Falling for online scams: Greed the main folly

ALTHOUGH the existence of Internet scams has been well publicised, there are many who still remain gullible and allow themselves to be conned. Or if I may put it more bluntly — they asked for it!It’s really disappointing to read stories regularly of people losing their money (and property even) to online scams. Why? Have we not been cautioned and warned about such scams all so often and yet, we still fall prey to these conmen on the Internet prowl.

I think I should revert from ‘disappointing’ to ‘sickening’. People who go online should be considered the more discerning lot, are educated or at least know how to read and write.

Yet, in Malaysia, and I believe in other places too, they form the majority who have been cheated. Yes, many who lost their money are professional people. Isn’t that a real shame!

It’s sickening because greed is the main reason why people can easily get cheated. When one gets greedy for lucrative returns, the mind becomes clouded and stupidity sets in. Indeed, it is true that greed makes one stupid. If not, why do you think that even professionals like lawyers and company executives can be so gullible and fall prey to online scams?

Greed has been described as the root of all evil. But one could say that controlled greed has some root in ambitions. Greed is also a product of selfishness.

I have no intention to lecture on man’s greed here and I won’t. Suffice to say, those reading this will readily agree that greed is the main folly and why those fraudsters online have been able to rake in millions.

Scams are aplenty in cyberspace. In the beginning, it was the famed Nigerian scams. I received many of them in my email box. Then there are the auction scams, chain letters, pyramid scams and a horde of online home business scams and many others.

Internet scams are by no means a recent phenomenon, but certain scams come back again and again.

No matter how they re-fashion themselves, it is also not too difficult to smell a rat.

For example, this letter came into my mail box this week.

“As you read this, I don’t want you to feel sorry for me, because I believe everyone will die some day. My name is Usman Ibrahim. I am a merchant of Saudi Arabian nationality but presently residing in London.

“I have been diagnosed with Esophageal cancer. It has defied all forms of medical treatment, and right now I have only about a few months to live, according to medical experts. I have not particularly lived my life so well, as I never really cared for anyone (not even myself) but my business.

“I want God to be merciful to me and accept my soul so, I have decided to give alms to charity organisations, as I want this to be one of the last good deeds I do on earth. So far, I have distributed money to some charity organisations in Oman, Algeria and Malaysia.

“Now that my health has deteriorated so badly, I cannot do this myself any more. I once asked members of my family to close one of my accounts and distribute the money which I have there to charity organisations in Bulgaria and Pakistan, they refused and kept the money to themselves.

“Hence, I do not trust them any more, as they seem not to be contented with what I have left for them. The last of my money which no one knows of is the huge cash deposit of US$10 million that I have with a security company. I want you to help me collect this deposit and dispatch it to charity organisations.

“I have set aside 30 per cent for you and for your time.

“God be with you. Thanks, Usman Ibrahim.”

One glance at this letter will tell you that it is a scam. How stupid one must be to fall for this conman.

It’s best to thrash such mails immediately. But if you have the time to spare, why don’t you just shoot him a ‘nice’ reply telling him that “it’s best to bury your 10 million with you”.

Then, another of these regular scam items also came in this week.

“UK-National lottery promo. Your email has won you the sum of 1 million pounds in the UK National Lottery. To claim your prize contact Barr Terry Woodgate on this email below. barrterry woodgate66@gmail.com. Contact him, with your serial no.: S/N-472-9768-79.”

That goes into the thrash bin, of course.

If you really have problems with detecting online scams, here are a few tips on how to avoid them, as advised by Online Security Watch.

a) Always use common sense: If you have a gut feeling that something isn’t legitimate, you’re probably right so just avoid it.

b) Make sure the company has a phone number and physical address. — Call the company back. Check with information to see if the phone number actually belongs to that company.

c) Always ask for references and check them carefully. — A reputable company will be pleased to send you additional information and give you as many references from satisfied customers as you want.

d) Do ask on-line promoters where their company is incorporated. — If you’re suspicious, call the relevant department and ask if the company is incorporated with them and if it has a current annual report on file.

e) Always make sure that you get a strong guarantee. — Ask the company what will happen if you want to return the product or service. You might even ask for references of people who have returned the product and received refunds.

f) Avoid falling for high pressure sales tactics. — Scamsters always want your money right now. They don’t want to give you time to think about your decision. If you are pressured to decide right now, decide ‘no’.

g) Pay by credit card. — That gives you recourse if you have a problem. If you pay by credit card and have a problem, you can call your bank and do a charge back.

h) Don’t respond to bulk emails. Be sceptical of offers that use LOTS OF CAPITAL LETTERS and punctuation!!! Emails that shout at you are often bogus, such as ‘Discover how you can make BIG $$$$$ MONEY in NO TIME AT ALL!!!!!’

i) Always print a hard copy of any online offer that you’re considering. — Make sure you keep the email address, Internet address (URL), and any other information, as well as the date and time that you saw the offer. Save this information in case you need it later.

j) Beware of promoters who try to sell things using an anonymous email address such as non12345@anon.company. com, user@domain.com or a post office box.

k) Don’t participate in a pyramid scheme. — If you are asked to send money to 10 people, who each send money to 10 other people, who then each send money to 10 more people, etc., this is an illegal pyramid scheme. Don’t do it.

l) If you’re told that you have won a prize, be sceptical. — If you are told you have won a prize and have to pay money, always refuse the prize.

Well, take note of these tips. Make sure you’re fully aware that thieves and conmen will always come up with new schemes to con unsuspecting clients.

But more importantly, don’t be greedy and never believe that you can make extra money the easy way. Work for your keep, people.

(Comments can reach the writer at paulsir99@hotmail.com)