

CALLING CARD FRAUD

If you are putting up a long distance call by using call card at an airport or other public telephone booth, take caution. Another fraud is about your call where your calling card number and PIN were seen by someone near you while you are placing a call.

In order to avoid them:

Ask your phone card company to issue a card that you don't need to use a PIN. It is most safe if you will memorize the PIN to avoid anyone to know your PIN. Do not placed anywhere in your pocket or wallet. If your wallet is lost as the number was in it including your call card, it will be a tremendous loss to you in terms of unauthorized call billed in your account.

Don't reveal to anyone even your close friends. It is a private matter that only you has the knowledge of your calling card number and PIN. This is to avoid intentional unauthorized call in your behalf without your permission.

In using a card in public phone, cover the keypad of the phone by your hands in entering your number. Don't raise your voice in giving the number to the telephone operator. Look to anyone near you when you dial the number.

Tell him in a cordial and civilized manner that your call is private in nature. Explain to him nicely so she or he will understand. This is to protect your PIN and call card number to be overheard by anyone not known to you.

Don't give your calling number to a person who called you that you don't know his identity.

While you are away from home, a prepaid card or debit card is most secured.

Ask your phone company to issue to you a separate 2 number combination or a call home card number intended only for your family and cannot be used by anybody.

Remember, you will be losing a lot of money in telephone charges if you will not do a precautionary measures to protect you. It is a pain in the neck if they able to outsmart you.

ENVELOPE STUFFING SCAM

An ad detailing the making of a fortune by just stuffing envelope. But this information is a junk mail to victimize you. Then they will ask you for an upfront fee as indication that you are serious in your desire to get rich. As you send the fee, they will send you the envelope stuffing starter package.

Here are the detailed method of this scam:

-You will receive an e-mail from them informing you of business opportunities to earn money. They will hire you, fulfill the job requirement and they will pay you.

-They ask you to fill up a form of important information about you, a personal data sheet indicating all about yourself, as pre-requisite for hiring. In order for you to fully convince to their intention, they will give you a certain wonderful benefits that you cannot refuse.

-You are to be paid by check after the specific job is completed.

-Additionally, they will let you fill up an information sheet indicating your SSS number for the purpose of tax computation as required for an income.

What they are after is your identity information in the guise of offering you a job. It is just a work-at-home scheme but only different in style.

How can you distinguish if it is a fake opportunity?

-They will not give you a contact number or e-mail address where you can ask for a complete details of the job offer.

-You have to send the money first as payment for the starter kit you will use and other instruction that you have to follow in the job they offered you. They will not tell you what comprise the starter kit or specific details of the kit.

-Your payment will be send to a mailbox not a residential or permanent address.

-The ad offer is overstated for a quick money scheme with promises of earning with little effort.

This is the tactic they are using. They enticed you to send the money first before starting the job. Just knowing a lot of money to earn from the job, you are excited and decided to send the money with no second thought.

Making money needs time, patience and efforts. There's no such thing as less or no effort at all to earn a lot of money.

MONEY ON LINE SCAM

Internet world was full of opportunities to succeed or to be scammed. Either, you will profit or you will lose. You can never be sure what happen out there putting your money in danger. Investing is good but to whom you want to invest is the problem. You cannot be sure of their honesty to put your investment in safe hand.

Most of losses of investment is the failure of the buyer to know the person he is dealing with, its integrity and truthfulness of his offer. But most of the time, it just an empty promises of a huge profit. But you can avoid it if you open your mind, have more information of what you are entering into in the net. Never allow yourself to be defraud of something. Keep your eyes wide open.

Never entertain unsolicited e-mail. Most of these are spam mail. This is their introductory approach to know you and test your will. If at the end of their message allow you to opt-out then do the unsubscribing to end them sending another unwanted e-mails. This happened when someone passed your e-mail address to a third party without your knowing. If they distributed it more to another persons in their community, the more you will receive this spam mail in bulk.

Know the integrity of the seller. Check useful references in Better Business Bureau if his company was recorded there or know some particular complaints filed against him in their office. If he give you the name of the company, surf it in the net for you to be able gather additional information if this business entity is legitimate or not. Make it sure to know his company name,his name, address of his company and his telephone number. You can verify all of these if he really intend to have a business dealing with you. If he refused to divulge all this information for the pretext of security reasons then better disregard his offer. Always look for any danger signs of fraud.

A legitimate business entity and his owner is willing to share information to his buyer about himself to build up trust that a buyer wanted to be assured before making a deal. If you find out that it is legitimate, then search in the web for another companies who deal with similar products and compare their prices so that you will be guided to make a decision where to buy.

A danger signal will occur if a certain business entity reduces his price even more for the pretext of allowing you to have big profit from such a deal. If you resell it to another buyer and jack up the price, the more you have substantial return of investment. But beware, it may be a ploy.

