Internet Scams

Overpayment Scam - Works with people who are selling high-ticket items such as cars, motorcycles or computer gear via the Internet. They should be aware of a cheque scam that is bilking victims out of thousands of dollars. Although the scam has been around for quite some time, recent trends indicate that it is netting an increasing amount of victims, especially among car owners looking to sell their vehicles. Typically, an overpayment cheque scam works like this:
A seller places an Internet advertisement for a car or other item with a high price tag.
Later, the seller receives a generous offer for the item, usually via an email.
The seller agrees on the price, and, often, also agrees to the proviso that he or she refuses any other offers for the item.
The scammers then send a cheque for the item. However, the cheque is for substantially more than the specified amount.
The scammers invent some excuse for this overpayment and ask that the balance be electronically transferred to a specified bank account. For example, they may claim that the extra funds are to pay the fees of an agent who is handling the sale or to cover shipping costs.
The seller dutifully transfers the amount out of his or her own funds.
Later, the seller finds that his or her bank has dishonored the cheque. In some cases, the bank may actually have cleared the funds, but discovers later that the check is a forgery or was stolen.
Thus the seller has been bilked out of a substantial amount, with little chance of recovering the money. Furthermore, the item remains unsold and the seller may have rejected legitimate offers in the mean time.
Winning Lottery Email Scam - Lottery scams are one of the most common types of fraudulent email currently hitting inboxes. Be wary of unsolicited email that informs you that you have won a large sum of money in an international lottery. This is a common Internet scam. There is no lottery and no prize. Those who initiate a dialogue with the scammers by replying to the lottery scam emails will eventually be asked for advanced fees to cover expenses associated with delivery of the supposed "winnings". They may also become the victims of identity theft.
Hitman Email Scam - This email claims that a hitman has been paid $50,000 to "terminate" you. According to the message, however, the hitman will cancel this contract and spare your life if you pay him a large sum of money. The message claims that "a friend" ordered the hit, but after following you for over a week, the assassin is now convinced that you are innocent and is therefore willing to let you live in exchange for a substantial payout. However, the email is nothing more than an attempt to extort money. The scammers hope that the fear generated by such an overtly threatening message will be enough to convince the victim to pay up. With such large sums of money involved, the scammers would only have to con one victim to make the exercise worthwhile. The specified payout amounts in the emails may vary. In the example shown here, the "hitman" demands $80,000 overall with an initial installment of $20,000. The scammer has hit pay dirt even if he only manages to extort this initial $20,000 before his victim wakes up to the scam.
Postal Forwarding/Reshipping Scam - Works like this; you answer an online ad looking for a "correspondence manager." An offshore corporation that lacks a U.S. address or bank account needs someone to take goods sent to their address and reship them overseas. You may also be asked to accept wire transfers into your bank account, then transfer the money to your new boss's account. In each case, you collect a percentage of the goods or amount transferred. What actually happens . . . Products are purchased online using stolen credit cards--often with identities that have been purloined by phishers--and shipped to your address. You then reship them to the thieves, who will fence them overseas. Or you're transferring stolen funds from one account to another to obscure the money trail. Sure, you can make big bucks for a while. But after a few months, you're going to look inside your bank account and find it cleaned out. Worse, when the feds come looking for the scammers, you're the one they're going to nail. The question you've gotta ask yourself . . . Why can't these people receive their own darn mail?
Person stranded and need plane fare to get home Scam - General rule don’t wire money to anyone you don’t personally know.