How to Identify and Avoid E-mail Scams
We’ve all gotten them, those annoying e-mails from “doctors” or “executives” claiming to need your help to deposit some vast amount of money. In exchange for doing almost nothing, these e-mails claim you will receive a ridiculously high pay-off.
Most people recognize these e-mails as scams, but scam artists are getting better at duping unsuspecting, good-hearted people.
The sad truth is that every time a world disaster or scandal occurs, a scammer is out there devising a plan to make money from the suffering of others. Most recently, scammers, just days after the devastating earthquake in Haiti, were sending out bogus e-mails asking for donations. Never donate money to an organization you haven’t heard of.
Another favorite scam is to claim someone with your last name has died without an heir, leaving millions of dollars behind. Since you share a last name with the deceased, the scammers, who claim to be estate attorneys, apparently figure anyone with the same last name will do to inherit this fortune. All you have to do to get your millions is to pay a small fee, which goes right into the scammers pockets.
The scammers are getting smarter, and because they have been successful, they are likely to continue their quest for more and more sophisticated schemes. For that reason, consumers must keep up to date on their latest methods. One new scheme involves scammers hacking into an e-mail account, accessing your friends’ e-mail addresses, then sending out a bogus e-mail that appears to be from you frantically requesting money because you are stranded in a foreign country with no money. Several people have actually sent money to scammers thinking a close friend was in desperate need.
What do you do with these e-mails? Delete them. They are often easy to recognize, so we suggest they be deleted without even opening them.
The bottom line is that nowadays you must be suspicious of every e-mail you receive that talks about sending or receiving money. The old adage, “if it seems too good to be true it probably is” has never been more relevant.
Because many of these scam artists come from overseas, look for misspellings and grammatical errors in the text. Unless you know the sender, don’t answer and don’t fall for their claims.
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Copyright (c) Brian Durham. Brian Durham is an Internet Marketer and author who writes articles on subjects including email scams and how to avoid them.You can see more of Brian’s articles at http://ScamOfTheDay.com/
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lesa webster // Sep 28, 2011 at 12:20 pm
they say i won the u k mega millions ltery and that my email is how i won and im from u s not there and to pay 300 to get the 1 million doolars and its a refundable fee pay bthough western union
Brian
// Sep 28, 2011 at 3:27 pm
@Lesa – it’s a scam… just delete it. You will not get the prize money you desire.
CHISCOP MARIA
// Oct 18, 2011 at 3:34 am
am primit acest e-mail puteti sa imi spuneti daca este fals sau real?
Brian
// Oct 18, 2011 at 7:08 am
I already have done so.
Johan // Nov 21, 2011 at 4:21 am
Good day.
I have received a job offer from Nokia United Kingdom, had to complete a questionnaire & was awarded the job in London.
I am responsible for my work permit & visa the rest they provide for!
Is this a scam?
They have a telephone number +447024063578.
Is this a scam?
Please assist.
Thanks
Johan
Brian
// Nov 21, 2011 at 6:36 am
Scam. 4470 is a telephone redirect service in the UK – these numbers usually get redirected to Nigeria. Don’t send them any money.
chikko ramirez
// Jan 28, 2012 at 1:23 pm
what about nellie johnson seeking help to stand as her guardian? gave me this phone number to call +22567161328..
Brian
// Jan 30, 2012 at 8:09 am
it’s a scam.
AIDA OCHOA // Feb 17, 2012 at 9:13 pm
recibí un mensaje en el que me dicen que me gané una lotería de los estados unidos en un sorteo electrónico, por 1.250.000 dólares, utilizan el nombre de la Western Union como presunto pagador y un señor James Borgenson me envió hasta el pasaporte para que no desconfíe…es una estafa???
Brian
// Feb 17, 2012 at 9:23 pm
I say all over my website that any email remotely like those seen on the website is a scam. Yours of course is no exception.
AVILIA ADSUARA
// Mar 9, 2012 at 9:53 am
Kindly find out if this number is a scammer +233245066291 ..he introduced himself as a diplomat of united nations, bhagdad, iraq…pls. help me find out!!! Thanks….