If he will pressure you to buy without giving you time to decide then disregard the offer. It may not be a good business dealing. If he offer you a trial period of 30 days to test the items he send you, make it sure that you have no obligation whatsoever during the trial. That you can opt out to cancel the transaction before its expiry. Emphasize to him your term regarding the trial.

Before closing the deal ask him about the complete details of your transaction and his services, the cost of the product, any hidden fees or what is the treatment in case you pay it and then change your mind. Can you recover your money as refund especially if you are not satisfied with the quality of the product he sent to you.

It is at your advantage if he agree to your terms that you will only pay an advance payment of the ordered items. Tell him he can send the equivalent quantity of the product based on the advance payment you send to him. This will be your gauge to determine his honesty in dealing with you. If he is not true, he will not send any. At least your losses where only minimal if something wrong happen ahead of you.

ID THEFT FOR ELDERLY

Why an old man retired from employment was not spared from ID scam? The old man had only little asset of his own, no more job at the moment, no regular bank account.

The answer was his social security number where he received pension every month. A scam artist has no pity even to the old man as long as he can be a victim, they are very happy doing what is not right.

He become the ideal target of his little knowledge about what's happening in the internet. He easily gives information to those who asked him. Most of the communication he received from the web through an e-mail came from the social security system office. His regular mail in the post office contains information related to his income tax and health care. Post office is his regular channel for all his mails. A snail mail that takes longer to receive is the reason for an easy target for paper theft. The crooks will get his mail by devising a way to intercept it through the help of an inside man in the receiving and mailing section.

The old man was wondering what happened to his monthly mails when it no longer arrive to him on time. The inside man in the post office hold the mail for the crooks in exchange for reasonable amount to be given to him in his cooperation in the act of dishonesty. The old man was already identified by the scam artist that he has regular mails, it is easy for them to do their dirty work.

The old man is not very fond of monitoring his transaction every month. He only knew these several weeks later or may be a month's time that there's something wrong with his mails. The old man may lost three things:

-The paper documents indicating all his personal information/communication on health care, tax-related information or monthly statement of the check he will receive and to acknowledge.

-Due to the information on health care. It is a form of insurance for medical expenses that cover large range of services. There had been many incidents of major treatment and surgeries indicated in the health care statement of the old man even if he did not undergo any treatment or major hospitalization during the month when the incident took place.

-Another reason is employment fraud. Many elderly were no longer working. It is easy for the scam artist to apply for a job using elderly identity to get an employment known as multiple job using the elderly SSS number not only for the purpose of employment but also to harvest all government benefits to be given to the elderly.

It is a fact that senior citizens has an account in the bank because of his pension. He put it in his saving account where his monitoring is less frequent during the month. Seniors has lack of concern in the status of his bank account. This is the hole where crooks do their thing by stealing his identity to wipe out all the money in his bank account. It cannot be known immediately. He only know these during his withdrawal where it was already divested completely with his money.

TRAVEL SCAM

Case#1

A unique kind of scam offering you with so much benefits by giving you free vacation trip by a certain company who will pay your round-trip ticket to a selected location of their choice. You were being notified through e-mail offering you to get a very very low prices in hotel accommodation where you will reside during the duration of your vacation trip. They informed you that you have to book today to avail for a very low price offer that will expire one to 2 days from now.If you decide to travel, you have to pay the booking rate of your hotel accommodation.

You realized later after paying the booking fee that you are being scammed. They did not send you the free plane ticket and you can no longer contact them. It is sad giving away money for free. Then it came into your knowledge that there's no such thing as a free vacation trip. What you paid to them goes directly to their own pocket.

Case#2

Another form of travel scam is from a fraudulent company lying to you about their travel packages or hit you with hidden charges. You received notification congratulating you that you have won a fabulous vacation to a certain country. All you have to do is to pay a small fee in exchange of a vacation certificate to a place in the Caribbean with wonderful beaches and appetizing foods. But you have to pay for your own air fare and other accommodation they will arrange for you. If it is a free vacation trip, why pay for your own fare and other accommodation unknown to you?

Don't be lured by any exciting free trip. If there is really a legitimate free trip, verify it first before paying the booking charges of the hotel. Check the existence of such a hotel and their room charges so that you have the idea to make the decision. Ask first the free plane ticket and have it in your hand before committing yourself to such a trip. Be wise and be smart.

It is better if you go to a legitimate travel agency even without a free plane ticket but you are assured that what you have to spend is reasonable enough and you can enjoy your travel safe, sound and comfortable rather than wasting your money for a trip that did not exist and it will only be your nightmare.

