Counterfeit Check Scams
What to do with the checks:
Do not shred them Do not write on them Retain the original envelope that the check came in DO NOT walk into the bank and say is this check good, because that gives indications that you want to cash it
It’s important that they need to know that you have no intentions to cashing it; you are simply there to alert the account holder and to turn the check over to someone in authority.
Money Order Scams
What to do with the Money Orders:
Do not shred them Do not write on them Retain the original envelope that the Money Orders came in DO NOT walk into the bank and say is this Money Orders good, because that gives indications that you want to cash it
You have one option:
Reshipping Merchandise Scams
• Immediately cease all contact with the scammer! Block their email address, ignore their instant messages, ignore their phone calls
• Make copies if your email conversations, and instant messages. Keep originals for yourself, give copies to the various reporting agencies, and keep all receipts and envelopes, anything that can be used as evidence
• Contact your Postal Carrier/Post Office and ask that no packages to be delivered at your home/ work
• Contact your Postal Carrier/Post Office if you have been sent packages or letters to forward for a scammer. Keep the envelopes or shipping package for evidence
• Contact any companies that have sent you gifts or merchandise and inform them that they were purchased on a stolen credit card and make arraignments to have the items returned
• Contact your local Police Department, to make a report
Scammer Education
Scams are a BIG business and I mean business in the literal sense. These are run just like any organization; there is a hierarchy, an organizational structure, the peons, the managers, the big bosses, the pimp daddy's. They shut down the internet cafes to normal business so the scammers can do "their jobs". Home computers are a rare commodity, most cannot afford them and they cannot afford the monthly connection. This is a HUGE business for them, there are well-to-do, respected business men/ women who have quit their "normal" daily jobs in order to get in on the scamming, and it’s easy money.
Helpful Links:
Profile of a Scammer
Nigerian 419
Scams Type
Work from home scams
Threatened by a Scammer
• Emails the victim with the victims Obituary
• Scammer threatening to turn in victim to the FBI and/or Secret Service
• Black mail with “nude” photos of the victim
• Harassing emails, instant messenger, phone calls and mail
• Threats are being made to you or to members of your family
• Sending messages say “your going to die”
• Scammer threatening to sue the victim
• Another person contacts victim by email and makes threats or demands
Tips for staying safe online
Dating abuse
Nigerian Email Scam Exposed
Excerpt from Cyber's Love Illusions; the Healing Chapter
Don’t become an online victim Use Cyber Street-Smarts
• Use a gender-neutral username/e-mail address
• Use a free e-mail account such as Hotmail (www.hotmail.com) or YAHOO! (www.yahoo.com) for newsgroups/mailing lists, chat rooms, IMs, e-mails from strangers, message boards, filling out forms and other online activities
• Don’t give your primary e-mail address to anyone you do not know or trust (see above)
• Instruct children to never give out their real name, age, address or phone number over the net THIS RULE OF THUMB APPLIES TO ADULTS AS WELL.
• Don’t provide your credit card number or other information as proof of age to access or subscribe to a web site you’re not familiar with
• Lurk on newsgroups, mailing lists and chat rooms before “speaking” or posting messages
• When you do participate online, be careful – only type what you would say to someone’s face
• Don’t be so trusting online - don’t reveal personal things about yourself until you really and truly know the other person
• Your first instinct may be to defend yourself - DON’T - this is how most online harassment situations begin
• Don’t fall for phishing e-mails that claim your account has been suspended or needs to be updated - it’s a scam!
• If it looks too good to be true -- it is
Identity Theft
Victims: Immediate Steps to Take
When you have been scammed you are at risk for identity theft, we suggest that you do the following steps to help protect yourself and your credit:
- Save detail records of your conversations and copies of all correspondence
- Place a fraud alerts on your credit reports, and review your credit reports
- You only need to contact one of the three companies to place an alert
- Equifax: 1-800-525-6285; www.equifax.com; P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
- Experian: 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742); www.experian.com; P.O. Box 9532, Allen, TX 75013
- TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289; www.transunion.com; Fraud Victim Assistance Division, P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92834-6790
- Ask for a free copy of your credit report and go over the report, look for inquiries from companies you haven’t contacted, accounts you haven’t opened or debts. If you find any thing that is not supposed to be there get it removed. Continue to check your credit reports for at least a year after being scammed.
- To place an alert on your credit report, or to have them removed, you will be required to provide appropriate proof of your identity: that may include your Social Security number, name, address and other personal information.
- You will also need to make a police report if your identity has been stolen, keep a copy of the police report for your records.
- If you gave your scammer your banking information, and/ or credit card information you will need to close your accounts:
- Call or go to the security or fraud department of each company or your bank. Bring with you copies of supporting documents (emails, instant messages, items received in the mail…anything you have to prove you’re a victim).
- If there has been activity on your accounts ask the company for the forms to dispute the transactions. When the dispute is cleared ask for a letter stating this fact.
Reporting Agencies
Email spam scams
Pyramid Selling Scams
Top Ten Scams - UK
Scams With Fake UK phone numbers
Real People Real Stories
Scam Reporting
Identity Theft Victims Immediate Steps to Take
When you have been scammed you are at risk for identity theft, we suggest that you do the following steps to help protect yourself and your credit:
Save detail records of your conversations and copies of all correspondence Place a fraud alerts on your credit reports, and review your credit reports: You only need to contact one of the three companies to place an alert Equifax: 1-800-525-6285; www.equifax.com; P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241 Experian: 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742); www.experian.com; P.O. Box 9532, Allen, TX 75013 TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289; www.transunion.com; Fraud Victim Assistance Division, P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92834-6790 Ask for a free copy of your credit report and go over the report, look for inquiries from companies you haven’t contacted, accounts you haven’t opened or debts. If you find any thing that is not supposed to be there get it removed. Continue to check your credit reports for at least a year after being scammed. To place an alert on your credit report, or to have them removed, you will be required to provide appropriate proof of your identity: that may include your Social Security number, name, address and other personal information. You will also need to make a police report if your identity has been stolen, keep a copy of the police report for your records. If you gave your scammer your banking information, and/ or credit card information you will need to close your accounts: Call or go to the security or fraud department of each company or your bank. Bring with you copies of supporting documents (emails, instant messages, items received in the mail…anything you have to prove you’re a victim). If there has been activity on your accounts ask the company for the forms to dispute the transactions. When the dispute is cleared ask for a letter stating this fact.
If you have take in perfspot message for scammer or you have scam problem come in contact with Rob
send us a quick email at support@perfspot.com with the username and a copy of the message Have you been scammed
Protecting Yourself
Questions and Answers
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Regards
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