Business Opportunities Weblog

December 1, 2008 by Rich Whittle | 5 Comments

Wallet Pop:

1. Phishing scams related to the financial crisis
According to the Federal Trade Commission, there is a new round of email scams out there that are tied to the financial crisis. Many of these emails “phish” for personal information — your Social Security number, account numbers, passwords, etc. The scammer then uses that info to steal your identity.

2. Scams related to the banking crisis
The banking crisis is presenting scammers with another golden opportunity. We’re hearing numerous complaints about official-looking emails that claim to be from a bank or from the FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation). These emails prey on your fears, claiming your bank is in trouble or that money has been stolen from your account. Most ask for your personal information, which they then use to steal your identity or illegally access your account.

3. Home rescue scams
With today’s housing troubles, mortgage rescue scams are crawling out of the woodwork. These scams target people who fear losing their home and ruining their credit because of foreclosure. A “real estate investor” contacts you and offers to bring your payments current if you’ll sign over the deed. He offers to keep making the payments in the future. You’ll need to move out so he can rent the house, but you won’t have a foreclosure on your credit.

4. Mortgage renegotiation scams
A smooth-talking salesperson tells you he can renegotiate your mortgage with your lender and help you keep your house. He’ll require a fee (as much as $1,000 or more) before he can start, of course!

Problem is, the “deal” he gets is one that you could have gotten on your own, and it probably won’t be enough to keep you in your home. However, because he was “successful” in getting the loan renegotiated, he has technically earned his fee and there’s little that you can do about it.

5. Fake check scams
Everyone is looking for a little extra money these days. But if you get a check in the mail that you weren’t expecting, don’t get excited-and don’t cash it. It could be one of the many “fake check” scams going around.

These scams involve everything from claiming you won the Publisher’s Clearing House Sweepstakes to offering you work as a “mystery shopper.” But they all have one thing in common: you receive a check – a real-looking check, payable to YOU – for several thousand dollars. They tell you the money is to pay for contest fees, or is your fee for being a mystery shopper. They ask you to deposit the check and then wire them most of the money back.

Photo by ilco.

In Crime, Internet, Scam | 5 Comments