PHISHING SCAM

Another scam of the day. Everyday, another kind of scam was born. This phishing game is called " a sting con game". Most of their intention is your personal information and password. They sent a message to confirm your identity as required by the bank in order to protect your interest. If you have an account with popular bank institution like Citibank or E-bay or Pay pal, you don't have any idea that they are enticing you to visit a phony web site. If you enter your ID number of your account and the password, immediately your personal and bank information will be in their hands as fast as the wink of the eye. Clicking in the link they give you will lead all your information to this fake website. This is the time the scam artist will intercept your information and have access to your account by harvesting and fleecing all your money without your knowledge. You only realized it later that you don't have money left in the bank. You can no longer trace them. You make them very happy by giving your money free-of-charge. Open your eyes and see what comes next.

In another version, you are contacted over the phone instead of an e-mail. You can't distinguish the call if it is pre-recorded or a live call informing you to take action to protect your account. Most often, the scam artist already has the information on you, your account or credit card number. If they asked you about your account this is only for a confirmation of what they have in their position. If they call you, question them and rebut. If they knew that you knew their modus operandi for sure they will leave you in peace. But if they already have the information taken from outside source, all you have to do is to monitor your bank statement immediately in order to check any irregularities in withdrawal or diversion of funds. By doing this, only a little amount can be taken and you still has something left in the bank. The only problem is when they already withdrawn all your money, what is left for you is tears and anger. You can no longer recover what was lost in you.

Beware of this people. They are smart and very dangerous.

DOMAIN REGISTRATION

You are informed that your domain is due to expire. You are told to renew your domain immediately to avoid cancellation. If you cannot pay the renewal before the deadline, your domain will be suspended or deleted without informing you again with other notice. They told you that if you desire to discontinue your domain ownership and don't want to pre-register, instructed you to inform them in writing.

After that rhetoric, you are told to provide them up-to-date contact information for them to call you if you decided to continue your domain ownership.

There are other method they employed that involves a shady registrar whose aim is to put your money in deceptive way. Take note they are not a legitimate company to sell domain without authorization from ICANN. Most of their tactic is to send you an official looking invoice similar to your domain billing contact but it is not came from the correct actual domain registrar.

Think twice! If they do not accept credit card payment, why request payment by check? Because once you pay for the re-registration, your payment will vanish in thin air.

What necessary action you will do in case you received this kind of message?

-Follow your Company Domain Registration Policy. Contact your reputable registry to purchase any domain for sale through a legitimate and normal channel.
-Don't entertain any messages in your computer. Ignore and leave them. Don't response or enter into a negotiation to a person you don't know his real identity.
-You have the right to defend what is yours. If it is your trademark/or brand name, then protect it.
-Discourage any extortion into buying or paying domain prematurely.
-If you found that the domain in question listed in the e-mail are truly registered by companies that don't have any connection with you then file and send a cease and desist letter. Engaging in the LADRP process can recapture the domain.
-Do not provide any information they requested. This fraudster is only attempting to get your money for renewal of your registration. Or, they want to steal your confidential information (security number, bank account number).
-Avoid any domain pre-registration service that guarantees top level domain names or immediate attention in the assignment of new top level domain name.
-Don't entertain any unsolicited faxes regarding any offer.
-Stay on top of the news about top level domain names for your guidance.

Why they did it? A fake company that register domain names has the intention of scamming you by informing you to renew your domain names with them or buy a new domain name with different name extension.

If they call you, ask what is this all about and ask their true intention. If they told you about renewing your domain and asking your fax number, then beware! The best tactic you have to do is ask his name, phone number, city where he originate, state they are calling. If it is a scam, they will not give any of this information to you and they will hang up.

The truth is that you will never lose your domain by not transferring to another register. The primary way to lose a domain name is if you don't pay your renewal bill on time.

NIGERIAN SCAM

Drama#1

It is a drama scam in order to lure you into accepting a very large sum of money to be taken out of the country. The drama episode is telling you to help him, a wealthy family, in getting out his money in his position and transfer it to another country. A desperate cry for help with hidden intention to scam you. There are so many variations of its approach, episode and method employed. His only intention is to do a fraud act.

Many had been victimized by a promise of a large sum of money in exchange for a help he asked and before the wealth can be given to you. In order to get the trust, he used a convincing rhetoric by applying an emotion in his letter to sell you out.

In order for you to have the money, you are being told to cover the endless legal fees that must be paid in advance. Once you are willing to pay what he asked, he will suck you out more. The sad thing is that you never see the color of the money they are promising because there's nothing in there. You must be wondering, why a wealthy family cannot pay all legal fees for the transfer of his money? Very suspicious. You will know these if you lengthen your understanding more about his intention.


Drama#2

You received an e-mail from an influential person from other country. She asked you to help her to transfer a large sum of money because she wanted to migrate to another country. Her husband died from an accident and she has no other relatives or any children as an heir to this huge wealth of her husband. She plan to develop a good business in other country.

You were asked that if you can help her to cover temporarily about the settlement of all legal fees and other hidden fees involved, she will give you portion of this wealth as a token of her friendship and trust.

