International Scams

Posted by Salvatore Gambino 
 
The global economy and the Internet are combining to bring residents of the world together in new ways. While that often leads to positive experiences, it also makes it more likely that Americans will encounter international con artists on the Internet.
 

Avoid Nigerian Letters. Nigerian Letter scams are an example of how international scams target U.S. residents via messages delivered by e-mail, fax, or U.S. mail. Nigerian Letters claim that an authority figure in Nigeria or another African nation needs help transferring millions of dollars to U.S. accounts. If the U.S. resident agrees to help, he or she is promised a percentage of those funds. But first, the resident must send an advance fee to cover transaction costs. Once the money is sent, the sender of the letter disappears.

Advance Fee Scams. Other scams that may involve fees or other payments sent in advance include:

  • Inheritance scams linked to a supposed legacy from a long-lost relative.
  • Dating scams that snare lovelorn Americans through online dating sites.
  • Employment scams that claim to offer work permits for highly-paid jobs abroad.
  • Lottery scams that claim the recipient won the lottery in a foreign country.
  • Online auction scams that ask sellers to immediately refund purchase price "overpayments" made with counterfeit international money orders.

Phishing: A form of fraud that often originates overseas as e-mail messages are designed to appear to be from your local credit union or another financial institution, but are actually sent by identity thieves who want to steal account numbers or Social Security numbers. If you have questions or concerns about any correspondence you receive from any financial institution, contact the institution directly to verify its validity.

Common Sense Guidelines. If something sounds too good to be true, follow these common-sense guidelines:

  • Never send money to someone you don't know or for something that is supposed,to be "free."
  • Never believe you can get something for nothing.
  • Never respond to an e-mail that asks you for personal information.
  • Never expect to win the lottery if you did not buy a ticket.

Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it's probably an attempt to commit fraud at your expense.