 Now
that we find ourselves in an Internet-driven world, we are
constantly flooded with e-mails. While e-mail makes it easy to conduct personal and
corporate business, it also makes us easy prey for e-mail
scammers.
For example, suppose
you receive an e-mail from your bank or your credit card company
saying that your bank card or credit card has been used to
purchase some merchandise and the company wants to make sure
you actually ordered the merchandise. The e-mail may ask you to enter personal information
such as your name, address, social security number, checking
or credit card account number so they can verify this information
against the information they have on file. When you click “Send,” you’ve just played into the
hands of a scam artist who will use your personal information
to steal your identity.
Remember, a bank
or credit card company will never ask for your account information
through an e-mail. As with traditional mail or telephone solicitations,
do not give out your credit card information unless you initiate
the transaction or unless you are sure the website is a secure
website.
Here are some
of the top e-mail scams as identified by the Federal Trade
Commission. Also
listed is some advice from your local community banker on
how to handle these scams.
Cable D-Scrambler
Kit
“Purchase this kit and you can receive cable television transmission
without paying any subscription fee.”
Aside from being illegal to steal service from a cable company,
you will probably find that after you assemble the kit, it
doesn’t work.
Advice: Click Delete.
Business Opportunity
“Work from home. No selling. No meetings. Let someone else do all of the work while you sit back
and earn up to $1,000 per day.” The e-mail will give you a number to call.
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You’ll probably reach a voice mail instructing you
to leave your name and phone number and then someone will
call you back with the sales pitch. This is probably an illegal pyramid scheme.
Advice: Click Delete.
Chain
Letter
The e-mail asks you to send $5-$10 to four or five names on
a list. Replace
one of the names with your own and forward the revised bulk
e-mail. If you
fall for this scam, you may as well throw $5 or $10 in your
trash can and be done with it.
Advice: Click Delete.
Health
and Diet Scams
On any given day, you probably receive at least one or two
or more e-mails that offer pills and other herbal gimmicks
to transform your body into a petite size 6 and grow a full
head of hair on your balding head. Beware of terms such as “scientific breakthrough,”
“miraculous cure,” and “secret formula.”
Advice: Click Delete.
Vacation Prize Promotions
“Congratulations! You’ve been selected to receive a fabulous Caribbean
Cruise.” If you click on this one, your “ship” will probably
be similar to a small fishing boat and your luxury accommodations
may be a grass hut. Don’t worry. For several hundred dollars, you can upgrade.
Advice: Click Delete.
What’s the best way to keep the e-mail scammers
at bay? Click
Delete!
CONSUMER TIPS is provided as a public
service by the Missouri Independent Bankers Association
AND
Community Bank of the Ozarks
P.O. Box 43
Sunrise Beach, MO 65079
(573) 374-5245
1-800-927-4314
www.cbobanker.com
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