She was asking for your assistance as she cannot withdraw some money she has in the bank to pay all the legal fees required because it was being freeze for whatever reason. It can only be release if fees can be paid in advance.

Once the money is released, she will reimburse you plus 30% of the total amount of her money in the bank to be send into your account through on line transfer without delay. A fantastic promise, a broken dreams.

DISASTER RELIEF SCAM

There were scam artist who took advantage of the disaster that happened in a certain country. This disaster brought misery to the people living there, a calamitous event were many people had died, homeless and lost everything they owned. Good people organized groups to extend help for those affected by sharing whatever they have at the moment.

Many relief agencies of other nations helped its other to brought relief goods for their support to ease the pain they suffered. The scene were very touchy seeing their faces.

But this scam artist has another agenda in mind. Instead of helping them, they helped themselves to earn money out of the situation. What they did was creating a charity site in the internet whose purpose is to cry for help, a plea to ask for donation from people that are openly willing to help. They will indicate where to send the money. Any donation forwarded to their site will be their own.

Those people who helped contribute something for a cause to help victims in their plight, unaware that the money they give were diverted and siphoned to their own personal account.

This is how hard the heart of this kind of person as if they are the one hit by the disaster where any help given goes directly to their own pocket.

If you want to help and the money you will send will be secured then give your donation to recognized charitable institution in their website. You can call them for your help.

WORK FOR HOME SCAM

While surfing in the net, you came across this slogan that caught your interest saying "imagine owning your own business, being your own boss, working only few hours a week, but still making lots of money -all from your own house..."

This advertisement was common. Many of us believed it immediately because of the chance of earning enormous amount of money by sparing only a little time at home each day. What are some of the popular work-at-home opportunity proven to be a scam:

-processing application
-data entry
-investment schemes
-medical transcription
-stuffing envelopes

The only disadvantage in this kind of scheme is that you can only start working at home if you will send away money by investing to their company. It maybe a fake to a get-rich quick scheme that you have to avoid. You will never get rich. It is only a ploy to take money from you. They only get straight to your pocket and divest all your money. Do you still have a chance to know a legitimate work-for-home opportunities?

All you have to do is to contact the Business Bureau. They have the list for a legitimate companies dealing with this kind of opportunities to earn. If they require you to pay in advance then be suspicious. Never give your personal information at the first meeting of your would-be employer.

It is wise if you do your own company check about their legitimacy. You have the right to ask many questions to your employer for your own protection. If they are honest, they will enlighten you. Look for the correct address of your employer to know more about him how he operate. If you can visit him, it is more preferable to ensure that they are real. You can talk to his employees for additional information what type of work he has and his organization as a company.

Look what kind of products they are making. Ask what particular job you have to do at home and how you are going to be paid. Ask if it is a corporation or has business license to operate. Know their product line, the quality if it is a promising product to earn money. Can a consumer has interest to promote and expose the product to the public.

Allocate a particular time you will use as required by your job. You can do part time of full time depending on your ability to work with ease and commitment. Before you start committing yourself to this kind of work-at-home, consider the following:

-About the task you have to perform.
-The mode of payment of your services, salary or just a commission.
-Who will pay you. How they send your first paycheck.
-The cost of the business kit, supplies or equipment you will use.
-Ask the membership cost. They have a guideline to follow during the duration of your temporary employment.

Know all this information. It will be your basis for your decision if it is profitable or not, or just a waste of time and effort on your part without a promising result. This is also to determine if this line of work is appropriate for your expertise.

How will you determine if such company is not legitimate?

-If they ask you advance fee as starting capital for a home-work business before you can start working.
-When employed,you received a fake paycheck.

Giving all personal information to your employer is not a wise idea in relation to your job. It is the leading opportunity to a scam artist to steal money from your bank account without knowing that such a work-for-home job is just for the purpose of gathering information to your disadvantage. Don't expect too much for an increase in income. The profitability cannot be determine yet unless you can start your work. There is no guarantee to achieve income level you expected, even if they claimed that you can make a large amount of money in just a short period of time.

IDENTITY THEFT

Taking your personal information is one of the most disastrous internet scam that you have to watch. In registering to a certain site you choose and interested to be a member, take with caution in giving out your personal information. Not all sites are legitimate. There were others who uses a front by letting you to be member then harvest important personal information especially about bank account.

Before you register, read carefully all information they indicated in their site. When you fill out their sign up form, don't offer them whole information about yourself openly even without asking you. Don't give more information unnecessary just to complete whatever information you want to make. If it is an optional requirement, then don't fill up.

In buying a product in the net, the seller will ask you the complete residential address including telephone number. Give it some thought about their purpose of asking. Does it really necessary to give the telephone number to them?

