The Cyber Keralam Portal setup by Resource Centre for Cyber Forensics has received a number of complaints regarding Internet Frauds during the last two months. Most of the frauds are Internet Lottery Scams. Some has lost money to the tune of several thousands to 8 lakhs.
In these scams, the culprits are operating from outside India and there is a limit to trace these people. The only way to prevent becoming a victim of these types of crime is to be aware of such things. These types of cheating comes like , Winning Internet Lottery, Winning Microsoft Lottery, inheritance transfer, immigration frauds, etc.
Most of the mails received by Cyber kerlam Portal is to verify the authenticity before making any transaction. That was good. But, most of the people have exposed their personal indentity. This is a dangerous situation.
The following are the main frauds reported here.
Nigerian Letter or "419" Fraud
Email Lottery Scams
Impersonation/Identity Fraud
Advance Fee Scheme
Telemarketing Fraud
Advance Fee Scheme
An advance fee scheme occurs when the victim pays money to someone in anticipation of receiving something of greater value, such as a loan, contract, investment, or gift, and then receives little or nothing in return.
The variety of advance fee schemes is limited only by the imagination of the con artists who offer them. They may involve the sale of products or services, the offering of investments, lottery winnings, "found money," or many other "opportunities." Clever con artists will offer to find financing arrangements for their clients who pay a "finder's fee" in advance. They require their clients to sign contracts in which they agree to pay the fee when they are introduced to the financing source. Victims often learn that they are ineligible for financing only after they have paid the "finder" according to the contract. Such agreements may be legal unless it can be shown that the "finder" never had the intention or the ability to provide financing for the victims.
Some Tips to Avoid the Advanced Fee Schemes:
1. If the offer of an "opportunity" appears too good to be true, it probably is. Follow common business practice. For example, legitimate business is rarely conducted in cash on a street corner.
2. Know who you are dealing with. If you have not heard of a person or company that you intend to do business with, learn more about them. Depending on the amount of money that you intend to spend, you may want to visit the business location, check with the Better Business Bureau, or consult with your bank, an attorney, or the police.
3. Make sure you fully understand any business agreement that you enter into. If the terms are complex, have them reviewed by a competent attorney.
4. Be wary of businesses that operate out of post office boxes or mail drops and do not have a street address, or of dealing with persons who do not have a direct telephone line, who are never "in" when you call, but always return your call later.
5. Be wary of business deals that require you to sign nondisclosure or noncircumvention agreements that are designed to prevent you from independently verifying the bona fides of the people with whom you intend to do business. Con artists often use noncircumvention agreements to threaten their victims with civil suit if they report their losses to law enforcement.
In these scams, the culprits are operating from outside India and there is a limit to trace these people. The only way to prevent becoming a victim of these types of crime is to be aware of such things. These types of cheating comes like , Winning Internet Lottery, Winning Microsoft Lottery, inheritance transfer, immigration frauds, etc.
Most of the mails received by Cyber kerlam Portal is to verify the authenticity before making any transaction. That was good. But, most of the people have exposed their personal indentity. This is a dangerous situation.
The following are the main frauds reported here.
Nigerian Letter or "419" Fraud
Email Lottery Scams
Impersonation/Identity Fraud
Advance Fee Scheme
Telemarketing Fraud
Advance Fee Scheme
An advance fee scheme occurs when the victim pays money to someone in anticipation of receiving something of greater value, such as a loan, contract, investment, or gift, and then receives little or nothing in return.
The variety of advance fee schemes is limited only by the imagination of the con artists who offer them. They may involve the sale of products or services, the offering of investments, lottery winnings, "found money," or many other "opportunities." Clever con artists will offer to find financing arrangements for their clients who pay a "finder's fee" in advance. They require their clients to sign contracts in which they agree to pay the fee when they are introduced to the financing source. Victims often learn that they are ineligible for financing only after they have paid the "finder" according to the contract. Such agreements may be legal unless it can be shown that the "finder" never had the intention or the ability to provide financing for the victims.
Some Tips to Avoid the Advanced Fee Schemes:
1. If the offer of an "opportunity" appears too good to be true, it probably is. Follow common business practice. For example, legitimate business is rarely conducted in cash on a street corner.
2. Know who you are dealing with. If you have not heard of a person or company that you intend to do business with, learn more about them. Depending on the amount of money that you intend to spend, you may want to visit the business location, check with the Better Business Bureau, or consult with your bank, an attorney, or the police.
3. Make sure you fully understand any business agreement that you enter into. If the terms are complex, have them reviewed by a competent attorney.
4. Be wary of businesses that operate out of post office boxes or mail drops and do not have a street address, or of dealing with persons who do not have a direct telephone line, who are never "in" when you call, but always return your call later.
5. Be wary of business deals that require you to sign nondisclosure or noncircumvention agreements that are designed to prevent you from independently verifying the bona fides of the people with whom you intend to do business. Con artists often use noncircumvention agreements to threaten their victims with civil suit if they report their losses to law enforcement.