Other scams that internet users should be aware of are:
Phishing
Phishing is the act of sending an e-mail to someone claiming to be a reputable company such as a bank. The e-mail will typically direct you to a website to confirm your information (passwords, PINs, credit card, social insurance number, bank account numbers) with them. The website, although it may look authentic, is bogus and is only designed to steal your information. Once that is done, the theives have all the necessary information to commit identity theft.
419 / Advance Fee scam
If you've ever received an e-mail that looks like this, then you've seen a 419 scam:
HAVING CONSULTED WITH MY COLLEAGUES, AND
BASED ON THE INFORMATION GATHERED FROM
AN INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATION HERE IN
NIGERIA, I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO REQUEST
YOUR ASSISTANCE TO TRANSFER THE SUM OF
TWENTY SEVEN MILLION, FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND
UNITED STATE DOLLARS ($27.4 U.S DOLLARS)
INTO YOUR ACCOUNT.
Although the nature and exact text of the "preposition" varies from letter to letter, as well as the purported author, 419 scams are designed to part you with your money. They work by asking the duped recipient into advancing processing fees to begin the transaction. Once that is performed, further pressure is applied asking you to release, among other things, bank account information. If this is done, the scammers can completely empty your bank account.
You can view a Top 10 list of online scams here. |