If you are subscribing to a free newsletter, the publisher need your e-mail address and your complete name, residential address and telephone number. If they are asking a too personal question, beware! This will alarm you. If you are not satisfied with their privacy policy or term of use, if you have doubts, then don't subscribe. Be sure that they have an opt-out unsubscribe portion, easy to be out if you change your mind. Keep your eyes open, scrutinize their free newsletter. There might be a hidden intention behind giving it to you for free.

There were some sites that you register shared your user's e-mail address to the 3rd parties as indicated in their privacy policy. Read it before registering.

Protecting yourself is easy if you intend to be protected, your family and your money. You have all the control to avoid it. But if you always take the risk even if you know how risky it would be then no one can blame you, it is your choice.

Internet thieves can manipulate all your information to gain there interest. Advance technology makes things possible. Don't store important personal information in your computer especially about credit card and bank information and social security number. Destroy all receipts of credit or ATM transaction you stored. Include all mails with your name and address not easy for the identity thieves to know you completely.

What is disastrous to imagine is that your stolen information is the basis for this thieves to open new credit accounts in your name. It jeopardizes your credit standing of your present account if that happens. Using a strong password and pin code is one way to protect your name. You can change it often so that they can no longer trace you and it is a good protection difficult for a hacker to know you closely all about your financial transaction.Don't use a password or pin code easily to remember like your nickname, birth date including your anniversary date. Don't store it in your drawer easily for other people to steal for their benefit.

If you want to e-mail something, use the post office. Don't just leave it there in your mailbox easy for other people to obtain important information at your disadvantage. For your own protection, have a mailbox right at your post office for you to pick up at your convenience. Or you can lock your mailbox to protect all your incoming mails.

Don't entertain any junk mails in your computer offering you free application of credit card. You are on a big trouble. Don't just put your existing credit card anywhere in the office or outside of your home. Place it in a secured place.

When using a credit card in a restaurant to pay your bills, don't look away, see the person running your card in the machine to accept payment. Some cashier do skimming to process your payment. Keep the card within your sight. The most secured way for you to take is to pay it in cash.

Don't believe too much on some online retail outlets for a secured shopping on their own site. You can never be assured how safe it would be. Never carry SSS number in your wallet. If your wallet lost or stolen, anyone can access your information to have your social security numbers. Further, don't use it as your password or a user ID.

Get your statement to see your bank transaction you made during the month so that any suspicious entry in your bank statement will be verified and unnecessary steps will be taken to stop further damage to your account. Some identity thieves posed as a friend in disguise. They can be found in chat room, dating sites, social network sites. Information were given in their profile page indicating address and phone numbers.

CHAIN LETTER SCAM

Method#1

You received an e-mail telling you that you won in a lottery. In order for you to get your winnings, you have to send the same e-mail letter to 5 people you knew with their e-mail addresses in your address book. After you send it, there is a box that will appear on the screen that you have complied. You are told to take 5 minutes of your time to send the same e-mail letter to other people in order to get the equivalent in terms of money. That the cost for every person being send with the e-mail is 10 dollars per person or 100 dollars for 10 persons. The more you send, the more you earn money.

Method#2

You received an e-mail telling you that he is a founder of certain company supplying information about the name of the people living in rural community. They want to disseminate the name of their company to rural areas. You are instructed to send the e-mail to 9 of your friends. Upon sending it, you will receive an confirmation number to claim your gift certificate of 50 dollars. What's the purpose? To gather more e-mail address of your friends to be used for scamming activities.

Method#3

You are asked to send a small amount of money (usually 5 dollars) to each of several names on the list (with their address)and then forward the letter by indicating your name at the top of the list via post office. Many of this chain letters claim to be legal. They even include a section of the U.S. Postal Code on illegal schemes. Don't be fooled. They are not legal, you will lose the money as well.

What you are losing to this kind of fraud act is your money by sending it to scam artist and wasting a lot of money in postage stamp and photocopy cost of the letter for you to mail it to each one of them and the enclosed amount of 5 dollars. The more you send the names the more you spend money for the postage stamp and 5 dollars.

To convince you, they will indicate in the letter that it is not a scam or a pyramid scheme. They told you that is just an opportunity to help people to earn money and have a fortune for their benefits.

Don't participate this kind of racket. They even threaten you that by not sending, it will bring bad luck. Don't let yourself be an accessory to such a fraud victimizing other people.

Don't entertain any spam mail. Don't waste your time in forwarding it to other people. Don't be lured of knowing the great opportunity in exchange of the benefit in earning money. To be honest, it is a great racket that must be stop right at the source.

This scheme will never get you rich despite their claim. You are the one breaking the law. Don't let yourself blinded by this kind of opportunity. They are only pure hoaxes.

COMPUTER VIRAL INFECTION

Viruses has great ability to wreak havoc to the computer by damaging files and programs. It can send e-mail to everyone through your address book. They e-mailed your entire address to someone else infecting their own computer also. They can wipe out data files or even has the capacity to format your hard drive.

