Likely Scam – Needs to be identified and dealt with immediately or it may result in heavy losses to you. In todays online world, where your data is also floating around on internet, probability of you getting targeted by likely scammers has gone up substantially.
All of us need to be consciously aware and alert, to save ourselves against any potential likely scam.
Some thumb rules to safeguard yourself
While we will be discussing likely scam situations in following paragraphs. Suggestion is to have following two thumb rules for yourself:
- If you are not sure of it (even by 1%), DO NOT GO AHEAD.
- If it is too good to be true, DO NOT GO AHEAD
Here, DO NOT GO AHEAD, means do not proceed further at that moment of time. Do your research about the situation – the product or service offered to you. No harm in checking with law enforcement agencies or other relevant sources. If you are convinced of its authenticity, them move forward.
One basic trait of all scammers and their scams is - They want you to move ahead and close - NOW.
Warning Signs of a Likely Scam
1. Scammers contact you “From No Where”
It could be a know on your door, or a phone call, or an email. Any of these or all of these from someone you do not know of or you are not expecting. Scammers play with surprise element effectively and would want the transaction etc. to happen before you realize what hit you.
Examples:
- Unknown person/s knocking on your door, identifying themselves as someone trustworthy (Police, or Fire and so on).
- You receiving a phone call stating that you have won some lottery amount, out of the blue.
- You receive a mail from some attorney’s office, informing you of hefty inheritance from some distant relative of you.
- Some one calling you to deposit your outstanding taxes NOW in bank account shared by the likely scammer, while you know that you are clean.
Anything from nowhere has to be a likely scam. Beware !!
2. Scammers claim “Its an Emergency”
A likely scam will want you to react and respond immediately, otherwise you might loose money or might get arrested. They could also claim that some close relative of yours is in trouble some where, and needs your immediate help or money.
3. Scammers will ask for your personal information.
They might call you as your bank representative or from tax office or health care office. Further, they will try and convince you or coerce you to share your personal information with them. Moment this happens, your sound alarms should ring in your head – “Likely Scam”
4. Scammers want online money transfer
You may be asked to wire the money or purchase pre-paid debit cards. This is the easiest way for the scammers to get their hands on your money. Once you have wired the money, it is impossible to get it back.
5. Scammers make too good to be true offers.
Anything which is too good to be true, is actually not true. Do not fall for it. Only your parents offer you easy money or out of the world offers, anyone else offering you is a likely scam.
To Conclude
Scammers play on 3 things:
- Your ignorance
- Your greed
- Your fear
And these emotions can be played upon, only within the spur of the moment. Whenever in doubt:
- Take a step backwards
- Take a deep breath
- Take your time, to research and consult competent known people in your circle
- Do not fall for fear or greed.
