As long as human beings have been communicating with one another, there have been bad eggs- people who, for one reason or another, see their fellow human beings as little more than a means to an end. These con artists think nothing of running their marks out of house and home, with little consideration for the lives they ruin – so long as they make a profit, they feel as though they’re in the clear. Perhaps they’re sociopaths, or maybe they simply feel entitled to what they’re taking. Either way, they run scams- and many people fall for them.
I’m not talking about the Nigerian Princes and the Government Officials who offer exorbitant amounts of money – I somewhat doubt there are many people out there who fall for the old 419 any more. But just in case…if any of you ever suspect that an email you’ve received is a scam, or someone’s trying to play you for a fool, a quick Google search usually exposes the individual for what they are. I’m talking about the more complex scams – the ones run by people who actually put effort into taking what they haven’t earned, who are actually capable of fooling people. They’re the ones you’ve gotta watch out for.
But how can you tell if you’re come across a scammer? Here’s a checklist for all of you. If they meet even one of the requirements here, you’re probably being played – and you should get out while you can.
1. They make a number of grandiose claims, with little to back them up: Perhaps one of the best examples of a successful scam was the Mythic: The Story of Gods and Men debacle on Kickstarter. The game had everything the backers could have possibly wanted, and then some. The project creator managed to scam Kickstarter users out of almost $5,000 before he was shut down. On close examination, it was pretty obvious that it was a scam – $80,000 to support a team of twelve developers, all of whom were veterans who left Activision-Blizzard for “something better,” and gameplay similar to World of Warcraft with visuals on par with Skyrim. Notice all the name drops? Seems amazing at first glance doesn’t it? And that leads us to our next point…
2. What they offer seems too good to be true: As a general rule, if something seems too good to be true, it is. You can’t make millions of dollars working from home, you don’t often get something for nothing, and you shouldn’t have to pay upfront for the right to work somewhere. Essentially, utilize common sense- if your gut’s telling you the world doesn’t usually work this way, that’s because it doesn’t.
The exception to the rule is that you can get some pretty awesome free or on the cheap if you know where to look- there are always people on websites like Craigslist looking to unload items they no longer want or need.
3. They toy with your emotions: In the event that you’re purchasing something, never make a sale or sign an agreement based on emotion. Maybe they try to make you pity them. Maybe they make it seem as though if you don’t make a snap decision, someone else is going to snatch up whatever you’re interested in. Or maybe they’re just trying to make you feel terrible so you do what they want. Whatever the case, if you even suspect you’re being emotionally manipulated, shut down the deal right away, and get away from them as quickly as you can.
4. They want to use a different method of payment from the norm: Ebay, Amazon, and all the other sites out there tend to use payment systems such as Paypal. If someone requests that you do a transfer or use an alternative means of payment in exchange for their product, report them and get out.
5. They constantly refer to testimonials: This one’s tricky, because a lot of legitimate businesses and sellers use testimonials to back up their reputation. Here’s the difference – check to see if the testimonials seem sketchy or not. Here’s a guide.
6. They want you to jump through hoops: If you’re selling a product, your buyer should give you the money in exchange for the goods you’re offering, at which point you’ll take the necessary steps to send them said goods.. You shouldn’t have to do anything extra outside of that. Same goes for buying a product. In terms of jobs, you’re expected to jump through a few hoops- after all, you need to prove to them you’re a worthy employee.
7. They ask for too much personal information, too soon: Self-explanatory. Be wary of giving out any personal information online- it could come back to bite you, and keep your distance from people who are overly friendly immediately after meeting you.
8. They don’t address you directly or by name: This is a big red flag when you’re applying for a job- an employer should already have all your personal details. If they speak to you in the third person, they’re not actually considering you as an employee, and they’re probably not even a legitimate employer. Go with them, and you’re likely to get burned.
9. They overuse buzzwords: Beware of any communiques that seem too “salesy.” Chances are it’s because they realize there’s no substance to what they’re trying to pitch, and as such, they’re couching it in fancy language.
Aside from looking out for those warning signs, you could also run a background check on the seller, buyer, or employer (five minutes on Google usually tells you everything you want to know), do a Tineye search on any images they send, check out any items you’ve been sent before you finalize any sales, and keep track of every single message sent and shipping receipt you’ve been given.
Image Credits: [Hoax Slayer] [ifc] [ehow] [Zac Johnson] [Romance Scam]
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