A virus has a destructive force of incapacitating the life of your computer and all that has in it disrupting the flow of your transaction. It is a kind of software that ride on to the real program, the spread sheet. They will go running together and the viruses has the capacity to reproduce by riding on to other programs then starts to wreck your stored files including your system.

Most vulnerable to be affected by the virus is your incoming e-mail messages traveling and hiding as an attachment doing replication to destroy many internet users through their e-mail address book. Most of this viruses infect and erase the hard disk. It is a program against another program destroying the system as you run it. A worm is also a piece of software who has different function with the same harmful effect. What it did was to use a network and security holes in order to replicate itself.

Why the virus existed? It came from a writer (programmer) of the virus whose only interest is to damage people's property. He has a destructive tendency to let the world suffer because of his own personal gain or his joy and his desperation. This kind of virus writer take revenge for whatever purpose with no valid reason at all. This is the kind of virus writer that the mind gone wrong and keep on wandering, the kind of mind that need treatment and cure. He uses is talent in bad faith. He has a negative outlook in life wasting his talent instead of developing it. It becomes his thrill or his fascination funneling his energy to create a destructive program for fun.

Virus writer is a genius and also the destroyer. He was a shortsighted fellow missing the point of what it would become when such virus destroys everything on its path. He is against people, not against the hard disk because people are the one that operate the system. This is the kind of writer who has evil intent whose only concern is publicity to let the world know that he can destroy everything at the tip of his finger.

There are many kind of virus that spreads using the Windows e-mail program Outlook. The -email came from addresses that you will recognize. A file attachment of the e-mail is the hiding place of this computer virus and when you run it, it displays an error dialing box which reads "UI". A blue eye appear next to the clock in the lower right corner of the screen and a copy of the virus is being saved to a certain file in the system directory.

Run your virus scanner at all time. Avoid using Microsoft e-mail program because they have serious security problem in the de-fault configuration that need to be corrected. Most of the program affected by the virus are file documents, excel spread sheets or other MS office documents.

The goal of an anti-virus program is to remove the presence of a kind of virus that can open your computer up to remote control by anyone who has the right software. They can do anything they want in your machine. They can delete all your files, run program, read anything of value. They can download any information you have stored in your computer taking your address book, personal e-mails, bank and credit card information, digital photos, business files.

What you will do:

-Don't run any attachment from unknown source. Download software only from reputable sites. Run a virus checker for every program you install no matter where it come from. Update your anti-virus software. Check your system for any infection.

COMPUTER SECURITY

Most of the day, you are sitting in a chair facing your computer surfing for your favorite sites. Even during the night, you still there, a coffee cup at the side of your computer table. How effective is your computer security while doing the surfing?

Having an internet connection using cable modem or DSL, the use of firewall software is your only assurance to protect your computer, your home network and your job from possible hacking to your records you stored in your personal computer. Without these, there are many offensive websites that will send you many unsolicited advertisement or spam messages you found in your e-mail address. It became a nuisance on your part spending efforts to erase the useless information. Every morning when you open your e-mail address, a spam mails is the center of your attention and became the front page of your vision. This was the work of the scam artist or other person whose intention is to let you aware of there presence. What you did was delete all those mails to clean your computer with garbage.

With the use of firewall, you feel relax and more assured as your computer become virtually invisible to anyone who has a bad intention to penetrate to your internet connection and harvest your own personal or bank information for their great advantage. They will not rest until they get what they want and they are expert to this line of dirty work by fooling internet users. Having a firewall software is essential for the protection of your computer.

Always on guard in sending any messages or notes to anyone you knew or other person you want to communicate whether it is your friend or not. There is always possibility that this information will be circulated to other person by your own friends and send them to their own friends also. Such an act will make your e-mail address vulnerable for breach of security when it was found by scam artist giving him the opportunity in using your information to his own personal agenda at your disadvantage and risk.

Don't let other people use your computer unsupervised unless you are willing to give them access to your computer. Using a strong password is a good security measure that no one can open your computer without your knowledge. There are even a kind of computer with a built-in lock before you can start-up.

Never write any password anywhere easy for others to have an unauthorized access to your computer. A spammer can flood your mailbox useless spam mails or sell information to other people without your knowledge and permission. If not in use, turn off your java script or HTML mail readers, outlook and outlook express where this spam mails harassed your system unmolested.

A firewall is used as a barrier to keep out destructive forces away from your system. It is a program or a hardware whose role is to filter all incoming information through internet connection to your private network. Any undesirable information is being flagged by the filter giving no chances to pass through.

Firewall controls the degree of the traffic flowing in and out of the work by packet filtering. Any small data were being analyzed against a set of filters. Packets that make it to pass through into the filter are send to the requesting system and discarded or removed. Any information from the net was retrieved by the firewall then send it to the requesting system. Firewall compare certain key parts of the packets to a database of trusted information. It is then being monitored for specific characterization and compare it. If it match then allows it to pass through. If it will not match, it will be remove immediately.

