Robert Siciliano is a NextAdvisor.com Expert Guest Blogger
Most people are too smart to fall a Nigerian 419 scam. But many smart people fell for investment scams of Bernie Madoff. Madoff was much more subtle than your average scammer. But in this day and age, people should be more alert to potential scams than ever before. Yet this wolf in sheep's clothing has been scamming so many investors. So it seems we're not as savvy as we should be.
The root of the problem is the large number of scams. There are investment seminars, smoke and mirror charities, email phishing and even text messages. I am a "phext" (SMS phishing) from "r.yahoo.com" who said, "changed the secret question, log update, or HELP or text STOP to end . " Naturally, this raised my suspicions, I did an online search led me to this particular scam discussion forum. Apparently, no response to this text message would have allowed hackers to access many exclusive data.
A security researcher and leading private life sent me to describe a Craigslist scam attempt:
"Robert, so I registered on craigslist and posted our above ground pool for sale. in a few minutes, got a response from someone asking some basic questions (most of which could have been answered if they had read the ad). Their response to my responses raised an immediate red flag. This individual claimed to be of Miami and was willing to give me a check for the full amount plus the shipping costs for their transportation company pick up the pool. in other words, I put a check (in context, it seemed like a business or personal check, or as I should have expected it to disappear) and when it clears, I keep my asking price and give the difference the shipping company when they arrive to pick up the pool.
I stopped communicating with this person, but it just stinks to high heaven. First, if it is their own shipping company, why should I pay them? Second, no way I'll drop that check in my account and the risk of having my bank details appear on their statement. Third, why someone in Miami (above ground pools are not so popular there, it seems to me) want to pay for a used above ground pool comes all way of New England ? Fourth, I am nervous about things like that anyway.
Never heard of / met this situation before? "
This is an advanced fee scam! Now, since I'm obsessive screaming about this stuff all day, I can see it coming from a mile away, as my friend. But those who are less attentive to the variety of potential scams could easily fall victim to this type of crime.
financial difficulties force people to seek new opportunities. When we research job or try to sell our goods online, or just spend more time using social networking sites, we become more sensitive to the latest. But the greatest danger scams is our own ego and our complacency because we foolishly think we're all too smart to be victims.
According to the Wall Street Journal , many victims of the scam are smart enough. Three recent studies have shown that victims of investment fraud tend to be better educated and have higher incomes than nonvictims, and most have been investing for a decade or more. Because they are so confident in their own judgment, they fail to get professional advice.
Thereyears, the Better Business Bureau conducted a test in which they planted a man dressed in clothing of the normal street outside a store during the holiday season. They gave the man a plastic pumpkin and bell ringing. He spent twenty minutes at the bell, and during that time, people kept dropping money into the pumpkin. When people were interviewed, most believed they had donated to the Army Hi, simply because the man rang a bell. Like Pavlov's dogs, they opened their wallets.
The criminals are smarter than we are, but they know how to capitalize on our stupidity. You must take steps to protect your own identity, because while you are smart enough to learn about these issues, you can not prevent a certain company foolishly jeopardize your sensitive personal data. Prevent new account fraud by obtaining a credit freeze. Go to ConsumersUnion.org and follow the steps for your particular state. This is an absolutely necessary tool to secure your credit. In most cases, it prevents new accounts from being opened in your name. This makes your Social Security number useless to a potential identity thief. And invest in identity theft protection. All forms of protection against identity theft can be prevented, but identity theft protection services can dramatically reduce your risk.
Robert Siciliano, identity theft speaker, discusses various scams TBS Movie and a Makeover .
Robert Siciliano is CEO of IDTheftSecurity.com, an expert on identity theft, professional speaker, security analyst, published author and television news correspondent. Siciliano works with Fortune 1000 and start-up companies as a consultant on product launches, branding, messaging, representation, SEO and media. the thoughts and advice of Siciliano on all these issues often appear in both television and print media news, including CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, FOX, Forbes and USA Today. He has 25 years of safety training as a member of the American Society for Industrial Security. He is the author of two books, including The Safety Minute: Living on high alert; How to take control of your personal safety and to prevent fraud . He also established a partnership with Uni-Ball to help raise awareness of the growing threat of identity theft and provide tips on how you can protect yourself.