Brian
// Mar 9, 2012 at 12:31 pm
And… you believe that it might be real? Just delete it… it is a scammer.
stella isoardi
// Mar 14, 2012 at 8:00 am
el muy mal parido del tal Dr. Mathwe Nellor es un estafador no contesten mail de el. eliminenlo.Dice que tiene una suma de dinero para usted y te da un numero de telefono de un banco de nigeria y que hay dinero por una indemnizacion. No contesten
Jeniffer Rodriguez
// Apr 22, 2012 at 3:06 pm
Im workin here in hk and i know a man from uk in skype and we get closer. I ask him to find me a man who wants me to marry and help me goin in uk and he offer his self. He ask me abt how much i have so we can start and i send him 1500us$ and he take care of the restfor tickets and etc, after 1 week the man who process my visa ask again 2550
pounds for the BTA as transportation allowance required by d embassy and refundable. and i said i have no such amt. they said they will help and just provide 1000pounds so i send them again in western union but only 700 borrow so we need 850 more to complete. sad to say i was terminated
in my work and i have no money to send and my parents start to think if this only scam i spend all my money. there nos are +447045716333 and +447927062872 the one who process my visa and my bf is in germany that time no way for me to call him and now i know he is in africa who call me using dis no +233542428586 and asking even only 500pounds will provide and he will take care of the rest. I just wanna know if this scam or not? pls help me, i love the man very much i trust him but i spend too much money.I wait for ur response soon…Godbless and more power…
Brian
// Apr 22, 2012 at 3:29 pm
Scam – yes. There’s not much I can do for you – my website here primarily exists so that people can identify scams before they get involved with them. After that it’s too late – at that point it’s time to get in touch with local or national authorities. Whatever you do – don’t send any more money because you won’t get it back.
scott
// Apr 23, 2012 at 9:59 pm
hi brian,,,i have recieved alot of these emails from alot of scammers in nigeria,,wanted to share so people can be aware of these scams,,anything that is nigeria related is a scam,,i get these alot all asking for alittle money or alot,,it doesnt matter,,,DO NOT SEND ANY MONEY people,,i dont have enough room here to pst my emails but i got a boat load of them,,,i too have sent money in past before wising up,,,now i laugh at these emails,,they try and try dont be stupid people,,anything that requires you to pay to get some rediculous amount using western union is a SCAM…period
zaneta // May 1, 2012 at 5:42 pm
I receive an email from david cole for travel coordinator for scott dunn company and two different applications is this a scam? The company is legit I want to make sure that david cole really works for scott dunn company….
Brian
// May 1, 2012 at 6:04 pm
Scam – delete the emails and move on with the rest of your life. Hint – if you google “Scott Dunn” (in caps) along with “david cole” (again in caps) you’ll find more “Scott Dunn” scams related to this “David Cole” person. Remember – search engines are your friend.
lize
// May 15, 2012 at 5:35 pm
HELLO I WAS SPEAKING TO A CAPTIAN JOHN N HE SAID HE IS IN AFRICA WORKING ON A MISSION FOR THE UNITED STATES N I EVEN GOT TO SEE A PICTURE OF HIM IN UNIFORM,HE SAID HE WANTED ME TO ASSIST HIM IN SENDING 950 DOLLARS BUT I ONLY SEND FOUR TO SEND A HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY DOWN.I WANT TO KNOW IF THIS IS A SCAM N WAT CAN U TELL MEABOUT THIS EMAIL unitednationrecoveryteams@rediffmail,com
Brian
// May 15, 2012 at 5:47 pm
Anything using rediffmail is suspect. I’ve seen too many scams come from there.
Given what you’ve told me already I can tell you that it’s a scam. I’ve talked to women before in your situation.
1) Don’t get attached to him because he’s not what he says he is – not a soldier, not working for the UN. He’s probably in Nigeria.
2) Don’t send any more money because you won’t get any of it back.
lize
// May 15, 2012 at 6:04 pm
n there also an other one which i did research on to find out is he is for real or not n it came up to be true,that he is real n he is asking me for 100 dollars for some form,wat can u tell me about that
Brian
// May 15, 2012 at 6:27 pm
No need for research – they are all scams.
Graham Homan
// May 17, 2012 at 3:11 pm
Hi Brian,
I am selling a boat and have received two, almost identical, suspicious enquiries offering to buy at full price without even viewing the boat. Both say they are temporarily overseas in the Ivory Coast and want my name address & phone details to arrange transfer of funds. Neither asked for my bank details. If I give them the information asked for, what harm can these people potentially do with this limited information? I know this is likely to be a scam, but if there is the slightest chance that these are genuine buyers I cannot afford to dismiss them. One phone number stared as 0022540086 and the other 00225446298.
Thanks in advance. Graham
Brian
// May 17, 2012 at 3:28 pm
Graham:
Côte d’Ivoire makes me suspicious unfortunately… it’s yet another west African country known for scams.
I did a Google search for one of the numbers (as you probably have already – some web search) and I found was that it was a French mobile number.
I probably wouldn’t proceed with either of the offers.
Best wishes -
Brian Durham