Another good security measures is installing a spy software. Without it, you can be identified easily by hackers what you are doing in your computer and what websites you had been visiting. This program cannot identify you to get your privacy information easily. Hacker can gather your sensitive information, password and your e-mail address. They can capture your key strokes. Whatever you type is stored in a secret buffer of the machine. They even take your picture and your surfing activities.

OVERSEAS EMPLOYMENT SCAM

Each of us has our own dream to work abroad to seek higher pay, with good benefits. But those dream has its own risk. Make it a point to check an employment agency of its legitimacy in hiring job seekers for overseas posting. Don't immediately swept away of those wonderful promises of the availability of the job with higher pay and chances to go higher in position.

Employment scam artist take advantage of job seekers. They claim to offer employment services and inside information about contacts to jobs. Some fraudulent employment services only sell list of companies they have gotten from public directories. They usually not contacted those companies directly or know if there's really any job openings.

The applicant should be cautious in dealing with them. There are lots of unscrupulous work agencies whose only intention is to lure applicants to accept a position that is non-existent. What they are after is the job placement fee. There are also job placement operators who hide their permanent address and provide only post office address where transaction end there. It is very hard to trace them if application for a job goes wrong especially if the applicant already pay the initial processing fee. This kind of placement firm can easily avoid scrutiny by job applicants.

Asking advance placement fee is an early warning for an applicant to be aware that something not right along the way. Most of this notice for availability of a position is posted in magazines and newspapers under the section in classified ads portion. This notice was indicated in bold letters for job seekers to easily notice the job posting. They indicated further their telephone numbers for them to call for verification.

You are being told to prepare the advance placement fee for them to pick-up by a courier company or through overnight delivery to be paid by you. The purpose of this method of payment is to hide their origin.

As an applicant, don't allow yourself to believe the so-called money-back guarantee or refund if job availability is not materialize. You can never ask a refund because you can no longer contact them running away with your money. The telephone number they give you is just a front for you to call them.

How can you avoid them?

Request for the name of the employees or the name of the applicants they hired for your confirmation if they really have hired applicants for job posting. If it is a fraud, they will not give you any information related to the subject. Asking for reference is the hardest thing for you to know because of secrecy in their part that they have to protect citing privacy concern. But what the real point of the scam artist is for you not to be able to contact them.

One way to check the legitimacy of such a firm or agency in job placement business is to contact the Better Business Bureau of the state if the name of their company is listed there or any complaints filed to their office for the firm you are applying.

Do not apply to a company who relied solely via phone or mail. A legitimate placement agency is happy and eager to meet you before referring to an employer ready to accept you. Be suspicious if the employer they referred to you will accept you immediately without even meeting or conducting an interview as intention in hiring you. The would-be employer will never hire applicant without meeting and knowing the applicant personally.

Avoid an operator in a country where they reside to transact business of hiring applicant to another country. Their purpose is to erase a trace of their existence if you will scrutinize the firm you are applying. If there is an investigation of the legitimacy of such hiring, it cannot be traced immediately of their true origin by law enforcement agencies.

Because you are paying an advance fee, it is your right to know more about this company, how long they are in business, about their financial condition, the services they offered. It is of your best interest to request a written contract regarding your employment and the kind of service they are offering you and the promises of higher pay. If they will not give it to you, then go away. It maybe a ploy to victimize you.

Be sure to be equip with all the necessary information about this firm you are applying before making any commitment of paying the advance fee. Know first their motive if the job is really available to you. Talk and meet your employer first before making any fee for the agency. We believed they will not allow this arrangement. But if they are honest with their offer, then they are gladly consent to your request. Any legitimate agency were always keep in touch with their applicants they are hiring instead of evading them.

It is better if they can offer you a fly now, pay later in an airline company to meet your employer. Or, to have a company offering a work now, pay later opportunities. Then you are assured that you are not wasting your money and efforts in going there. Be wise and be smart in order to survive from scam artist's hand.

It is also important that you verify your embassy in another country where the available post is located there. If you can work in that country being not a citizen of that particular country. You only know this that it is not possible when you are already there.

Ask the agency how refund policy is done to have your chances not to loss your advance payment. Ask for specific written instruction for a refund, if there's any. In any way, don't give your credit card or bank information if they ask you. If there is a contract, they will prepare it for you to sign regarding your employment. It is advisable to consult your legal counsel in your region the legitimacy of the contract. Don't too hasty to decide that you might regret later.

Allow more time for you to weigh whatever the consequences. Keep a copy of all documents (agreement/contract) in relation to your employment, even receipt of your advance payment. If they are legitimate, they can issue an official receipt for your payment.

