BBB (Better Business Bureau) recently released the list of scams
- Job scams:
If you apply a job online through a classified listing on Craigslist, you will hear back from the “employer” and maybe even do a phone interview. Then you’re requested to fill the forms for a credit check or for direct deposit. The BBB says this is the way to capture sensitive personal data like bank account passwords.
To avoid: Utilize your search engine site to search the company. Make sure the company exists and confirm that the person contacting you actually works there.
- Viral video scams:
While surfing Facebook, Twitter or other social network, you find a lot of contacts. You see a friend just shared a link to a video teasing the latest celebrity news with a attractive title like “Justin Bieber’s secret birthday video, click here to see!” If you click means, you will get a message that you require to update your video software. Then you know, your account’s been hijacked and you are placing the same links to your friends also. And it’s the beginning stage that affects your computer. (Xanax)
To avoid: Don’t click any social networking links having attractive titles even from friends you trust. Instead of clicking the link, right-click and copy the links address and paste directly into browser. Make sure it directs where you expect. If you have any doubt, copy and paste the headline into a search engine and search a trusted copy.
Hotel scams:
These types of scams normally through phone call when you’re on vacation. They tell “hotel desk clerk” and ask a apologize and there’s a difficulty with their computer and your credit card isn’t working. So you have to tell your info again. If you give means, your whole account will be hijacked.
To avoid: Don’t give your personal information over the phone. If a problem comes, go to the front office and clear the problems.
Prize scams:
Normally you will get “Congratulations! Message” like Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg is individually emailing you to let you know you just won a $1 million prize. But, there are some taxes you have to pay up front before you can get the money, and you have to fill out some forms with all your personal details.
To avoid: These stupid “contests” have been circulating for years. Nobody’s randomly choosing your name to offer you money. If you claim on making sure, don’t click any links in emails. Instead of that, type the address of the website directly in the browser itself.
Mortgage help scams:
You’ve heard about a government plan to aid underwater homeowner’s labor things out with their lenders. So you see it in online. You find a website that request for an up-front fee to negotiate on your behalf, and you give it – only to later find out they never talked to anyone. You’re still underwater, and now you’ve lost valuable time and money.
To avoid: Paste to websites with addresses ending in “.gov” (like MakingHomeAffordable.gov) for more information that doesn’t cost anything up front.
Tricky auctions:
You see an online ad like new iPad 3 for a auction you’ve seen everywhere else. So you click on it. Then you end up with an strange auction site where you have to pay $1 per bid.
To avoid: Don’t click out any ads like this.