AUCTION SITE SCAM

Online buying is a big business. Many people were lured in entering into buying an item because they can find a great deals and discounted price on a hard to find items around the world. They become a perfect hunting ground for scam artists to do their dirty work. How can you protect yourself from fraud? Stay away from the online auction if you don't know the ropes of the business. But if you insist, then take it at your own risk.

There were tremendous growth of purchasing an item on line even in the midst of cheating and scamming innocent internet users. Doing internet auction is not relatively safe. If you are new to this kind of transaction, know it first before buying.

Don't believe too much of what they advertised. Luxury goods may be counterfeit or fake. Use your good judgment in choosing a specific item. Read the forum of the auction site your choose. Read feed backs from other people. There may be negative comments you can find from such a site.

Use postal insurance for the item you want to purchase. This will be your security if something happen to your shipment. When sending payments for your purchases, use online payment service like pay pal or use your credit card. Check if the auction site is a secured site. Ask a return receipt of any payment you made. Don't send cash or use money-wiring services.

Control your spending. Allow only a certain amount in your budget for such a purpose. If something goes along the way in transacting business with the seller, you will not completely losing tremendous amount. It is not easy to recover what had been lost in your hands.

Consider the location inside the U.S. territory. Check if the location of the seller is true and legitimate address. If he failed to deliver the goods,you can no longer ask for a refund. Don't reply to a phishing e-mail asking you of your password and other personal information. Check the true origin of the e-mail. Check if the item you are bidding can be send to you immediately or late. Expect that there is possibilities that they will not send it to you or sending a wrong merchandise of less value.

Before entering into a transaction to any auction site, read their term of use. There may be hidden fees and charge you at the time of purchase. Transact business only to those legitimate auction site already noted for their honesty and known throughout the world. Don't be lured immediately to the promise of a better deal.

Don't entertain any pop-up notice asking your personal and financial information or clicking any link. A legitimate site will not ask this information via e-mail. The use of credit card is safe when paying an item. It allows the buyer to seek a credit card issuer called "charged back", if the product is wrong and not what was ordered or intentionally will not deliver. Using online payment is more secured because it protect buyers' account information.

Know the correct description of the merchandise. Ask additional information about the item. Don't believe too much what they told you. Beware of any convincing words or headings about the item. It maybe possible that the item information is not the actual description of the item. Give much thought before buying an expensive item. Fraud is common to this kind of seller-buyer interaction.

If you are very suspicious of what had been advertised, check it thoroughly. Don't take it for granted. It maybe a valid warning for you to consider verifying. Don't allow yourself to be defrauded because of your inattention and misinformation. Ask the seller more questions for your satisfaction. If you are not convince, then don't.

One technique employed by scam artist (seller) is to use capital letters with highlights indicating the description of the item. The quality may be exaggerated to make the item more beautiful to the eyes of the buyer.

Know the true price of the item. It might be overprice or the price is unreasonable and unacceptable. If the seller can give you an authenticated price listing of the item you want, it is a helpful guide for you to decide to buy.

Know any sign of misrepresentation of the merchandise, its value, condition, authenticity and the price. This is always the common trick applied by the seller to do an act of fraud. Most often, the seller run and take your money and the failure to ship the item leaving you wondering what happened, putting you penniless as you are caught off-guard of not expecting the possible.

LOTTERY SCAM

Everyone of us want to get rich. If you don't want the money, then something is wrong with you. It is an opportunity of a lifetime that only knock once and cannot be repeated again for another chance. But this dream will never come.

Receiving an e-mail letter telling you that you won 1 million dollars from electronic raffle where your e-mail address was selected to receive the said reward. It is too good to be true but is also too bad to know that it is not what it seemed to be.

How can you win such a big amount of money when you did not even entered into this kind of lottery game in your whole life? How a certain initiator give you such an amount so easily? But what it hurts is that you have to pay in advance a certain fixed amount as processing fee of a thousand dollars to get your winnings which is not there. Once you take the bait, goodbye to your send money order. You can no longer contact them bringing your hard-earned money with them. They are the one that won the lottery and not you because you give your money to them without knowing that it is only a scam.

How this scam work?

-Informing you that you won in an online balloting.

-They asked your full name, mailing address (city/state/zip code), age, sex, occupation, contact number (cell or home).

-You are being instructed to send an advance fee payment through Western Union.

-They will send a check to you in US dollars through a Certified Cashier's Check drawn from the Bank of America.

-That you have to indicate the transaction code they give you in claiming the prize.

-Shipping fee for sending the Cashier Check to your permanent address.

-Asking for deposit fee temporarily paid by the lottery company in your behalf as the money was deposited in the bank.

-A check conversion fee in converting the wire transfer payment into a Certified Cashier's Check.

-In claiming the prize, you are being referred to another person who handles your claim as a claim agent.

Don't be lured into accepting the prize. This is only part of their grand design to scam you with your advance fee transmission.